Jalapeño Girl

Advice for a (food loving) future nutritionist

2008-10-07T13:23:28-07:00

Usually I get emails from folks who are considering going into cooking, attending cooking school, or something similar. I almost always respond. Recently I received a polite request for advice from a woman hoping to become a nutritionist. Here's what I told her:

"Thanks for your email.

I would email and get in touch with folks in your area who are working on things that sound interesting. Offer to take them out for coffee or a other beverage (be sure to also try and pay for their drink!) and ask for twenty-thirty minutes of their time. I found people may be busy but are usually willing to talk about themselves and their experiences. I did this with many people and always sent a handwritten thank you note.

Also is there any sort of dietician professional trade group you can join? If so, do it. The IACP may have a branch for those in your field. Worth checking out, perhaps.

Another thing you can do is volunteer for events and things that will help build your resume. Show up early (I remember volunteering for an event and some volunteers were super late. It made them look terrible to the chefs & other folks that were there.) and offer to do dirty work such as taking out the garbage or similar tasks. Not glamorous but another way to find out how things are done.

Read the food sections of the newspapers and go to the library or subscribe to industry publications.

I can't think of anything else right now but wish you the best of luck."

Have fun in the kitchen. Win Money. The Chocolate Adventure Contest

2008-10-02T20:27:20-07:00

The Chocolate Adventure Contest

Everyone has a dark side. It's time to explore yours.

TuttiFoodie and Scharffen Berger present the second annual Chocolate Adventure Recipe Contest. Create an inventive, delectable recipe using Scharffen Berger chocolate (41% to 99% cacao) or cocoa plus at least one adventure ingredient from our list. Submit up to 10 recipes between October 1 and January 4, 2008. Our judges will do the rest. Among them: John Scharffenberger, Alice Medrich (Bittersweet), and Elizabeth Falkner (Orson and Citizen Cake).

The rewards?

$5000 goes to a grand-prize winning recipe in each of three categories: Sweet, Savory and Beverage. Plus, each grand-prize winner gets a mention in Saveur magazine, publication on TuttiFoodie and in the Scharffen Berger e-newsletter, a custom gift of select Scharffen Berger chocolates, and several award-winning cookbooks (for instance: Demolition Desserts) signed by their esteemed authors. We've got terrific second-prize winnings, too.

So enter the contest. You just might win $5,000.

Hot Stuff Food Blog Round Up

2008-10-01T22:53:15-07:00

Check out the latest food blog goss on SFist.

I'm working on a tea piece for the San Francisco Chronicle/SF Gate/SFiS.

Tomato Expert Amy Goldman is in town. Eat up!

2008-09-09T10:27:15-07:00

Seems like almost every culinary event or upscale market is stocked with gorgeous and tasty heirloom tomatoes. With so many varieties to choose from, it can be delish fun but perhaps a bit overwhelming for consumers. No need to be shy; help is on the way. "Gifted grower" Amy Goldman is in the Bay Area this week to talk about her new tomato tome, The Heirloom Tomato: For Garden to Table. The book is full of recipes, pics, tips, and mouthwatering photos. Food lovers and gardeners alike will find something to love here. Goldman is an expert gardener with books on melons and squash.

Wednesday, September 10
Commonwealth Club Blue Room
Lunch Time (11:30 a.m.)

In conversation with Dave Stockdale, Executive Director of The Center for Urban Education for Sustainable Agriculture

Friday, September 12

Book Passage at the Ferry Building

6:00 p.m. signing

Saturday, September 13

COPIA

1:00 p.m. lunch

Menu includes:

Cherry Tomato and garlic bread soup

Grilled beef with stuffed tomatoes, roasted potatoes and garden green beans

Galette of white peaches and tomatoes

Sunday, September 14

Carmel Tomato Fest

1:00-5:00 p.m.

18th Street Block Party this Saturday afternoon

2008-09-04T20:28:53-07:00

Happy Birthday, Bi-Rite & Delfina! I did prep work today for the upcoming 18th Street Block Party, happening in SF on Saturday. Jennifer Biesty was the boss, and we worked at Charles Phan's new gorgeous and huge commissary kitchen. 18th Street Block Party food includes pig, chicken, corn, beans, hot dogs, paella, sandwiches, smoothies, watermelon agua fresca, lemonade & more. There will also be booze, music, and wonderful weather. The wine and beer garden make my mouth water already.

To purchase advance meal tickets, call Christie Ward at 415-971-7291 or email PARTYBLOCK18@gmail.com.

I wish I could work on this bash, particularly to get the chance to work on a roasted pig. But. We are leaving early tomorrow for a wedding in Sebastopol.

Slow Food Nation Taste Pavilions

2008-08-30T21:33:43-07:00

Slow Food celebrates "food that is good, clean and fair." These honey samples looked and tasted good. Other foods on offer at Fort Mason today at times took as long as forty five minutes to get. Thankfully, the Native Foods tent had a shorter line, and we gladly tried all three items on offer: bison chili (rich, thick, meaty, clean tasting), hominy, and wild rice cakes with a spicy kick. While I was happy to try something that reminds me of my Dad's Kwakiutl Native American heritage, I also found myself hoping that the cooks there would have a steady stream of customers all day. I had time to mull it over as we sat on hay outside, people watching, eating, drinking and talking.

It's great to have face time with the makers of these foods and drinks, sure. But it would've been a more satisfying event if the lines were not so long and slow.

Lamb Sandwich at Jordan's Restaurant, Claremont Resort

2008-08-28T20:45:25-07:00

CHEF BROTHER MENTION ALERT!

My brother Josh Ladd is now the Executive Sous Chef at the Claremont Resort. I gave a him a few months to settle in before visiting Jordan's Restaurant. Jordan's is more fancy and elegant than the Paragon, but there is still tasty food and outstanding views. If you are a celeb watcher or Cal sports fan, the chances of spotting someone strolling around the lobby are highly probable.

The lamb sandwich was tender and tasty and I loved the addition of figs to the accompanying salad.

Jordan's currently needs a pastry chef. Whoever's filling in might think of applying.

Share Our Strength NYC events in October

2008-08-28T11:06:38-07:00

Celebrate Big Apple's Culinary Might, Help End Childhood Hunger

Share Our Strength is excited to announce that it is one of two charities that will benefit from the first Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine and Travel & Leisure. And we knew you'd want all the delicious details.
It runs from Friday, October 9 - Sunday, October 12, primarily in NYC's fashionable Meatpacking District

It brings together global culinary icons and America's most beloved TV personalities.

It's the brainchild of Lee Brian Schrager, who created the wildly successful Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival

50-some sensational events including tastings, demonstrations, book signings, dinners, live interviews, plus special menus at Meatpacking District restaurants...check them out here

Share Our Strength and the Food Bank for New York City will share 100% of all funds raised

An online auction of luxury items including gourmet dinners, rare wines and extravagant travel will run September 15 - October 15-you can make donations through August 27

Look for these and other chefs who have supported Share Our Strength over the years as they host events, and participate in live interviews and TV show tapings, burger competitions, dessert tastings, wine dinners and the Grand Tastings: Alton Brown, David Burke, Tom Colicchio, Todd English, Guy Fieri, Duff Goldman, Rachael Ray and more.

This is simply too grand an event to miss and what better way to help end childhood hunger than with thousands of fellow food-and-wine-loving friends.

Make your plans today!

SF Chocolate Seizure Event on 9/11/08

2008-08-28T10:51:16-07:00

CHOCOLATE SEIZURE 2008

Chocolate Tasting & Wine Making Event

September 11th, 2008

6:00pm - 8:30pm

Join us in making the first wine in North America designed to pair fantastically with chocolate

Join Us To Create The Ultimate Chocolate Lovers Wine

TasteTV, producer of Chocolate Television and the International & Luxury Chocolate Salons, has teamed with Crushpad to create the very first wine specifically designed to go pair well with chocolate:

CHOCOLATE SEIZURE 2008

The design team for this one of a kind boutique wine consists of TasteTV, Crushpad winemakers, a panel of top artisan chocolatiers and food & wine journalists, and you - the chocolate lovers -- who will jointly decide on the flavor components that should be blended into the first chocolatiers cult wine:

"Domaine de Taste Amerique: Chocolate Seizure 2008."

Chocolatiers include artisans such as:
- Coco Delice
- Jade Chocolates
- Cosmic Chocolate
- Schoggi,
- TCHO
- The TeaRoom Chocolates
- Saratoga Chocolates
- NEWTREE America - Gourmet Belgian Chocolate

The $40 cover price will include panel participation, chocolate & wine tasting, and a reserved bottle of the Limited Edition red wine: Chocolate Seizure 2008.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Litquake Smut tribute event menu and pics

2008-08-11T21:11:06-07:00

Work Date of Sunday, August 3, 2008

Event Description: Litquake fundraiser with light refreshments for approximately 200-250 guests. All food to be served at room temp until 10 p.m. or when food runs out. Guests arrive at 7:00 pm, show begins at 8:00pm.

Menu: Steamy & Saucy BBQ Pork Sliders, Creamy & Sexy Petite Quiches, Sinful Assorted Cheese and Fruit, Gotta Have It Chocolate Covered Strawberries (dark chocolate with white chocolate drizzles).