Monthly Archive for June, 2010

Dole California Cook-Off 2010: A tale of a grumpy cook, a blogging sous chef, and a delicious burger

Published by Gastronomer on June 30, 2010 in Food Event and Los Angeles. 19 Comments

I’ve been fascinated with recipe contests and the people who enter them ever since I read the book Cookoff: Recipe Fever in America by Amy Sutherland last spring. To the uninitiated, these types of events are often viewed as lighthearted promotions meant to increase brand recognition. However, with lucrative prizes and thousands of dollars at stake, the truth of the matter is that recipe development has grown into a serious sport.

The major players, also known as “contesters,” are extremely calculated in their approach. Each recipe is well thought out, taking into account previous winning recipes and current food trends, and is aptly titled for maximum effect. It’s not unheard of for a dedicated competitor to submit dozens of entries for a single contest, especially for the big ones like the Pillsbury Bake-Off, the prize is a cool million dollars.

This past weekend, I took part in the Dole California Cook-Off held at the Epicurean School of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles. I was one of five food bloggers invited to assist the five finalists as they prepared their recipes for Ben Ford, chef and proprietor of Ford’s Filling Station, to judge. Narrowed down from a field of over 4,000 entries, the finalists were a mix of first-time entrants and seasoned contesters. The prize up for grabs was $1,000 and the opportunity to have their recipe printed on the back of Dole’s products.

I was paired up with a fellow named Harold Cohen from Hollywood, Florida. He’s a former plastic surgeon, legally blind, and feisty like you wouldn’t believe. He previously took home $25,000 for his Pimento Cheese Burger on the Food Network’s “Ultimate Recipe Showdown” and came in second the following year with his Alabama Smokehouse Pig Burger with White Barbecue Sauce. Needless to say, this man is dedicated to perfecting the art of the burger.

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RH at the Andaz Hotel – Los Angeles (West Hollywood)

Published by Gastronomer on June 29, 2010 in French, Los Angeles, Restaurant Review and West Hollywood. 13 Comments

I had the pleasure of being a tourist in my own town this weekend as a participant in the Dole California Cook-Off. As part of the festivities, The Astronomer and I packed up our bags and moved into the Andaz West Hollywood. We fueled up at RH the night before the big competition. I’ve been wanting to sit down for a meal here ever since the restaurant received three-stars from the Los Angeles Times, but never found myself in a hotel dining mood. As a guest of the Andaz, the timing finally felt right to see what the buzz was all about.

Headed by Chef Sebastien Archambault, RH serves southwestern French cuisine with an emphasis on California ingredients. As we skimmed the cocktail and dinner menus, a plate of crudite arrived for us to nibble on. The vegetables were snappy and colorful, while the dressing was creamy and herbaceous. The Astronomer made a noble effort to find pleasure in eating the radishes, but we ultimately couldn’t finish them.

Since we were staying fourteen floors up rather than twenty miles away, The Astronomer and I indulged in a cocktail each. I went for a muddled strawberry and lime concoction called the 405 Crush ($12), while The Astronomer ordered a French mojito laced with anise ($12). Both drinks were well-balanced and properly potent. It was unbelievably fun getting giggly over cocktails without having to worry about driving home safely.

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Chocolatería San Ginés – Madrid

Published by Gastronomer on June 27, 2010 in Dessert, Madrid and Restaurant Review. 17 Comments

Every afternoon between the hours of three and seven o’clock, the residents of Madrid take a break from the grind, descend upon cafes and pastry shops, and indulge in a sweet, midday pick-me-up. Of all the fabulous Spanish customs that The Astronomer and I adopted during our stay (e.g. midnight dinners, wine-filled meals, and post-lunch naps), the merienda is the one I miss the most.

On our first afternoon in the capital city, The Astronomer and I sought out hot chocolate and churros at Madrid’s most well-known chocolatería—San Ginés. Established in 1894, San Ginés is located in a small passageway, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the Puerta del Sol. In spite of its less than prominent location, a mixed crowd of locals and tourists find their way here every hour of the day. In fact, the shop is open daily from 9 AM to 6 AM. I think it’s the intoxicating blend of hot oil, fried dough, and melted chocolate that lures everyone in.

The Astronomer and I each ordered a mug of the chocolaty stuff, along with a plate of churros to share. We grabbed a table outside and within fifteen minutes, our loot arrived. The bittersweet brew was just as I had hoped—dark, warm, thick, and dreamy to sip and dip.

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Ahn Joo – Los Angeles

Published by Gastronomer on June 25, 2010 in Asian Fusion, Korean, Los Angeles, Meals on Wheels, Pub Grub and Restaurant Review. 19 Comments

July 23, 2009—that’s the exact date when I fell in love with Korean rice cakes (duk). Since that deliciously chewy day at Cham Korean Bistro in Pasadena, I’ve eaten pounds upon pounds of the stuff and even successfully prepared an authentic version at home. Recently, an unofficial duk truck rolled into town. Chef Debbie Lee’s Ahn-Joo brings modern Korean pub grub to the streets of Los Angeles, including some bold renditions of my favorite rice cylinders.

The Astronomer and I chased down the truck yesterday afternoon at the CNN building on Sunset. Chef Lee was on the scene to greet us with a smile and to tell us more about why she decided to take her culinary act on the road.

Following an appearance on season five of The Next Food Network Star, Chef Lee consulted at Culver City’s Gyenari and served “SeoulTown Tapas” at Breadbar. Although both engagements allowed her to introduce her unique style of fusion cooking to the public, the price point was ultimately too high to reach the masses. With Ahn Joo, Chef Lee hopes to spread her “Seoul-to-soul” dishes across the city and to provide an alternative to fast food.

The menu is divided into four parts: Small Grub ($3), Medium Grub ($5), Large Grub ($7), and Sweet Grub ($5). We began with an order of bacon-wrapped duk with jalapeño ponzu ($3). Bacon has a way of making just about everything better, and this was no exception. The smoky bacon and the citrus-laced ponzu provided the oomph that the simple rice cakes needed to shine.

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Arzak – San Sebastian

Published by Gastronomer on June 23, 2010 in Fine Dining, Molecular Gastronomy, Restaurant Review, San Sebastian and Spanish. 15 Comments

The Astronomer and I dined at Arzak on our final evening in San Sebastian. Of the trio of high end modern restaurants on our itinerary, I was anticipating this one the most. Juan Mari Arzak, the restaurant’s chef and owner, is regarded as one of the great masters of New Basque cuisine. I’ve been gawking at photos of his food for years, so it was extremely exciting to finally step into his den and let the magic begin.

The building where the restaurant is located has been in the Arzak family since it was built in 1897. Constructed by Juan Mari’s grandparents, the space was initially used as a wine inn and tavern. Juan Mari’s parents eventually took it over and converted it into a restaurant specializing in celebratory banquets.

In 1966, after completing his education and a stint in the military, Juan Mari returned to the kitchen where he grew up and began developing his signature cuisine alongside his mother, whom he credits as “the one that revealed all the secrets of gastronomy.” Under Juan Mari’s watch, Arzak became the first Spanish restaurant to earn three Michelin stars in 1989. Today, kitchen duties are shared between Juan Mari and his daughter Elena, and all three Michelin stars remain intact.

While the restaurant’s exterior is a bit dated, the interior is black, white, and modern all over. Each table was adorned simply with a single white iris.

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