Top Chef Cheese.

I have become a huge fan of Top Chef & Top Chef Masters in the past few years.
Last night's TCM episode's "Quickfire Challenge" subject was - you guessed it, cheese. 


It was unbelievable (and so much fun to watch) what these chef's created in the mere 12 MINUTES allotted in the challenge.  Unfortunately the only clip available online was a sneak peak.  If they post the whole segment I'll be sure to share it on here.


I was even more excited to see the guest judge for the night (and provider of the cheese), Norbert Wabnig, owner of The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills.  Norbert was one of the caterers at my company's big shindig a few years ago.  A few weeks prior to the event my boss brought me along to his shop where he personally selected different cheeses for us to try for use at the party.  It was a euphoric experience for me!


I have yet to figure out how to post a video on here, but here's the link to the episode teaser:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/234314/top-chef-masters-twelve-minutes-for-five-thousand-dollars

Holy (Day) Deliciousness

In the short time that I've been writing on this blog I have become exponentially more eager and motivated to try new recipes.


Tonight's Easter dinner may have been my favorite meal yet.  


It consisted of:
•Slow Cooker Braised Short Ribs (recipe here), topped with horseradish creme fraiche (3/4 cup creme fraiche mixed with 1 Tbsp prepared horseradish - this is also great on a baked potato)
•Pureed (using a hand mixer) red potatoes (skin-on) with cream cheese, fresh chives & rosemary from my garden
•Fresh arugula (also from the garden) salad with shaved parmesan, olive oil, fresh orange & lemon juice


Every aspect of the meal was phenomenal and I cannot wait to find a special occasion to cook it again. . .  

I always get so nervous I won't have enough potatoes and in turn end up with three times as much as I want.  Perhaps tomorrow I experiment with potato pancakes.

Easter Banana Bread

Happy Easter everybody!  And happy only-day-of-the-year-it's-acceptable-to-start-the-day-eating-candy (thank you, Cadbury Mini Eggs).

We have started off our day with a mimosa and a favorite memory of childhood trips to Binghamton: Gramma Jean's Banana Bread (my apologies, I just wouldn't feel right sharing that recipe).

I woke up at 6:45am to get my short ribs braising in the slow cooker.  After realizing three hours later the damn thing wasn't plugged in (oh me), the slow cooker is now officially turned ON and unfortunately set at HIGH and we are off to a matinee (we have been so excited to see Born to be Wild since viewing the trailer 5 months ago, see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv2Af-H7ZnI).

Since I have a nut allergy and it's a main ingredient in most banana breads, my grandma always substituted them with raisins.  Matt of course doesn't like raisins (or nuts) so for an added something I decided to try using coconut.  Surprisingly awesome.

Here are a couple photos of the banana bread.  Though I will restrain myself, if given the green light I could eat all of them in one sitting.

With melted butter on top for the win.

The Superbowl of Grilled Cheeses.

I'm a little more than disappointed that I'm missing this event on Saturday.
That being said, I still wanted to share with you one of the many reasons why LA is so great.  
We have GRILLED CHEESE INVITATIONALS.


http://grilledcheeseinvitational.com/

The first time I went there were only a couple hundred spectators, and maybe 20 competitors.
Now. . . 

I took that picture at last year's event.  
It's all about the cheese.

Home Grown Dinner

A couple of weekends ago I decided to plant a garden in the backyard --
2 weeks later my arugula has flourished, bordering out of control (I also learned over lunch today from my veteran-gardener/green thumb co-worker that I'm supposed to cut the leaves while they're young or else they get bitter...I'm new at this) so tonight I clipped a bunch of leaves and made my simple dinner salad.  Instead of the usual parmesan I decided to go with my beloved Saint Agur Blue.  


I would have patted myself on the back for a successful healthy dinner, however unfortunately I ended up eating the remaining St. Agur on a quarter loaf of french bread.  
Better luck tomorrow.  


Below are a couple pictures of my planted arugula, and St. Agur infused dinner salad:

3 Year Old's Gouda.

Apologies (mom) for the lack of posts lately.  I've been working a lot and traveling on top of it.  My very favorite (okay, only) sister had her second child in the wee hours of the morning on March 23rd.  I am now the very proud aunt of not only a hilariously fabulous 3 year old little girl,  but now also a sweet and mellow 3 week old baby boy.


Bonding with the kiddos aside, one of the highlights of my long weekend visit was a laugh my sister and I had over my niece approaching her Saturday afternoon saying, 


"Mom?  Can I have some Gouda please?"


At Three.  Years.  Old.  It was a magical moment.


Here are a few favorites of the hundreds of photos taken during my trip: