Take Home Chef

For those who don't know, Take Home Chef is a show of TLC where a chef approaches people (usually attractive women, such as myself ) in a grocery store and convinces them to take him home and cook a meal for the family. I myself have never watched the show (I despise cooking shows unless it's the cake making challenges) but have heard about it from Mark. Well now I proudly have my very own Take Home Chef, desert style.

Mark got a call the other day from a food writer who had written an article on him last year. He needed a chef to do a local version of Take Home Chef called Desert Magazine Chef Suprise, so Mark happily agreed, but then quickly started having second thoughts wondering "what did I get myself into?" With the cameras all around and the photographer snapping away he completed the meal and it will be featured on the news and in the Desert Magazine in April. Not to worry, I'll make sure to remind everyone.

The "surprise meal" was for a family in Cathedral City celebrating a wedding anniversary. The man had worked for Wally's Desert Turtle for 26 years so he definately knew food. The concept is that the family provides the food and kitchen and he makes the meal using their equipment, spices, dishes, etc. not knowing ahead of time what they've bought. Apparently it went really well and the family enjoyed every bite. Afterwards he was asked to compete in a Chef of the Desert competition coming up soon. I'm a very proud wifey. In do time, my husband will soon have his own line of cookware coming to a store near you :) BAM!

The menu:

1st Course: Heart of Romaine Salad w/ Roquefort Vinergarette

2nd Course: Spinach Ravioli w/ carrot basil mash, pancetta crisp with a creme fresh butter

3rd Course: Herb Marinated Veal Chop, roasted Shitake mushrooms, sauteed fingerling potatoes and asparagus finished w/ a red zinfindel butter