New Year's Herb Gougere

Gougere are the savory equivalent of profiteroles (cream puffs). They can be filled with purees, cheese, or any other savory ingredient you can think of. The recipe below is great for a New Years Eve get together, or impromptu cocktails because you don't fill them and the choux pastry must be kept frozen prior to baking; out of the freezer and into the oven. Voila!

Make them larger and served filled with chevre and chive soft scrambled eggs for a fabulous breakfast treat!

1 1/4 cup water

1 1/4 stocks unsalted butter (10 Tbsp)

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp salt

5 fresh eggs

1/4 cup grated good quality Parmesan (not found in canister!!!)

1 cup shredded gruyere

1 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme

1/2 tsp finely chopped rosemary

Egg Wash:

1 large fresh egg beaten well with

2 tsp of cold water

In a medium saucepan, bring the water, butter and salt to boil.

Remove the pan from the heat and add in the flour.

Return the pan to the burner on medium-high heat.

Stir immediately until batter pulls away from the sides of the pan.

Next, scrape flour batter into the bowl of a standing mixer, and begin to add the eggs one-by-one. Each egg should be fully incorporated into the batter before adding the next. (If you don't have a standing mixer, it's okay to add the eggs one-by-one into the sauce pan and incorporate using a hand mixer. You can hand mix as well, but your arm will get tired!)

After all the eggs have been added, add the grated cheese and herbs. Beat until incorporated.

On a parchment-lined sheet pan, using a pastry bag pipe the batter into 2-inch rounds, 2-inches apart. A small melon scoop or table spoon may also be used.

Put your sheet pan with the pastry into the freezer and freeze savory puffs.

To bake, preheat the over to 450 degrees.

Prepare the egg wash.

Egg wash the puffs straight from the freezer.

Back for 20 minutes (rotating the pan once) and then reduce heat to 400 degrees and bake about 30 minutes more until puffed and golden.

Recipe makes 30 small savory puffs

Emma's Egg Nog

As always, the holidays have snuck up again. This Autumn was a blur that included travel to London, then Singapore and before I knew it temperatures were dropping and it was time for holiday shopping. There has been no shortage of discovering new places to eat, and I promise in the New Year I'll write about the restaurants I visited this fall.

But right now, I want to take a moment during the holiday frenzy to remember Christmas' past by sharing the recipe for Emma's Egg Nog.

The first time I tasted it was after a Christmas morning foxhunt. I had arrived at my best friend's home for her infamous English Christmas Dinner of smoked salmon, roasted potatoes, turkey, Yorkshire pudding, roasted parsnips...oh the menu goes on and on!!! Still dressed in my boots, breeches and hunt coat with my hair mashed down from riding cap, I was handed a punch cup straight away as I walked in the front door. It was full of the fluffy, rich, decadent, dessert goodness I came to know as Emma's Egg Nog. And just like the holidays, this recipe WILL sneak up on you!

1 pint Bourbon

1 pint Dark Rum

6 eggs separated

2 1/2 cups sugar

2 pints whipping cream

1 pint whole milk

nutmeg, cinnamon, all spice

Whisk egg yolks and sugar until fluffy. Slowly add alcohol. In a separate blow, whisk egg whites. In another bowl, whisk cream until fluffy. Fold all three bowls together, add spices to taste and milk. Sprinkle top with fresh grated nutmeg and Cinnamon.

La Boucherie

Strolling through colorful rows of just picked produce where the local soil still muddies the roots is a favorite weekend past time. Parking lots and streets are closed to traffic allowing friends and neighbors of each Seattle neighborhood to shop for the fresh ingredients Western Washington farms have to offer.

Sea Breeze Farm, located on Vashon Island, is one of those farms. Their farm raised meats, dairy, eggs, cheeses, wines and prepared foods are not only available at the multiple area farmer's markets, but in a farm to fork experience at La Boucherie.
A brief ferry ride from West Seattle to Vashon, then a quick jaunt up the main road brings hungry patrons to an unassuming and comfortable restaurant-butcher shop.

Restaurant Manager, Charcutier, and Winemaker Matt Lawrence, greeted us and led us to our outdoor table. For wine we ordered two of the farm's own wines, Sweetbread Cellars Cock's Red - a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Verdot, Malbec from Meek Vineyards - and the Sweetbread Cellars Fetish- a blend of Meek Vineyards Syrah and Klipsun Vineyards Syrah.

For our dinner, we asked for a chef's selection. We enjoyed two styles of the farm's pate and their accompaniments of smokey African inspired spreads, a chilled tomato consume - white not red in its colour - with a paper thin slice of lime, followed by the farm's lamb and pork with a side of gently sauteed country greens and pastry for dessert.

The dishes were simple, but not expected. The chef's innovative approach to a clean, comforting flavor progression not only showcased the farm's freshest of ingredients, but also showed fresh new thought in the farm to fork approach. Remember to phone for reservations if you want to guarantee yourself a table.

Find out more about the day-to-day life on Seabreeze farm and the latest dinner menu by visiting Matt's blog.

Charleston Wine & Food Festival

I've been around the world and have tasted food from a lot of places. There's isn't another place in the U.S., that puts more heart and soul into their food than the South. Especially the low country. If you've never had low country cuisine and want to see its past, present and future, than mark Sept. 3 on your calendar and plan to head to Charleston, South Carolina. On September 3, tickets go on sale for the Charleston Wine & Food Festival . Charleston is a timeless southern gem; the perfect place to host some of the nation's best chef's and wine professionals.

Copper River Salmon Dinner

Foodies in the Pacific Northwest, if they love fish, go crazy when Copper River Salmon season arrives. So when I was invited to a fresh Copper River Salmon wine dinner, I jumped at chance to experience what all the hype was about.

Upon my first bite of the King and Sockeye - WOW! We all know fresh is best, but after experiencing the succulent, rich flavors and texture of the different types of salmon, I don't think I will ever eat Salmon "out of season" again.

The dinner didn't feature Coho Salmon. Coho, with the most delicate flavors of all the Copper River Salmon, its season doesn't begin until August. So, to get us started, the first course was a seared Washington Ling Cod with local asparagus, topped with tobiko hollandaise and chive blossoms. The tender fish paired nicely with a 2006 Bridgman Yakima white wine.

Our second course - and my favorite - was a roasted Copper River Sockeye Salmon on top of braised rhubarb and a shiso vinaigrette. Loving red wine, I was happy that the roasted Sockeye paired with a 2006 Van Duzer Pinot Noir. When tasting the Van Duzer Pinot on its own, the wine was a bit boring, but the roasted flavor of the fish and the sweet-tartness of the rhubarb allowed the the dried cherry finish to linger a bit longer on the tongue.

A peppercorn crusted Copper River King Salmon, on top of a Dungeness Crab filled herb crepe and Cascade Morel ragout was our entree. It was delicious! The chef should have saved the crab for a separate dish. The crab was lost in the the spicy pepper, robust fish and meaty flavors in the morel ragout. All were lovely and a perfect match for a 2006 Glen Fiona Syrah.

The intermezzo and dessert aren't important - the Salmon was the star!

Wine Blogger Conference Sold Out

The 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference has sold out with more than 250 participants registered! If you're still interested, get on their waiting list.

The July 24-26 The 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference for North America will take place in Sonoma and Napa Counties. This three day symposium is a unique forum leveraging the power of social networking. It allows for your average blogger like me, to meet with industry insiders to discuss the combination of wine with the world of new media including blogging, social media, Twitter, you name it.

Here's a look at the event flow:

On Friday, July 24th registration starts at noon and runs through 2:00 PM. After you have registered, meet all the fabulous sponsors one-on-one in the Sponsor Room. Here you will have the opportunity to taste wines from a select group of Wine Sponsors in addition to meeting and learning more about other Sponsors and their products and services.
Lunch will be the Flamingo courtesy of Sonoma Vintners and the Sonoma Winegrape Commission.

Live Wine Blogging: Bloggers will taste, review, and blog or Tweet about wines, all while hearing directly from the vintners themselves. The conference will be divided into small groups of 10-12 participants and each winery will have five minutes to pour, give a short explanation of the wine, and answer questions. Bloggers will then have one minute to record their thoughts (live) while the wineries rotate to the next table. It’s a fast process (although slower than speed dating) but this format allows winemakers and conference participants the opportunity to interact in a small group setting. The format will be similar to but much improved upon last year!

2009 Wine Blog Awards: We will hold an awards presentation of the 2009 Wine Blog Awards, followed by a Q&A with these industry leaders. Learn from the best!
Grand Tasting of Sonoma Wines: We will have a Grand Tasting of a variety of Sonoma wines set up in the main ballroom, allowing participants to roam, taste, and review as they wish.
Dinner at the Flamingo with Keynote Speaker Chris Alden: Dinner is sponsored by Sonoma County Tourism and the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers, with wine provided by wineries in the Sonoma Valley AVA. Our keynote speaker is Chris Alden, who has a rich history founding companies in the online media space. Before joining Six Apart in September 2006, he was Co-founder and CEO of Rojo Networks, Inc., an Internet company dedicated to helping information consumers effectively manage dynamic content. Before founding Rojo, he was Co-founder and a former CEO of Red Herring Communications, Inc., which was launched in 1993. Today, Six Apart has enabled millions of individuals, media companies and enterprises to create blogs and form rich, interactive communities.
After Hours Parties: We will have after-hours parties on both Friday and Saturday nights at the Flamingo this year. Friday will be hosted by Russian River Valley Winegrowers with excellent wines supplied by the vintners from that region of Sonoma County. Saturday will be your opportunity to sample Portuguese wines provided by ViniPortugal and meet the folks at our partner conference, the European Wine Bloggers Conference.
Saturday Keynote Speaker: Barry Schuler: Barry’s multimedia firm Medior created interactive technologies for AOL; after Medior was acquired by AOL, Barry worked his way up to be Chairman and CEO of that company. Today, as managing director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, he’s funding next-thing projects in the tech world. Barry also serves on the board of Synthetic Geonomics and is CEO of Raydiance, which is developing laser technology for healthcare use. He and wife Tracy co-own Meteor Vineyard, located in the Coombsville region of the Napa Valley, with winemakers Bill and Darnine Dyer.
Saturday Keynote Speaker: Jim Gordon: We will have not one but two Keynote Speakers on Saturday morning. Jim Gordon will talk about The Future of Wine Writing and Blogging. Jim has been covering the wine industry as a reporter and editor for more than 25 years. He credits his stint with the St. Helena Star in the 1980s for introducing him to the wine business and many of its emerging stars. He then went on to be managing editor of Wine Spectator for 12 years and is currently editor of Wines & Vines.
Napa Saturday: We will spend an entire day in Napa Valley, treated to some amazing events by our partners, Napa Valley Vintners. The day includes transportation from and back to the Flamingo Resort, lunch, dinner, a Napa Grand Tasting, panel sessions with Napa Vintners, and a discussion of the environmental issues of winemaking. This is a great day to gather material for your blog and to meet many of the key winemakers of Napa Valley. More info on panel discussions to come soon.
Discussion About 2010 Conference: We will wrap up this year’s conference by asking you what you think about next year’s format, activities, tastings, etc.
Vineyard Walks: On Sunday afternoon conference co-organizer Zephyr Wine Adventures will offer Vineyard Walks in Dry Creek Valley. These walks were the highest-rated activity from last year’s conference, so don’t plan to miss this if you are still in the area. The walks will run from 2:00 to 4:30 PM and include a winemaker-led walk and lunch. Walks will take place at Quivira, Michel-Schlumberger, and Montemaggiore wineries. We will coordinate rides with participants and provide transportation if necessary. See www.SonomaVineyardWalks.com for details.
Breakout Sessions
The Sunday breakout sessions will be presentations by industry professionals who are experts on blogging and social media. We have specifically include content geared towards both bloggers and those in the wine industry who wish to begin learning about how to use blogging and social media. There will be two 40-minute sessions running simultaneously (you need to choose which to attend) for three periods in a row. These sessions are subject to change.
9:00 AM: Legalities of Blogging
9:00 AM: Facebook, Twitter, and Other Social Media for Wine Businesses
9:45 AM: Monetization of Your Blog
9:45 AM: Creating a Social Network for Your Winery or Wine Business
10:30 AM: Beyond Words: How Video Content is Changing the Wine World
10:30 AM: Search Engine Optimization, Traffic Building, and Blogs

The agenda information has been taken directly from the Conference Web site and may change.

Foodie Networking

“Foodportunity”
To Connect Seattle's Vibrant Food Community

Seattle, June 8, 2009: The inaugural “Foodportunity,” a networking event for Seattle food professionals, will take place July 22, 2009, from 6-9 pm at Palace Ballroom in downtown Seattle.

Tom Douglas, awarded National Restaurant of theYear by Bon Appetit magazine & James Beard-award nominee, will provide his Palace Ballroom facilities to host the event, organized by Seattle food blogger Keren Brown. It will feature appetizers from Seattle's most talked about restaurants, the chance to network with food company representatives, a panel discussion on the topic of new media, as well as a “speed networking” event for the first 40 people to sign up.

The Q&A session on new media will be lead by editor Mina Williams (Northwest Stir) and will feature several of Seattle's best-known writers and bloggers: Nancy Leson (Seattle Times), Rebekeh Denn (formerly of the Seattle PI), Matthew Amster-Burton (Hungry Monkey) and Ronald Holden (Cornichon).

Appetizers will come from several sources, including Tom Douglas' restaurants along with a line up of Seattle gems such as Rovers, Andaluca, Olivar, Art of the Table, Dinette, Maximus Minimus and Serafina. Columbia Crest and Vin Du Lac wineries will pour their wines and other beverages will be available for purchase. A range of food products will be on display.

Foodportunity is open to food journalists, bloggers, public relations professionals, restaurateurs, farmers and all food-passionate people. Admission is $25 which includes bites and two glasses of wine (plus tax and fees). Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com. Space is limited. Palace Ballroom is located at 2100 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle. More information at www.foodportunity.com.


About Keren Brown, aka Frantic Foodie.

Keren has been organizing the Seattle Food Blogger events for the last two years. Every month she helps bloggers create lasting contacts and connections. Keren's food events information can be found at Frantic Foodie at SeattlePI.com, FranticFoodie.com and at MyNorthwest.com

Foodportunity Schedule

6:00-6:30 pm: Meet and greet, snacks provided by a selection of food companies

6:30-7:30 pm: Reaching Consumers Through New Media
Learn how to communicate your Message effectively Through Blogs, Twitter and Facebook
Q&A session
Moderator: Mina Williams, editor of Northwest Stir, Industry news of the Northwest for culinary professionals

Panelists:
- Nancy Leson, Seattle Times Food Writer and KPLU food commentator
- Rebekah Denn, James Beard Award winning food writer, formerly from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- Matthew Amster-Burton, food writer, author of Hungry Monkey and contributor for Gourmet magazine.
- Ronald Holden, food writer and creator of Cornichon.org, named among the Top 10 food blogs according to GourmetFood about.com

7:30 – 9:00 pm: Networking time, raffle prizes and bites from Seattle restaurants. Food companies will provide booths and snacks as well.

8:30- 9:00 pm: An optional "speed networking" session for the first 40 to sign up led by Rachel Belle, food writer and former KIRO radio restaurant reporter.

Media Contact: Keren Brown
Keren Brown Media
(425) 614-8399
kerenlovestocook@gmail.com

Off the Beaten Path in Napa Valley

My first trip to Napa Valley was when I was 14-years-old. My family was living in Northern California and one day, my parents decided to pack the car and spend the afternoon in wine country. Now, I can pretend that it was a fabulous experience, remark on the beauty of the valley, the great places we ate and so on. But, the only memories I have of that particular day are eating white paper wrapped sandwiches, sipping fruit tea outside a little market and my sister and I stealing sips of wine than from our parents during the wine tours.

I have been back numerous times since then, watching some wineries go from small construction trailer tasting rooms, to large stucco Tuscan villa replicas. My appreciation for the valley and its wine has grown with each visit just as the traffic now choking the once quite roads of the Silverado Trail and St. Helena Highway. While most of the valley is now chasing the tourist trade, selling magnet sets that match your wine label, don't let this scare you. Napa hasn't gone completely commercial. If you want a quiet, more personal approach for your visit, it does exist. Just ask Mike Hendry of Hendry Vineyards, Ted at Spring Mountain, Barbara at Forman Vineyards or even Janet Viader of Viader. Not only do they represent some of the best wines from the valley, their hospitality and personal attention their customers demonstrates their passion for their trade.

On a recent trip, we had the opportunity to experience this passion firsthand. Our first stop was a private tasting at Hendry Vineyard, a small estate winery on the southwest side of the valley. We were greeted by Mike Hendry, who walked us out to the vineyard to talk about his family's history of farming in the valley. We then headed inside through the back of the building, where we spied the winemaker, tasting from the barrel. This inspired an impromptu barrel tasting with his grandfather. We then went into the formal tasting room for a one-on-one sit down tasting of several of their wines. As we sipped our wines, Mike reflected on his family's philosophy of wine making. Aside from the fantastic zinfandel, what was most impressive was how candid he was about his curiosity to explore innovations in wine making, while not wanting to compromise the quality of what makes Hendry wines, well, Hendry wines.

Our second day included a private visit to Spring Mountain Vineyard. It had been raining non-stop in the valley prior to our trip. Everyone was happy the sun was finally out. Upon our arrival at Spring Mountain that day, Ted, wine club manager for the winery, grabbed a few bottles of Spring Mountain wines and asked us if we wanted to go for a ride around the vineyard. Of course no one objected. The four of us and Ted climbed into his Land Rover and we four wheeled to the top of the mountain. The wines were as amazing as the views of the vineyard. When we came back down the mountain, Ted took us into the cave for a private barrel tasting and allowed each of us the opportunity to use the wine thief. Only a few dribbles on my sleeve until I got the hang of it.

Our third day included a tasting at Forman Vineyards and Viader. I'd tasted the Forman Cabernet before, and absolutely loved its rich European style. I was excited to get an inside look at the vineyard. Tucked up in the hills and off the beaten path of the Silverado Trail side of the valley, Forman was difficult to find, but it didn't disappoint once we were there. Barbara our host opened the wooden gate, hopped in her car and we followed behind in what felt like a Formula 1 grand prix style dissent down a windy road leading to the wine cave. We were allowed into the private cave. We then crossed the small courtyard and sat down in the intimate tasting room inside what resembled a french stone cottage. Barbara casually poured wine in our glasses while sharing the story of what led Ric Forman to produce of the best little-known, but quickly becoming one of the most sought after, Cabernets of Napa Valley. Ric is literally a one-man band when it comes to his winery. Call him controlling, call him passionate, he doesn't care. What he cares about is his wine. We explored several other wineries, but these in particular stood out when it came to combining great wines with personal attention. We felt as though we weren't just one of the many, but special guests.

2009 James Beard Winners Announced

Winners have been announced for the 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards, the nation's most prestigious recognition program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industries. During a ceremony hosted by Cat Cora, Emeril Lagasse and Stanley Tucci at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, awards in 38 categories were presented, including Restaurant and Chef, Book, Design and Graphics, and special achievement awards. Industry leaders from across the country attended this year's highly-anticipated festivities, which celebrated "Women in Food" and included a post-show Gala Reception featuring some of the nation's top female chefs, sommeliers, mixologists and artisanal producers, led by Gala Chair Lidia Matticchio Bastianich.

OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR AWARD
A working restaurateur who sets high national standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for at least 10 years. Candidates must not have been nominated for a James Beard Foundation chef award in the past 10 years.

Drew Nieporent

Myriad Restaurant Group, NYC

OUTSTANDING CHEF AWARD
Presented by All-Clad MetalcraftersA working chef in America whose career has set national industry standards and who has served as an inspiration to other food professionals. Candidates must have been working as chefs for at least the past 5 years.

Dan Barber

Blue Hill, NYC

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT AWARD
A restaurant in the United States that serves as a national standard-bearer for consistent quality and excellence in food, atmosphere, and service. Candidates must have been in operation for at least 10 or more consecutive years.

Jean Georges NYC

Chef/ Owner: Jean-Georges Vongerichten

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR AWARD
A chef age 30 or younger who displays an impressive talent and who is likely to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

Nate Appleman

A16, San Francisco

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Presented by LexusA restaurant opened in 2008 that already displays excellence in food, beverage, and service and is likely to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

Momofuku Ko, NYC

Chef/Owner: David Chang

OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF AWARD
Presented by All-Clad MetalcraftersA chef or baker who prepares desserts, pastries, or breads and who serves as a national standard-bearer for excellence. Candidates must have been pastry chefs or bakers for at least the past 5 years.

Gina DePalma

Babbo, NYC

OUTSTANDING WINE SERVICE AWARD
A restaurant that displays and encourages excellence in wine service through a well-presented wine list, a knowledgeable staff, and efforts to educate customers about wine. Candidates must have been in operation for at least 5 years.

Le Bernardin

NYC Wine Director: Aldo Sohm

OUTSTANDING WINE AND SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL AWARD
Presented by Southern Wine & SpiritsA winemaker, brewer, or spirits professional who has had a significant impact on the wine and spirits industry nationwide. Candidates must have been in the profession for at least 5 years.

Dale DeGroff

Dale DeGroff Co., Inc. NYC

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD
Presented by Stella ArtoisA restaurant that demonstrates high standards of hospitality and service. Candidates must have been in operation for at least the past 5 years.

Daniel NYC

Owners: Daniel Boulud and Joel Smilow

BEST CHEFS IN AMERICA
Presented by American Express®Chefs who have set new or consistent standards of excellence in their respective regions. Candidates must have been working as chefs in any type of dining establishment for at least the past 5 years. The 3 most recent years must have been spent in the region where the chef is presently working.

Best Chef: Pacific (CA, HI)
Douglas Keane, Cyrus Healdsburg, CA

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (D.C., DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)
Jose Garces, Amada, Philadelphia

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)
Tim McKee, La Belle Vie, Minneapolis

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)
Michael Symonm, Lola, Cleveland

Best Chef: New York City (Five Boroughs)
Gabriel Kreuther, The Modern

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY STATE, RI, VT)
Rob Evans, Hugo's, Portland, ME

Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)
Marie Hines, Tilth, Seattle

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
Mike Lata, Fig, Charleston, SC

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT)
Paul Bartolotta, Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at Wynn Las Vegas

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS)
John Currence,City Grocery,Oxford, MS

About the James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and nurturing America's culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence. A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, James Beard, who died in 1985, was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. Today, the Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships to culinary schools, and publications, and by maintaining the historic James Beard House in New York City's Greenwich Village as a performance space for visiting chefs. For more information, please visit www.jamesbeard.org.
Source: The James Beard Foundation

2009 James Beard Foundation Awards Nominees

2009 James Beard Foundation Award Nominees!

Restaurant and Chef Awards
OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR AWARD
A working restaurateur who sets high national standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for at least 10 years. Candidates must not have been nominated for a James Beard Foundation chef award in the past 10 years.

Tom Douglas, Tom Douglas Restaurants,Seattle
Keith McNally, Balthazar, Lucky Strike, Morandi, Pastis, Pravda, and Schiller's Liquor Bar, NYC
Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Chicago
Drew Nieporent, Myriad Restaurant Group, NYC
Stephen Starr, Starr Restaurants, Philadelphia

OUTSTANDING CHEF AWARD
Presented by All-Clad MetalcraftersA working chef in America whose career has set national industry standards and who has served as an inspiration to other food professionals. Candidates must have been working as chefs for at least the past 5 years.

José Andrés, Minibar, Washington, D.C.
Dan Barber, Blue Hill, NYC
Tom Colicchio, Craft, NYC
Suzanne Goin, Lucques, Los Angeles
Paul Kahan, Blackbird, Chicago

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT AWARD
A restaurant in the United States that serves as a national standard-bearer for consistent quality and excellence in food, atmosphere, and service. Candidates must have been in operation for at least 10 or more consecutive years.

Babbo, NYC, Chef/Owner: Mario BataliOwner: Joe Bastianich
Boulevard, San Francisco, Chef/Owner: Nancy OakesOwner: Pat Kuleto
Fore Street, Portland, ME, Chef/Owner: Sam Hayward Owner: Victor Leon and Dana Street
Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham, AL, Chef/Owner: Frank Stitt
Jean Georges, NYC, Chef/Owner: Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Owner: Phil Suarez

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR AWARD
A chef age 30 or younger who displays an impressive talent and who is likely to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

Nate Appleman, A16, San Francisco
Sean Brock, McCrady's, Charleston, SC
Johnny Monis, Komi, Washington, D.C.
Gabriel Rucker, Le Pigeon, Portland, OR
Michael Solomonov, Zahav, Philadelphia
Sue Zemanick, Gautreau's, New Orleans

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Presented by LexusA restaurant opened in 2008 that already displays excellence in food, beverage, and service and is likely to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

The Bazaar by José Andrés at SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Chef/Owner: José AndrésOwners: SBE
Corton, NYC, Chef/Owner: Paul Liebrandt, Owner: Drew Nieporent
L2O, ChicagoChef: Laurent Gras, Owner: Richard Melman
Momofuku Ko, NYC, Chef/Owner: David Chang
Scarpetta, NYC, Chef/Owner: Scott Conant

OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF AWARD
Presented by All-Clad MetalcraftersA chef or baker who prepares desserts, pastries, or breads and who serves as a national standard-bearer for excellence. Candidates must have been pastry chefs or bakers for at least the past 5 years.
Gina DePalma, Babbo, NYC
Kamel Guechida, Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Pichet, OngP*ong, NYC
Nicole Plue, Redd, Yountville, CA
Mindy Segal, Mindy's Hot Chocolate, Chicago

OUTSTANDING WINE SERVICE AWARD
A restaurant that displays and encourages excellence in wine service through a well-presented wine list, a knowledgeable staff, and efforts to educate customers about wine. Candidates must have been in operation for at least 5 years.

Bin 36, Chicago, Wine Director: Brian Duncan
Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN Wine Director: Andy Chabot
Le Bernardin, NYC, Wine Director: Aldo Sohm
Patina, Los Angeles, Wine Director: Eric Espuny
Picasso at Bellagio, Las Vegas, Wine Director: Robert Smith

OUTSTANDING WINE AND SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL AWARD
Presented by Southern Wine & SpiritsA winemaker, brewer, or spirits professional who has had a significant impact on the wine and spirits industry nationwide. Candidates must have been in the profession for at least 5 years.

Dale DeGroff, Dale DeGroff Co., Inc., NYC
Merry Edwards, Merry Edwards Wines, Sebastopol, CA
Garrett Oliver, The Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, NY
John Shafer and Doug Shafer, Shafer Vineyards, Napa, CA
Julian P. Van Winkle, IIIOld Rip Van Winkle Distillery, Louisville, KY

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD
Presented by Stella ArtoisA restaurant that demonstrates high standards of hospitality and service. Candidates must have been in operation for at least the past 5 years.

Daniel, NYC Owners: Daniel Boulud and Joel Smilow
Emeril's New Orleans, New Orleans Owner: Emeril Lagasse
La Grenouille, NYC, Owners: Charles Masson and Giséle Masson
Spiaggia, Chicago, Owner: Levy Restaurants
Vetri, Philadelphia, Owners: Marc Vetri and Jeff Benjamin

BEST CHEFS IN AMERICA
Presented by American Express®Chefs who have set new or consistent standards of excellence in their respective regions. Candidates must have been working as chefs in any type of dining establishment for at least the past 5 years. The 3 most recent years must have been spent in the region where the chef is presently working.

Best Chef: Pacific (CA, HI)
Jeremy Fox, Ubuntu, Napa, CA
Douglas Keane, Cyrus, Healdsburg, CA
Loretta Keller, Coco 500, San Francisco
David Kinch, Manresa, Los Gatos, CA
Daniel Patterson, Coi, San Francisco

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (D.C., DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)
Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA
Jose Garces, Amada, Philadelphia
Peter Pastan, Obelisk, Washington, D.C.
Maricel Presilla, Cucharamama, Hoboken, NJ
Vikram Sunderam, Rasika, Washington, D.C.

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)
Isaac Becker, 112 Eatery, Minneapolis
Gerard Craft, Niche, St. Louis, MO
Colby Garrelts, Bluestem, Kansas City, MO
Tim McKee, La Belle Vie, Minneapolis
Alexander Roberts, Restaurant Alma, Minneapolis

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)
Koren Grieveson, Avec, Chicago
Arun Sampanthavivat, Arun's, Chicago
Bruce Sherman, North Pond, Chicago
Michael Symon, Lola, Cleveland
Alex Young, Zingerman's Roadhouse, Ann Arbor, MI

Best Chef: New York City (Five Boroughs)
Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern
Terrance Brennan, Picholine
Wylie Dufresne, WD-50
Gabrielle Hamilton, Prune
Gabriel Kreuther, The Modern

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY STATE, RI, VT)
Rob Evans, Hugo's, Portland, ME
Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier, Arrows, Ogunquit, ME
Michael Leviton, Lumiére, West Newton, MA
Tony Maws, Craigie on Main, Cambridge, MA
Marc Orfaly, Pigalle, Boston

Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)
Maria Hines, Tilth, Seattle
Joseba Jiménez de Jiménez, The Harvest Vine, Seattle
Ethan Stowell, Union, Seattle
Cathy Whims, Nostrana, Portland, OR
Jason Wilson, Crush, Seattle

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
Hugh Acheson, Five and Ten, Athens, GA
Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta
Mike Lata, Fig, Charleston, SC
Bill Smith, Crook's Corner, Chapel Hill, NC
Bob Waggoner, Charleston Grill, Charleston, SC

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT)
Paul Bartolotta, Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at Wynn, Las Vegas
Sharon Hage, York Street, Dallas
Ryan Hardy, Montagna at the Little Nell, Aspen, CO
Claude Le Tohic, Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Andrew Weissman, Le Rêve, San Antonio

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS)
Zach Bell, Café Boulud at the Brazilian Court, Palm Beach, FL
John Currence, City Grocery, Oxford, MS
John Harris, Lilette, New Orleans
Douglas Rodriguez, OlaMiami Beach, FL
Michael Schwartz, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, Miami

Outstanding in the Field

Seattle is once again a featured city on the Outstanding in the Field dining series!

If you haven't heard about Outstanding in the Field, it is must for those who enjoy the 'farm t0 table' experience. Outstanding in the Field is a roving culinary adventure traveling from state-to-state. The experience begins with a tour of the location - typically a local farm - then guests join farmers, producers, culinary artisans, and share the seasonally fresh meal set at long table. The table is typically located outdoors at farms or gardens, on mountain tops or in sea caves, on islands or at ranches. Occasionally the it is set indoors: a beautiful refurbished barn, a cool greenhouse or a stately museum. Wherever the location, the consistent theme of each dinner is to honor the people whose good work brings nourishment to the table. Ingredients for the meal are almost all local and from the featured farm. Meals are generally prepared by a celebrated chef of the region.

Outstanding in the Field has come a long way since 1999 when founder Jim Denevan first started convincing people it was valuable and interesting to dine 'out in a field' with the farmers. Even in the midst of economic difficulty, or perhaps even more so because of it, people want to get out there, take a look around, celebrate farmers and farming and sit together to share a meal.

Information about the 2009 Outstanding in the Field tour schedule is now available on their events page. On Friday, March 20th at 9 am PST/12 pm EST you can purchase tickets on the events page of the Web site. Last year events sold out very quickly.

Springhill - West Seattle

I can't believe I didn't have to purchase a plane ticket to enjoy this amazing meal! Chicago, New York, Napa Valley, San Francisco and now West Seattle. Yes, on my list of places where I find chefs who are fresh, adventurous, and deliver culinary perfection, I'm adding my own backyard. Seriously, Springhill is that great. The food - the service - the ambiance were beyond perfect in this little restaurant with an unassuming front on California Avenue. From the moment we arrived, there was an enthusiastic rhythm in the air. You could tell the staff loved their craft, were proud of their work and wanted to share it all with their dinner guests.

After looking over the wine card full of unexpected regional bottles and peppered with a few European classics, we ordered the Scott Paul Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley. It paired perfectly with our meals. I ordered the crispy veal sweat breads to start, followed by the Kumamoto Oysters on the half shell. Just as our waiter explained, the oyster liquor was a savory medium brine and we literally could taste the freshness of the Pacific Northwest in our mouths. For my main course, I opted for the rainbow trout from the Snake River in Idaho. The trout was seared with brown butter and served on top of pan fried pumpkin cakes, toasted hazelnuts and parsley. The layering of savory flavors was delicate and each complimented the other in a harmonious pattern on the palette. For dessert, we choose a selection of three Washington state cheeses: an Estrella creamery, Dominoes from Montesano, Wa. made from raw cow ’ s milk; a Monteillet Fromagerie, Sauveterre from Dayton, Wa. made from sheep's milk; and a Mt. Townsend Creamery, Cirrus from Port Townsend, Wa. made from cow ’ s milk. It was a fantastic finish to an unexpectedly superior dinner.

Instead of planning a a trip to another city, plan an evening at Springhill. The only thing you'll need to pack - your enthusiasm for great food.

Seattle Chefs and Restaurants among James Beard Semifinalists

Semifinalists for the the 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards, Restaurant and Chef Awards have been named. Among the nominees are some of Seattle's finest:

Outstanding Restaurateur:
Tom Douglas - Dahlia Lounge, Palace, Kitchen, Etta's, Lola, Serious Pie & Dalhia Bakery

Outstanding Chef:
Tamara Murphy - Brasa

Best New Restaurant:
Poppy (although I have to disagree, there are MUCH better in Seattle)
Spinasse

Rising Star Chef of the Year:
Rachel Yang - Joule

Outstanding Pastry Chef:
James Miller - Cafe Besalu

Outstanding Wine Service:
Canlis

Outstanding Service:
Canlis

Best Chef Northwest:
Kevin Davis - Steelhead Diner
Matt Dillon - The Corson Bulding
Renee Erickson - Boat Street Cafe
Mark Fuller - Spring Hill
Maria Hines - Tilth
Joseba Jimenez de Jimenez - The Harvest Vine
Taichi Kitamura - Kappo
Scott Staples - Restaurnt Zoe
Ethan Stowell - Union
Jason Wilson - Crush

Pinot Noir Dinner Featuring Chef Jenn Louis

It's no secret Oregon’s Willamette Valley has become one of the finest Pinot Noir regions in the world. And, it's no secret that chef Jenn Louis of Portland's Lincoln restaurant, is one of the most inspiring chefs in the region. Though Lincoln is a little more than six-months-old now, Louis is a veteran in the kitchen; known for her "no fuss" philosophy of using the freshest of seasonal ingredients.

On Monday, Feb. 9, the James Beard House in New York will host chef Louis. The menu will showcase her extraordinary culinary talent of balancing old and new. And, be perfectly balanced with pairings from some of Willamette Valley's finest wines.

The Menu:

Hors d’Oeuvre

Chicken Liver Mousse Crostini with Maldon Sea Salt and Cornichons

Brandade Bruschetta with Sultanas and Balsamic Red Onions

Creton, Mizuna, and Dijon Mustard Gougères

Radicchio with Cured Pork Belly, Walnuts, and Pecorino

Pepper Delicious Cocktails with Aviation Gin

Dinner

Dungeness Crab with Pimentón, Capers, and Garlic, Served on a Crouton

Soter Vineyards Beacon Hill Brut Rosé 2004

Arugula with Oro Blanco, Fennel and Oil–Cured Olives, Pine Nuts, and Citrus Vinaigrette

Cristom Vineyards Estate Pinot Gris 2007

Sweetbreads with Root Vegetables and Blood Orange Gastrique

Cristom Vineyards Sommers Reserve Pinot Noir 2006

Pork Shoulder and Belly with Tarbais Beans, Tesa, and Braising Greens

Soter Vineyards Mineral Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006

Dessert

Pear and Apple Tarte Tatin with Currant Crème Fraîche, Hazelnuts, and Cider CaramelA

ndrew Rich Gewürztraminer Dessert Wine 2006

What's on Your Top 10 List?

A fellow foodie friend forwarded me an emailed newsletter from TomBlackWine.com titled “2008 Top Ten Meals” – pasted below - which I wanted to share.
To say that Tom Black is passionate about food and wine is an understatement. Black is a graduate of the Clive Coates Burgundy School, as well as the Jim Clendenen University of Pinot Noir. He belongs to the Commanderie de Bordeaux, the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, and the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne. He has one of the largest collections in the U.S. of the world’s most highly sought after wines, and is not only a collector, but an educator of fine wine. Tom Black lives ‘food and wine.’
I always enjoy hearing about people’s favorite meals so I was excited about this newsletter. Listening to people share their favorite dining experiences, I find they share pieces of themselves sometimes more than the meal itself. And like Black’s newsletter, most people’s favorite meals are fueled by emotion, their surroundings and circumstances. This is the same thought behind what inspires and feeds chef Thomas Keller’s passion. To read through the French Laundry Web site for example, you understand that Keller and his colleagues truly want guests to have an experience, not just dinner. Looking back at my own Top-Ten list, its peppered with sentiment and what made that moment special.
Best meals are not necessarily about five-star restaurants or drinking a rare vintages – although it does not hurt. It’s about what makes that meal an experience to remember.

TomBlackWine.com Jan. 23 Newsletter -

2008 Top Ten Meals
Michelangelo said, “I feast on wine and bread – and feasts they are.” Oh, for the good old days when wine and bread were enough. Well, the good old days of ’08 are behind us but most of ’09 is left. I always like to reflect on great meals I’ve had in the past 12 months. I’ve eliminated Nashville restaurants and a great Italian restaurant in NY, Alto, because of my involvement and familiarity with them.
My 10th best meal was at Spago in L.A. The appetizer pizzas and the salmon ice cream cones were memorable – as was the service. It’s always impressive when the chef works the room and Wolfgang stopped at every table. He had a glass of wine with us.
My 9th best meal of ’08 was in New Orleans. It was my third trip after the hurricane and tourism seems to be almost normal. The restaurant was August. Oysters and soft shell crabs were perfect and the atmosphere of the old house on the edge of the French Quarter was perfect.
My 8th top 10 was at the Ritz in Buckhead. It was a multi-course meal and each dish was perfect. This is French-style dining. Nothing crazy and the service is always perfect. This is one of the longest running 5-star restaurants in America and it’s easy to see why.
Number 7 was New York’s toughest reservation – Babo. I am always impressed with their pastas. This is pasta heaven if you love unique noodles and special sauces. Get a reservation if you can but don’t ask me to help.
My 6th best meal was at the Biltmore in Asheville. Yes, Asheville, North Carolina. The dinner was a Chaine des Rotisseurs event and the caviar, lobster, and lamb were fantastic. I found out you don’t just go to Asheville for the hills and mountains.
Number 5 was at The Greenhouse in London. I never expect over-the-top food in London but this meal was exceptional. White truffle pasta with an egg in the middle was one of the great dishes of ’08 for me. Paul McCartney was there that night and Ronan (the Master Sommelier) said “What a perfect evening to have both Tom Black and Paul McCartney there on the same night.” Anyway, it was the best meal I’ve ever had in London.
Coming in a number 4 was a relatively new restaurant in NY, Del Posto. For me, this is one of the most beautiful dining rooms in America. The scenery is worth the trip. When we walked out, Don Napier said it was one of the great dining experiences of his life. Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich have got it going. I especially liked the beef.
At this point, any of the final three could have been number 1. In fact, I switched positions on these three restaurants three times.
So, number 3 was a birthday party for a 1958 baby. So we drank lots of wine made in 1958. The restaurant was Melisse in Santa Monica. Actually I had two meals there this year and both would have made my top 10. However, this one was just more special. Josiah Citrin, the chef, is putting out creative fine dining that’s as great as anywhere I’ve eaten.
In the same category of great cuisine is my number 3 restaurant – Picasso in Las Vegas at the Bellagio. Over the years I’ve had lots of great meals, but there is something special about dining with $100 million dollars worth of original Picasso oil paintings while a world-class water show goes on outside your window. The food and wine have a Spanish influence and the service is to die for.
Finally, my number 1 meal of ’08 was in Nashville, but at a private home (not mine). Michael Kornick made a nine-course meal at the Patton’s to benefit Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Each dish was made from French recipes that were over 100 years old. You can go to Michael’s restaurant in Chicago – it’s MK.
I had other unbelievable meals at Veritas and Daniel’s in NY, Bern’s in Tampa, Sona in Los Angeles – but these 10 stood out. Here’s to great dining in ’09! I’ve already eaten with Charlie Trotter and he’ll be tough to beat.

FareStart

Barak Obama challenged us to a day of service. So how does a food blog help to heed the call to serve our community? Simple - by highlighting FareStart, one of my favorite programs here in Seattle. I was honored when I had the opportunity to be a volunteer server at one of their Guest Chef nights.

FareStart is a job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals. It offers two programs; one for youth focusing on barista skills and one for adults. The adult program is an intensive training program combining hands-on food-service training with classroom instruction, individual case management and job placement services.

A special feature for this training is Guest Chef Night. A weekly highlight on Thursdays, Guest Chefs work with the students to prepare a three-course meal which has been haled as "Seattle's best food lover’s event." For just $24.95 it's also one of the city’s best values!

Students work and train alongside staff of chefs from notable Seattle restaurants like BOKA Kitchen & Bar, Purple Cafe & Wine bar, Serafina and Oceanaire just to name a few.

So here's how you can get involved: they NEED you to be a volunteer server. Community volunteers serve the guests who enjoy great food in support of FareStart and the students. What's more, 100 percent of the proceeds and gratuities from Guest Chef Night go back into the program and fund student services and training.

For FareStart students, it is an opportunity to work with Seattle's premier chefs. For you, it's a great opportunity to enjoy an excellent meal, learn more about the program and volunteer. To volunteer, please contact volunteer@farestart.org.

Happy New Year - Cheers to New Tasting Adventures!

With the holidays behind us and mid-January already here, it's the perfect time to toast new tasting adventures - whether near or far!

Let's raise a glass to:
SpringHill in West Seattle - Mark Fuller is responsible for the culinary direction, menu and overall excitement of this elegant and fresh take on the northwest cuisine.





The Corson Building in Georgetown - Celebrity and local chef Matt Dillion (Sitka & Spruce) is the adventurous mastermind behind this cozy multi course, family-style restaurant inside a historic Seattle residence.

NYC Restaurant Week - Jan. 18 - 23, gotta love it when more than 250 restaurants offer three-course fixed-price lunches and dinners. Bar Boulud and Gotham Bar & Grill shouldn't be missed!

Hearts Delight Wine Auction - Held in Washington D.C. May 7 - 9, the first growth featured at the Vintners Dinner will be Château Latour!

And here's hoping 2009 holds a better outlook for:
Poppy - located in Capitol Hill which I can only describe as "buzz kill."
El Gaucho - new location in Bellevue. Let's hope it holds up to its Belltown brethren.