KFWE 2012 – Part 4 – Videos

We started our video shoot by speaking to Jay Buchsbaum, Royal Wine Corporation‘s Vice President…

Next we spoke to Sasson Ben Aharon, from Israel’s Binyamina Winery…

Dr Moises Cohen from Elvi Wines a superb winery producing some of Spain’s top award winning wines..

The Directeur Général of Barons Edmond and Benjamin de Rothschild, Bertand Otto and Pierre Miodownik, consultant to the French Wine Industry, consultant to the Royal Wine Corporation and owner of Domaine Netofa, in Israel, spoke to us next…

After talking to just a few winemakers, we turned our attention to the food. Dr Alan Broner from Jack’s Gourmet was next…

The owner of Boro Park’s Glatt A La Carte spoke to us next…

Ari White from Got Tcholent? Inc/Gemstone Caterers spoke to Geila Hocherman and I…

After Ari White told us that Pardes Restaurant was his inspiration, we just had to go to their table. While I’d hoped to see Chef/Owner Chef Moshe Wendel, and/or his wife Shana, we were greeted instead by one of his suppliers Grow and Behold, who more than ably represented Chef Moshe…

Then we turned to Ristorante Tevere…

We ended the video taping by talking to cookbook author, James Beard Award winner, food historian and good friend, Gil Marks…

All in all, between fantastic wines and celebrated winemakers, between top restaurants and incredible delicious foods,  February the 13th was an evening to remember!

CS

RELATED POSTS

Kosher Food & Wine Experience 2012 – Part 3 – Food

Kosher Food & Wine Experience 2012 – Part 2

Kosher Food & Wine Experience 2012 – Part 1

Kosher Food & Wine Experience 2011 – Part 2

Kosher Food & Wine Experience 2011 – Part 1

2010 Kosher Restaurant & Wine Experience – The Event

Sesame Seared-Tuna with Mango Jicama Salad

[Ari White, whom we interviewed on our internet radio show this past Wednesday, has graciously allowed us to re-post one of his incredibly delicious recipes. It first appeared on May 22, 2011 on Gourmet Kosher Cooking

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ahi Tuna – sushi grade
• 1/4 cup white sesame seeds
• Canola oil for searing
• 2 large ripe mangoes, peeled, seeded and diced
• 1 medium jicama, peeled and diced
• 1/2 lime juiced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Combine the mango, jicama and lime juice in a bowl; season with salt & pepper to taste.
2. Pat your tuna dry and then cut the loin into 2-inch x 2-inch square segments the length of the loin (or shorter based on your pan size) for appetizer-size portions, or larger for entree portions. Season with salt and pepper and then roll the tuna in white sesame seeds coating as much of the loin as is possible.
   (Chef Andy’s note***Then wrap the tuna loins tightly in plastic wrap and freeze 3 hours – 3 weeks in advance*** When cooking only one loin this may not be entirely necessary, but when producing in mass as we do it regularly; this trick guarantees that every single loin stays perfectly pink and beautiful in the center while allowing for a flawless crust to develop on the outside… it’s idiot proof.)
3. Heat your pan (we love cast iron skillets, but a non-stick will work as well) for a few minutes until scorching hot. Drizzle oil in the pan and sear each side for 30-45 seconds; then set aside. We like the center raw, not rare, raw which requires only the best sushi grade tuna available. (At this point you can either slice and serve your tuna, or wrap it up tightly where it will hold in a fridge for up to 36 hours. When ready to serve, slice the tuna against the grain and present over the mango & jicama salad.
4. Garnish with a smoked garlic aioli (or a spicy mayonnaise) and top with  cilantro.

by Chef Andy Blackman and Ari White, Gemstone Catering

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

A Conversation with Ari White

At last week's KFWE 2012...

This evening, February the 22nd, at 8:00pm (Eastern Time) we will host Ari White on our internet radio show. Ari runs (together with his wife Gemma) Got Cholent? Inc/Gemstone Catering. Ari started Got Cholent? Inc., a few years ago, because he was fascinated with the variations of cholent around the world. Whether you want a standard Ashkenazi cholent, like mama used to make or you prefer the Moroccan Dafina, or a Texas, Asian or other versions, Ari’s company offers them all with more than 12 finger-licking choices. At last year’s KFWE he debuted Gemstone Catering (Gemstone? In honor of his wife Gemma, of course!).

Presentation and unusual combination of flavors makes these two companies stand out from the crowd, their imagination and creativity has elevated their food into art. Tonight Ari White will tell us what/who inspires him, what he’s done and where he’s going next.

Meanwhile in case you missed it, last week we did two internet radio shows, on Wednesday we did the first part of our interviews with winemakers from around the world, company executives and attendees and on Thursday we featured the second part. Why don’t you give us a listen, you’ll hear how the quest for a perfect kosher wine transformed the lives of winemaker, winery owners and just how often their life journey took them to unexpected, and originally unwanted harbors that turned out to be far warmer and welcoming than they could have believed.

Why not tune us in this evening at BlogTalkRadio.com/kosherscene? We will be talking to Ari White from Got Cholent? Inc/Gemstone Catering at 8:00 pm (Eastern Time).

We’ll be wait’n for ya!

CS

Kosher Food & Wine Experience 2012 – Part 3 – Food

Like fraternal twins, one can no longer give the latest buzz in kosher wine without speaking of the distinctive elegant array of kosher foods to pair it with.  CS has already shared with you the fabulous wine selections we had sampled at the show.  The culinary offerings were no less remarkable, I loved the amenity of table hopping proximity sampling bite sized servings of some of the most exclusive culinary offerings out there in the greater NY area.  Top tier restaurants caterers and food producers showed off their best gourmet delights.

Sushein

Here are some highlights.  My all time favorite in the fish category was far and away Gemstone Catering’s Ahi Poke– a hawaiin street style Ahi tuna sashimi served on a sesame wasabi crispy wonton shaped like a spoon topped with ginger & lemongrass foam. It was the perfect mouthful of harmoniously matched flavors. I would pair that with Herzog‘s Reserve Chardonnay 2009. 

got cholent? Inc/Gemstone Catering

Honorable mention goes to Sushein for their delicious sushi offerings.

River Dale from Pomegranate Supermarket, gave Geila Hocherman (Kosher Revolution) a taste of their prosciutto and she told me it was almost as good as her own duck prosciutto, I sampled their Butcher Block Honey Mustard Corned Beef and it was melt in your mouth scrumptious. etc’s steakhouse‘s Barbeque Oxtail coated with etc’s own barbeque sauce served with crushed red mashed potatoes was incredible and it looked like attendees couldn’t get enough of it.

Pardes served a smoked organically grown appetizer with meat from ‘Grow and Behold’ – Smoked Ribeye Tartare, Soy Enoki & Rice Krispies that was quite tasty.

Tevere is tevere as always incredible, and though I had no room left I had to go back for seconds of their artichokes – Carciofi alla Giudia, I would pair it with Herzog‘s Late Harvest Chenin Blanc 2010.

Dr. Alan Broner and Jack Silberstein - Jack's Gourmet

Jack’s Gourmet served me their Sweet Italian Sausage with olive oil, smashed potatoes and pepper and onion ragout.  CS, tells me  our videographer insisted on a 5 minute break to devour a few sets of their sausages!

Silverleaf  Caterers had a very nice Veal Shepard’s Pie which we followed with their Tiramisyu Cake-Up.

Silverstone Caterers Veal Sheppard's Pie

I was now ready for dessert, Basil‘s table was manned by our good friend Chef Udi Ezra (the restaurant’s Pastry Chef), he was serving a chocolate truffle pastry and introduced me to Guilty Pleasures, a few tables away. Their Very Strawberry, was just that verrrry strawbery! I loved the Bana-Bana, the Cappuccino Truffle and Toasted Almond Crunch I could see it all paired with some of Binyamina’s Liqueurs like the Limoncello, or the Sour Apple, my favorite, or perhaps the Amaretto. CS interviewed Maureen Sussanah owner/confectioner of Guilty Pleasures on last evening’s internet radio special.

All in all it was a great show with superb wines, succulent food, and lots of friends!

SYR

RELATED POSTS

Kosher Food & Wine Experience 2012 – Part 2

Kosher Food & Wine Experience 2012 – Part 1

Kosher Food & Wine Experience 2011 – Part 1

It was billed as bigger than its preceding shows… it was, it was billed as better than its preceding shows… it was! This was one of those rare occasions when hype and truth actually walked in locked step. The food, the wine, the liquors, all added up to a wonderful evening, an epicure’s dream come true.

SYR and I went in at 4:00pm, we saw and met many friends, magazine editors, fellow foodies and bloggers. We delighted in some products we’d already raved about on these pages, we discovered the new and revisited some great restaurants. As we spoke to favorite chefs, we  were happy to hear their craft was more than just a job, their passion for food, their creative juices continue unabated. Chef David Kolotkin of Solo and Prime Grill, Chef Jeff Nathan of Abigael’s and his wife Alison, Chef Mark Green of Glatt A La Carte, Jose Mireilles of Le Marais were among old friends showing off their creations.

Pomegranate had a large booth serving up some dishes that could have been made at any top restaurant.

Chef Emilio getting ready to hand out some delicacies.

Shana Wendel and staff presented Pardes‘ fares…

Lamb Meatballs with Turnip and Olive. Juicy, succulent, beautiful to look at... unmistakably Pardes!

Dr Alan Bronner and Chef Jack Silberstein of Jack’s Gourmet were serving  Chorizo Tacos, Pepper and Onion Soup with Sweet Italian Sausage and Bratwurst Sliders. We sampled all three and and loved them, here is an easy recipe they shared with us:

Bratwurst Sliders

Ingredients

• 1 package (4 links) Jack’s Gourmet Cured Bratwurst Sausage sliced 1/4″ thick on an angle
• 12 slider buns (4 burger buns can be substituted instead)
• 1/2 cup sauerkraut
• 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
• 4 tablespoons grain mustard
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves

Directions

1. Combine the sauerkraut and caraway seeds and reserve.
2. Combine the mustard and tarragon leaves and reserve.
3. Heat a saute pan over medium heat with 2 tablespoons oil. Add sausage and cook until golden brown, about 3 – 5 minutes.
4. To serve, slice the buns in half. Spead a small amount of mustard on the bottom half of each bun. Top with sausage and sauerkraut and place other half of bun on top. Secure with a toothpick if necessary.

Some other friends with a great product are Valerie and Robert Groper from My Brother Bobby’s Salsa. SYR finally got to taste their salsas, she fully agrees with me they are superb. Can’t wait until they are available in Brooklyn!

Shalom Bombay was there as well, I had a selection of their Chicken Pakoras, Chicken Biryany and the Chicken Tikka Masala liberally sprinkled with the Mint and Tamarind Chutney and loved the whole combo. Noi Due still makes the best Espresso I’ve ever tasted in the US.

A new discovery was got cholent? Inc. I had their Moroccan Dafina and the Polish Cholent (just like my mamma used to make!!!). They have 16 different types of cholent, wish I could taste them all… The same people folks also own Gemstone Catering and we were very impressed with their Eve’s Apple and Hickory Wood Smoked BBQ Pulled Brisket Sliders. Tammy Polatsek from Aristocratic Design Co. told us these guys make superbly delicious food, well… they do!

There were so many restaurants to choose from, so much looked, smelled and tasted great I could write a very long post extolling the virtues of each, suffice it to say that the choice of eateries and caterers represented was tops. We also talked to cookbook authors Chef Lévana Kirschenbaum, Chef Jeff Nathan, Chef Susie Fishbein, Chef Jamie Geller. All in all a delightful evening, amidst delightful people.

CS