Chef Wolfgang Puck Made Me Eat Salmon

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Everywhere Society.

I debated downplaying this post so I wouldn't come off as too much of a fangirl but there is just no downplaying Chef Wolfgang Puck.  He is passionate about what he does and is crazy funny.  It was a dream come true to attend a Macy's Culinary Council cooking demo by the icon himself.  I tend to think of myself as worldly but came to the realization a few months ago that there are some things I just haven't eaten yet.  I promised myself that I would try anything that came in front of me.  At least once so I could say I tried ______.  When I got to the Macy's Home kitchen on Saturday, I saw huge cuts of fish on the counter.  Ew.  Fish.  I knew one was salmon and I had never had salmon in my life.  Tuna in sushi or sandwiches is usually as far as I go and then the rare instances when I was a kid and my parents convinced me to eat fried fish.  On the bone, with their eyes wide open.  (I think somehow they traumatized me back then about fish - all your fault mom!)

I flipped through the recipe pages provided by Chef Wolfgang Puck and Macy's Culinary Council.  The salmon dish sounded fancy - Crispy Potato Galette with Dill Cream, Smoked Salmon and Sturgeon, and Osetra Caviar.  I had a quick pep talk in my head and decided, I would go for it.  I had to.  This was Chef Wolfgang Puck's recipe.  I was sitting in the front row - what if he saw me deny his dish or worse, spit it out?  Not a good look.

Chef came out, we all went crazy clapping and smiling like maniacs.  He started his first dish and just my luck, it was the galette.  I was sweating in my seat.  I couldn't concentrate.  He barely started frying up the potatoes and the sample was served.  I took a picture, said a prayer and went for it.  Thank goodness for the different textures and tastes, it was full of delicious magic.  This will be an experience I will remember forever.  I don't think anything else right now in my little foodie World can top it.  Oh and my mom will be so proud that I ate salmon!

Chef Wolfgang Puck in action!

Use a heavy pan for risotto.  Chef Wolfgang Puck recommends stainless steel because it cleans easy and no hotspots.  Use cheap white wine.  You only need it for the acidity.  Buy cheap cold pressed oil - no need for the fancy stuff.

Don't buy grated cheese!

Crispy Potato Galette with Dill Cream, Smoked Salmon and Sturgeon, and Osetra Caviar

Risotto with Sauteed Apple

Roasted Winter Squash Soup with Red Bell Pepper Swirl

Marcos and Christine M. were first in line to meet Chef Wolfgang Puck after the demo!

Chef Wolfgang Puck Cooking Demo At Macy's Costa Mesa 10/5

Clear your schedules!  World-renowned master chef and restaurateur Chef Wolfgang Puck will be doing a cooking demo at Macy's in Costa Mesa, CA to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Macy's Culinary Council!  I can't think of anyone better - I remember being a teenager wishing I could have a meal at Spago.  My mom laughed at me, what was I thinking really... dreaming of Beverly Hills with my $20 a week allowance.  I wouldn't miss this for the World, see you there!  

Saturday, October 5 at 2 PM
Macy's South Coast Plaza
Demo Kitchen, Level 1
Costa Mesa, CA

With any $35 purchase in the Home Department on the day of the event, receive a seat for the demo*, a $10 Macy's gift card*, a copy of Chef Puck's cookbook* and a special Macy's Culinary Council cookbook*.

Reservations are required as space is limited. To save your spot, call (877) 550-MACYS beginning Monday September 30th from 8-4 PM PST. To learn more about the Macy's Culinary Council, visit macys.com/culinarycouncil.

Get social with Culinary Council:  @CulinaryCouncil on Twitter

Macy's Summer Food Truck Tour

You know I love Macy's events and had to (HAD TO!) share the Macy's Summer Food Truck Tour with you - This Summer Macy's will take to the highways and back roads of America serving up the best of America's cuisine created by icons of the Macy's Culinary Council: featuring hot dogs and ice cream for FREE!  Don't you just love Macy's?!  I do!  

You can find the truck right outside the Macy's South Coast Plaza Women's Department - Enjoy!  

Saturday, May 18 at 1 PM

Macy's South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, CA

Macy's Summer Food Truck Tour will also be stopping in these cities - get your food on!

Saturday, June 1 at Noon

Macy's Memorial City, Houston, TX

Saturday, June 22 at TBD

Macy's Woodland Hills, Tulsa, OK

Saturday, June 29 at TBD

Macy's Marketplace, Rochester, NY

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Society.  

Live Cooking Demos Rock! #CulinaryCouncil

When the opportunity came up to attend a live cooking demo with none other than Chef Ming Tsai, I jumped all over it.  I love watching Food Network and always wondered what it would be like to see a show "live".  I enjoyed watching Chef Ming Tsai on East Meets West years ago and more recently on Top Chef and The Next Iron Chef.

Honestly, I didn't know what to expect and I'm fine with that because when you have no expectations, everything is better.  

Even though I was sitting in the front row, I had a monitor right in front of me!

Chef Ming Tsai is not only talented but funny.  See him if you get a chance!

A packed house!  It was a great, diverse crowd!

A short lesson in wine.

Tamari is gluten-free soy sauce!

The South Coast Plaza Macy's Culinary Council Team, Chef Ming Tsai and one of his Blue Ginger chefs

This was my favorite dish.  The flavors and textures were incredible.  I don't think I've had a salad like this in my life.  Life changing!

This looked very easy to make.  I love the texture of quinoa and all of it's health benefits, I might attempt to make this one day!

Chef Ming Tsai said when peeling whole ginger, use a spoon.  Also, when buying canned tomatoes, get whole tomatoes because diced tomatoes are the leftovers of tomatoes.

Chef Ming Tsai used a pressure cooker to make the braised pork.  He seared it first and then pressure cooked it for about an hour.  My mom used to always use a pressure cooker when making stew, I'm tempted to buy a pressure cooker now.

Chef Ming Tsai also recommended soaking brown rice in water for an hour and adding it with white rice to a rice cooker.  I thought it was genius because I'm always struggling with brown rice!

All the food was yummy and I'm tempted to buy his recent book, "Simply Ming" but he mentioned that there are free recipes available on his site (if you are frugal like me - I rarely buy cookbooks)

Some other nuggets of good information from Chef Ming Tsai:

• Don't substitute coconut milk for soy milk.  Soy milk is for lattes
• Dull knives are more dangerous than sharp knives 
• Test your knife by dropping a whole onion on it - if it cuts, it's good
• Use cookbooks as a foundation for information, tweak recipes for you
• Get rid of kids food, what is that

Chef Ming Tsai is entertaining.  Buy his cookbooks, check out his site, eat at his new restaurant, "Blue Dragon" in Boston in 2013, check out a demo...  Thank you Macy's Culinary Council!


Disclosure: I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with compensation for this post about Macy's Culinary Council.  However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.  

Meet Macy's Culinary Council Chef Ming Tsai in Costa Mesa!

I am so excited for this event, I grew up watching Chef Ming Tsai!  Come join me, I really hope to meet some of you there!

Meet celebrity chef and award-winning television personality -- Macy's Culinary Council Chef Ming Tsai.  Ming will demonstrate some favorite recipes from his latest cookbook, Simply Ming In Your Kitchen:  80 Recipes to Watch, Learn, Cook & Enjoy.  Following the demonstration, Ming will greet guests and sign copies of the cookbook.

Saturday, October 20th, 2pm

Macy's South Coast Plaza

Home Demonstration Kitchen, Level 1

3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Reservations are not required.  Seating begins at 1:30pm.  First-come, first-served basis.  Admission for each class is a $5 donation to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.

Disclosure: I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with compensation for this post about Macy's Culinary Council.  However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.