The Ultimate Battle of The Food Trucks

(Click The Image To Enlarge)

The Art Institutes (Ai) Food Truck Tour coincides with the third season of Food Network’s hit reality competition series The Great Food Truck Race, which can be seen Sunday nights at 9pm through the September 30^th finale.  Culinary Arts students from The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes will be asked to battle local food truck favorites. The trucks will each be challenged to create a dish that includes the same ingredients.  Celebrity chefs, including James Beard Award-nominees Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, plus contestants from previous seasons of The Great Food Truck Race, The Lime Truck and Sky’s Gourmet Tacos, will be on-site to judge the matchups.  

The tour will provide guests and aspiring student chefs with the ability to watch the competitions live, taste diverse cuisine from participating local food trucks and to take photos on-site with local celebrity chefs–a total food experience.  A portion of each participating trucks sales will benefit the local Art Institutes’ culinary scholarships.

“The food truck phenomenon is certainly a culinary industry trend we want to expose our students to as another way to pursue a fulfilling career in the industry,” said Chef Michael Nenes, assistant vice president of Culinary Arts for The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes.  “This tour will allow our students to put their skills to work beyond the classroom and showcase their knowledge of world cuisines in a once unconventional environment of a food truck, all while having fun with the local community.”

The tour will also showcase talented graduates from The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes who have garnered national recognition including Jesse Brockman, a 2009 alumnus of The Art Institute of California – Orange County, a campus of Argosy University, with an Associate of Science degree in Culinary Arts, who was a member of The Great Food Truck Race winning team last year with the Lime Truck.

The Ai Food Truck Tour – Event Information

The community is invited to enjoy the Ai Food Truck Tour experience at several venues. The Ai Food Truck will make its debut at the LA County Fair on September 3^rd and make an additional community appearance on the Huntington Beach Pier on September 15^th.

The cooking battles will be held at Art Institutes’ campuses at the following locations at no cost to attend:

Cooking Battle - September 5, 2012

4:00 – 8:00 p.m.

The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire, a campus of Argosy University

674 East Brier Drive, San Bernardino, CA 92408

Cooking Battle - September 8, 2012

1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

The Art Institute of California - Los Angeles, a campus of Argosy University

2900 31^st Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Cooking Battle - September 13, 2012

4:00 – 8:00 p.m.

The Art Institute of California - Orange County, a campus of Argosy University

3601 W. Sunflower Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92704

Cooking Battle - September 22, 2012

1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

The Art Institute of California- San Diego, a campus of Argosy University

7650 Mission Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92108

Follow the tour on Facebook at www.facebook.com/artinstitutes and Twitter at #AiFoodTruck.

The Supreme Plate Creole Shrimp & Rice

Ingredients

·       1 TBS unsalted butter

·       2 TBS extra-virgin olive oil

·       3 cloves garlic, minced

·       1 tsp Lemon Juice

·       2 tsp Supreme Plate Seasoning (recipe follows)

·       1 lb jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails left on

·       Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

·       4 plum or cherry tomatoes, chopped

·       2 bunches scallions, chopped (whites removed)

·       3 cups cooked white rice

·       3 TBS chopped fresh parsley

·       Lemon wedges, for serving (optional)

Directions:

Heat the butter, olive oil and garlic in a large skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add the Supreme Plate seasoning and shrimp and cook, stirring, until the shrimp begin to curl, about 1 minute.

Season with Kosher salt and pepper.

Add the tomatoes and scallions to the skillet and cook, stirring, about 1 minute.

Add the rice and ¼ cup water and continue to cook until the rice is warmed through and the shrimp are opaque, about 3 more minutes.

Stir in the parsley and serve with lemon, if desired.

The Supreme Plate Seasoning –

(This seasoning goes good on beef, chicken / turkey, pork, seafood & vegetables)

2 1/2 TBS                   Paprika

2 TBS                          Kosher Salt

2 TBS                        Garlic Powder

1 TBS                        Black Pepper

1 TBS                        Onion Powder

1 TBS                         Cayenne Pepper

1 TBS                         Dried Oregano

1 TBS                        Dried Thyme

¼ TBS                        Brown Sugar

1 tsp                        Dark Chili Powder

Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Per serving: Calories 357; Fat 11 g (Saturated 3 g); Cholesterol 176 mg; Sodium 537 mg; Carbohydrate 40 g; Fiber 3 g; Protein 23 g

RIP Chris Lighty

RIP Baby Chris Lighty

A Legend, A Gentleman, An Inspiration & A True Lover of Hip Hop.

You walked through LOUD Records offices in the 90s and chopped it up with me on so many subjects, gave me some amazing advice that has stuck with me to this day and you will surely be missed by so many people. Rest In Paradise Sir.

Channel Your Inner Moulin Rouge, September 14th @ The Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club

WHAT: 

Parlez-vous Cabaret? Get ready for a night of Cancan, feathers and glitz “à la mode de Paris” with a medley of French talents, food and wine!

No need for passport or a 12-hour flight to enjoy the romance of Paris! The ‘French Troubadours’ of the Bastille Day Los Angeles Festival are coming back to Santa Monica. Around Lola Ohlala, the personalities of five Parisian Cabaret dancers unfold to the sensual music of Juliette Greco, Serge Gainsbourg, and Max Raabe among others. Performers include:

Jenny Eloise Rieu - ‘The Lady in Red’ is a French ‘vintage singer’ as she calls herself who will take you on journey to a time and place of old world elegance and glamor.

Cabaret Versatile – recipient of the Best Cabaret and Variety Show of the Hollywood Fringe Festival, 2012 — will perform its latest revue with five amazing dancers choreographed by Lola Ohlala.

Evyn Charles - a soulful and engaging singer will deliver superb vocals with an extensive repertoire of cover songs and originals in French and English.

WHERE:

Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club - 1210 Fourth Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401

WHEN:

Friday, September 14, 2012 - starting 8:00 PM

Nectesse Sweetener, The Best Natural Sweetener Hands Down.

This Post Brought To You By Nectresse Sweetener,All Opinions Are 100% Mine

Summer is a blessing and a curse for many people. Once the Summer Sun comes out to play, people begin to stress about having that poolside / beach perfect body ready to flaunt in front of their friends. The problem with that is, if Summer is here your already getting too late of a start. More often than not, what kills us is the time spent hibernating in the house or at work, eating and drinking the wrong things and stockpiling sugars and fats in our bodies like a bear awaiting Winter. 

Enter Nectresse™ Sweetener, an all natural sweetener made from deliciously healthy Monk Fruit extract, which packs Zero calories. Lisa Ling, known around the globe, for keeping people focused on the important issues at hand that plague the World, has even tried Nextresse™ and fell in love with it instantly.   “From the moment I tried Nectresse™ No Calorie Sweetener, I loved it. Not only is it all-natural and calorie free, it was incredibly delicious! Made with deliciously sweet Monk Fruit extract, Nectresse™ Sweetener tastes like sugar and satisfies my sweet tooth in a way that fits my healthy lifestyle and is yummy too. In fact I love it so much that I bring it with everywhere I go. If you look inside my carry-on, you would find packets of Nectresse™ Sweetener.” – Lisa Ling stated in a recent interview about products she enjoys in her private time. Made by the manufacturers of Splenda® Sweeteners, the key ingredient in this delicious alternative to Sugar is Monk Fruit, which has been growing quietly in the remote regions of Asia for hundreds of years. 

The bottom line to it all is this: Nectresse™ Sweeteners (the only 100% Natural Sweetener) deliver a sweet taste, certain products just need to be consumed, without packing in all of the calories.  Growing up in the day and age of obesity & diabetes, many things need to be considered before even making a sweet treat. If you come from a family with a history of Diabetes, simple things many people take for granted are at the forefront of your mind (hopefully) when making your families meals. We do a tremendous amount of cooking for special diet needs clients and elderly couples that can no longer cook for themselves, but are not ready to live the rest of their lives dining on frozen dinners. In some instances these meals need to be prepared carefully in terms of salt, sugar and spice levels. Nectresse™Sweeteners have enabled us to provide meals that are loaded with delicious natural flavors while being incredibly healthy. 

For instance, we recently made a few stacks of our Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes and instead of using normal granulated sugar, we used Nectresse™ Sweetener and no one noticed any difference in the resulting product.  Check out the recipe below for our classic Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes (a fan favorite on the site) and try it out using Nectresse™ Sweetener instead. Its good to the last bite and healthy for your insides, what more do you need to be told. 

Click the link for the entire recipe – The Supreme Plate – Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes.

Check out the video Lisa Ling is sharing with her fans and friends about her newfound love for Nectresse™ as well as check out their website for your own free sample. Trust us when we say, this isn’t some product that hasn’t done its research trying to make a quick buck, they have a quality product that is really healthy, something we could all use in our lives. 

Visit The Sponsors Site

Lindsay Lohan Banned from The Chateau Marmont For Life.

Its one thing to be labeled a drug addict, a thief, a drunk driver and a harlot but to be called out for not paying your bills is simply downright hilarious. You know we normally don’t like to comment on anything of this nature but we found it funny that Lindsay Lohan had been banned from the World Famous, Chateau Marmont, for unpaid bills totaling $46,350.04 (stemming from a 47 day stay in June – July.)

TMZ first broke the story stating that Lohan had been ordered to remove all of her items by August 1^st, after numerous attempts at reaching the famous for no real reason at all star went unreturned. A quick break down of the bill showed that Lohan, blew through 49 packs of cigarettes (at $14.00 a pack,) racked up $3,145.07 in mini bar charges, burned a $100.00 Chateau Candle and quite a few other hilarious charges were made that she basically walked away from like she was something special.

This should be a lesson to people who have that oh so special feeling of entitlement. Don’t rip off people who you obviously owe money too, it will catch up to you.

3 Day Labor Day Brunch Weekend @ Taste on Melrose

I Love Taste.com

National Lemon Juice Day

Happy National Lemon Juice Day Little Buddy.

Grilled Pork Chops & Chimichurri Sauce w/ Smashed Potatoes

We got an email about pork chops and how can they be cooked instead of eating them fried. We are lovers of fried & smothered pork chops, but we know they can be as deadly as a car full of cops with something to prove. These pork chops get their flavor from a few choice ingredients and a good searing to lock in the flavor, but not so seared they are like eating dried pieces of rubber (no bueno in any way shape or form.)

We spiced up the combo with some smashed potatoes and a spicy Chimichurri sauce that brings everything together in the end perfectly. This gives up about 4 servings or 2 for those of you who like to eat hearty.

Ingredients:

1 ½ lbs small red-skinned potatoes

Kosher salt

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

¼ tsp seasoning salt (preferably Tonys)

¼ tsp smoked paprika

½ tsp garlic powder (Unsalted)

¾ cup fresh parsley

¾ cup fresh cilantro

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing

1 medium shallot, roughly chopped

1 clove garlic, roughly chopped

2 TBS white wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice

Freshly ground pepper

8 boneless pork chops (1 ¼ - 1 ½ lbs)

Directions:

Put the potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water.

Add 2 teaspoons salt, partially cover and bring to a boil over high heat.

Reduce the heat and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes.

Drain, then return the potatoes to the pot and coarsely mash with a large spoon.

Cover and keep warm.

Meanwhile, make the chimichurri sauce: 

Pulse the parsley, cilantro, cayenne, olive oil, shallot, garlic, vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a food processor to form a coarse paste.

Heat a large grill pan over medium-high heat.

Pat the pork chops dry and season with salt and pepper, smoked paprika, seasoning salt and garlic powder.

Lightly brush the grill pan with olive oil, then grill the chops until just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side.

Serve the pork chops and potatoes with the chimichurri sauce.

Per serving: Calories 599; Fat 37 g (Saturated 7 g); Cholesterol 78 mg; Sodium 323 mg; Carbohydrate 30 g; Fiber 3 g; Protein 35 g

The Whiskey Sour (National Whiskey Sour Day Recipe)

It’s a Saturday near the end of August and the weatherman said it wasn’t supposed to be blazing hot for the next 24 hours. Mix those two facts together with a great day entitled “National Whiskey Sour Day” and you have the makings for a perfect poolside rest & relaxation session that should ease whatever troubles you, right out of your mind.

The Whiskey Sour, a cool almost punch-like drink is one of those old classics you just can’t live your life without trying at least once.

Quite simple to make and extremely delicious this is a drink you need to have in your arsenal for moments such as these.

Enjoy Responsibly.

The Whiskey Sour –

Ingredients:

1 part Gentleman Jack

3 parts Sweet & Sour Mix

1 Orange (washed and cut into slices)

Cherries (as a garnish)

Directions:

Pour Gentleman Jack & Sweet and Sour mix into a chilled rocks glass over ice.

Stir together and garnish with and Orange slice and one Cherry.

Vitamix. The Ultimate Kitchen Tool, No Home Should Be Without.

Use the right tool for the right job and you will find yourself doing a lot less work, this is a simple but true fact. Having the proper tools on hand when the time calls for them makes life that much more fulfilling in a sense. You had the thought before hand that in life you may need something, so you went out and bought it and sure enough it was called upon to join you in battle one day.

For instance, your having a party and you run out of food or drinks and need a quick way to whip something up, but don’t want to dirty up the house or go overboard at the moment, so what do you do? 

Well if you had a Vitamix blender, you would easily be able to CREATE something from scratch with a few flicks of a switch, turns of a dial and of course some carefully selected ingredients.

Not too often in the kitchen can entire meals be made with one machine from start to finish, but such is not the case in regards to the powerhouse of a machine labeled the Vitamix Professional Series 300. (click Read More, for the entire review)

The Supreme Plate Summertime Smoothie

The Supreme Summertime Smoothie -

Ingredients:

1 cup crushed Pineapple (juice included)

1 cup frozen Mango (if using fresh mango, ad ¼ cup)

1 Peach (washed, peeled, pitted and cut into quarters)

2 heaping scoops of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream (any brand you prefer)

¼ - ½ cup of Club Soda

a few dashes of Honey

1 Cinnamon stick

1 cup of Ice

Directions:

Place all the ingredients into the Vitamix blender, secure the lid and place a hand over the top.

Turn the blender to variable 1 and turn the machine on. Slowly increase the variable to 8, then 10 then high. If the motor sounds as if it stopping or getting caught up by the ice, reduce the speed and let the cubes get broken down or add a bit more Club Soda to smooth out the mixture.

Blend on high for about 45 seconds and pour into chilled Rocks Glasses.

Garnish w/ grated Cinnamon and place the remaining Cinnamon stick in the glass.

If the drink is still too tart for your liking, add a bit more Honey or your favorite sweetener

Enjoy!!!

Jay-Z Serves Up A $1.5m Lawsuit To His Former Personal Chef

Music mogul and all around hustler, Jay-Z is suing his former personal Chef, Mike Shand, who became the Executive Chef at Hova’s famed 40/40 Club in New York City. The $1.5 million suit claims that Chef Shand, “failed to perform” and deliver on his part of the “deal, which ended up costing the club a major loss in profits, goods (and) alienation of clientele.” According to sources at the New York Post, Chef Shand who originally hails from New Zealand, was brought on to play a position he obviously couldn’t fill as part of a $10 million overhaul to the 40/40 Club. Now living in Los Angeles (to more than likely avoid any further bad press about his abilities,) it is unclear as to just what will be the defense angle taken by Chef Shand against these allegations, needless to say he wont be catering any Hip Hop parties in the near future.

Jay-Z opened the 40/40 Club in 2003 and quickly doubled down on its success by opening another in Atlantic City in 2005. Plans have been announced that a third location will be opening inside the newly built Barclays Center, in Brooklyn (home to the Brooklyn Nets, of which Jay-Z owns a piece of the action) near the end of September.

For those that don’t remember, Jay-Z does not play games when it comes to his projects, as he recently sued and won Chef Terry Miller, the winner of the British version of Hell’s Kitchen for starting a catering company and restaurant named “Rockafella” the name of Jay-Z former monster record label that helped to make Kanye West a household name. After years of bad press, allegations of potential “C” ratings upon it’s re-opening in January, the 40/40 Club must be important to Jay-Z, as he keeps fighting the good fight to keep its doors open to the public.