Results tagged “cooking”

Last weekend Barbara Treves' Forever Favourite Apple Pie took two top honors at the 1st Annual KCRW Good Food Pie Contest, winning first place in the Fruit & Nut category as well as being named "Best in Show."

Change is never easy for most of us, even if we're looking for something a little different in our lives. But Jeffrey Saad makes change--big or small--look easy. In fact, he makes change seem like something we all can do, just a little, to spice up our lives. Of course, for Saad, the big changes came when he gave up his career to give being The Next Food Network Star a shot in the show's highly successful 5th season. As a result, the self-proclaimed "Spice Smuggler" is now able to make home cooks all over feel like they can take on something new in the kitchen, by adding a little spice to their food. Recently we sat down with Saad to talk about the show, his upcoming endeavors, eating in Los Angeles, and spices.

       

Chef Neal Fraser of Grace and BLD believes the art of cooking needs daily cultivation. Even if he has 10 restaurants, he will always be exactly where he wants to be - in the kitchen. As an LA native he has “a personal vendetta” to elevate LA into the echelon of the best restaurant cities in the world. With the development of a new Grace like fine dining restaurant downtown that will grow at least a third of the produce on site, and a new BLD slated to open in Pasadena early next year, Chef Fraser shows no signs of leaving the kitchen. LAist caught up with the busy chef at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market (as he bought green beans for his daughter) to provide details about moving Grace to downtown, the struggle of when to pull a dish from the menu and how he is inspired by Wonderbread.

Dutch Apple. Cherry. Banana Cream. Chocolate Peanut Butter. Almond Mocha. Lemon Meringue. Strawberry-Rhubarb. Blueberry. Black-Bottom. Mixed Berry. Banana Caramel Cheesecake. Pie, glorious pie! That list might make you drool, but for the culinarily-inclined, it might make you feel inspired to break out your baking dishes and best recipe to enter KCRW's Good Food Pie Bake-off.

                     

The evening began with the cool breezes of Santa Monica blowing through the courtyard of the Fairmont in Santa Monica, causing Chinese lanterns to sway and swaths of white fabric to billow gently. Colorful tequila "mischief" cocktails were served on silver trays as hors d'ouvre after hors d'ouvre appeared seemingly out of thin air.

So many cultures can tell their stories through their food, and for Los Angeles, the same can be said for a landmark like the Original Farmers Market. Not only does the historic meeting place for farmers, cooks, foodies, locals, visitors, and shoppers alike offer delicious fresh produce and tantalizing eats and sweets, it also is a vital part of our city's history.

This recipe from Ina Garten aka The Barefoot Contessa really takes advantage of the flavors of summer and is an easy dish to make early in the day to bring to any of the afternoon BBQs you've got on your calendar or put in a Hollywood Bowl picnic. Ingredients like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, fresh mint, and fresh parsley are what you'll find in abundance at your favorite farmers' market, or perhaps in your own backyard garden, and the main grain--bulgur wheat--is a bargain out of the bulk bins at your nearest Whole Foods or the like (we paid 91 cents for the one cup the recipe called for).

Ben Ford, head chef and owner of Culver City’s Ford’s Filling Station speaks of the farmer’s market and its farmers with great reverence. Chef Ford grew up with his hands in the soil, gardening from a very young age so his respect for the food grown by the farmers comes naturally.

Occasional LAist contributor Aarti has been slaving away over a hot stove for some time now on her self-produced cooking video series, Aarti Paarti, and with spring most definitely in the air, and wonderful springtime finds like green garlic and fava beans plentiful at area farmer's markets, she's whipped up this video recipe how-to for Fava Bean Pillows with Brown Butter. This episode features a guest musical appearance by Paul Newman aka Beep Beep, of Helios Jive, who also helps sample the tasty, easy-to-make, and affordable meal based on locally-sourced seasonal produce.

                     

The Grilled Cheese Invitational is the crowing jewel event in Los Angeles during National Grilled Cheese Month. A massive crowd of hot-cheese between grilled bread enthusiasts descended upon Los Angeles State Historic Park Saturday to see the top grillers in action and to sample their offerings as part of the 1st ever 7th annual gathering. Although the line was long the enthusiasm was high, as was the innovation of ingredients--sammies packed with Peeps, gourmet flavor combos, a giant deer made of sandwiches. Those who bucked the odds and arrived later in the day found themselves out of luck when it came to getting a hold of sandwich and beer tickets (although the Kraft samples were plentiful).

"I'm making pork belly tacos and fresh orange sorbet served in oranges," Eli Sussman said, when asked what he was currently working on in the kitchen. The twenty-three-year-old LA resident and Detroit native has a passion for food - specifically making great food affordable and accessible. However, the radio promotions manager has no professional culinary training...which is all the better as testament to Freshman In the Kitchen, a cookbook he co-wrote with his brother Max, designed to inspire and take novice chefs on a step-by-step journey through the kitchen. The cookbook starts out with easy and simple recipes and techniques and gradually increases in terms of difficulty. Like many of us who spent at least some of our time in college living in a huge house with a bunch of friends and an often dirty kitchen, Eli used his first-hand experiences to write a book that a college student (or new chef) could relate to and understand. LAist had a chance to talk to Eli about the cookbook process, why it's important to cook, the LA food scene...and their national debut on The Today Show tomorrow. UPDATE: Today Show segment below.

This past week, Food & Wine magazine announced their selections for the Best New Chefs in America for 2009. Said Editor in Chief Dana Cowin: "We sought out great chefs in every corner of America, from Memphis, Tennessee to Portland, Oregon, and found some extraordinary cooking. Some of our winners are in seriously elegant restaurants. Others are in small, quirky, casual spots. But they’re all immensely talented, creative and driven.”

Trust us on this one: April is National Grilled Cheese Month. Just like last year, and the year before that, LAist thinks this is just about the ooey-gooeyest most delicious thing since--or involving--sliced bread.

It's food versus footwork in this video promo for Susan Feniger's newest food-venture STREET--an opening many folks have been looking forward to. Watch the famous LA-based Chef battle it out "street" style against the Instant Noodles Crew. Does Feniger dance away with a victory? Or will your tastebuds? There's only one way to find out...

Ever thought about skipping a trek to a restaurant on Valentine's Day and instead doing something just as impactful, but more appealing to the senses? If restaurants are your only bag, you're missing out on a little gem of a place called Hipcooks, where professional chefs and amateurs alike can come together for an evening of relaxed instruction and hands-on participation in the wonderful world of food preparation.

Whenever we cook, there is a little voice that occasionally admonishes, reminds, and keeps us from cutting off a finger. (What? You guys don't hear the voices too???). Whether it was your mom, dad, neighbor or Hints from Heloise, or if you had to learn the hard way, these tips are invaluable and keep the ambulance away. Here are a few tips from LAist to you.

Our generation was never quite as obsessed with kitchen gadgetry as our parents were. Most people never seem to venture beyond a blender and a George Foreman Grill. After all, Margaritas and paninis can get you through your 20s just fine.

While not generally synonymous, Los Angeles and barbeque food have a lot in common. Both seem to attract the eccentrics, the slightly misguided. Both have a worldwide appreciation, but not many people talk about the greasy, slimy mess that gets left behind when all else is gone. And both are responsible for a lot of bad gas issues, and a sizable hole in the ozone layer.

                   

Though it may not have the scenic majesty of Morro Bay or the woodsy seclusion of Big Sur, San Simeon State Park is one of the quiet wonders of the California seaside. Located just a few miles south of fabled Hearst Castle, San Simeon offers two campground sites (San Simeon or Washburn) where you can set up home base for a long weekend. It's a short walk to cool, lightly populated beaches where you might stumble across an entire pack of elephant seals stretching out in the sun. You can also hike several miles of trails, some of which descend into seasonal wetlands, and others that plateau on top of vast seaside vistas.

                 

The LA Times Festival of Books offered something for everyone this weekend. The many panels, author interviews and signing booths were exciting for bookish nerds like us. If you weren't into the bookish side of the book festival, however, there was plenty to whet your appetite. Literally.

       

Songkran is the celebration of the Thai New Year. It falls on or around the hottest day of the year in Thailand, and, perhaps as a show of sisterhood, this Sunday's Songkran Festival held in LA's Thai Town neighborhood, took place on what certainly felt like the hottest day of the year...thus far.

         

On a side street in Silver Lake, two sisters open up their apartment every weekend to strangers who want to learn how to cook healthy and delicious vegan meals. Spork Foods began in December and has become a hit so far, with their small intimate cooking classes selling out quickly. Upcoming class topics include brunch, pizza, Jewish, desserts and more. A few weeks ago, they held their South East Asian class; here's what happened:

One of my all-time favorite things to order from my neighborhood Thai delivery joint is what they call Salad rolls. They're cold appetizer wraps stuffed with fresh produce and the hallmark flavorful bite of Thai and Vietnamese cooking, thanks to the palate-pleasing mix of pungent Thai basil, mint, lime, and spice.

Artist and forager Nancy Klehm will be holding the last of her highly unique cooking classes at Echo Park gallery/performance space Machine Project this Monday, March 10th, from 6-9pm. There are still a few spots left (tickets cost $85 for members, $95 for non-members), so head on over to the website to sign up for a lesson on making your own fermented fruits and vinegars. Fruit wine sounds like a fantastic way to take advantage of Southern California's many urban fruit trees!

Following up on my last post, here are five favorites I return to time and time again. All are reliable sources for good eating!

Welcome to a two-part review of the year’s best cookbooks. In part one, I’ll list five new books that inspired me in the kitchen in 2007…part 2 will include five rediscoveries that you might want to add to your shelf.

Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, Food Network’s “Too Hot Tamales” are Chef/Owners of Border Grill Santa Monica, Border Grill Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, and Ciudad in Downtown Los Angeles. Last week we brought you a report from their fantastic Holidy Cooking Class (including two amazing recipes) and now it is our pleasure to share with you their tips for making your holiday gathering a deliciously smashing success.

Last weekend we were lucky enough to snag at seat at the demo-style Holiday Cooking Class hosted by Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, aka The Two Hot Tamales, at their Border Grill restaurant in Santa Monica. The room was packed with enchanted attendees focused on the endearing antics of the celeb chefs and the amazing food they were making, which we were served in tandem with the recipe demos. The menu was set to...

One of the highlights of holidays past for me has always been getting to taste some of the the delicious chocolate goodies that seem to appear everywhere this time of year. So the idea of checking out and tasting some of our city's finest chocolate makes absolute sense, which is where next weekend's Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon comes handily into play. The event, which is presented by TasteTV, will include speakers and demos, as...

Recent studies from both Dutch and Norwegian researchers are confirming that consumption of omega 3 fatty acids, which are most often found in fish and nuts, may make you smarter (or at least help you utilize what you've got): People who reported eating on average at least a third of an ounce of fish per day -- 10 grams -- outscored those who skimped on fish, regardless of factors including age, education, and heart...