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YumSugar Gift Guide: The Junior Chef Brother

YumSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:17:44 -0800

Want your kid bro or nephew to follow in your culinary footsteps? Get him ready for the kitchen with an assortment of fun cooking equipment.

Finally, he'll be able to reach the counter with a little help from these colorful stools. He can keep you company and help you out with kitchen prep using these properly sized cooking utensils. Under your training, he'll soon graduate to cutting with this safe knife set.

Want more gift ideas? Browse the selection below or check out all the gift guides on HolidaySugar.

Giada Loves Cooking With Her Family

partysugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:15:03 -0700

Although her demonstration at the Food & Wine Classic was first thing on Saturday morning, Giada de Laurentiis was full of bubbly energy. In front of a huge audience she cooked three dishes - fregola salad with citrus and red onion, prosciutto lamb burgers, and a ricotta cappuccino dessert - while answering questions from the crowd. Now that she's a mother, it's very clear that Giada is all about her family. Her husband, aunt Raffi, sister, and nephew sat in the front row cheering her on, and she even invited them up on the stage! To learn how Giada set an example for mothers everywhere, read more.

Giada's young nephew, Julian, was eager to get in the kitchen. She promptly found him a stool, and although he couldn't have been 5 years old, she put him to work. "This is how I learned to cook, by being in the kitchen with my mom and grandfather."
The best way to teach kids to cook is by letting them do things hands-on. When Raffi was making the lamb burgers, Julian started to roll small pieces of prosciutto into the shape of a burger. Giada cooked Julian's tiny burgers next to the normal ones.
Don't get mad at children if they don't understand how to cook. Julian started to throw chopped parsley into her dessert and Giada calmly replied, "Thanks Julian. Parsley will be just lovely in that." It was touching to see her not care that the dish was practically ruined.
By adding a lot of fresh flavors, Giada attempts to cut out fat. She advises taking baby steps (like removing the buns from a burger) to obtain a better diet.
Her show shoots 20 episodes per season. She films the cooking segments together, then shoots the party segments and introductions later. It takes two 14-hour days to film one episode.
Like Tom Colicchio and Michael Symon, she uses regular olive oil most of the time and reserves the extra-virgin stuff for finishing dishes and vinaigrettes. Her favorite brand of olive oil is Lucini.

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Do You Eat Dinner At The Restaurant Bar?

partysugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 11:13:51 -0700

While I was on an adventure in vegetarianism recently, I had a discussion with the intelligent and dashing Mr. I'minlikewithyou about sitting at the bar in restaurants rather than at a table. I love sitting at the bar because it's much more intimate sitting shoulder to shoulder than seated with a table in between you. I like having the bartender nearby, being able to people watch, and the high chairs/stools. Also, bar seating is a great way to get a last-minute meal at a super crowded hot spot. I wondered what your opinion was, do you eat dinner at the restaurant bar?

Above: The bar at Hyde in San Francisco.

Come Party With Me: Knitting Party - Decorations

partysugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 07:08:19 -0800

This week I am busy preparing a knitting party. I've invited over a group of girls and Elena, my friend who is a superb knitter, is going to give lessons. It's okay if your friends are at varying levels of understanding knitting. In fact this is what you want to have a successful party. The girls who have more experience can help those who are still learning. You as a hostess won't have to worry about conversation because knitting is what will bring everyone together. I already worked out the drinks and food menus and today I need to clean up my house and transform it into a haven perfect for an afternoon of festive knitting. To see what I have in mind, read more

You should always start with a very clean, tidy house. You want your guests to feel comfortable so your personal belongings (laundry, magazines, papers, books, etc.) should be organized and out of sight. Next walk through your house and decide which room will suit the needs of your party. In this case you'll want a big open space with good lighting and lots of comfy seating. I'll host the party in my family room because I have a big corner couch, a comfy red leather armchair, and a fireplace.

Once I find the location, I like to take a look around the space and imagine my party there. When envisioning the party I always ask myself the following questions: Is there enough seating for all of my guests? Can I create a circular formation with chairs, cushions, pillows, and stools to create more seating? Is there room for me to set up the tea bar, punch bowl, glasses, and finger foods? Is the bathroom accessible?

In my case there will be enough seating for my guests and to add depth and dimension to the room, I'll leisurely toss several purple, lavender, and fuchsia (the color scheme of the event) throw pillows. Elena offered to bring over all of her knitting supplies and when combined with those borrowed from my grandmother, there should be enough needles and pretty yarn for everyone. I'll set up several tv dinner trays (because there is only one small coffee table) for guests to rest their drinks on while they knit. On the coffee table I'll place a basket with other basic supplies: several pairs of scissors, pencils, and pads of paper for taking notes. I'll fill several vases with fresh pink and purple flowers and arrange them artistically throughout the room. All of my candles and votives will be lit and a cozy fire will be waiting for the guests arrival.

On my bar I'll set up the tea glasses, tea fixings, and garnishes. On a long skinny banquette I'll place the platters of food. I'll put a resting station in the kitchen (which opens to the family room), and will position a punch bowl along with plates of the rest of the food. I'll use put out my deep purple tablecloth and raspberry colored placemats.

If you have asked a friend to give the knitting lesson as I have, be sure to have a thank you gift wrapped and waiting for her. Present it to her slyly after the party and when she is on her way out. The gift could be a very pretty yarn, a new set of knitting needles, a bottle of wine or Champagne, or a set of decorative candles.

Did I forget a finishing flourish in my knitting party decor? Tell me your suggestions below or post pictures of your best decorating designs in my super special occasion group on TeamSugar. Tomorrow is the day before the party and I still have to figure out what the soundtrack is, so stay tuned....