Concurrently with the tasting tents were more intimate, interactive events and I had a seat at the Barilla Interactive Lunch with Guy Fieri. You may not know his name but you’d recognize his spiky blonde hair and signature sunglasses. Fieri was the Season 2 winner Food Network Star in 2006 and host of four culinary television shows, Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, Guy’s Big Bite, Guy Off the Hook and Ultimate Recipe Showdown. He’s a culinary rock star and there I was in the ballroom of the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables cooking with Guy Fieri!
Okay, I wasn’t actually on stage with Guy and I didn’t cook alongside him but I did manage to get within spitting distance (of course I didn’t spit on him, that’s not lady-like.) I did cook, but followed along with a different chef, Edmondo Sarti of San Francisco-based Pasta Pomodoro.
About 300 people attended the lunch and we were assigned to tables, each seating nine. While waiting for the doors to open and enjoying the Sam’s Club sponsored wine tasting, organizers asked if I would move from my assigned table in the back of the ballroom to one of the sponsor tables front and center of the action. Absolutely! This was one of those moments when I was happy to be a solo traveler and took the upgrade.Sitting innocently and examining the stovetop and cooking equipment waiting for lunch to begin I was nominated by the table to cook the first of two dishes. What? I’m all for immersing in an experience but having the responsibility of preparing an entrée for eight strangers wasn’t settling right. I’m not a bad cook, these days I primarily cook for myself and while I haven’t given myself food poisoning, I attribute that to having a strong stomach from a decade of living in national parks and traveling to off-beat locations as rural Japan, Cuba and Afghanistan. I’m kidding. I really take proper care in food preparation and mind what I eat but I was now responsible for cooking “Campanelle with Shrimp and Asparagus” (shrimp, chopped asparagus, tomato sauce, cream and pasta)……….oh the pressure!
I accepted my task, tied on my apron and plopped the paper cook’s hat atop my head. A tray was brought out with all the pre-portioned ingredients and Chef Edmondo was sautéeing garlic on stage before I had slipped on my latex gloves. I was nervous and stumbled along trying to keep up with Chef Edmondo’s instructions but thankfully two student chefs from the local college guided me from start to finish in creating a toast-worthy dish.
Glasses were raised in my honor when Chef Edmondo stopped by and congratulated me, but this was an embarrassing moment. He said I’d win a bottle of olive oil if I could answer one simple question, “What’s my name?”
I was soaking up the moment and had no clue what his name was. Prior to that day, I had never heard of him. I was there to see Guy Fieri and in my excitement, didn’t take the time to remember Chef Edmondo’s name.
“Uh, uh,” I stumbled, looking around inconspicuously for something with his name on it.
“It’s not cheating if you read the apron,” he said.
“Chef Edmund!” I yelled.
“Close enough,” he replied. Being a good sport, he took the time to pose for a photo and it’s certain I will never forget his name.
Guy later arrived and rocked the house with his entertaining performance while cooking up “Tequila Turkey Fettuccine” which is the recipe he credits being responsible for winning Food Network Star. He interacted with the audience and encouraged us to take a shot of tequila before pouring the balance into the pan, which intentionally set the entrée on fire.
Following was a book, apron, whatever signing which gave me an opportunity to tell him two things. First, he needs to include Petrified Forest National Park in his next series of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives for their Navajo tacos, and second, my cousin is a huge fan and loves him, but not in an inappropriate manner. My latter statement drew a smile.
The night before was spent at Miami Beach’s Paris Theatre for Harrah’s Casino Night with Paula Deen. Hey, ya’ll! Ms. Deen was her sassy Southern self and cut a rug with her husband Michael Groover along with Guy Fieri and Food Network’s The Neelys. Delicious southern dishes like oyster po’ boys, creamed spinach, and crab cakes were served up on eco-conscious bamboo plates, but the highlight was Ketel One Vodka’s martinis which slid through tall bottles carved from ice. Paula Deen Southern Dishes, her new line of packaged entrees, were showcased. Dishes such as Savannah Crab Cakes with Crab Butter Sauce, The Lady and Sons ‘Shore is Good’ Seafood Dip and Southern Style Cajun Fried Catfish are the same quality found at The Lady and Sons Restaurant in Savannah, Ga. Look for these and other entrees in a local store, wholesale club and QVC soon.