Foodmonster di Koran Surya, Sabtu 26 Maret 2011

Ingat acara ultah Foodmonster yang keempat kapan hari? Nah, rupanya, selain diliput oleh JTV (TV lokal Surabaya) dan sudah tayang beberapa hari setelahnya, juga diliput oleh harian Surya (koran lokal Surabaya dan sekitarnya) dan terbit hari Sabtu tanggal 26 Maret 2011.

Beberapa hari yang lalu mbak Lia sudah memberitahukan via milis dan facebook...karena aku nggak langganan Surya, jadi Sabtu kemarin, sebelum jemput Cinta dari sekolah, aku sempatkan mampir ke kios koran dekat rumah dan beli harian Surya yang dimaksud.

Aku post berita ini di sini, barangkali ada teman komunitas Foodmonster yang nggak kebagian korannya. Untuk gambar yang lebih besar bisa dilihat di sini : http://www.flickr.com/photos/resepkeluargacinta/5567209934/

Setelah artikel tentang ulang tahun, ada artikel tentang latbar... kebetulan foto yang dipasang adalah waktu latbar Pastel Tutup di rumahku :)



Baca kedua artikel itu aku jadi ketawa ketawa sendiri...ingat kalau habis ada pengumuman latbar yang dikeluarkan oleh salah satu Mods..yang ndaftar pasti tumpang tindih urutannya, karena semua adu cepat. Tapi untungnya selalu ada Mods atau Mons yang dengan suka rela mengurutkan versi (nomor urut pendafaran) berdasarkan waktu pengiriman email. Ah, love you all, Mods & Mons..

Next latbar, bikin seperti ini loh... :



Mentornya tentu saja ahlinya, mbak Ipoet yang jari jarinya penuh magic :D.

So, see you next month,Foodmonsters..

Latbar NCC Surabaya : Spicy Fruit Cake & Buttercream

Ini latbar NCC Surabaya kesekian yang aku ikutin....

Berawal dari chit chat di milis NCC khusus Surabaya, yang kalau hari Jumat member dibebaskan mau berbahasa Jawa atau bahasa pasar Atom, dibahaslah acara latbar untuk bulan November 2010 ini. Pertama (kalau nggak salah) materi latbarnya adalah Red Velvet Cake, mentornya mbak Rachmah Setiawati, yang biasa kami sebut mbak R. Nggak tau gimana, akhirnya jadi Spicy Fruit Cake dan Butter Cream :)

Aku menawarkan latbar kali ini diadakan di rumahku saja dan teman teman setuju. Konfirm hari Minggu 21 November 2010 jam 10:00, menyesuaikan dengan jadwal mbak R yang lagi sibuk sibuknya bulan ini. Peserta hanya dibatasi 15 orang, karena keterbatasan tempat :)

Pas hari H, peserta berdatangan, sambil menunggu acara latbar dimulai, teman teman saling ngobrol seru,seolah sudah sering ketemu, padahal sebagian baru pertama kali ketemuan loh. Inilah senangnya berada di komunitas yang sama. Biarpun baru sekali ketemu tapi obrolan nyambung dan nggak jauh jauh dari kuliner, supplier bahan baking, harga yang murah, dll.

Setelah mbak R datang, kami segera mulai dengan bagi bagi resep dan mempersiapkan bahan. Dan ternyata jumlah peserta yang hadir hanya 13 orang karena yang dua orang (Meity dan mbak Yuyun) ada keperluan mendadak.

Dee Risa, Dian Eka, Elfi dan Rita Des yang duduk di dekat mbak R, tanpa diminta membantu beliau mempersiapkan bahan, mengayak tepung, gula, mengocok butter, dll.

Yang lain duduk manis menyimak petunjuk bu guru :)

Setelah sempat mbuang adonan pertama, karena kejatuhan kotoran dari mixer, mbak R membuat 2 adonan lagi sekaligus.

 

Adonan siap dan dicetak dalam loyang cup cake satuan....masuk oven....sambil nunggu cake matang dan dingin, kami makan siang dulu...

Menu potluck yang sempat aku photo adalah :

Selain yang di atas, masih ada beraneka snack, puteri mandi, Amris bawaan mbak R, salad buah bawaan Yuli MH, jus jambu bawaan Dee Risa, jeruk, durian, mangga, semangka, klappertart, japanese Cheese Cake, es puter...hihihi...beberapa  yang terakhir bo'ong ding... Tapi  yang jelas, kemarin bener bener kenyang makan potluck bawaan teman teman.

Habis maksi, mbak R mengajarkan cara membuat butter cream dan cara aplikasinya di atas cupcake. Semua peserta antusias bertanya, dan dijawab dengan sabar oleh bu Guru. Tapi ternyata banyak banget pertanyaan, sampai sampai mbak R menghentikan proses mixing butter creamnya dan bertanya : "Bentar..bentar...emangnya selama ini kalian kalo bikin butter cream bagaimana ?" Qiqiqiqi...ketahuan kalo sebagian besar suka beli jadi aja butter creamnya...

Sementara itu para volunteer membungkusi left over potluck untuk nantinya dibagikan kepada semua peserta...

Mbak R mengajari kami membuat bunga mawar dan swirl dari butter cream....teman teman pada praktek...

dan ini hasilnya,setelah diberi hiasan dari white chocolate....manis kan?

Demo selesai, sudah makan kenyang, tinggal sawerannya... :)

Lalu sebelum pulang kami photo photoan dulu....as usual..

Fabia, mbak R, Dian Eka

Sekitar jam 15:00 latbar yang seru dan sangat bermanfaat ini selesai. Terimakasih, teman teman, acara ini tidak mungkin berlangsung tanpa partisipasi aktif dari kalian semua : mbak Rachmah, Shirley sang motor, Hepi, Dian Eka, Rita Des, Fabia, Yuli MH, Dee Risa,Mia, Elfi, Didin , Fony dan tidak ketinggalan Puteri, gadis kecilnya mbak R yang sudah jago pegang kamera.

Sampai ketemu di latbar latbar NCC Surabaya berikutnya ya...

Oiya, soal rasa Spicy Fruit Cake nya mbak Rachmah, hanya ada satu kata : luar biasa.... :D

Blogger Prom 2010: If High School Was ...

Blogger Prom is what your prom might've been like in high school ...
If you were of legal age of drinking during high school and the organizers of your prom secured alcohol sponsors and a signature cocktail.

If said organizers had access to Yamashiro, the restaurant with the best view in the city.

(and when there's a giant screen showing our tweets all night long because we're okay being geeky like that)

If everyone dressed their best and ended up on the LA Times blog!

Nastassia from Let Me Eat Cake and one half of the Manila Machine

If prom came with duck or black cod tacos for dinner!

If no one judged you for stuffing yourselves with truffles from Chocobox and two Coolhaus ice cream sandwiches.

... plus a selection of cheese and dried fruits from Barrie Lynn, The Cheese Impresario, including her infamous "cheese sex" (a 10 year old cheddar from Hook's Creamery).

If prom kept feeding you for the next two weeks with coupons from Manila Machine, Border Grill, Sprinkles, and 7-11 (and kept you smelling good too with all the shampoos and deodorants).

The best part? We all raised $2,400 for Operation Frontline!

Many thanks to the Blogger Prom committee members LA & OC Foodie, Caroline on Crack, e*starLA, Happy Go Marni, Liquid Muse, LAist, ShopEatSleep, and When Tara Met Blog for putting on a great party.

Celebrity Chef-Studded Dinner at Sashi!

Chef Makoto Okuwa at Sashi is no stranger to the ever popular Iron Chef show, but although he's had years in the show under Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Thursday July 8 marks his first appearance as the lead chef and challenger.

He's pulling all the stops to celebrate, too, and that's where you can come in.
That night, he will bring in Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and Top Chef champion Michael Voltaggio, plus chef Noriyuki Sugie (Ironnori/Breadbar), chef Sonny Sweetman (Exec chef of Wolfgang Puck), and chef Waylynn Lucas (Exec pastry chef of Patina). The six of them will prepare 1 hors d'oeuvres and 1 dish each.
Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served at 5 pm, and the six course dinner + Iron Chef America viewing will start at 7 pm. Of course, all the rockstar chefs will be mingling with guests in the dining room.
And that's why you'll pay the $120 price tag.

Call (310) 545-0400 to RSVP.

Giveaway: Wine Competition Swag Bag + Tickets to LA County Fair

I was recently invited to preview/taste the winning wines of the 71st Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition, selected from 3,165 wines by 75 judges. Alas, I can't attend the preview because I'm out of town, but they generously offered a gift bag for me to give away to one lucky reader!

The gift bag, valued at $75, will include:

• A variety of spirits and olive oil samples from this year's competition.
• A pair of tickets to the L.A. County Fair
• Vouchers to the wine-tasting seminars at this year's Fair.

Before you enter, make sure you can attend the L.A. County Fair!





You can get up to 2 entries. Here's how to enter:
1. Leave a comment with your contact information below.
2. Tweet: "Win a gift bag($75 value) from LA Int'l Wine Competition via @gourmetpigs! Enter here: http://bit.ly/afgZxL "
Once you tweet, leave me a separate comment telling me you did so (easier for me to count the entries this way).


Once you win, I will contact you for your mailing address and they will mail you your gift bag.

You have until midnight on Thursday, June 17 to enter. Good luck!

~~~~~~~~~~

Also, the LA International Wine & Spirits Competition is also holding a fundraiser, Wine & Cars Under the Stars, where for the first time the public can taste the winning wines. Taking place on June 19, tickets for this event are $100 each and benefit The Learning Centers at Fairplex, which offers educational programming for the community.

How Merlot Takes Revenge

After going wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley, I finally sat down and watched Sideways, the movie that propelled central valley Pinot Noir to fame and unjustly gave a bad rap to Merlot. Do you like Bordeaux? Do you know that Merlot is one of the primary grapes that go into Bordeaux?

Finally, Merlot producers and other wine professionals decided things have to turn around. Well, there's only one way to do that, I suppose: let consumers try high quality Merlot.
Ian Blackburn of Learn About Wine organized a Merlot-centric wine event humorously called Revenge of the Merlot.

The event was held at the Elevate Lounge. While the main event was at night, I was invited to attend the "trade tasting" during the afternoon. Twenty nine wineries/importers were in attendance showcasing their wines, totaling more than fifty wines.

Despite its bad reputation in the movie, Merlot is the third most planted grape variety in the world with 640,000 acres to its name. The name Merlot came from the Occitan word meaning "young blackbird."

I was fortunate enough to attend the panel tasting, thanks to LAW & SauceLA's press invitation.
The seven wines we tasted were from:
1. 2006 Merlot, Gundlach Bundschu, Sonoma (~$30). Presented by Jeff Bundschu.
This wine had a sharp smell, but a fruity taste, medium body, and actually goes down pretty smoothly.
2. 2005 (Merlot w/ 15% Cab-Franc), Newton, Napa Valley. Presented by their winemaker, Chris Millard.
Mellower and earthier aroma than #1 but was actually more tannic. Richer and fruity, and the sharp tannins don't really linger.
3. 2006 Merlot from Carneros Valley, Silverado, Napa Valley (~$30). Presented by Russ Weiss.
Bold and darker flavors with a little herbal notes.
4. 2005 Oakville Merlot, Swanson, Napa Valley ($36). Presented by their winemaker, Chris Phelps.
5. 2007 Montes Alpha, Chile ($24). Presented by Alex Guarachi, President of TGIC Imports.
6. Cakebread Cellars, Napa Valley. Presented by Christopher Huber, VP of the Sales dept.
7. 2006 Jackson Park Merlot, Matanzas Creek, Sonoma ($49). Presented by their PR person, Joe Cicero.
Fruity, distinct spice, bright, with nice and light tannin. I enjoyed this.
Winemakers, owners, and other experts from each winery served as a panel and introduced their respective wines as discussion was led by Ian.

Oh, the panel also mentioned a new documentary about Merlot coming up, called Merlove.
(OK, cheeky title, but I'll watch it anyway).


One of the highlights for me was trying Twomey, a sister winery of Silver Oak. The main reason for my excitement was because I've tried to go to their tasting locations both in Calistoga and Healdsburg - both times on a Sunday, when they are both closed.
Twomey's Merlot is made using an old (19th century) and now rare technique called soutirage traditionnel, where the wine is never pumped.


I didn't taste all the wines available that day (I hadn't been spitting consistently) ...
Organic Cellar spotlighted a Prosecco Merlot, a refreshingly crisp sparkly. This was a nice change from all the red wines abound.

Another interesting booth is the TGIC Importers.
They had a variety of Merlots from Argentina, Chile, and more. He told me to first try the Pascual Toso 2007 Merlot from Argentina as it was to be the "most surprising," he said.
The Pascual Toso was surprisingly rich: fruity and had bright flavors. An easy wine to drink. Not a complex wine, to be sure, but if I'm looking for something in this price range (~$10) it's definitely a bottle I would consider getting. The Santa Ema Reserve Merlot from Maipo Valley, Chile was mellower, deep, and smooth.

There are certainly a lot of great Merlots around the world. Miles from Sideways may not drink any "f***ing Merlot" but he was so whiny throughout the movie anyway ... are you really going to listen to him?

Giveaway: Mendocino Farms Tasting Event!

Mendocino Farms is LA's new favorite sandwich spot ever since they opened their downtown location.

Sourcing artisanal bread, local and sustainable produce from farmer's markets, chef Judy Han brings in not only slow food movement influences but also tries to reconstruct "fine dining" favorites into a sandwich form. The results? Braised Lamb sandwich, French Onion Soup melt, and Kurobuta pork belly banh mi that have garnered the attention of LA Times, Tasting Table, and various blogs.

Now Mendocino Farms is expanding to the westside, Marina del Rey to be exact, and they are holding a Pre-Opening Party and Tasting Event next Tuesday (4/27) at 6:30 PM. The event is Invite only BUT they have offered FIVE spots for my readers!
One of them could be you!

Want to join us for the tasting party?
Just leave a comment below with your contact info or contact me directly! Please be sure you'll be available to attend the party.
Tweet about the giveaway to get an extra entry:
"Attend @MendocinoFarms' Pre-Opening Party&Tasting via @gourmetpigs. Enter here: http://bit.ly/bwh4EU"

You'll have until the end of Saturday to enter, so that I won't have attendees make last minute plan changes!

It's a Gal Chat: The Heyday of LA Times Food Section

Did you know there's an organization called the Culinary Historians of Southern California?
No? Interesting, right?

Of course, they don't just study gastronomical history among themselves. Here's what might interest you: This Saturday they are bringing the big name "girls" of the Los Angeles Times Food Section from the 1960's-80's together for a talk, and it's FREE to the public.

In attendance will be Betsy Balsley, Donna Deane, Rose Dosti and Barbara Hansen (whom I've had the pleasure of meeting and she's amazing).

Here's more details:

Saturday, April 10th, 10:30 am
Los Angeles Public Library
Mark Taper Auditorium, Downtown Central Branch
630 W. 5th St.

Free and open to the public

With over 100 work years of combined experience, the team of Betsy Balsley, Donna Deane, Rose Dosti and Barbara Hansen produced the Los Angeles Times Food section in its heyday beginning in the late sixties, into the 1980's. During this era the food section had 40 to 50 pages every week, with popular columns such as Culinary SOS and Borderlines and dozens of original recipes. Recipes were prepared for publication in a magnificent test kitchen. The LA Times Food Gals will reminisce about this extraordinary era of food journalism, the resources they had to produce a great food section.

A reception with themed refreshments will follow the talk at approximately 11:30.

HMFF (Home Made Food Fiesta) perdana NCC Surabaya

Luar biasa...itu yang ada dipikiranku waktu HMFF perdana NCC Surabaya bisa terlaksana pada tanggal 7 Maret 2010 kemarin. Dimulai dengan usul iseng iseng berhadiah, member NCC Surabaya yang selama ini hanya bisa membayangkan kemeriahan HMFF NCC Jakarta, akhirnya terlaksana juga acara tahunan khas NCC (Natural Cooking Club) asuhan ibu Fatmah Bahalwan dan mas Wisnu ini.

Buat pemanasan, kami sudah mengadakan Kopdar NCC Surabaya tanggal 21 February 2010 dan sukses. Koordinasi hanya lewat milis NCCSurabaya yang dibuatkan oleh mas Wisnu, diketuai oleh Shirley Theresia, dibantu oleh Amy, Devi Praz, Hepi, Nadira, myself, dan teman teman lain, disupport oleh Vivi Liong, Pemred Lezat dan difasilitasi oleh mbak Tuti, CNI, acara yang berlangsung mulai jam 12:00 (lebih lebih dikit lah...soale nunggu bu Fat &  group yang habis ngajar di Arvian) ini berakhir jam 18:00 di Gedung CNI jalan Arjuno 154 Surabaya.

Gedung CNI memiliki 3 lantai. Lantai 1 disiapkan untuk menampung anak anak yang ikut. Panitia CNI sudah mempersiapkan film untuk ditonton dan permainan untuk menghilangkan kebosanan mereka.

Lantai 2 untuk lomba dan kursus food photography

Nah, di lantai 3, tempat yang paling rame...

Begitu menginjakkan kaki di lantai 3 para hadirin disambut oleh Endang Paloepiningrum yang siap dengan name tag, daftar hadir dan kotak untuk saweran

Tabloid Lezat juga buka gerai menjual tabloid, dvd dan majalah

Acara pertama adalah, menata dan photo photoan potluck. Setiap peserta yang hadir diminta untuk membawa potluck, home made kalau bisa, beli juga nggak papa kalau terpaksa :). Mbak Tuti berkali kali nambah meja karena banyaknya potluck yang terus berdatangan.

the famous sirup Mimosa bawaan Yvonne Fransisca

Mohon maaf kalau ada yang potlucknya kelewat nggak kepotret ya...

Selesai menata potluck, peserta digiring ke ruang serba guna CNI. Pak Yudhi, mbak Tuti dan mbak Hanna dari CNI memperkenalkan produck Nutri 10-meal, cereal yang dijadikan bahan utama lomba HMFF. Tidak sedikit peserta yang baru mengenal product ini, karena itu CNI juga menyediakan sample untuk dicicipi. Mbak Tuti malah sempat mendemokan brownies dengan menggunakan Nutri 10-meal, tapi nggak boleh ditiru waktu lomba..heheheh...

Dilanjut dengan icip icip potluck jam 14:00 (untung sudah dipesenin oleh Shirley untuk makan dulu sebelum datang di HMFF....kalau enggak pasti perut sudah perih..qiqiqi). Para peserta dan keluarganya makan dengan sangat teratur, sambil berchit chat...

Waktu untuk icip icip potluck habis, jam 15:00 lomba dimulai. Peserta bersiap di meja masing masing, memeriksa bahan, nyari bahan tambahan.... Aba aba diberikan....dan peserta mulai beraksi. Dalam waktu 1 jam, semua beres.

pak Andri dari Ngawi, pemenang pertama

Tjita pemenang ketiga

Fifi Gresik dan kreasinya

Fitri Potato stick & karyanya

diriku, Cinta, dan kreasiku, banana pudding

Yang di atas ini bolu gulung kreasi Rachmah, sayang orangnya lupa di photo..

Rita He, yang aku 'paksa' ikut lomba..hihih....nggak nyesel kan Rit?

Shirley & hasil tangannya

Vivi Liong dan pinky bearnya

Widya dan pancakenya

**urutan photo adalah alphabetical, maaf kalau ada yang nggak sempat ke photo**

Mereka yang nggak ikut lomba setia menemani....

Endang Paloepiningrum & Onny Asri

Seperti biasa, tidak ada momen yang terlewatkan dari kamera...habis lomba, jeprat jepret dulu...

Setelah 60 menit, para peserta diminta untuk meninggalkan meja masing masing, dan para juri mulai bekerja...

Selanjutnya , sambil menunggu para juri menentukan siapa pemenangnya, para peserta digiring kelantai 3(lagi). Acara bagi bagi doorprize dan bagi bagi pesanan chocolate sheet, apron, sirup mimosa dan lain lain. Sambil menyaksikan  mbak Tuti bagi bagi doorprize, panitia dari NCC sibuk membagi left over potluck di ruang sebelah, dan yang lain memanfaatkan waktu ngobrol seru banget dengan teman teman baru yang selama ini hanya dikenal lewat milis.

Acara terakhir adalah pengumuman pemenang.... Bu Fat mengumumkan juara pertama pak Andri, kedua mbak Yully MH dan Tjita. Sayang saat ini Cinta sudah mulai rewel karena ngantuk kecapaian sehingga aku tidak bisa memotret para pemenang doorprize dan juara lomba masak HMFF.

Acara ditutup sekitar jam 18:00 dengan diiringi gerimis yang akhrinya berubah jadi hujan lebat, kami pulang dengan membawa kenangan manis, potluck, hadiah dari CNI dan NCC. Sungguh rasanya jadi ketagihan pengen sering sering kumpul dengan teman teman NCC ini. Baru selesai acara sudah ingin ketemuan lagi, orang Jawa bilang 'tuman' :D

Terimakasih buat pak Yudi, mbak Tuti, mbak Hanna CNI, untuk semua staff dari tempat parkir sampai ke lantai 3 yang dengan sangat ramah dan helpfull membantu kami mengangkat barang, menunjukkan tempat, memberi informasi dan menjagai anak anak.

Terimakasih buat bu Fat, Riana, Ita, Citra yang bela belain datang dari Jakarta pagi itu, mas Wisnu, yang walaupun nggak ikut datang tapi banyak sekali memberikan support dan sumbangan pikiran.

Terimakasih buat semua yang sudah hadir di HMFF Surabaya. Buat persahabatan yang hangat ini.

Terimakasih buat Sri Beijing yang datang jauh jauh dari PRC sana, dan waktu aku ikut lomba beliau berkeliling mengabadikan acara lomba ini, kalau tanpa dia pasti aku nggak punya photo photo di atas :D

Terakhir, terimakasih buat rekan rekan panitia HMFF, Shirley, Devy, Hepi, Amy, Nadira, Vivi, Widya, semuaaaaaaanya tak terkecuali. I love you all. Muach..muach...

Sampai ketemu di waktu dekat ya... God bless you all.