There is nothing I'd rather do than spend an afternoon wandering around, eating, spotting celebrity chefs, and people watching. The only thing that'd make it more perfect would be if I were being fanned by palm fronds while sitting on some type of throne. But since I don't forsee that happening anytime soon, I'll have to settle for eating and ogling celebrity chefs.
Enter, the 4th Annual Pebble Beach Food and Wine Grand Tasting event, held at the glorious Pebble Beach golf course in Monterey, California. I was able to attend the event courtesy of FoodBuzz and my darling friend Lemons and Anchovies (who also did a fabulous write up of the event). L&A was kind enough to give me her extra ticket so I could bring the hubster to carry my big camera, leaving my hands free for stuffing my face.
There are so many blogger friends who have done a lovely, detailed account of the event. Me, I'll keep it more Letterman's top 10 style. So here we go:
10) While normally, I'd have some qualms eating something bumpy and tentacly, I gobbled two (okay, three) of Chef Morimoto's Angry Octopus with Pickled Radish and Meyer Lemon Mousse on Crispy Rice.
9) True skill is making something as fancy as Shank Terrine with Dungeness Crab and Umbria Lentils for the masses.
8) Don't ever turn down a brownie brown sugar parfait.
7) This is no ordinary scallop. Not when it's served with a Mango Dungeness Crab Ceviche and Blue Corn Crisp.
6) How awesome is it when celebrity chefs that you've watched on TV are fun people in real life?
5) When Chef Chris Cosentino serves beef heart and oyster tartare, you know the fabulous plating is just the start of the magic.
4) Why do berries taste so much better when served in fancy little cups?
3) Crab Beignet. Delicious. Want one now. That is all.
2) Never say no to seconds (or thirds!) of chocolate ice cream sprinkled with fancy sea salt. Calories don't count when eaten from such cute spoons!
1) When a fabulous chef creates something strange-sounding, eat it anyway. It may be the best thing you've ever had. And on that note, I'd like to introduce you to the Buttered Popcorn Bisque.
And perhaps, even after the mind boggling top ten list above, the best part was hanging out with great blogger friends Caffeiiina, SP Cookie Queen, and of course, Lemons and Anchovies. And while I'm bummed I missed seeing Authentic Suburban Gourmet and Kitchen Confidante at this event, I'm hopeful I'll get to hang out with them at the next fabulous foodie event.
Wow, this looks so amazing! And I love Monterey! :)
ReplyDeleteI could totally see Anne being funny in real life. What a fun event!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great event..
ReplyDeleteThis looks so fun! I'm super curious about that buttered popcorn bisque!
ReplyDeleteLove your recap. It was so great seeing you again too my friend. Next time though, we may have to wrestle for some of that chocolate ice cream. I say we plan a get together soon.
ReplyDelete-Gina-
Your posts always make me smile. Love the Letterman-style recap of PBFW and come to think of it, I missed some of these dishes. What's the deal? Did I miss an aisle or something?
ReplyDeleteSo cool to have seen you there and to have met your hubby. :-)
Awww, Morimoto looks so adorable and un-threatening! He's usually so scowly during Iron Chef. This looks so fun, and you captured it beautifully - especially those lovely rows of salt and ice cream. What a cool combo! Thanks for distracting me from my last law school outline ever. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh Azmina! Looks like you had a wonderful time. I may need a new laptop since I've drooled all over it. :-)
ReplyDeleteOooooo! I'm craving the chocolate ice cream with sea salt! Brings back memories of a butterscotch pudding with Maldon salt that was to die for...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fun review. I wish I had gone!!!
~K
What an amazing experience!! I'm totally jealous! Glad you had a blast :)
ReplyDeleteSues
How fun! Totally amazing experience I'm sure. I've been wondering were you've been! ;) that's a great recap and fun pics, so glad you got to go.
ReplyDeleteKeep a mom o' 4 in mind next time, I fit comfortably in over sized baggage.
I have this crazy love for anything with sea salt...chocolate ice cream with sea salt? It sounds too good to be true!
ReplyDeleteAnd scallops...oh how I love scallops.
Despite Ali's badgering, I've never visited Monterey before. It looks gorgeous! So maybe he was right about something for a change? :)
Looks like you had an awesome time.
ReplyDeleteAll the brownie parfait (still drooling over this) , choc ice cream with sea salt are making me jjjjealous.
Great write up of the event! So sorry that we were not able to meet in person - I was looking forward to meeting you. Hopefully soon! :)
ReplyDeleteThat looks like it was so much fun! If you don't follow Anne Burrell on Twitter, you must do so as she's quite amusing on it--her preoccupation with getting patted down at airports is simultaneously hilarious and odd.
ReplyDeleteI'm green with envy :) Can't wait for our food tour! :) I love the pics, they are mouthwateringly beautiful! I had such a bad experience with Octopus, that I am always afraid to try it again... hmm gotta fix that. Morimoto's stuff looked divine! Loved this post!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing opportunity and how wonderful that hubby could go. What fun!
ReplyDeleteListen - have you checked out my forthcoming Epicurean Voyage to Sicily in Oct yet? Please please pass along to foodie friends :)
chow! Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
just 2 words - LUCKY YOU!
ReplyDeleteok, make it 5 - I ENVY YOU!!!! :D
Lucky!! Love your top ten recap. Great photos, esp. the one of Anne Burrell- and the crab beignet, drool! I totally have to put in for this next year - combine it with a visit to my college girl in Santa Cruz :)
ReplyDeleteWell hot diggy dog...you were smoozing with all the chefs... luck dawg you!! So happy to see a post update!!! I'm still trying to figure out what that saying on the t-shirt means... or maybe I've been in Tokyo for too long and forgot to speak, and write in English.
ReplyDeleteOkay...just found your sight, and HELLO! I am jeal. ous. and I am living it up in Europe. My goodness, are you that good with a camera or is it just your life?
ReplyDeleteOMG It must have been such a treat to attend this event. The food looks so delectable and Morimoto looks really in a happy mood and so does "Spiky blond haired girl" from Secrets of a Restaurant Chef (sorry-I just don't remember her name)!! Cheers
ReplyDeleteAh... the life of a northern Californian. Must be great to be back there. All that good food you're packing away...
ReplyDeleteBy the way -- could I borrow that Crimes of Moral Turpitude book?
Looks very delicious. Thumbs up!!!!
ReplyDeleteAll of this food looks stellar... I mean, it looks like every last bite was phenomenal. Glad you got to attend.
ReplyDeletethis is a superb blog for the foodie in me and the lawyer husband, i can even relate to some of it being a lawyer's 'victim',haha. pop by to ours
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thecookingdoctor.co.uk
May 7? Nothing since May 7? Where are you? I miss you. :(
ReplyDeleteWhere have you gone!?! I miss your witty stories and the yummy looking food. :( Please come back!
ReplyDeleteAmazing! I'm so green with envy!
ReplyDeleteYear Old Birthday Party Ideas
The food at Pebble Beach Food and Wine Grand Tasting just looks so delicious. I wish I could attend the event.
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous because I wanted to go to the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Grand Tasting but I wasn't able to come because I was at work.
ReplyDeleteMy mouth is watering because I saw the pictures of the great food there. I wish I could have attended the event.
ReplyDeleteThe buttered popcorn bisque is really an unusual dish. I really thought that it will be a whole bunch of buttered popcorn.
ReplyDelete