Top Chef Carat Edition
Posted: April 14, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cooking competition, Food Network, Mark McEwan, Shaw, Top Chef Leave a comment »A few weeks ago I was invited by a co-worker to cheer her and another colleague on in a Top Chef competition being put on by Shaw and the Food Network. In my mind I pictured something laid back with specific direction on what dishes to cook.
I was disabused of that notion once I saw the instructions – this was going to be a real deal Top Chef competition. Each team got a list of available pantry items and the two proteins they would need to create a dish from ahead of time. There was the need to strategize and think ahead, including what secret ingredient each team member would bring from home.
The cooking space was tight, even for someone who has cooked in a NYC kitchen so small my fridge was underneath the kitchen counter, and these guys did a much better job than any Top Chef contestant I have seen weaving in and out to get pantry items and hot pans from the oven.
That’s not to say there weren’t some curve balls thrown – with only a convection oven some well thought out dishes either needed to be reworked or in the case of our team improvised. And just like the real deal sometimes directions weren’t followed exactly and points were docked.
Now, just to be clear those of us who came to support our co-workers were keeping busy and not just on the sidelines watching the action. It was our duty to do some wine and beer tasting and see how they paired with the different hors d’oeuvres. I certainly wasn’t going to let my colleagues down and have them be the only ones doing the heavy lifting.
It was time for Judges’ Table. Given how much we talk about food at work and with partner agencies I was not suprised at the creativity and quality of dishes that came out of the kitchen. Led by Mark McEwan, the judges went team by team to taste the dishes and give feedback. Everyone stopped to pay attention – anything to get an edge for next year’s competition.
Although our team wasn’t in the top three, they did come up with some fabulous dishes and we’re scheduling regular status meetings to talk approach for next year.
Thank you Shaw and the Food Network for a fabulous night!
The Spoon is an Underrated Utensil
Posted: July 18, 2011 Filed under: Eating Utensils | Tags: au jus, baguette, Food Network, fork, Great Easy Meals, spoon, untensil Leave a comment »I have almost stopped using my fork entirely. There are a few exceptions like steak which should always be stabbed with a sharp utensil. But this summer I have been using a spoon to eat a lot of meals in order to relish the mixed flavors and scoop up the juice of each dish.
Tonight I sauteed some tomatoes, shrimp and basil in salt and olive oil (no leftovers!) and it created a sweet and savory suace. A few weeks ago it was Chicken with Apple, Onion and Cider Sauce – thank you Food Network’s “Great Easy Meals” cookbook. Using a spoon makes me eat slower and think about the different flavors I am putting in my mouth and truly enjoy the meal I created instead of just piling food on a fork and shoveling it in my stomach.
A caveat to keep the French side of my family from getting upset – I love to use a fresh baguette to sop up the au jus as much (if not a thousand times more) than the next gal. But in addition to a love of food and wine they gave me my mother’s thighs so baguette is a special occasion.
