Chef Ludo’s New Show!

What a lineup! Ludo stars along with two of my long-time culinary heroes… BOURDAIN and NIGELLA!

Four culinary masters get down to what really matters, The Taste! Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludo Lefebvre & Brian Malarkey will each coach a team of 4 cooks, consisting of professional chefs and home cooks whom they will hand pick based on a blind taste challenge. Throughout the season, their mentors will prepare them for challenges in creating dishes that will ultimately be judged by the superstar chefs in blind taste tests. One cook will be left standing to take home The Taste trophy along with a new Ford C-Max and $100,000! 

Premieres Tuesday, January 22 at 8|7c on ABC!

LudoBitches will be live-tweeting during each episode. Follow us at @LudoBitches!

The Taste on FaceBook

Follow The Taste on Twitter

Follow Ludo on Twitter

Follow Bourdain on Twitter

Follow Nigella on Twitter

Follow Brian on Twitter

 

Photos via The Taste

My photos with Ludo

Kindal Makes Macarons

My niece Kindal loves to bake desserts, especially cupcakes and cake pops. At sixteen, she’s also a fantastic cook and has made killer, French omelets since she was ten!

Years ago we started a cooking club called the “Chef Monkeys”, along with her twin brother Chace, and a few of their friends. Once a week we would get together at my sister’s home in San Dimas to test recipes, work on knife skills and of course EAT. I sure do miss those days.

Cooking together has always been a big part of our relationship, but I think sharing other food experiences (like travel and restaurants) have been important too.

A few weeks ago, I brought a bag of ube (purple yam) macarons (made by my friend Remil) to share with my sister and her family. Kindal instantly started dissecting the macaron and blurted out, “I need to learn how to make these!”

Luckily for her, the Ravenous Couple (aka Kim & Hong) were scheduled to teach a class in their Pasadena home the following week. I didn’t participate in the actual baking because I wanted to photograph each step (photos below).  The class really felt more like an afternoon party, especially with Remil (who took a previous class) cooking lunch for everyone and acting like Kindal’s own Macaron Godfather.

By the end of the afternoon, my niece was absolutely beaming when she held up her first raspberry macaron. We had such a fun time and we both learned so much (like how to get the perfect “feet”). Thanks Hong & Kim!

NOTE: The next Macaron class is this Saturday, June 2, 2012 but it’s almost sold out! 

In Kim & Hong’s beautiful kitchen. My sister Janet & Kindal on the right. Hong speaking to a student on the left.

Hong begins class.

Ingredients prepped and ready ahead of time!

Mixing ingredients.

Getting busy.

Patience.

Remil watching closely… Kindal’s own “Macaron Godfather”.

Ready for the oven.

More patience (with Kim & Hong).

Raspberry perfection… but they aren’t macarons YET!

Filling time.

Success!

Kim showing Kindal how to insert sticks for Macaron POPS!

Chocolate-filled, Raspberry Macaron POPS!

Sharing with other students.

Packing up.

I spent all my spare moments at the snack table. Note: The Ravenous Couple are awesome cooks too!

Remil making Bombolotti all’ Amatriciana for lunch (Kindal and I BOTH had seconds).

Hong & Kim were testing green tea ICE CREAM macarons. Kindal was happy to pose for a bite!

Photo by Hong Pham. Used with permission.

Hong, Kim, Kindal, Remil… Team Macaron!

Hong hand-etches macaron stands too!

Cost of the class: $80 (WORTH IT)

All my Macaron Class Photos from 5/20/12 on Flickr

The next Macaron class is this Saturday, June 2, 2012

Ravenous Couple Website (check back for upcoming classes)

Photos from a previous macaron class

Follow @RavenousCouple on twitter

Follow Remil @Limer35 on twitter

The Chef Monkeys

Macaron History:
Although predominantly a French confection,  there has been much debate about its origins. Larousse Gastronomique cites the macaron as being created in 1791 in a convent near Cormery. Some have traced its French debut back to the arrival of Catherine de’ Medici’s Italian pastry chefs whom she brought with her in 1533 upon marrying Henry II of France. In the 1830s,  macarons were served two-by-two with the addition of jams,  liqueurs,  and spices. The macaron as it is known today was called the “Gerbet” or the “Paris macaron” and was created in the early 20th Century by Pierre Desfontaines of the French pâtisserie Ladurée, composed of two almond meringue discs filled with a layer of buttercream,  jam,  or ganache filling. Wikipedia

Photo of Kindal at top of page by Hong Pham. All other photos by JoAnn Maxwell Stougaard.

Gourmet Institute (save the date)!

The official dates for the 2009 GOURMET INSTITUTE event in NYC.

SAVE THE DATES: October 23-25, 2009.

Peter and I had a great time when we went, especially mingling with the likes of Eric Ripert and the great Mario Batali!

  

Check out the promo video from last year. I was totally surprised to see myself and Peter featured on the video! Actually, him more than me… I’m standing behind him (tipsy from wine tasting!) when he’s speaking on camera.

Promo Video

Gourmet Institute

I’m definitely going again this year!

Chimichurri “Air” – Adventures in Molecular Cooking [7]

After learning the simple recipe for making flavored “air” at Molecular Gastronomy Class, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to aerate first. Multiple visits to the the Bazaar by José Andrés had me familiar with Bar Centro’s “salt air” topped margaritas, and my favorite “new way” martini with spherified (Ferran Adria) olive is topped with a tangy brine “air”. 

Peter and I love grilling flatiron steak, and I make homemade chimichurri sauce at least once a week. But in our house it’s not just for beef. We also add it to eggs, quesadillas, pastas, and even tuna salad.

To make the “air”, there are actually only two ingredients needed: some sort of liquid and the lecite (aka lecithin), a natural soy-based emulsifier (links below).

Traditional chimichurri is usually made with two liquids: olive oil and acids, usually limes or vinegar. To make my chimichurri air, I left OUT the olive oil and just drizzled the oil on the steak directly, BEFORE adding the “air” on top.

I like my chimichurri REALLY spicy and wasn’t sure the heat would remain after straining and aerating, but it did. The light (and well, airy) texture was a refreshing change from the standard sauce. 

I certainly don’t plan on going crazy with the lecite (although I do think a Heinz 57 “air” would be an awesome return to my childhood). To me, it’s simply about learning yet another delicious (and fun!) cooking technique at home.

My Recipe for Chimichurri Air:

9 oz liquified chimichurri sauce (recipe follows)
1.5 g lecithin (aka lecite), food grade
Olive oil (to drizzle on steak) 

To make the chimichurri sauce:
1 cup chopped parsley
1 cup chopped cilantro
2 medium jalapeno chilies (or more if you like it spicy)
8 oz of fresh lime juice or red wine vinegar
2 or 3 cloves of garlic
Fleur de sel (or sea salt) 

Place all ingredients in a mini-chop or food processor and blend until liquified.

Measure 9 oz of liquid (add vinegar or water if needed). 

Then pour the liquid through a fine strainer to remove any large pieces.

Make sure it’s 9 oz of liquid to 1.5 g lecithin (again, add vinegar or water if needed).

Place the chimichurri sauce and lecite into a large bowl and blend with a stick-blender until foaming. Note: I have a large, plastic container that I use for this. It can get pretty messy in a standard bowl, so wear an apron!

Prepare the steak:
Grill steak to desired doneness and let meat rest for at least ten minutes.

Cut and plate then drizzle olive oil directly on steak.

Add salt then scoop out whipped “air” from bowl and gently place on meat.

If the “air” becomes watery, simply blend again (not too long) until foamy. Serve immediately!

Mentioned Above:

Bazaar’s Martini w/ Brine “Air”

About Texturas (in English)

Albert & Ferran Adria Textura site (spanish)

About Texturas – Lecite (airs)

Where to buy molecular ingredients

Molecular fun at home

My ChimiTuna (tuna salad with chimchurri)

My visits to the Bazaar

Ferran Adria’s “Liquid” Olive

El Torito’s Deep-Fried Ice Cream photo

Adventures in Molecular Cooking 6 (Trisol)

Adventures in Molecular Cooking 5 (Class)

Why I call it “Molecular Cooking”

All my chimichurri “air” photos on Flickr

The Bazaar by José Andrés [11]

After multiple visits to the Bazaar (this being number eleven), Peter and I get most excited when we’re bringing in “Bazaar Virgins” (first timers) to the restaurant. It’s even more fun when they’re big time foodies like our friends Ron and Diane. Thanks to the wonderful staff (William, Felix, Alison, Audra!), we were seated at my favorite table in the Rojo room, with a direct view of the open kitchen.

It’s always a delight when Amanda rolls up to our table with the liquid nitrogen cart (or caviar or cotton candy). And I love when servers that aren’t even working our table (Calvin and Hugh) stop by for a quick hello. I’ve had several people ask me why I keep returning to the Bazaar, when there are so many other places to try, and honestly… besides the incredible food and fun atmosphere, it’s because they make me (and my “virgins”) feel perfectly welcome on each and every visit.

THANK YOU to everyone at Bazaar and SLS!

West Hollywood Cone: Rainbow Tobiko Caviar (almost too pretty to eat!)

Papas Canarias: Salty, wrinkled potatoes with mojo verde

Japanese Taco: Grilled eel, shiso, cucumber, wasabi and chicharron

Tortilla de Patates “New Way” Potato Foam, egg 63, caramelized onions

Gazpacho estilo Algeciras: Traditional gazpacho

Ensaladilla Rusa: Potato salad, tuna belly and mayo (I know this doesn’t look like much, but the flavors here were FANTASTIC.)

Wild Mushroom Soup: Idiazabal cheese and golden egg yolk

Uva Bella cocktails (muddled white grapes, gin, elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and orange bitters).

The Bazaar by José Andrés, SLS Hotel
 465 South La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 9004
(310) 246-5555
http://www.theBazaar.com

< Visit 10

Dining date: 4/26/09

Kafta Beef Kabobs

 

Kafta Kabob (aka Kafta or Kofta Kebob)
Recipe by my friend Afaf at Simply Heaven

Ingredients:

2 Pounds ground beef

1 bunch of parsley finely chopped washed and well drained

1 Onion finely chopped

2 cloves minced garlic

1 tea spoon all spice

1/2 tea spoon paprika

1/2 tea spoon black pepper

1/2 tea spoon cumin

Salt to your taste

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients, work it like dough and make sure press a little tight so it can stick to the skewer.

Tip: Lightly wet your hands after each skewer

HOW TO photos here

Afaf’s Blog –  ”Simply Heaven”

Photo by MyLastBite, taken at Afaf’s Dinner Party on 4/25/09

Meeting Dom DeLuise

The ultimate foodie, Dom DeLuise, passed away yesterday at age 75.

It was thirty years ago, when I met the kind and generous comic during a school trip to 20th Century Fox Studio. Dom came out to greet us kids, and then he invited us onto the “Fatso” set (directed by Anne Bancroft) for an impromptu tour! The film’s continuity supervisor had an absolute fit, but Dom thought it was hilarious.

I personally find it funny, that 30 years later I’m so obsessed with my food WRITING… almost as much as his character was about food EATING.

He will most definitely be missed.

If you’ve never seen the movie “Fatso”, it’s available on Netflix.

He also penned several cookbooks available on Amazon.

On IMD

Mouhamara (Peppers, Walnut Pesto)

Mouhamara (Peppers & Walnut Pesto)
Recipe by my friend Afaf at Simply Heaven

1 Jar 12 oz roasted peppers, (Well drained)

1 π lightly toasted walnuts for mixing it in the food processor with the peppers

 ∏ cup walnut chunky chopped for mixing at the end to give it a crunch

≤ cup FRESH plain bread crumbs

2 cloves minced garlic

3 tea spoons pomegranate molasses

1 table spoon lemon juice

1 tea spoon cumin

1 tea spoon Cayenne peppers (more or less it depend how hot you want it)

1 table spoon Tahini sauce

About 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Salt to your taste.

 

 

In the food processor add all ingredients but NOT the olive oil and Not the ∏ cup of the chunky chopped walnuts

While the processor is running (not for long) start adding (kind of drizzling) the olive oil until it forms the perfect consistency.

 

In a bowl add the chunky walnuts and fold a few times to mix.

Serve in a room temp. It is great plain on crispy pita bread or a garnish for meat.

1 Jar of 12 oz Roasted Pepper, well drained

1 1/4 cup lightly toasted walnuts for mixing it in the food processor with the peppers

1/2 cup walnut chunky chopped for mixing at the end to give it a crunch

3/4 cup FRESH plain bread crumbs

2 cloves minced garlic

3 tea spoons pomegranate molasses

1 table spoon lemon juice

1 tea spoon cumin

1 tea spoon Cayenne peppers (more or less it depend how hot you want it)

1 table spoon Tahini sauce

About 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Salt to your taste.

In the food processor add all ingredients but NOT the olive oil and Not the 1/2 cup of the chunky chopped walnuts

While the processor is running (not for long) start adding (kind of drizzling) the olive oil until it forms the perfect consistency.

In a bowl add the chunky walnuts and fold a few times to mix.

Serve in a room temp. It is great plain on crispy pita bread or a garnish for meat.

Afaf’s HOW TO photo on this page

Afaf’s Blog –  ”Simply Heaven”

Photo by MyLastBite, taken at Afaf’s Dinner Party on 4/25/09

Saam (Bazaar visit 9, Saam visit 1)

Dining in the new Saam restaurant makes you feel special. It’s located behind a secured, nondescript door near Bar Centro, at the Bazaar by José Andrés. Each of the twenty courses (one or two bites each) are brought out on individual plates, while you sit at one of the exclusive, coveted tables. To me, it feels like a sleek and sexy modern-day speakeasy.

The service? Impeccable. I haven’t been to Alinea yet, but I’m guessing the experience is close, or at least as close as we’re going to get here in Los Angeles! It’s like flying first class, where you’re treated like a celebrity and you know it. Especially true for an early dinner on opening weekend. We were one of the first to be seated for the Saturday evening service, and at times there were four staff members looking after the two of us.

The food? It was my ninth visit to the Bazaar and I knew the menu backwards and forwards, so I was pleasantly surprised to find each dish “kicked up a notch”, and thrilled to try a few new bites as well. I found myself mouthing “wow” to my husband Peter, especially when we were served updated versions of dishes we tried on previous visits.

“Saam: The Chef’s Tasting Menu” is printed on top of each take-home menu (rolled up and tied with a little black ribbon), a great souvenir to remember an elegant evening. But throughout our wonderful dinner, I couldn’t help but feel there was something missing. The food was the best I’d ever had at the Bazaar, so that wasn’t it. Our server Charlie was attentive, engaging and throughly knowledgeable. Carolina was nearby in case we had any needs or questions as well. Managers William and Felix stopped by to ensure that we (and later, each and every table) were enjoying the evening, but my dinner still felt incomplete. Why?

Because “Saam: The Chef’s Tasting Room” was missing the one thing I love most about the Bazaar (besides the food), it was missing the chefs.

My favorite tables at the Bazaar are one of the two “Tron” tables in the Rojo room. They’re not officially called “Tron” tables… that’s just what we call them because they have cool laser-like red lights beneath the surface. The few times I’ve been lucky enough to have a seat facing the open kitchen was at one of the these tables. I loved watching Chef Voltaggio warm up the “smoking” gun to finish off the salmon dishes. And as a fan of the show “Top Chef”, could there be anything better than seeing Chef Marcel Vigneron working the foam? By the way, I think the show portrayed him as an arrogant nitwit, because in person he’s a real sweetheart. 

After we finished our evening at Saam, we made our way to the Rojo kitchen where the kitchen staff was in full swing. It was busy, crowded and the room was filled with the frenetic energy that I missed. It sort of felt like I had been at the wrong party earlier.

Do I recommend Saam? Absolutely. Especially if it’s your first visit to the Bazaar. It’s quieter and more focused than either the Rojo or the Blanca room, and you’ll be carefully guided through a palate pleasing, high-flying experience. Heck, it’s not that I don’t like flying first class (the few times I’ve experienced it), it’s just that I like watching the crew even better.

Tasting Menu is $120 per person.

Course #1: Salt Air Margarita. Delicious as always.

Course #2: Sweet Potato Chips and Yogurt Dip. I love the anise flavor in the yogurt.

 Caviar Steamed Bun. Using the steamed bun makes for a nice twist on a classic.

Course #4: Olive Oil Bonbon This was such a treat!! I first saw this being made on “Gourmet’s Diary of a Foodie” by Chef Andrés and his Minibar Chefs: Ruben Garcia and Katsuya Fukushima. It’s like a candy shell filled with olive oil. Into your mouth and it crumbles. SO AMAZING.

Course #5: Bagel and Lox Cone. Delicious as always.

Course #6: Cotton Candy Foie Gras (foie gras rolled in corn nuts). Still a favorite and so good I forgot to take a photo before eating! (photo from previous visit)

Course #7: Olives Ferran Adria. My first love (and why I started taking Molecular Gastronomy classes last year!)

Course #8: Jose’s Ham and Cheese.  I LOVED the Jamón Ibérico with the soft La Serena cheese inside the “air bread”. This was one of the “kicked up” dish updates, similar to “Philly Cheesesteak”. La Serena is a creamy, aromatic (aka really stinky which I love!) cheese from Extremadura in Western Spain.

Course #9: Sea Urchin Conservas. Fantastic flavors AND presentation.

Course #10: Boneless Chicken Wing. Delicious as always.

Course #11: Shrimp Cocktail. The updated cocktail sauce was richer, almost creamy.

Course #12: Nitro Gazpacho. I always love when the Liquid Nitrogen cart rolls up! Gazpacho “cooked” in the nitro.

Course #13: Blufin Tuna Toro (and Norwegian Lobster). Both AMAZING.

Course #14: Norwegian Lobster. Perfection in one bite.

Course #15: “Smoked” Salmon. Another favorite, the dish is finished using a “smoking gun”.

Course #16: Not Your Everyday Caprese (top). I recently learned how to make these liquid mozzarella balls!

Course #17: Tournedos Rossinii 2009. Wagyu beef, truffle and foie gras. MORE PLEASE!

Course #18: Dragon’s Breath (caramel popcorn “cooked” in liquid nitrogen). Currently only served in the Saam room, we’ve enjoyed it several times before. It’s FUN!

Felix Meana making Dragon’s Breath

Coconut in a “Half Shell”. Peter loved all three desserts. I was too full!

Chocolate Biscuit Coulant Michel Bras (above) and Petit Fours: Tablets, Bonbons

Saam, at the Bazaar by José Andrés, SLS Hotel
 465 South La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 9004
(310) 246-5555

http://www.thebazaar.com

Dining date: 4/11/09

Mentioned above:

Tron, the movie

Tron, the table

Alinea (someday!)

Top Chef

Smoking Gun

Molecular Gastronomy Classes

Gourmet’s Diary of a Foodie

Watch the episode with the Olive Oil Bonbon!

MiniBar

In the kitchen with the chefs

<< Bazaar Visit #8

Bazaar Visit #10 >>

All my Bazaar photos on Flickr

Greek Lemon Chicken

Allergy season in the San Fernando Valley is, by far, my least favorite time of year. It’s now been a month since my spring-time symptoms kicked in, and I’ve been feeling pretty lousy the entire time: Itchy and watery eyes, non-stop sneezing, postnasal drip (with congestion, which I don’t understand), loss of smell, and the worst part, for me, are those dreadful hours when I loose my sense of taste.

I’m currently taking two different prescription medications that definitely help ease the symptoms, but living with three dogs (who sleep in the bed) only adds to the problem. Peter and I will never get rid of our dogs (aka our “kids”), and honestly, most of the time I just feel really grateful that seasonal allergies are my only health issues.

But last week, on top of dealing with my sensitive sinus problems, I came down with a nasty, head cold. I didn’t even know it was a cold for the first few days because I hadn’t had a good night sleep in weeks, and already felt drained and depressed. I tried to shake the blues by drinking extra cups of green tea, reading my current favorite book on the sunny porch out front, and also by taking extra walks with the pups.

When I woke up Thursday morning still feeling gloomy, I suddenly remembered that one thing that was missing from my days. Talking aloud to myself (with my dogs tucked in snugly beside me), I sat up in bed and said, “cook, stupid”.

Because I was suffering from both allergies and a head cold, I hadn’t cooked a proper meal all week. Hot tea and cereal for breakfast, cold meds for lunch and “frozen entrées” for dinner. No wonder I felt like crap. Physically, I wasn’t getting any real nutrition, and I’d forgotten to do the one thing every day that makes my spirits soar.

I then decided to make one of my very favorite, super EASY one pan meals. Greek Lemon Chicken with Roasted Garlic and Potatoes. I first had it when I visited friends in the Greek Islands over twenty years ago, and it’s always a comforting plate of food. And as you can imagine, I felt amazingly better after just one bite.

Greek Lemon Chicken w/ Roasted Garlic and Potatoes

Ingredients:

3 1/2 to 4 pounds of chicken pieces (I prefer thighs and legs) with skin.

3 medium lemons (juiced, but save lemon halves)

3 pounds of baby potatoes (your favorite)

1 tablespoon of oregano

2 to 3 teaspoons of salt (to your liking)

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

2 medium heads of garlic

1/2 cup of olive oil

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°F

Clean the chicken and potatoes, dry then place in large baking pan.

Cut tops of garlic (be careful) to expose cloves, and set face up in pan.

Next add olive oil, the juice of 2 lemons, then rub over everything.

Make sure there’s a nice coating of oil on the bottom of pan, so the chicken doesn’t stick.

Add oregano, salt and pepper. Coat everything in the pan.

Add the last two lemon halves in pan and let bake with the other ingredients.

Now, turn chicken pieces so the skin in facing down on the pan bottom.

Cook for about 90 minutes total:
After 30 minutes, carefully remove hot pan from oven and gently turn over the chicken pieces so the skin is facing UP. This way you’ll get a nice, crispy and flavorful skin.

At the same time, turn over the potatoes and then place back in oven for 60 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

To serve: After the garlic heads have cooled, you can pop out each roasted clove with a knife and serve the sweet, mushy cloves on top of the chicken. Or, do what I did and serve the entire half of the clove itself. They’re delicious smashed into the potatoes or added to warm, crusty bread as well. The extra lemon halves (now soft and baked) can be eaten too. Enjoy.

Note: The dish is terrific on it’s own, but it’s even better with a Horiatiki Salata (classic Greek country salad). I didn’t think to get the Greek salad ingredients at the market that day, so I tossed together a side dish with things I had at home: clementines, fresh green beans, and roasted beets.

Mentioned Above:

Horiatiki Salata: Recipe for Greek Country Salad

My Pups

In Greece

Cuties California Clementines

Current favorite book: “A Homemade Life” by Molly Wizenberg

“Cook, Stupid.” written by Jo Stougaard ©MyLastBite.com All Rights Reserved. No usage allowed including copying or sharing without written permission.