NINE TOP AREA CHEFS PREPARE INNOVATIVE DATE
DISHES
AT RIVERSIDE COUNTY FAIR, NATIONAL DATE
FESTIVAL
Daily
Cooking Show at 1:30 p.m. at Dole Food Company /California Date
Administrative Committee Cooking Center, Taj
Mahal Building
INDIO, CA.
-- (January 26. 2009) Nine
top local chefs highlight this year’s
Cooking with Dates demonstrations at the
Riverside County Fair National Date Festival
with innovative dishes each day at 1:30 p.m. at the
Dole Food Company/California Date
Administrative Committee cooking center, Taj
Mahal Building, on the National Date
Festival Fairgrounds, 82-503 Highway 111,
Indio.
The
Festival opens Friday, February 13 and
continues through Sunday, February 22.
A tasting of the day’s dish will be
offered at the conclusion of the
demonstration.
“This exciting lineup of top local chefs who
are offering wonderful dishes for the Date
Festival audiences underscores that they are
using more California dates in their
cuisines,” said
Lorrie Cooper, CDAC manager.
Opening the food demonstrations on Friday,
February 13 is
Jamie
Nicholas, executive chef for Spotlight
29 Casino, Coachella, preparing a Lobster
Date Chile Relleno with Date Salsa and
Cilantro Date Cream.
Saturday, February 14 at 1:30 p.m. will be the Amateur Cooking Contest at which
non-professional cooks submit their recipes
for judging in five categories: breads,
appetizers, entrée, confections and desserts.
Judges include radio talk show host
Jackie Olden and Palm Springs Life food
editor
Donna Curran.
On
Sunday, February 15,
Alex Guiterrez, pastry chef for the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort,
Villas and Spa presents his Date Almond Cake.
Date Chef Competition award winning
Roy
Luna, executive chef at Azul at The
Trilogy, presents his Date Chipotle Glazed
Salmon on Monday, February 16. Swiss
chef
Roland Bieri, owner of Events! Catering
will show the audience several hors d’oeuvre
ideas using dates, herb butter and a
citrus-date coulis on Tuesday, February 17.
Another multiple award winner,
Leanne Kamekona, executive chef at Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa,
Rancho Mirage, will present a Date Cured
Salmon on Wednesday, February 18.
Mason
Trapp, executive chef of the La Quinta
Cliff house, will share his secrets for the
restaurant’s famous Date Stuffed Pork Loin
on Thursday, February 19. Award
winning team, Executive Chef
Matthew Pike and Executive Sous Chef Valerie Gray
of the new IW Club, Indian Wells, will
demonstrate Date Pomegranate Short Ribs on
Friday, February 20.
Herve
Glin, executive chef of The Cork Tree
Restaurant in Palm Desert, will offer a Pear
and Date Strudel with candied walnuts on
Saturday, February 21. Date
Chef Competition award winner
William Withrow, executive sous chef of Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio,
prepares a Date Stuffed Lamb Loin on closing
day, Sunday, February 22.
The
cooking demonstrations are included with
admission to the County Fair and National
Date Festival.
Admission to the fair is $8.00
and the gates open at 10 a.m. For
more information, call 800-811-FAIR
or visit online at
www.datefest.org.
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