One Plate At A Time

Winner of the Julia Child cookbook

Sean Harrison

Win a copy of Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking"

YOU"VE SEEN THE MOVIE, NOW GET THE BOOK THAT INSPIRED IT ALL. UPDATED SELECTION FOR THE CHEF PATRICK COOKBOOK CLUB AT BARNES & NOBLE

We've updated our featured selection for the September meeting of the Chef Patrick Cookbook Club to give fans of Julia Child and the new movie, "Julia and Julie," a chance to win a copy of Child's masterpiece, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" - the book which inspired the film.

Read more about the book HERE.

Better yet, you'll get the chance to see one of the classic recipes demonstrated and sample some of the cuisine.

The next Chef Patrick Cookbook Club will meet at the Barnes & Noble at MacArthur Center in downtown Norfolk on Friday, 18 September from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Stop by right after work!

Chef Don Averso from TCC's culinary program and some of his students will be doing cooking demonstrations with plenty of samples.

The cookbook club is free and open to all; the meetings are very informal and touch on the featured book as well as other favorite dishes and what's happening in the culinary scene of the area.

SO HERE'S HOW TO WIN A COPY OF THE BOOK ...

Email me at ASKCHEFPATRICK@GMAIL.COM with your name, phone number and tell me what your favorite international cuisine is ... French, Italian, etc. ... and where you go to satisfy that craving in Hampton Roads. Your email should include all this information.

The deadline for emailing is Wednesday, 16 September. I'll pick one winner at random and post their name here on my blog Thursday morning, 17 September. You will need to pick up the book at the Barnes & Noble at MacArthur Center in Norfolk during the Chef Patrick Cookbook Club on Friday, 18 September.

Looking for some tasty food photos to inspire and entice? Check out my FLICKR PAGE.

Culinary Institute of Virginia scholarship competition

CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF TOOK CENTER STAGE AT CIV COMPETITION ON 28 AUGUST 

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Click HERE for a full set of photos from the competition.

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I was fortunate to be a judge at Culinary Institute of Virginia ( www.chefva.com ) on Friday, 28 August as 10 teams of two student chefs competed for scholarship funds.

The students were charged to create menus featuring Certified Angus Beef (CAB) (www.certifiedangusbeef.com ) and prepare two dishes - an appetizer and entree - from that menu.

Judging the menu design, effective use of CAB, presentation of the dish and flavor of the dish, along with me, was CAB executive chef Scott Popovic and Croc's 19th Street Bistro (located in Virginia Beach; (www.crocsecobistro.com) executive chef Greg Hopkins.

Students also took a written test and were observed in the kitchen labs for their culinary skills and observance of proper sanitation.

The competition was also presented by Performance Food Group (PFG) (www.pfgc.com ).

Winners were:

First Place
Team: Gary Woolard Jr., M. Andrew Mosquera
$1,000 scholarship to each

Second Place
Team: Kevin Randall, Eric Watford
$500 scholarship to each

Third Place
Team: Tanita Howard, Adryann Elliott
$250 scholarship to each

All students benefited from becoming familiar of use of a quality produce, such as Certified Angus Beef; became savvy in participating in competitions; and received feedback from school administration and industry leaders which will hopefully help further their culinary art pursuits.

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Click HERE for a full set of photos from the competition.

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Insalata di Riso - Rice Salad recipe inspired by "A Tavola!"

INSALTA DI RISO RECIPE INSPIRED BY THE BOOK, "A TAVOLA!" - FEATURED THIS MONTH IN THE CHEF PATRICK COOKBOOK CLUB AT BARNES & NOBLE AT MACARTHUR CENTER IN NORFOLK

Yesterday's Chef Patrick Cookbook Club at Barnes & Noble at MacArthur Center in Norfolk was a great success. From 1 until 3 p.m., about 20 folks came by to talk about the featured book, A Tavola!, as well as share some of their favorite Italian recipes and discuss the culinary goings-on around Hampton Roads.

Two TCC (Tidewater Community College) culinary students, Sean Harrison and Malvin Lampley, also came by to share their insight and discuss what they are learning at the school, located just across Monticello Avenue in downtown Norfolk.

Inspired by the recipe Insalata di Riso on page 44 of the book, I cooked up a rice salad using fresh ingredients, many of which I purchased the day before during my visit to the Old Towne Curb Market in downtown Smithfield.

I also used some of my Tomato Dipping Sauce  as an ingredient in the dish.

Also, because the vegetables were so fresh, I diced them fine and tossed them in uncooked; if you prefer to steam, roast or otherwise cook your vegetables, feel free to do so.

One of the things I really like about this recipe is how adaptive it is. I used vegetables which are fresh and in season and that I had on hand. In a few weeks, you could use sweet potatoes, butternut squash, acorn squash and pumpkin. In the early spring, you could use some of the sweet young veggies coming into market. 

Also, you could add some animal protein like steamed shrimp or grilled chicken or cubes of fresh mozzarella. It is a dish that is very easy to personalize.

Here is my version of Insalata di Riso --- email me at ASKCHEFPATRICK@GMAIL.COM with some ideas on how you'd like to mix it up!

INSALATA DI RISO

Ingredients:

1 cup Arborio rice (you can substitute regular white rice)

Extra-virgin olive oil as needed

1 zucchini, diced small

1 yellow squash, diced small

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

1 red bell pepper, diced small

1 portabello mushroom, cap and stem diced small

1/2 cup cold tomato sauce (I used my TOMATO DIPPING SAUCE)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Method

Prepare rice, drain, and while still warm and add enough olive oil to flavor to your taste. Cool to room temperature and place in refrigerator while preparing vegetables. Dice vegetables and add to a medium bowl. Drizzle on a little more olive oil, tomato sauce and salt and pepper and gently toss to mix. Add rice and chopped basil to the bowl and gently toss to mix, adding more olive oil as desired. Chill until ready to serve. Yields between 3 and 4 cups.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR THE NEXT CHEF PATRICK'S COOKBOOK CLUB.

The next Chef Patrick's Cookbook Club will meet at the Barnes & Noble at MacArthur Center in downtown Norfolk on Friday, 18 September from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Stop by right after work!

The featured cookbook will be: The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook: Home Cooking from Asian American Kitchens by Pat Tanumihardja.

Read more about it HERE.

Chef Don Averso from TCC's culinary program and some of his students will be doing cooking demonstrations with plenty of samples! 

The cookbook club is free and open to all; the meetings are very informal and touch on the featured book as well as other favorite dishes and what's happening in the culinary scene of the area. 

Smithfield - Isle of Wight Old Towne Curb Market - 29 August 2009

CLICK HERE  TO VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE FARMERS MARKET

On Saturday, 29 August 2009, we drove out to Smithfield, in Isle of Wight County, to visit their farmer's market, the Old Towne Curb Market.

This is a very charming confederation of farmers and producers with a good assortment of product - including some items that I've not seen at other markets across Hampton Roads.

We loved the country ham, homemade sausage, sharp cheddar cheese and other such items from mother/daughter Dee Dee and Carrie Darden of Darden's Country Store.

Also totally delish was Country Boy's Barbeque with their pulled pork and sweet/savory/zesty house sauce.

Beautiful produce also was abundant - including lots of figs, muscadines, scuppernong and the like. Also, already starting to come into market are items like acorn squash. The tomatoes still looked great, too.

The market is held every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until noon from Memorial Day through Labor Day
in the BSV Bank parking lot on Main Street in historic downtown Smithfield.

Specialty Markets are held from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Here is a market schedule for the rest of 2009:

September 12
NEW! Specialty “Fall Market”
9:00 a.m. - noon (or until sold out)

October 10
Specialty “Town & Country Day” Market
9:00 a.m. - noon (or until sold out)

November 21
Specialty “Thanksgiving” Market
9:00 a.m. - noon (or until sold out) 

December 5
Specialty “Holiday” Market
9:00 a.m. - noon (or until sold out)

More information:

www.smithfield-virginia.com/OldTowneCurb Market2009.html

CLICK HERE  TO VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE FARMERS MARKET

Tomato Dipping Sauce recipe - from HearSay 26 August

TOMATO DIPPING SAUCE

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup tomato juice (I prefer homemade)  

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil  

• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar  

• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar  

• 1 clove garlic, minced  

• 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar (I prefer a natural, unrefined sugar)  

• 1-1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard  

• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil  

• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme  

• 1/4 teaspoon salt  

• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper  

Method

Place all ingredients in a large bowl (or blender) and whisk to thoroughly incorporate.

To serve, pour in a bowl olive oil on a 1:2 ratio of oil to dipping sauce.

DID YOU MISS ME ON THE WHAT'S COOKING WEDNESDAY - HEARSAY WITH CATHY LEWIS ON WHRV 89.5 FM PUBLIC RADIO IN HAMPTON ROADS THIS WEEK? LISTEN TO THE MP.3 HERE

Later today, I'll post my recipe for homemade tomato juice! Check back!

Chef Patrick Cookbook Club - Giveaway Winner

WINNER ANNOUNCED FOR A COPY OF "A TAVOLA!" - THIS MONTH'S BARNES & NOBLE COOKBOOK CLUB SELECTION

Thanks to everyone for the great response to the cookbook giveaway - between readers of this blog, my Facebook friends and listeners to this week's What's Cooking Wednesday on HearSay with Cathy Lewis on WHRV 95.3FM, I had almost two dozen folks enter to win.

All the submitted emails were printed out and one winner was drawn at random.

The winner is ... Mary Jane Hall of Norfolk! Congratulations, Mary Jane.

In her email, Mary Jane writes, "My favorite was Amalfi's on Colley, alas.  Current favorite is La Bella in Ghent - the fixed price menu is a great value.  Shrimp parmesan my favorite entree. Best Italian pizza in the area in my opinion is Primo's Pizza on Princess Anne Rd. in [Virginia Beach]."

My note: Amalfi's is closed. 

Mary Jane, come down to the Barnes & Noble in MacArthur Center in downtown Norfolk this Sunday, 30 Aug. during the Chef Patrick Cookbook Club, from 1 until 3 p.m., to get your free copy of A Tavola!

And I hope to see all of you there! There will be a sample recipe from the book to taste, and we'll have a good time talking about the book, Italian food, and food in general in Hampton Roads.

Remember, this month's featured selection, A Tavola! and my book, Popcorn, will be discounted 15% the day of the event. Also, I will be available to autograph my book during the cookbook club.

For more information, call Barnes and Noble at Tidewater Community College at 757-625-3459. Store hours are 8 am – 10 pm Monday through Saturday and 11 am – 6pm on Sundays. Barnes and Noble at TCC is located on the second and third floors of MacArthur Center. MacArthur Center, located on Monticello Avenue in downtown Norfolk.

Tarragon Shrimp with Virginia Wine Beurre Blanc Sauce - recipe

FROM THE VIRGINIA WINE MARKETING BOARD SEPTEMBER E-NEWSLETTER 

I was recently asked to come up with a few recipes from the Virginia Wine Marketing Board for their September e-newsletter which use Virginia wine as an ingredient.

Those of you who know me knot that I love using seasonal and sustainable products from local farmers and watermen. This also extends to my love of Virginia wine.

Check out the Virginia Wine Marketing Board  here and sign up for their e-newsletter; in addition to the below recipe for Tarragon Shrimp with Virginia Wine Beurre Blanc Sauce, I will also have a recipe for Pizza Primavera with Piedmont Red Sauce which incorporates a Virginia Italian-style vintage.

Here is the recipe:

Chef Patrick Cookbook Club - giveaway

EMAIL ME FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF "A TAVOLA!" - THIS MONTH'S COOKBOOK CLUB SELECTION

Here's your chance to win a copy of the Culinary Institute of America's newest cookbook, "A Tavola!"

Email me at ASKCHEFPATRICK@GMAIL.COM with your name, phone number and what is your favorite Italian restaurant in Hampton Roads and what is your favorite dish there.

The deadline for emailing is Thursday night at midnight. I'll pick one winner at random and post their name here on my blog Friday morning. You will need to pick the book up at the Barnes & Noble at MacArthur Center in Norfolk during the Chef Patrick Cookbook Club this Sunday, 30 August, between 1 and 3 p.m.

Scroll down for more information about this weekend's event.

No purchase necessary. No animals were harmed in the process of this email. Objects in mirror may be larger than they appear.

Chef Patrick Cookbook Club meets Aug. 30

JOIN US AT BARNES & NOBLE AT MACARTHUR CENTER, NORFOLK

Chef Patrick’s Cookbook Club meets monthly at Barnes & Noble at MacArthur Center in downtown Norfolk to review and critique a featured cookbook.

This month we meet Aug. 30 from 1 until 3 p.m.

In addition, Chef Don Averso and students from the Tidewater Community College culinary arts program make recipes to sample from the featured cookbook. All events are free and open to the public.

The selection is A Tavola!

From BarnesAndNoble.Com:

"Second title in the Culinary Institute of America Dining Series, A Tavola! explores traditional Italian home cooking. Did you know that dishes we consider Italian like Chicken Parmigiana were actually developed here in the USA? The authors share stories of growing up in Italy and the foods and wines they enjoyed 'a tavola' (at the table). Compete with 89 treasured recipes and 50 full color photos, A Tavola is sure to make everyone want to spend more time at the table."

This month's featured selection, A Tavola! and my book, Popcorn, will be discounted 15% the day of the event.

For more information, call Barnes and Noble at Tidewater Community College at 757-625-3459. Store hours are 8 am – 10 pm Monday through Saturday and 11 am – 6pm on Sundays. Barnes and Noble at TCC is located on the second and third floors of MacArthur Center. MacArthur Center, located on Monticello Avenue in downtown Norfolk.