I just got back from the Los Angeles Times weekend food event aptly named "Secrets From The Kitchen and Cellar." This was just one of many events being put on this weekend across town at locations in Hollywood, Downtown and Beverly Hills. My event in Beverly Hills was held in the parking lot of the now vacant, landmark Robinson's Department Store on Wilshire.
I bought these tickets not really knowing what the event would be like, but wow, was it a great surprise! I was upclose for three of Food Network's culinary stars' cooking demos and I ate food from over 20 different L.A. restaruants. There were lots of celebrity chefs there today and all were super friendly and engaged with the crowd. The three chefs that did demos (see below) have great personalities and can really cook too.
Here are some of the "secrets" I learned today:
-Claire Robinson ("Five Ingredient Fix" and "Challenge") demonstrated how to make your own butter in a KitchenAid mixer. I went home and actually did this. It was simple and the butter is great! I just used whipping cream and put the mixer on and walked away for awhile. When I came back the butter separated from milk (whey?) and I put it in a cheesecloth, squeezed out the extra liquid, and voila...butter.
Claire also said the Challenge shows take 14 hours to film and are often filmed in Denver because of the low humidity.
-Scott Conant (judge on "Chopped" and "24 hour Restaurant Battle" and owner of the just opened Scarpetta in Bev. Hills)is really, really funny and seems like a great guy. I asked if the contestents on "Chopped" know their ingredients ahead of time. He said NO. He also said he has had some ingredients that are just disgusting.
Scott also said that the water for pasta should "taste like broth" meaning it should have so much salt in it, it's like soup.
-Arti Sequeira (last year's winner of "The Next Food Network Star") demonstrated how to make Indian cheese (Paneer) by cooking milk and lemon juice. I am going to try that tomorrow. Arti is hilarious and full of wonderful stories about cooking for Wolfgang Puck and Bobby Flay. She does spot on celebrity imitations, and lives in L.A. with her husband. She said she shoots her show in Culver City next to Guy Fieri's studio and that he is a great guy.
The food was delicious today too. I really enjoyed the crispy brown rice with spicy tuna, creamy polenta with truffles, juicy watermelon salad with mint and basil oil, crispy prawns and carmelized walnuts, and melt in your mouth beef short ribs.
Also, Cutie's Brand of tangerines is launching tangerine juices and a variety of smoothies this Fall. They are packaged in round plastic bottles with eye-catching labels and taste delicious.
Even though I'm sure I ate way too many calories today, it was worth it.
