On Friday, I hightailed it up to Sonoma County for Pigs & Pinot, an annual event held by renowned chef Charlie Palmer to benefit Share Our Strength and the Healdsburg School. A Taste of Pigs & Pinot brought hundreds of guests to the Hotel Healdsburg, all of whom were prepared to sip some serious Pinot Noir in between heavenly bites of pork. A dizzying array of pork dishes, stellar Burgundies and Pinots, and a star-studded chef lineup easily made Charlie Palmer's charity event the party of the season. Feast your eyes on the food that was served when you keep reading.
Yummy Links: From Marcela Valladolid to Thomas Keller
- What did you think of the Food Network's new Mexican Made Easy show?
- What did you think of the Food Network's new Mexican Made Easy show? — Food Network Addict
- When is it not OK to take photographs of food in restaurants? — Endless Simmer
- Don't get suckered on Valentine's Day. — Chow
- Should we be cutting back our salt intake? — The Epi-Log
- Many of those hoping to attend Charlie Palmer's star-studded Pigs & Pinot event are going to be disappointed. — Grub Street SF
- Eight curious chocolate-covered creations. — Woman's Day
- Take your grilled cheese sandwich to the next level with quince paste. — Serious Eats
- Thomas Keller talks about washing dishes and family recipes. — Eater
Top Chef Quiz: Pigs and Pinot
Last night's Top Chef highlighted the love story between a chef and a pig. The contestants had to create dishes using a specific piece of pork, and then pair their creations with wine. I enjoyed seeing Dana Cowin, the editor of Food & Wine, compare Laurine's dish to cat food. Want to find out how well you were watching? Take my quiz now!
Photo courtesy of Bravo
Take the QuizTop Chef Vegas: Episode 8
Did you catch the latest episode of Top Chef? We had Pilates, pairings, and Charlie Palmer, the guest judge. Did anyone else wonder how come Bravo couldn't find a judge who didn't know the V Bros? Want to discuss more details? Well, you know what to do, keep reading.
Throw It in the Sink!
Alright, tell me how come no one thought of this before: A WATERPROOF cookbook.
Talk about genius!
Advertised as "sauce-proof, waterproof and splatter-proof," award-winning cookbook author and chef, Charlie Palmer's latest book, Charlie Palmer's Practical Guide to the New American Kitchen, is the fanciest addition to my library. I'll admit, I mostly bought it for its specially-coated splatter-proof pages, but once I came back down from the clouds I realized it was a great buy for the useful tips (how to choose knives, cookware, etc.) and tasty recipes as well. You'll be able to take it home and make mouthwatering delights such as Pulled Pork Sandwiches with mango Salsa and Fennel & Celery Root Slaw or Croissant French Toast. Then when you're done, you can toss the whole thing into the sink with the dishes.