Gluten-Free Cooking and Dining Event with the Warren Celiac Center and Four Seasons Resort Aviara

For those of you who did not have the chance to attend, YOU MISSED A GOOD TIME! We learned new tips and tricks and had some laughs with Chef Jesse Paul (cool guy by the way!). Chef Jesse Paul seems to be really passionate about Gluten-Free food.

 

Here are some tips I jotted down...

 

Garlic - make sure you cut the wood part off the garlic and if the garlic is overly ripened take out the green shoot in the middle. This helps to avoid adding a biter taste to whatever it is you're cooking.

 

Citrus - You only want to use the colored part of the rind not the white part or what's called the pith. This "pith" also adds bitterness!

 

Peeling (blanching for all you cooks out there) Peaches, Nectarines or Tomatoes - Cut a little X shape in the top of the fruit. Place in boiling water for 10 - 20 seconds to remove the skin (this does not cook it but softens the skin). Promptly take out of the water and place in freezing cold water. When cold enough (don't burn yourself... be patient) peel off the outside.

 

Chef Jesse Paul also mentioned that when cooking vegetables like onions or bell peppers cut them to size based upon how fast you want them to cook. The smaller the faster and the bigger the slower. Common sense right, but I never thought about it did you?

Chef Jesse Paul and I

Pictures of the featured food...

∞ Watermelon Salad with Pickled Cucumber and Smoked Mackerel

∞ Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Peach Chutney, Arugula Pesto & Mascarpone

∞ Peach Sabayon with Strawberries & Basil Syrup (This was waiting for us when we arrived... This was FABULOUS!!!)

A NEW acronym was born at this event... "GFF"! This stands for GLUTEN FREE FRIENDS (thank you Michelle for coining this term)! I want to thank some of my GFF's... Michelle, Nicole and Robin for joining me at this event! I really appreciate and like your company. We should dine GF more often. I also want to give a shout to my new GFF's that I met today Holly, Kylie and the couple at the end of the table we were sitting at (SORRY I didn't get your names). It was great to hear your stories. It's interesting to hear how each person is affected by gluten and it's nice we can all come together to discuss and celebrate our gluten intolerance =o) Celebrate... ha ha ha... I'm silly!

My GFF's (Me, Nicole, Robin and Michelle)

The Buffet... cant forget the buffet! FABULOUS! Everything at the buffet was Gluten-Free! We were all in Gluten-Free heaven! Here is what was featured...

∞ Gluten-Free Penne Pasta

∞ Roasted Chicken

∞ Halibut

∞ Grilled Flat Iron Steak

∞ Gluten-Free Panini

∞ Dessert Selections including Lemon Meringue Nests, Reves du Chocolate & Strawberry Panna Cotta.

Here is what I had...

Yes, those are Gluten-Free sandwiches. Bread was provided by the Gluten Not Included Bakery in Escondido.

 

 Pictures of other items at the buffet...

 

 

 

 

Anyone interested in a Gluten-Free Tea Party? I am hoping to plan this event sometime in the beginning of August. This will be at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara as well. Please email me so that I have you on my list for an invitation!

    

Happy eating, learning and living!