Up, Up and Away. Three Chefs tell their stories and recipes about Places that are High or Far Away: Marla Meredith, Telluride CO, https://marlameridith.com/, High Alpine Cuisine; Nevada Berg, Numedal Norway, http://www.northwildkitchen.com/, North Wild Kitchen: Home Cooking from the Heart of Norway; Georgia Freedman, Richmond CA, http://georgiafreedman.com/, Cooking South of the Clouds (Yunnan Province , China).
Today we talk about two iconic & mindful product lines for stylishly processing food & drink: Marie Vavassori-Fundis, Peugeot, Mills & Spices, Wine Opener, Paris, France, http://www.peugeot-saveurs.com/, April Strogen, Capresso, Electric Kettles and Coffee Makers, including the Pour-over Kettle & the Coffee Team Pro Plus https://www.capresso.com/about-capresso.
Three Southern (USA) perspectives: Kathleen Purvis, Journalist & Blogger, Charlottte Observer & http://kathleenpurvis.com/blog/, Distilling the South: A Guide to Southern Craft Liquors; Perre Coleman Magness, Memphis TN, https://www.cookstr.com/users/perre-coleman-magness, Southern Snacks; 77 Recipes for Small Bites with Big Flavors: Sara Foster, Owner, Foster’s Market, Durham NC, https://www.fostersmarket.com/, Pie: a Savor the South Cookbook.
“Spice is Nice” – OTM gets great Insight on how to use Spices in Your Kitchen: Harneet Bawega, Devina Smith & Nirmal Save, Spice Flavor Combinations from the Famous Gunpowder Restaurant, London UK, http://www.gunpowderlondon.com/, Gunpowder: Explosive Flavors from Modern India; Nash Patel & Leda Scheintaub, Owners, Dosa Kitchen Food Truck & Leda’s Kitchen, Brattleboro VT, http://ledaskitchen.com/dosa-kitchen/, Dosa Kitchen: Recipes for India’s Favorite Street Food; Richard Lassale, Founder, Entube, Los Angeles, https://www.entube.la, Creatively Packaged Spice Pastes, in Tubes & Tins.
Rum, the Original Distilled Beverage, is making a Big Comeback. OTM interviews the Author of a Definitive Book, plus three producers of today’s new Style Rums: Wayne Curtis, Contributing Editor, The Atlantic, http://wayne-curtis.squarespace.com/about/, And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in 10 Cocktails (revised & updated); Matt Strickland, Head Distiller, District Distilling, Buzzard Point Barrel-Aged Rum, Washington DC, http://www.district-distilling.com/; Roberto Serralis, Business Development VP, Don Q, Double-Aged Vermouth Cask Finish Rum, Ponce Puerto Rico, https://donq.com/; Kayla Mata, Brand Ambassador, Mount Gay Rum, Barbados, https://www.mountgayrum.com/.
Pittsburgh Area Chefs “Gather” at a Farm Dinner benefiting The Bradley Center, plus insights into cooking fish & perspectives re Seaweed: Tony Verdream, Executive Chef, Pines Tavern, Gibsonia PA, http://www.thepinestavern.com/, & participating Chef in “Gathering of Chefs”, a Farm to Fork Event http://www.thebradleycenter.org/gatheringofchefs/; Joe Gurrera, Owner, Citarella Seafood Shops, NY area, https://www.citarella.com/, Joe Knows Fish: Taking the Intimidation out of Cooking Seafood; Susan Hand Shetterly, Seaweed Expert, Coast of Maine, http://www.susanhandshetterly.com/, Seaweed Chronicles: a World at the Water’s Edge.
What’s going on in the Kitchen? Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, Owners, MediaEats, https://www.mediaeats.com/, The Kitchen Short Cut Bible: More than 200 Recipes to make Real Food Real Fast; Ann Mah, Food & Travel Writer, Washington DC & Paris, http://www.annmah.net/, Instantly French; Mardi Michels, French Teacher & Blogger, Toronto, https://www.eatlivetravelwrite.com, In the French Kitchen with Kids.
Some Foods and their Stories: Robert Schuler, Director of Public Relations, Melissa’s Produce, Los Angeles, https://www.melissas.com/; Vivianna Karamanis, Hellenic Farms, Greece & Roselle NJ, http://www.hellenicfarms.com/; Leslie Bullock, Owner, Cat Island Cookies, Pass Christian MS, https://catislandcookies.com/.
Translating Traditional International Cuisine into Exciting Modern Dishes & Flavors: Jonah Miller & Nate Adler, Partners, Huertas Kitchen & Bar, NYC, www.huertasnyc.com; The New Spanish: Bites Feasts & Drinks; Katrin Bjork, Blogger, Hudson Valley NY. https://modernwifestyle.com/, From The North: A Simple & Modern Approach to Authentic Nordic Cooking; Rawia Bishara, Chef-Owner, Tanoreen, Brooklyn, www.tanoreen.com, Levant: New Middle Eastern Cooking from Tanoreen.
Cheese, Cheese & More Cheese. OTM covers the American Cheese Society Conference & Awards event, recently held in our home city of Pittsburgh. Cheesemakers at the Event, and some of the USA’s Best we met by phone ahead of the Show: David Jablons, Tomales Farmstead Creamery, Tomales CA, http://www.tolumafarms.com/; Kendall Russell, Lark’s Meadow Farms, Rexberg ID, https://www.larksmeadowfarms.com/; Kathryn Spann, Prodigal Farm, Rougemont NC, http://prodigalfarm.com/; Peggy Smith, Co-Founder, Cowgirl Creamery, Pt Reyes & San Francisco CA, https://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/about-us; Katie Fuhrmann, La Clare Family Creamery, Malone WI, https://www.laclarefamilycreamery.com/info; Veronica Baetje, Baetje Farms, Bloomsdale MO, http://baetjefarms.com/
Two Fabulous Restaurants in Barcelona: Chef-Partner Eduard Xatruch, Disfrutar, http://www.disfrutarbarcelona.com/; Chef-Partner Raul Balam, Sous Chef Murlo & Maitre’D Federico, Moments at The Mandarin Oriental, https://www.mandarinoriental.com/barcelona/passeig-de-gracia/fine-dining/restaurants/catalan-cuisine/moments.
Restaurants in Bilbao and vicinity: Roberto& Maria Asua, Co-owners, Andra Mari & Aretxondo, Galdakao, http://www.andra-mari.com/en/ & http://www.aretxondo.com/, also Chef Eskerriik Asko, Margarita Atutxa & Zurine Garcia; Iker Barrenetxea Arando. Chef, Eneko Bilbao, Bilbao www.enekobilbao.restaurant; Daniel Garcia, Chef-Owner, Zortziko, El Viejo Zortzi, Atea, Bilbao, www.zortziko.es, www.viejozortzi.es, www.atearestaurante.com.
On the Menu continues several weeks coverage of Spain’s Culinary scene and World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards--A Week in Bilbao/San Sebastian and another in Barcelona. Listen to: Elena Arzak, Chef-Partner, Arzak, San Sebastian, https://www.arzak.es/; Joana Vasconcelos (Lisbon, Portugal Artist), Food and Art Panelist at Bilbao Guggenheim conference, http://joanavasconcelos.com/index.aspx; Andre Chiang, Chef-Owner, Taipei, Taiwan, http://restaurantandre.com/; J P McMahon, Chef-Partner, Aniar Restaurant, Galway Ireland. http://aniarrestaurant.ie/; Mark Bright, Partner & Sommelier, Saison, San Francisco, www.saisonsf.com; Paolo Casagrande, Chef, Lasarte, Barcelona Spain, https://www.restaurantlasarte.com/, https://www.monumenthotel.com/en/hotel-1/.
On the Menu starts several weeks coverage of Spain’s Culinary Delights and the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards, “Basque Style”--a week in Bilbao-San Sebastian and another in Barcelona. Massimo Bottura, Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, https://www.osteriafrancescana.it/, returns to the Top Spot, and everybody is thrilled, even Spain’s Can Roca, Girona, https://cellercanroca.com/index.htm, which dropped the short distance to #2. For more about 50 Best - https://www.theworlds50best.com/. Eneko Atxa, Chef-owner, Azurmendi, Bilbao, et al, https://azurmendi.restaurant/en, organized a Sustainabilty conference. Listen to his ideas re the world's food supply. Then, Carme Ruscalleda, Chef-Partner, Restaurant San Pau, https://www.ruscalleda.cat/en/, San Pol de Mar, Celebrating 30 Years (& us celebrating our 45th Wedding anniversary), shares her always-forward-thinking concepts.
Kathy Lund, CEO High Plains Bison, Denver CO, www.highplainsbison.com, and National Bison Association, www.bisoncentral.com; Christopher Hirsheimer & Melissa Hamilton, Owners, The Canal House, Milford NJ, www.thecanalhouse.com, What’s new at The Canal House, & working with John & Sukey Jamison on their soon-to-come new Book about their Latrobe PA organic Lamb Farm, https://www.jamisonfarm.com/; Jessica Gavin, Culinary Scientist, Orange County CA, www.jessicagavin.com & www.nutrilite.com, Easy Culinary Science for Better Cooking.
World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards is only 48 hours away. Tune in at https://www.finedininglovers.com/tag/50-best-restaurants. Then today's OTM program--Cheese, Wine & a Guide to NYC “watering holes:”. Nora Weiser, Executive Director, American Cheese Society, Denver CO, www.cheesesociety.org – the Upcoming 2018 Conference in Pittsburgh, July 25-28, 2018; Kathleen Bershad, Wine Educator, Armonk NY, http://finewineconcierge.com/, The Wine Lovers’s Apprentice; John Tebeau, Artist, Bar & Liquor Maven, NYC, https://tebeau.com/, Bars Taverns & Dives New Yorkers Love.
Big Flavors, Ancient & Modern, Cuisines of Different Countries & Cultures. Joan Nathan, Author & Journalist, Washington DC, www.joannathan.com, King Solomon’s Table; Chef Hari Nayak, Café Spice, Indian, Prepared Meals, 2018 winner of Gold Sofi Awards, Hudson Valley NY, www.cafespice.com; Adam Fleischman, Owner, Umami Burger & 800 Degrees Pizza (40 locations), www.umamiburger.com, Flavor Bombs: The Umami Ingredients That Make Taste Explode.
Two Great Ladies of the culinary world share life experiences, history and kitchen secrets: Chef & Food Writer Anissa Helou, London, UK & Trapani, Sicily, http://www.anissas.com/, Feast: Food of the Islamic World; Chef-Restaurateur, TV Personality & Author Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, Long Island NY, https://www.biography.com/people/lidia-bastianich, http://lidiasitaly.com/, My American Dream: A Life of Love Family & Food.
The Scoop on the 2018 World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards: William Drew of William Reed Business Media, Founders & Organizers. Now in its 16th Year, the 50Best will run in Spain’s Basque Country, June 17-19 https://www.theworlds50best.com/blog/News/save-the-date-worlds-50-best-bilbao.html. Then, Isabel Cruz, Chef-Owner, Isabel’s Cantina, San Diego, http://isabelscantinasd.com/, The Latin Table; and Tom Rogan, Co-Owner, Goodnow Farms, Sudbury MA, www.goodnowfarms.com, Makers of exqusite Single Origin Bean-to-Bar Chocolate.
Looking South—first, delicious traditions of The South USA, then reinvigorating vital Agrarian Roots in Georgia; and, finally, a Dietary Marvel to know about from “South of the Border:” Virginia Willis, Author & Journalist, Atlanta GA, http://virginiawillis.com/; Secrets of the Southern Table; Will & Jenni Harris, Owners, White Oak Pastures, Bluffton GA, www.whiteoakpastures.com, Organic & All-Natural Meats and Vegetables, including Iberico Hogs finished on Pecans & Peanuts; Adriana Gomez, Founder, Salviana, Importer & Distributor, Raw Maguey Sap from Mexico - Sweetener, Prebiotic & Probiotic, Los Angeles, www.salviana.com.
The 2018 James Beard Awards – some new themes &, as always, exciting winners. Then, listen to a woman who founded a successful career in Cheese, and one with the ultimate expertise in Pressure Cooking: Michele Buster, Founder, Forever Cheese, Long Island City NY, www.forevercheese.com; Laura Pazzaglia, Rome, Italy, www.hipcooking.com, HIP Pressure Cooking. Finally, to all you Mothers out there, have a Happy, Happy, Happy Day.
This week we’re in an Imbibing State of Mind. First, Michter’s, founded in 18th Century Pennsylvania, is back in a big way with a 10-Year-aged Bourbon. Next, an American ”Italophile” explains that country’s Cocktail Culture. Finally, who knew about Wine made in Garages: Pamela Heilmann, Master Distiller, & Andrea Wilson, Master of Maturation, Michter’s, Louisville KY, https://michters.com/; Annette Jospeph, Lover of All Things Italian, Rome Italy, www.annettejosephstyle.com, Cocktail Italiano; Doug Minnick, Founder & Partner, Garagiste Wine Festival, May 12, 2018, Sonoma CA, https://www.sonomacounty.com/sonoma-events/garagiste-wine-festival-sonoma.
Gearing up for the 2018 James Beard Awards, including conversations with two finalists, pplus an Indispensable Resource cataloging Chef’s' “little black books." This year’s James Beard Awards return to Chicago, May 7. We chat about what these awards are all about, and how you can join in the fun. Details at https://www.jamesbeard.org/awards/tickets. Note that the Media Awards were in NYC April 29 were sold out. Today's OTM: Clare De Boer, Chef Partner, King, NYC, Finalist for Rising Star Chef, www.kingrestaurantnyc.com; Zachary Golper, Founder & Owner, Bien Cuit, NYC, Finalist for Best Baker, http://www.biencuit.com/; Joshua David Stein, Editor for The Americas, Where Chefs Eat – 3rd Edition & App, http://www.phaidon.com/store/food-cook/where-chefs-eat-9780714875651/.
Books to really cook from: Justin Chapple of Mad Genius Tips, http://www.justinchapple.com/, Just Cook It; Siri Daly, http://siriouslydelicious.blogspot.com/, Siriously Delicious: 100 Nutritious (and not so Nutritious) Simple Recipes for Real Home Cooks; Debbie Moose, Raleigh NC, www.debbiemoose.com, Carolina Catch: Cooking North Carolina Fish & Shellfish from Mountains to Coast.
Don’t forget to File your Tax Return by Monday. Alison Clare Steingold, Los Angeles, https://alisonsteingold.contently.com/, The LA Cookbook: Recipes from the Best Restaurants Bakeries & Bars in Los Angeles; Georgeanne Brennan, http://georgeannebrennan.com/., Windows on Provence: Musings on the Food, Wine and Culture of the South of France; Chris Nathan, Founder & CEO, Cocavo, Whangarei, NZ, www.cocavo,com, Combining Coconut & Avocado for Cooking Oils.
