Tag san francisco

Farmers Market in Spring

With Spring in full swing, it’s a great time to get to the farmers market and take advantage of a bounty of seasonal produce. At Parties That Cook we’re proud to be taking part in a number of events at our local farmers market, held on Tuesdays and Saturdays at the historic San Francisco Ferry Plaza.

CUESA Farmers Market

Tomorrow night marks the launch of our Spring Tantalizing Market Tapas class series. Each class will focus on fresh, spring ingredients like asparagus, broccoli rabe, fava beans, artichokes, and green garlic. You’ll learn how to use these ingredients in your everyday cooking and enjoy a hands-on lesson in making an assortment of tapas dishes. Menus change every week – tomorrow’s will include these mouth-watering specialties:

Crostini of Roasted Asparagus, Prosciutto and Teleme Cheese
Moroccan Bisteeya Baskets with Chicken, Raisins and Cinnamon
Shiitake-Scallion Potstickers with Sake Dipping Sauce
Petites Pissaladieres: Miniature Onion and Black Olive Tartlets
Grilled Lamb Skewers with Mint Pesto

At just $45 per person including a meal, two glasses of wine and the ambiance of the Ferry Building, these classes are a steal! Check dates and buy tickets online here.

Heading out for a bike ride on Saturday morning? Make a pit-stop at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market for a Blue Bottle coffee and take in a free cooking demonstration by Executive Chef Bibby Gignilliat at 11:00 am. Bibby will be showing how to make a divine Asparagus Breakfast Bread Pudding with Green Garlic and Cheddar … yum! Chat with the chef and enjoy samples. More info about the day’s festivities on CUESA’s website.

To locate your nearest farmers market or CSA, visit the Local Harvest site.

Top Chef Kitchen Tools

microplaneThis season of Bravo TV’s Top Chef may be winding down (time to flip over to American Idol), but that doesn’t mean you should abandon your gourmet aspirations. Do you have what it takes to be a “top chef” in your own kitchen? Compare and see how your kitchen equipment measures up to our list of kitchen gadget must-haves:

1.  Microplane – Perfect for zesting citrus to add bursts of flavor
2.  Bench Scraper – Ideal for cutting and scooping up foods into your pot or breaking the skin off of cloves of garlic
3.  Garlic gripper – Simplifies garlic preparation by removing the skins with a roll of the hand
4.  Knives – Any chef would be lost without a quality set of knives
5.  Instant marinater – Takes the time and energy out of marinating meats
6.  Shrimp deveiner – Makes this tedious task a snap
7.  Reamer – Perfect for getting every last bit of juice out of citrus fruits
8.  Food processor – Helps prep nearly any meal
9.  Blender – Great for mixing sauces, marinades or dressings
10.  Stand-mixer – Makes baking a breeze
11.  Silicon spatula – Ensures you are able to use all of the contents of your mixing bowl
12.  Pastry brush or marinade brush – When heat resistant, these make adding extra flavor a snap

For more kitchen tool essentials, visit our Amazon store.