Chef In the City: Tasting/ Dinner Party

This past weekend, Chef Jen and I put on an amazing tasting in North Barrington. When asked to create a menu of our choice we went with it. The two of us were able to sit down and feed off of each other on different ideas. After careful consideration we were able to come up with this delicious menu:
*Pan seared Sea Scallops with Celery Root puree and Arugela
*Smoked Duck Salad on Sourdough Crostini (picture attached)
*BBQ mini sliders: Pulled Pork with Red Cabbage slaw and Wingless Buffalo with Blue Cheese dipping sauce
*Tortilla crisp topped with White Fish Ceviche
*Gazpacho cucumber shooters with Baby Octopus
*Bruscetta Skewers with Fresh Mozzarella, Pear Tomato, Sourdough Croutons, and Pesto
*Roasted Red Pepper Hummus with warm Pita Bread and Vegetables
*Crispy Banana Wonton dusted with Cinnamon and drizzled with Caramel
*Oatmeal Cookie sandwiches with homemade Chai Ice Cream
*Flourless Chocolate Cake filled with Blackberry Mousse
The food was great, the guests were curious, and the outcome was a success! The greatest part about cooking for others, is watching people enjoy your hard work! We were able to talk and interact with the guests as they asked questions, and wanted to know what we were doing, and why were doing it! Many of the guests were trying foods, they had never had before. I would hear people say, “I don’t like duck”, or “I would never try Bison”, but the truth is, the dishes I knew they would enjoy the most were the ones they were most hesitant to try….. and they did!! Our smoked duck salad was a hit, the bison burgers were gone, and a woman who swears to never eat scallops loved them! Sometimes you just have to let a chef do what they are good at! If you go into a restaurant and change the menu around, “take out this” “add this”, you take away form the creativity of the chef. There is a reason for the duck and not chicken, a reason we add octopus or slaw, not to turn you away but to enhance. The best meals I have ever had have been at a restaurant when I ask, “What does the chef recommend?” Try it sometime, you will be amazed! Take yourself out of your comfort and try something new!
After a long day of prepping, cooking and cleaning Jen and I came to the conclusion that we rocked! We had so much fun and truly enjoyed being creative, an aspect of the industry that is limited when you are working for other people! We are looking forward to getting out there and doing more dinner parties, if you’re interested hit me up!!!

Some emails we received after:
I am enjoying my hummus and cake this morning ... LOVE the fresh flavors ... wish I had more of that blue cheese sauce today ... would love to do it again, I could eat like that everyday ... you have ignited my taste buds and they LOVE your flavors :)- Adelle
The food was really good and I had to try just about everything!!! The girls were too cute together, what a treat!!- Jeannie
Ashley and Jen, Thank you so much for letting Ed and I enjoy your delicious food. You two put together a very interesting menu (many things I haven't tried before) that looked and smelled as great as it tasted. It was a fun evening being "in the kitchen" of a couple of great chefs. We were talking all the way home about each food and trying to pick out our favorite. Best of luck to you ! We would like to hire you to do something similar at our home. Also, thank you for the lovely planters and seed packets. Zerelda & Ed

Chef In The City: NEW YORK CITY

I spent the past weekend in New York City. This was my second visit, I stayed with a best friend from college. The restaurant I am blogging is MESA GRILL, located at 102 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. I had been wanting to try this restaurant for about..... 3 years, so I was super excited when my friend and her roommate had agreed to go! I must say it was worth the wait!! Being young and poor we decided to go for the brunch and save a little, and had no complaints, the meal was amazing!

Mesa Grill is probably most recognizable because of its head chef, the food network star, Bobby Flay. Booby is known for his southwestern flair, grilling techniques and dashing good looks! MESA was everything I expected and more, the atmosphere is spacious, social and colorful, with an open kitchen (0ne of my favorite things).

Now to the good stuff..... when we sat down a basket of the most amazing baked goods was placed in front of us, consisting of mini cranberry scones and jalapeno corn muffins. To kick our hangover from the night before we ordered bloodies and Mimosas. The Bloody Mary was a little spicy for me, but my friend Loved it, and lets be honest you cant go wrong with a Mimosa!! When our waitress arrived we asked what do you suggest? (and I asked is Bobby here? She said no, he was here earlier..... I think they are programed to say that) anyway she said, the Spicy Chicken + Sweet Potato hash (picture above) and Scrambled Eggs Chilaquiles are the most popular dishes. We ordered both plus an appetizer, Crispy Bacon + hash brown Quesadilla. It was Delicious, the eggs poached perfectly, the Hollandaise was the right consistency, the flavor combinations just dazzled in my mouth! Next time I go I would love to try dinner at MESA, or perhaps the Cornmeal crusted Chile Relleno!!

With that said I 100% recomend MESA!!! Do try it next time you are in New York.... or if you already live there make sure to stop in, well make a reservation :)

Check out: mesagrill.com

Quote

"...to maintain passion for the everyday routine and the endless repeated act to derive deep gratification from the mundane"- Thomas Keller -
My ultimate goal!!!!!