On the Menu: October 25 to October 31

by jbfauthor on October 23, 2009

Here’s what happening at the Beard House and around the country next week: Sunday, October 25, 11:00 A.M. Reflections of Maremma Workshop Inspired by a Surrealist sculpture garden in a tiny village in the Maremma region of Tuscany, Gabriella Ganugi and her team of chefs from Florence’s Apicius cooking school designed a dinner menu reflective of this rugged, vibrant coastal part of Italy. This workshop will highlight some of Ganugi’s favorite dishes from that menu. Monday, October 26, 7:00 P.M. New England Catch of the Day The winner of Boston magazine’s “Best Seafood Restaurant” title for four years in a row, Catch is a brilliant showcase for seafood-savvy chef and owner Chris Parsons. A fourth-generation fly fisherman, Parsons has been reeling in the praise with a constantly evolving menu that is at once French-influenced and New England–inspired. Tuesday, October 27, 7:00 P.M. Flavors of Southeast Asia Named for the large sugar crystals often used in Asian cooking, RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen seamlessly fuses the vibrant flavors of the Pacific Rim. Executive chef Mohan Ismail draws on the taste memories of his Singaporean childhood as well as his experience cooking at bar-setting restaurants like Tabla, Spice Market, and Blue Hill. Wednesday, October 28, 12:00 P.M. Beard on Books In Love What You Do: Building a Career in the Culinary Industry, Dorothy Cann Hamilton lends a helping hand to those forging their own professional path in the food world. Divided into three sections—“Deciding,” “Training,” and “Launching”—the book guides readers through each of the steps of any job hunt to find the career opportunity that is right for them. Cann also includes brief profiles of notable culinary figures, all offering their own words of encouragement and advice. Love What You Do gives you just the nudge you need to make a confident leap toward the food job you’ve always dreamed of. Wednesday, October 28, 7:00 P.M. 50 Years of Michael’s An early proponent of California cuisine, visionary chef Michael McCarty opened his first namesake restaurant in 1979, launching a revolution. Thirty years later (and 20 years after he set up shop in NYC), when local and seasonal are the words on everyone’s lips, it’s clear that McCarty has changed the food world forever. Wednesday, October 28, 7:00 P.M. Celebrity Chef Tour: Houston Celebrity Chef Tour events are dinners produced by Inner Circle that benefit the James Beard Foundation, in which JBF Award winners and other celebrity chefs travel to private clubs, resorts, and other exclusive venues across America to prepare dinners and promote the culinary arts. Thursday, October 29, 7:00 P.M. Crazy Canuck Harvest BBQ A passionate chef and self-proclaimed “food entertainer,” Ted Reader is a fearless culinary explorer and an award-winning barbecue fiend. Think you know barbecue? The Crazy Canuck will have you thinking twice at this extraordinary event. Thursday, October 29, 7:00 P.M. Celebrity Chef Tour: Dallas Celebrity Chef Tour events are dinners produced by Inner Circle that benefit the James Beard Foundation, in which JBF Award winners and other celebrity chefs travel to private clubs, resorts, and other exclusive venues across America to prepare dinners and promote the culinary arts. Friday, October 30, 12:00 P.M. Atlantic Coastline Luncheon Named for the rum-running ship that helped end Prohibition in the U.S., the Black Duck is a New American restaurant whose chef, Hector Tice, is serious about seafood. For this luncheon Tice has designed a spectacular menu showcasing fish—including Maine lobster, Nantucket sea scallops, and Maryland crab—caught along the Atlantic coast. For details and reservations, visit www.jamesbeard.org/events or call 212.627.2308. (Photo by Krishna Dayanidhi)