I helped out @SherryYard and her assistant LeahChoi @HelmsBakeryDist at "The Sweet and Savory Spectacular" Food, Wine and Culinary Competition event for C-CAP a non-profit leader providing culinary scholarships for at risk high school students Sunday, October 19 at the gorgeous Art Institutes Santa Monica campus Caught up with @Duff_Goldman, @JetTila, @BarbaraLazaroff, SuzanneTracht @Suzanneatthejar, @SuzanneGoin, Barbara Fairchild @fairchildonfood and the effervescent Lori Wressell and tireless LA C-CAP director, Mitzie Cutler @mitz207! Congrats!
Favourite Farm Shop
One of my favourite Farm Shops just moments from the Cornwall Shore. Lucy's team Tracey and Maggie are full of smiles at Padstow Farm Shop supplying locals and visitors alike with outstanding local seasonal food and provisions including handmade bread with grains harvested and milled at the farm plus local fruit, vegetables, meats, sauces, and don't forget the Kernow chocolate (sea salt is my weakness). I left laden with gifts of chocolate, Cornish sea salt and bottles of Mary's Shed lavender hand soap! www.padstowfarmshop.co.uk
Vanilla Table Presentation
A Toasting Cocktail
A toasting cocktail catch up with my UK assistant for Vanilla Table Kathy Kordalis whilst sipping Prosecco and a Hemingway Daiquiri in Barnes, South London. Cheers!
Biscuiteers
Always something new and clever at Biscuiteers Baking Company! Biscuiteers make hand-iced chocolates, biscuits and cakes in London. www.biscuiteers.com
Salem, Massachusetts
Greetings from Salem, Massachusetts! A great setting to meet, chat and present Vanilla Table aboard the Beaufort Princess cruising Gloucester Harbor to the wonderful book team launching Vanilla Table in the USA and UK!
Rei do Gado
A delicious dinner at the landmark Rei do Gado in the heart of San Diego's Gaslamp district. Cassio the "between shift" bartender (right) makes Caipirinhas learned from his Mum Isabel in Brazil. “It's the sugar stirred in just so” he told me. Manager Rose and team gave spot-on-service and the endless tastes of marinated roasted meat and salad bar offerings from crab legs, soups, Brazilian palm salad to chocolate chip cookies set in a classic 40's setting made for a most relaxing eve! www.reidogado.net
Vanilla Table Release in the USA & UK
EXTREME NEWS FLASH! Just announced! Vanilla Table official release date in the USA and the UK by Jacqui Small Publishing is March 19, 2015. Pre-order, purchase details and book signing events to come!
Keauhou Store 1919
A grocery store treasure high in the hills above Kona, Hawaii, the Keauhou Store opened in 1919 is a must visit stop during your next trip to Hawaii! Don't forget to try the pickled egg salad sandwich and a handful of freshly baked cookies. Aloha!
If you wish to read more about the stores history go to Keauhou Store.
James Beard Awards - A Fun Time Was Had!
Sherry Yard and me in NYC.
Charles Phan and Sherry at Chefs Night Out.
Sherry Yard and husband Edward share a secret on the yellow (red) carpet!
Lifetime Achievement Award for Sirio Maccioni.
Mario Batali dancing for the press in his signature orange crocs.
The Mario Batali Foundation (MBF) and Books for Kids (BFK) have announced the opening of another Books For Kids library this fall in the Las Vegas, Nevada area.
Amanda Hirsh, Executive Director of Books for Kids. "Like the other Mario Batali Foundation libraries, this new library with Books for Kids will give underserved youth access to books and greater literacy resources, to help prepare them for school and for life. We are honored to continue this partnership with MBF as we further both of our missions to eradicate illiteracy in this country."
James Beard Awards
2013 Daniel Boulud soirée with Sherry Yard and Elizabeth Falkner the day before the James Beard Awards. I am ready for the NYC visit of the 2014 James Beard awards and posting the latest news for New Zealand's Dish Magazine!
News flash!
Vanilla Table has got a publisher in the UK and the USA! The gracious Jacqui Small will publish in both regions under the Aurum Publishing Group. Vanilla Table will be distributed in the USA by the lovely group at Quarto Publishing, also a part of Aurum Publishing.
Boston Ballet Reunion
Boston Ballet Alumni, Bernie Gardella took the Études photo that inspired my Dancing Chef logo. It was great to be back to thank her at the Boston Ballet reunion!
Sherry and Duff
Sherry Yard and Natasha handing out Sherry's divine cookies from the Helms Bakery Truck at LA Magazine Best Chefs event in front of her new Helms Bakery opening later this year!Duff Goldman at Fancy Foods Show in San Francisco with his recipe from Vanilla Table!
Curious Cat
Look even Mick's curious nature has him buried in the pages of Vanilla Table!
“For he will do As he do do And there’s no doing anything about it!” ― T.S. Eliot, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
Your Home and Garden and "Vanilla Queen" - Dish Mag.
Your Home and Garden magazine is featuring Natasha and her new book Vanilla Table in their February issue. Full article coming soon.
Vanilla Table Book ReviewVANILLA TABLE
By Natasha MacAller
Pastry chef Natasha MacAller has created a book showcasing the versatility of vanilla, with more than 100 sweet and savoury dishes from her own repertoire and 32 contributing chefs, including the likes of Yota Ottolenghi, Maggie Beer, Al Brown and Peter Gordon.
As well as desserts and baking, there are also unexpected uses of vanilla, as in 'Heirloom Tomato Bisque' with vanilla caramelised onions; or 'The Pork Chop' steeped in ginger beer and vanilla brine.
Originally from the US, Natasha lives part-time in Kerikeri, which inspired her 'Shaved Fennel and Kerikeri Orange Salad'. The recipes are a mixture of skill levels, but for those keen to start small a section of vanilla basics also presents different ways of incorporating it into dishes, such as 'Vanilla Salt'.
For many this book will surprise, challenge and inspire them to try vanilla in a new way. –Victoria Wells
Vanilla Table in Magazines
Auckland's Boutique Magazine, Verve
1. VANILLA TABLE Natasha MacAller
Take 33 of the best international chefs, add the golden ingredient real vanilla and you will have the ‘recipe’ for a great cookbook. Ex-professional ballerina and chef with a mission, Natasha MacAller, has done that and then some in her beautiful new book, The Vanilla Table. It’s full of ‘want to cook’ recipes, and the clever chefs contributions vary from shaved fennel and Kerikeri orange salad through to slow roasted oxtail pot pies and raspberry meringue martinis, and so many great recipes in between. Vanilla is an all time favourite flavor for sweets and desserts but the twist of adding it to savoury dishes adds a subtleness that foodies will treasure. Definitely a book to sit and drool over, experiment with and then surprise and impress your friends and family with pure deliciousness. I have read and reread my copy of the book and the tin roof gooey scooter pies are a revelation, truly rich and rewarding.
New Zealand Sunday Herald
The Australian Women's Weekly
Published on Otago Daily Times Online News (www.odt.co.nz) Cook books By Charmian Smith, 13/11/13
Vanilla may be one of the most popular flavourings and aromatics for everything from ice cream and biscuits to shampoo and perfume, but it can be used for so much more, according to Natasha Macaller in Vanilla Table (Bateman).
Her vanilla candied bacon bits top a dessert.
Vanilla aioli and vanilla vincotto can top salads or pizzas.
This coffee-table book celebrates the spice, explaining the difference between vanilla from Tahiti, Indonesia, Madagascar and Mexico, and between vanilla paste, powder, and extract.
Macaller's recipes and some from 33 other international chefs range from simple (spiced oatmeal cookies) to whimsical (cranberry tweed cardigans) to innovative (the Tonga trifle topped with the remarkable vanilla candied bacon).
It's a fascinating exploration of some of the possibilities vanilla, sweet and savoury, and will be enjoyed by chefs and adventurous cooks.
Come join us at Milly's - it's FREE!
Saturday 7 • 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tonga Trifle Tasting in store. Free for ALL. Event at Milly’s Kitchen of Ponsonby
Charlie Trotter Tribute
Charlie was excited to create a recipe for Vanilla Table but had to graciously withdraw as so much was happening with the closing of his restaurant. I met and estaged with Charlie in Las Vegas during my breaks in culinary school in the 90’s at the no named restaurant he created at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It was here I learned about one of the most useful tools of the trade from Charlie. The “offset spatula” paired with a bouquet of my garden’s New Zealand native herbs, Reinga Lillies, and kitchen herbs, I dedicate this to “Chef” who inspired and taught us all so very much. Bless you.