Chef_Jenn

Chef_Jenn
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Showing posts with label Event. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Event. Show all posts

Friday, June 3, 2011

URBAN FARM PARTY! Coral Tree Farms, an urban farm in the heart of Encinitas



URBAN FARM PARTY! Coral Tree Farms, an urban farm off of Requeza Ave in the heart of Encinitas. If you have not heard of it you are not alone, but trust me when I tell you there is an amazing farm with a even more amazing farmer right under your nose.
 This Saturday they are having an open house and you are invited!
The party and tasting event, with tastings from Stone Brewing Company, Haggo's Organic Taco, and Vignette Cupcakes. As well as cooking demonstrations from yours truely.
This event is a fundraiser to help pay for an unexpected requirement from the water district.
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=217918278233343

I am planning on making a couple of fun recipes to showcase some of the wonderful produce from the farm. 

Swiss Chard with Leeks and Golden Raisins
Serves 4

2 tbsp          Olive oil
2 tbsp          Leeks, green removes and whites sliced thin

6 cups         Swiss Chard, soaked, tough separated- (stems chopped into small pieces and leaves coarsely chopped)
¼ cup          Water
1 tbsp           Honey
1 tbsp          Golden Raisins
Salt and pepper to taste
        
Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat and add leeks; cook till translucent. Add water and chard stems. Cover and reduce heat to low, cook for 5 minutes. Remove cover and add chard leaves and season with salt and pepper ;cook for 5 to 7 minutes over medium heat or until chard just starts to become tender. Add honey and raisin; stir and cover.
Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until chard is tender and raisins plump.
Taste for seasoning and serve.


Pickled Beets and Spring Garlic
Makes 3 Pint Jars

12 small to medium             Beets, tops and tips removed
2 tbsp                                    White wine vinegar
2 tbsp                                    Olive oil
Salt and pepper
           
1/3 cup                         Spring garlic*, sliced thin
3 cups                          White wine vinegar
1/3 cup                         Sugar
1 tsp                              Kosher salt
1 tbsp                            Pickling spice, divided

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place beets, vinegar, olive oil and salt and pepper onto a large sheet of aluminum foil. Fold into a foil pouch and place onto a cookie sheet; roast in the oven for 40 minutes. Cool completely, rub off skins from the roasted beets and slice thinly.
Sterilize preserving jars and lids.
Arrange, in 1-quart jars, alternating layers of beets and spring garlic. And add ½ teaspoon pickling spice in each jar.
In a small sauce pot combine kosher salt, white wine vinegar, sugar, and remaining pickling spice; bring to a boil and cook till sugar and salt are dissolved. Stirring occasionally.
Divide vinegar mixture into jars and filling to within ½ inch of rim.
Top with covers and twist to seal.
In a large pot cover jars with water and allowing 1 to 2 inches of water to cover jars (you may need to add extra water for this). Bring liquid to a boil and gently boil for 10 to 15 minutes.
After processing, remove jars and set them upright on a towel to cool 12 to 24 hours. Do not retighten bands. Once jars are cool, test each one for a seal by pressing the center of the lid. The lid should not flex up and down (if it does, immediately refrigerate or reprocess with a new lid for the full length of time).
Label, and store jars in a cool (50° - 70° F/10° - 20°C), dry, dark place for up to one year. After opening, refrigerate, and use within 1 month.

For additional information on canning go to eatingwell.com/go/canning
*If you do not have spring garlic substitute with spring onions or leeks sliced and 3 whole cloves garlic

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Vista Farmers Market Cooking Demonstrations~~Pickeling~~

I look forward to seeing you all this weekend (August 14) at the Vista Farmers Market for cooking demonstrations from 8 am to 12 pm.
I will be pickeling!!!
Come by and tell me what you pickle. Would love to know what fun pickleing and preserving you do.

Friday, June 11, 2010

San Diego Zoo Does a Farm to Table Dinner...Guess The Lions and Tigers and Bears Are Happy They're in The Zoo!

The San Diego Zoo is dedicating an evening to local food--and there are still seats left at this amazing dinner! On Saturday, June 12 at 6 pm, Albert's Restaurant at the Zoo will be serving a five-course meal featuring local and artisanal products including Carlsbad mussels, local halibut, Knight Salumi sausage, and produce from Sage Mountain Farms and Smit Orchards. Learn more at the San Diego Zoo website (http://calendar.sandiegozoo.org/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=1947), or check out the flier on Slow Foods Urban San Diego's facebook page!



The cost is $69 per person plus tax and gratuity. To make reservations, call 619-557-3964 and ask for Farm to Table reservations.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Tour the Vista Farmers Market with Chef Jenn


I will like to invite you all to my first foray into farmers markets. This Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm I will be at the Vista Farmers Market (located at in the parking lot f the Vista Court House off of Melrose).

Vista Farmers Market

Saturday: 8 am - Noon

County Courthouse 325 S. Melrose Drive, Vista

(just South of Highway 78), Vista, California 92081

Phone: (760) 945-7425

Email: mark@vistafarmersmarket.com

Website: vistafarmersmarket.com

My plan is to offer four 20 minute tours of the market for $5 (where we will chat and sample from different farmers) and short cooking demonstrations.


Would love to see all of my students and friends there; for a bit of moral support (and some nice people to talk to).

Thank you very much.

Chef Jenn

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Il Fornaio Coronado Presents a Palmina Winemaker Dinner ~May 20, 2010

Il Fornaio Coronado Presents a Palmina Winemaker Dinner
With Winery Specialist Chrystal Clifton

Thursday, May 20th at 6:30pm

Il Fornaio General Manager Luca Allieri and Chef-Partner Marco Nocco invite you to a Palmina Wine Dinner. Palmina Winery is situated along the Pacific coastline in Santa Barbara County and solely produces Italian varietals. Palmina Wine Specialist Chrystal Clifton will take you on a tasting tour of her best wines paired with Chef Marco’s five-course menu. Also enjoy a live musical performance by accordionist Lou Fanucchi.

RSVP at (619) 437-4911
$59.99 per person

(excluding tax and gratuity)
 
Menu della Casa

ASSAGGINI DI BENVENUTO
Tuna tartar, mussels augratin,
eggplant and goat cheese rollatini
Arneis 2008, Honea vineyard, St.Ynez Valley

PER COMINCIARE
Pomodoro e Mozzarella di Bufala
Heirloom tomato and imported
buffalo mozzarella cheese salad
Pinot Grigio 2009, Santa Barbara County



PRIMO PIATTO
Risotto ai Carciofi e Porcini
Carnaroli rice, artichokes, porcini mushrooms,
white wine sauce
Nebbiolo 2005, Santa Barbara County

SECONDO A SCELTA
Choice of

Filetto d’Orata Costa d’Oro
Seared fresh sea-bream filet, baby zucchini,
crispy potatoes, zucchini sauce
ocai Friulano 2009, Honea Vineyard, St.Ynez Valley
or
Filetto di Vitello
Sautéed veal tenderloin, grilled asparagus,
rosemary potatoes, veal demi-glaze
Barbera 2007, Santa Barbara County

DOLCE
Tortino di Ricotta e Canditi
Housemade ricotta cake with candied fruit
Sangiovese Passito, Osare 2006, Alisos Vineyard, Santa Barbara County

Il Fornaio • 1333 First Street • Coronado • 619.437.4911 • www.ilfornaio.com

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Exploring Your CSA Basket: Fun Seasonal Cooking Demonstration~ from the third annual Cultivating Food Justice Conference

Thank you all so much for taking part in the Cultivating Food Justice Conference. I had a wonderful time sharing (or should I say ranting, at times) my passion for food.


I also want to thank one of my students for takeing such wonderful pictues. Hope you all enjoy them as much as I do.

Please let me know if you have any other questions or if you would just like to chat about food sometimes.


Also, don’t forget that you can get all the produce I used today from Suzie’s Organic Farm. Please go to their website (http://www.suziesfarm.com/) for more information about the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) basket or what farmers markets you can find them at.

Here are some other websites for local CSA’s-http://www.bewiseranch.com/, http://www.ecovian.com/s/sandiego/csa-food-delivery, and many more

As mentioned in class, Garden of Eden, offers varies sizes of CSA baskets ~http://www.goeorganics.com/pledge_form.php

Here are the recipes for everything I made in class.


P.S. If anyone accidentally took my produce guide I would love to get it back. Thank you!



Kale and Swiss Chard with Pine Nuts and Golden Raisins
Serves 4

2 tbsp Olive oil
2 cloves Garlic, minced
3 cups Kale, washed tough stems separated- (stems chopped into small pieces and leaves coarsely chopped)
3 cups Swiss Chard, soaked, tough separated- (stems chopped into small pieces and leaves coarsely chopped)
¼ cup Water
3 tbsp Golden raisins
1 tbsp Pine nuts, toasted
1 tbsp Honey
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat and garlic, cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds and add water, kale and chard stems.
Cover and reduce heat to medium low, cook for 5 minutes.
Remove cover; add kale and chard leaves and raisins, season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes over medium heat or until chard just starts to become tender.
Taste for seasoning and serve.





Romaine and Strawberry Salad with Toasted Nuts, Fresh Cheese, and a Sherry Shallot Vinaigrette
Serves 4

½ cup Nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc.)
2 tbsp Sherry vinegar
1 tbsp Shallot, minced
2 tsp Honey
½ cup Oil
1 head Romaine lettuce, cut into bite sized pieces
½ cup Micro tatsoi
½ lb Strawberries (1 1/2 cups), trimmed and quartered lengthwise
2 oz Mild fresh cheese (queso fresco, goat cheese, sheeps milk feta, etc.), crumbled

Roast nuts in a shallow baking pan in middle of oven until golden, approximately 10 minutes.
Cool nuts and coarsely chop.
Whisk together vinegar, honey, and shallots. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until combined well.
Toss together romaine and micro tatsoi in dressing and season with salt and pepper. Divide salad among plates.Top with strawberries, nuts, and cheese.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Come find me this Sunday at the Cultivating Food Justice Conference at SDSU

Cultivating Food Justice Conference at San Diego State University

April 24 -25, 2010

Third annual San Diego Cultivating Food Justice Conference is this weekend, April 24-25, at San Diego State University. The Conference is free to all and I am proud to be a part of it. I will be giving a demonstration on how to cook seasonal with foods from your CSA basket.

Free food and entertainment will be part of this exciting weekend.

The Saturday Keynote speaker, Raj Patel, author of the best-seller Stuffed and Starved, will speak about our global food system and it's inequities.

Sunday's Keynote speaker, Barry Logan, director of Escondido organic farm La Milpa Organica; an amazing local farm that I have been lucky enough to tour with a group of my student (and that I hope to do more with in the future. They also hold potlucks on Saturdays; check out their web site for more information~ http://milpaorganica.com/

Workshop schedule, directions and more details on when and where you can my event can be found or to read more about other speakers go to http://www.sdfoodjustice.org/workshops.php.