~ Chefs to Follow ~

I don't like gourmet cooking or "this" cooking or "that" cooking. I like "good" cooking. ~ James Beard

Next time you plan to go to Napa, be sure to dine at Michael Chiarello's  Bottega Michael Chirarello's Napa Style Store Welcome to Michael Chiarello.com   The Singing Chef  For nearly fourteen years Andy LoRusso has entertained thousands across America with his sing and cook Italian show.  Andy is the author of Sing and Cook Italian style. He has an intrinsic sense of music and food. If you haven't seen Andy perform, you've missed a real treat. But you can still enjoy his songs on his CD - Order Andy's CD Hire The Singing Chef™  Andy Lo Russo, The Singing Chef™is available to teach cooking classes at private homes and professional cooking schools. Andy is also available to perform on TV shows as a Celebrity Cooking Professional with that extra special something, State and County Fairs and Corporate Events as a speaker/entertainer/cookbook author. He is also available throughout the year for Fund Raisers, Special Birthdays, Theme Parties, Holiday Celebrations and special corporate and VIP events. Contact Andy  Visit Andy's web site My brother Ritch, Andy and Yours Truly at the Alameda County Fair following Andy's heartwarming performance. In good Italian fashion, Andy nicknamed us "The Three Noses." Michael Chiarello Michael Chiarello is the acclaimed Napa Valley chef/owner of Bottega Restaurant, as well as award-winning author, Emmy-winning host of "Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello," and tastemaker behind NapaStyle, a specialty brand of foods and handcrafted products. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chiarello’s knowledge of cooking began at an early age in the home of his Italian family with roots in Calabria, Italy.  Michael is the proprietor of Chiarello Family Vineyards, making small production, highly rated red wines from his vineyards in the Napa Valley. He has cooked and entertained thousands, including former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Oprah Winfrey. Chiarello incorporates his personal passion for living seasonally and sustainably into his businesses—from the purveyors he supports as a chef/restaurateur, to the products he designs for NapaStyle, to the earth-friendly farming he employs at Chiarello Family Vineyards. Tony Gemignani Six-time world champion pizza tosser Tony started developing his pizza tossing technique in 1991, when he and his brother, Frank, opened Pyzano's Pizzeria in Castro Valley, California. To entertain children at the restaurant, Tony would toss the dough and do daring tricks with it.  He was as natural at tossing it as the kids were at eating it. "Tossing the dough creates a crust naturally," Tony says. "As you spin the dough in the air, it dries, so it will be crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle." Tony uses a high-protein, high-gluten flour for strong structure (which makes the dough very easy to handle), good browning, and deep flavor. He wakes the yeast up with warm water, then calms it down with ice-cold water so the dough can rise gradually in the refrigerator overnight and produce consistent results under varied conditions. Tony Gemignani and yours truly at the Alameda County Fair where Tony has become a regular.  He puts on a show  you just don't  want to miss. Visit Tony Gemignani's web site   Rachael Ray on FoodTV's "30 Minute Meals" If you haven't seen Rachel Ray on her signature "30 Minute Meals" show on the Food Network, then you're really missing a treat.  Her bubbly personality and giggling off-cue are as easy to take as her cooking style. Her  straightforward recipes are packed with flavor to please your palate, but don't expect to make them in just 30 minutes like she does.  It's been my experience that 45 minutes is my record time. However, Rachel understands how Americans really cook, and she's an exceptional entertainer. Rachel advocates store-bought shortcuts like using boxed corn muffin mix for her Cracked Corn and Cheese Squares, and chunky peanut butter in her Thai Salad With Peanut Dressing. I just purchased her new soft-cover cookbook: "Expresslane Meals" with a guide on "what to keep on hand" and "what to buy fresh" for the easiest 30-minute meals ever. I Love her chapters: "Meals for the Exhausted" Meals for the Not Too Tired, and Bring it On! (But, Be Gentle). Usually I don't buy cookbooks because my shelves are overflowing with them, but this new one of Rachel's is a real honey.  The recipes are fresh, modern and easy.  And, at this price it's a steal.    Martin Yan Yan Can Cook I met Martin Yan on a trip to Chicago back in 1989.  I didn't know who Martin nor had i seen his TV.  In those days I owned a RE/MAX frachise and was working too many hours to even have time to turn on the TV. Anyway, it turned out we were staying at the same hotel and exchanged pleasantries as we stood in line to check in.  The next morning we had occasion to bump into each other over breakfast and shared a table in the too busy cafe.  I can tell a lot about a person by their conversation over a meal.  With Martin, I came to know him to be a sincere, down to earth, hard-working gentleman of refinement who has a passion for food. Since then I have made a point to watch Martin on TV, buy his books and try some of his recipes.  Joanne Weir  at her home in San Francisco Joanne Weir is many things…a world traveler… a James Beard Award-winning cookbook author… a culinary teacher… a chef and television personality. Her talents were finally brought to life in the PBS show "Weir Cooking in the Wine Country", shot on location in the Napa Valley. Weir Cooking in The City

For information on buying or selling east bay homes, please contact me at 510-429-4800 or send me a note on the Contact Joanne form. Thank you, Joanne P.S.  Be sure to add us to your favorite places. ~ Joanne L. Gardiner, Broker, e-PRO Realtor Advantage Realty 3205 Whipple Road - Union City, California 94587 (510) 429-4800 San Francisco Bay Area  ~ San Francisco East Bay Real Estate

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