FoodChain

FOOD PLANET… “Motherhood, all love begins and ends there.” I once gave my mother a little plaque with that quote on it. The most important mother of all, Mother Earth, is the subject of GABRIELA FORTE’s next Slow Food event on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22. She’s combining a movie and talk with a simple vegetarian stew using organic vegetables from local Community Supported Agriculture farms. The movie is entitled The Future of Food and examines the relationship between agriculture, big business and government. In it, director DEBORAH KOONS GARCIA takes a look at genetically modified foods, a subject that affects all of us as we flow into a future perhaps too influenced by the cold realities of pure technology without a balancing blend of heart, soul and mother’s loving perspective. Contact Gaby, gabriela@gabrielasfeast.com.

That is why grandmas are so important in our culture. Today, youthful exuberance, which has always screamed loudly, combines with technological fom-toolery to give the youngest generation power disproportionate to its wisdom level. Normally, in solid extended families, grandmothers played a crucial role in guiding the brood over rough spots, bestowing the grandmotherly gifts of love and administering powerful doses of whoopass to unruly brats. (Come here quick Martha…this guy’s finally onto something.)

If ever there was a time our society needed the steadying influences of Grandma, it’s now. That’s why we are doing the show Chef Todd’s Cookin’ With Grandma—look for something the world needs from Hullaballo’s Todd Fisher and I soon.

ALL-STAR NIGHT… Taking care of Mother Earth’s oceans is the mission of our wonderful Aquarium. Naturally, in the Aquarium’s Portola Restaurant, you’d expect to find ingredients that match that mission. And find them we did at the recent Tour De Force Dinner organized by Portola’s Chef DORY FORD. He brought together (in order of the course they prepared) TONY BAKER of Montrio, TIM WOOD of Bernardus Lodge, GONZALO SANCHEZ of Monterey Plaza Hotel, Dory himself, ESTEVAN JIMENEZ of Bon Appetit, LISA NAKAMURA of Club XIX and MARK AINSWORTH of The Lodge at PB. They created a multi-course, wine-matched extravaganza that was not only delicious but filled with life and genuine exuberance on the part of the chefs and diners. GENERAL NIKKI PAPPAS…oops, I mean General Manager, might have had the most fun of anyone as her competent staff helped facilitate the affair throughout what quickly became one wonderful evening. Look for more Chef Series Dinners to come.

TOO MUCH FUN… It is time to start thinking about Cooking For Solutions. As many of you know, and the rest of you should, Cooking For Solutions is a yearly event at the Aquarium celebrating food and wine that is produced in ways that preserve the health of soil, water and ocean wildlife. The two-day event, May 19 and 20, brings together visiting chefs who each are hosted by one of our local chefs for the Friday night Cooking For Solutions Gala at the Aquarium.

The featured chef this year is RICK BAYLESS, whose PBS series and wildly popular Chicago eateries Frontera Grill and Topolobampo have provided him with vehicles upon which to deliver his message about the majesty of authentic regional foods of Mexico. Throughout the two days, join in a rollicking series of delicious and informative cooking demos, great tours and luncheons plus important info sessions about the desperate need for healing our sources of food. This event, has become a must attend—tickets: 647-6886 or 866-963-9644, for info only: 644-7561.

On April 26 at Bayonet and Blackhorse is the California Restaurant Association, Monterey Chapter’s Annual Golf Tournament. This year’s organizing committee chairman is “JAMMIN” JOE CINGARI, so you know the fun meter will be hitting the red zone. Hurry up, there are still a few spots open, call MICHELLE RITTENBERG at 408-291-2820.

Royal Tokaji Wine Company will host its first-ever vintner dinner in the United States on Sunday, May 21, at Pebble Beach Resorts. Tokaji, hailing from Hungary, is one of the world’s richest and most highly prized late-harvest wines. This unprecedented dinner will begin at 6pm at elite Casa Palmero and will be hosted by Royal Tokaji Wine Company’s founding partner, BEN HOWKINS of the UK.

The epicurean experience will include a seven-course menu by Club XIX Chef de Cuisine, Lisa Nakamura, paired with six wines from Royal Tokaji Wine Company, including first and second growths from Europe’s oldest vineyard classification. As the highlight of the evening, each guest will be served a spoonful of the richest and rarest wine in the world: Royal Tokaji Essencia 1999, a wine capable of being made only once or twice per decade. To commemorate the evening, Howkins will bestow upon each guest an engraved Hungarian crystal sipping spoon designed exclusively for Royal Tokaji Essencia.

RSVP to 622-8761 by May 7, space is limited to 35 guests, $195 per person.

UPCOMING FAST… April 27 and 28 will be Roy’s Spring Festival. Two special Roy’s menus paired with Talbott Wines on Thursday, Tobin James Wines on Friday. Menu alone, $55; with wines, $95, call 647-7500…April 28 sees JEFF GALLOWAY, former Olympian turned fitness author, as guest with RICH PEPE, host/creator of the lively Pep Talk series peppoli.com/newsletter for more…don’t forget the amazing Paraiso Air Show on May 13, 678-0300 or paraisovineyards.com…May 7 join the AIWF for a BBQ Rib Cookoff featuring local chefs, call SAL GORGONE 722-6580 or Mary Chamberlin 624-0830…Flip For It Mondays at Hullaballoo—get Will and Todd for a freebie…Live music on Friday nights at Sugar Reef in Carmel—check it out…I’m outta here.