I am Pleased to Introduce The Lovely Erinn Scott!

Hello Everyone,

In my past blogs (yes the all three of them)  I have vowed to stay current in keeping you updated with AToE.  Obviously, it did not prove to be true since the last entry was from last year!!!  With that said, the lovely Erinn Scott our newest team member and planner extraordinaire will also be blogging with me!  Erinn has a wealth of knowledge that she will be sharing with you in the coming days, so check back soon!  In the mean time here is my first official blog entry this year, it really should be two posts but what the heck!

Where do I begin? 2010 has been a Cinderella year.  I can not come up with words to describe how amazing this year has been for AToE thus far.  It has been a lot of hard work for all of us but a lot of fun was had as well.  I am sure that Erinn will catch you up in the coming days.  For now I will start with the present, AToE is very honored to be working with Rolls Royce during the Concours d'Elegance.  We will catering a week long event in a gorgeous Pebble Beach house being used as the  test drive "club house"?.  

In honor of the Rolls Royce Ghost, one of many fabulous test drive vehicles, A Taste of Elegance has concocted The Ghost Martini! 

It's a lovely white-translucent cocktail with exotic flavors and is very refreshing.  For the garnish, we shaved fresh ginger paper thin and candied it until transparent to it a ghostly feel. 

Here is the recipe:

.25 cup Vodka (we use Kettle One)
.5 cup Lychee Juice
4 Table Spoons Fresh Lime Juice
6 Table Spoons of Ginger Infuse Simple Syrup (see recipe below)
Paper Thin Candied Ginger for Garnish
Shake with lots of ice in a Martini Shaker and serve immediately.  Make 2 generous cocktails.  Enjoy!

Ginger Simple Syrup/ Candied Ginger Recipe:
Shave Long Paper Thins Strips of Fresh Ginger with a Mandolin, Simmer with 2 Cups Sugar and 1 cup water until the ginger becomes translucent.

0 comments - Posted by Annie Hobbs at 8:45 PM - Categories: Recipes

Cook Fearlessly

The other day a client of mine called me for some cooking advice.  She told me that she's cooking a fillet of beef and needs to know how.  I asked her if the beef was trimmed and tied and she enthusiastically said "yes" and explained that she paid way too much for it yet she felt it was worth it.  As I gave her instructions I couldn't help thinking the whole time that she simply needs to be fearless when cooking her fillet and everything will be just fine. 

I've been reading Julia Childs' memoirs in My Life in France.  In it she wrote about a terrible meal she cooked and unapologetically served to her friend.  The gist of the passage from what I've gathered, was that there was no need for self deprecation as she was the one in charge and she stood by her food.  Let me begin by saying "I love Julia", however for some reason it did not sit well with me.  As a professional cook, I am obviously a people pleaser and can not bear to serve a bad meal.  Don't get me wrong, there have been a few "not so great moments" in my career.  However, I've always found that a great attitude can go a long way and it can change one's perception; maybe that's what Julia meant.  Perhaps this is true with all things in life; has a positive outlook ever hurt anyone?  I think not. This made me think about cooking fearlessly. 

Be the master of your kitchen, stare doubt right in the eye and beat it back with your rolling pin.  What I mean by cooking fearlessly is that when you decide that you can cook something chances are you can.  I have never developed or started a new recipe with failure in mind.  Yes, at times recipes can seem a little intimidating but I promise you, your results will be far greater when you are fearless.  Who knows you may just surprise yourself and become your own version of Julia.  

0 comments - Posted by Annie Hobbs at 3:20 AM - Categories: Cooking | Thoughts

Try #2! Cookies for Kibble!

Hello!

For those of you kind enough to read my first blog posting just to have ma fall off the face of earth, my apologies.  I actually had a former bride and now friend tell me that I need a ghost writer for my blog.  In all honesty, keeping up a blog is not as easy as it sounds.  So here I am out for a second try at this.  I would like to say redemption will be mine and this go a round I will be better!

Okay, well the topic for today or better yet what I would like to share with you is our new program Cookies for Kibble.  For some time now I have been feeding my town's feral/ dumpster kitties.  I would bring them beef trimmings and odd and ends left over from our events.  On the nights when I have no kitchen scraps I would buy them kibble.  So, it got me thinking, I'm sure if given the opportunity people would want to help.  And Now Cookies for Kibble is Born!

How it works:  Bring in a bag of cat or dog food to our office and receive a bag of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.  The kibble will then be donated to groups such as Animal Friends Rescue Project as well as to my little town's dumpster kitties.  It's a win, win, you'll feel great about your good deed and get a tasty snack in return!  FYI, we do keep odd hours at the shop so I highly recommend calling first before you come.  I really hope this will be a success and I have faith it will!

0 comments - Posted by Annie Hobbs at 2:43 AM - Categories: Thoughts | Default

Simple Summer Dinner Party

1 comments - Posted by Annie Hobbs at 7:02 PM - Categories: Entertaining | Ideas | Summer |