Meet the newest Bay Area chef to star on the small screen — the very talented Chef-Proprietor Mourad Lahlou of Aziza in San Francisco.
A native of Marrakesh, Lahlou has revolutionized Moroccan cooking at his restaurant, even introducing elements of molecular gastronomy to his dishes.
For a delicious time, head to one of these upcoming fun events:
* 22nd Annual Star Chefs & Vintners Gala: Chef Nancy Oakes of Boulevard in San Francisco once again is spearheading this gala that benefits Meals on Wheels of San Francisco, which provides meals to homebound seniors. The May 17 benefit at Fort Mason in San Francisco features more than 70 of the Bay Area’s best chefs, including Charles Phan of the Slanted Door in San Francisco, Mourad Lahlou of Aziza in San Francisco, and Christopher Kostow of the Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena.
Participating vintners include Pride Mountain Vineyards, Duckhorn Vineyards, and Vineyard 29. Mixologists from the Alembic and Absinthe will be concocting one-of-a-kind cocktails.
Silent and live auction items will include the rarest of wines, and dinner at a private estate in Pebble Beach.
Individual tickets start at $400. For more information, call (415) 920-1111 ext. 281.
* Panini tasting with Tom Colicchio: The head honcho “Top Chef” judge will be at Williams-Sonoma’s Union Square store, 340 Post St. in San Francisco, 5 p.m. April 15. Nosh on sandwiches as Colicchio signs his new book, “wichcraft.” For more information, call (415) 362-9450.
* Farm to Table at Nick’s Cove: Executive Chef Adam Mali will create a five-course dinner April 16 at the Tomales Bay restaurant, featuring ingredients from its on-site garden, Drake’s Bay oysters, and Drake’s Bay Family Farms.
Price is $65 per person. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Marin Organic, an association of organic producers. Those who want to spend the night in the cottages can take advantage of a special rate of $100 off luxury waterfront ones or $50 off water view ones.
* ”Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day” Deal: To support that national day on April 23, parents who dine at McCormick & Kuleto’s Seafood Restaurant in San Francisco and Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto in Berkeley will receive a free lunch entree and beverage for their children.
* Taste of Tamales by the Bay: Enjoy a variety of tamales, both sweet and savory, at the third annual event, noon to 4:30 p.m. April 26 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. See tamale-making demonstrations, and enjoy margaritas, as well as heirloom beans from Rancho Gordo.
Deliriously delicious events you won’t want to miss:
*3rd Annual California Artisan Cheese Festival: The Sheraton Sonoma County in Petaluma will host this cheese extravaganza, March 20-23. Meet artisan cheesemakers at the March 20 reception and tasting. March 21, listen to a panel of experts including Laura Werlin and Clark Wolf.
Kelsie Kerr, director of the cooking school at Cavallo Point, will teach a cooking class about incorporating artisan cheese into everyday cooking. The March 21 gala dinner will feature five courses by a bevy of Bay Area chefs. At the Artisan Cheese Marketplace gets underway March 22, look for cooking demos by chefs such as Joey Altman.
Ticket prices range from $40 to $170. Ten percent of ticket sales will benefit five non-profits that support the artisan cheese-making community and its sustainability.
* 3rd Annual International Chocolate Salon: Yes, chocolates, chocolates everywhere. That’s what you’ll find at this decadent event, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 21 at the Fort Mason Center’s Herbst Pavillion in San Francisco. Stroll through 30,000-square-feet of chocolate, wine, and confections to discover and taste. Chocolate demos, chef talks, and author signings also will be spotlighted.
More than 50 confectioners and wineries will be there, showing off their ware.
Yours truly, the Food Gal, will be there, too, as one of the tasting panel judges. Oh my. I better start fasting now in preparation.
Tickets are $25 for adults; $10 for children ages 6-12; and free for children under age 6 (limit two children per adult).
* James Beard Foundation Benefit Dinner: Chef Laurent Manrique and his culinary friends will honor esteemed cookbook author Paula Wolfert at a special dinner, March 16, at the Fifth Floor in San Francisco.
Chefs routinely chant, “It’s all about the ingredients.”
When it comes to a series of special dinners at Jack Falstaff in San Francisco, truer words were never spoken.
At the restaurant’s 2009 Growers Dinners, Executive Chef Jonnatan Leiva showcases the wonderful ingredients he sources regularly from growers he’s worked with for years. At the monthly dinners, guests get to mingle with the farmers whose seasonal ingredients are the star attraction of the four-course dinner. At each dinner, a San Francisco executive chef acts as guest chef to cook at least one course of the meal. Special beers or wines are specifically paired to the dishes, too.
This year’s series of dinners kicks off Feb. 24 with Hamada Farms in Kingsbury, CA. The family-owned farm, which was established in 1921, grows everything from persimmons and avocados to exotic citrus such as Oro Blanco, cocktail grapefruits, Tahitian pumelos, and African shaddock. The guest chef that night will be Staffan Terje, chef-owner of Perbacco.
The dinner is $85, including wine pairings. For reservations, call (415) 836-9239.
If you miss this dinner, you can still catch others in the future:
In these dire economic times, who couldn’t use a $2,500 shopping spree at Macy’s for new kitchen products?
Especially if your personal culinary guide is Tyler Florence, a member of Macy’s Culinary Council.
Through April 3, Macy’s and Food Network star Tyler Florence are hosting a contest, in which you can enter your own video showing how to prepare an original recipe. The “Macy’s Keeps America Cooking” contest was launched in conjunction with Florence’s 12-series podcasts highlighting his own favorite recipes.
Each video submitted should be 2 minutes or less, and demonstrate “What gets you cooking?”
In addition to the shopping spree, the grand prize winner will receive a trip for two to San Francisco to cook with Florence, and a feature spot on a Macy’s podcast. Nine runners-up will win a $1,000 gift card from Macy’s.
For a complete list of contest rules, click here.
For “Top Chef” fanatics, there are just three days left to enter the ”Quaker Oats Quick Fire Challenge.”