Celebrity chefs wow the crowd

Recently a gala event was held in Pensacola that our editor Ashley Toland and her dude Frank Trice were able to attend. Pensacola’s Celebrity Chefs made history with a culinary affair to honor the city’s 450th anniversary. At the sold-out Five Chefs, Five Flags dinner at Jackson’s Steakhouse, guests were treated to five courses reflecting the five flags that have flown over Pensacola. Each of the chefs was randomly assigned a country and was faced with the task of creating a dish to reflect Spain, France, Britain, the Confederacy or the United States.

Representing Spain, Frank Taylor of Global Grill began with a chorizo-crusted Gulf shrimp and oyster and artichoke paella with romesco sauce served on an oyster shell. Irv Miller of Jackson’s Steakhouse prepared the French course, a potato and leek soup with tasso masque choux, brioche croutons and Worcestershire pepper bacon.

Jim Shirley of The Fish House created a Pensacola version of the traditional British fish and chips, with local pecan-crusted red snapper, cheese chips, diced-tomato chips, just-dug potato chips, Santa Rosa sweet onion preserve, house-pickled okra and house-made malted vinegar buerre blanc. Dan Dunn of H2O at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front prepared a Confederate dish of petite filet with quail and rabbit risotto with a blackberry demi, braised collards and chive Johnny cake.

To end the evening with American flair, Gus Silivos of Skopelos on the Bay presented “Stars and Stripes,” which featured a star-shaped pecan pie, stripes of cheesecake, bourbon ice cream and chocolate ganache. Each course was paired with wine.

The dinner is one of many special events to celebrate Pensacola’s 450th anniversary. Throughout 2009, Pensacola will host numerous special events and programs such as parades, art exhibits, heritage walks, historical reenactments, educational programs and a visit from the Spanish tall ship, the Elcano. The 450th celebration will culminate on Aug. 15 with a national birthday celebration.

The Pensacola Celebrity Chefs will host a special dinner on April 3 and a paella contest April 4 in conjunction with the Spanish Wine Festival. For more information about the Pensacola Celebrity Chefs, visit www.PensacolaCelebrityChefs.com. Now would this not be a great event for us to have here in Mobile?

Greek to me

Don’t forget that on Thursday, Nov. 6 through Saturday, Nov. 8 is the annual Greek Fest at the Greek Annunciation Church on Ann Street in MiMo between Dauphin and Government Streets. Lunch and dinner will be served, along with plenty of dancing and sweets on those evenings. Oh, beer and wine will be there too.

They have a limited menu for take-outs outside the event, which is quick and hot. You can have a gyro, Greek fries, baklava and other desserts, a Grecian chicken dinner, dolmas, grape leaves and moussaka. As I stated in my last column, here at the Lagniappe it is a tradition that we eat lunch there on Thursday – come join us!

Christmas Jubilee

Wednesday, Nov. 5 the annual Junior League Christmas Jubilee Gala Preview Party will be held at the fairgrounds. Chef John Besh will again be preparing food from several of his New Orleans restaurants. John achieved a lot more fame last year when he was in the final two for “Iron Chef American” on the Food Network You can meet John at the event, he is an amicable, humble and friendly man who I enjoyed spending time with last year.

He was trained at the Culinary Institute of America and furthered his education in the kitchens of Maxim’s in New York and the Grill Room of the Windsor Court in New Orleans. He has been named on of the “Top Ten Best New Chefs in America,” the “King of American Seafood,” won the 2006 Beard Award for Best Chef of the Southeast, and defeated chef Mario Batali on “Iron Chef American” on the food Network.

Preview tickets can be bought online at www.juniorleaguemobile.com and, I understand, at the door. There are some fabulous silent auction items that include a three-night stay at the Battle House; weekend get away for two at the Beau Rivage; a home theater system and a kitchen make-over from Sub-Zero, Wolf Appliance and Mobile Appliance.

There is a Girl’s Night Out with a Dragonfly fashion show with open bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres on Friday evening from 6:30 to 9 p.m. General shopping will be available on Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is lots of great shopping from ornaments, toys and great dip and soup mixes to name a few. Zoe’s and a couple of other local restaurants will be serving meals from a food court area.

Fall Market is on!

The Market on the Square has opened back up for the Fall! The remaining dates are Saturdays Nov. 8, 15 and 22, 8 a.m. until noon. The fall harvest is in, so come and get your fresh greens, fall corn, squash, peppers, sweet potatoes and much more. Also shop for locally produced goods like seafood, wine, handmade candles, pottery, live music and much more.

Stay for live music, frolicking around the fountain and breakfast at Spot of Tea. Make sure to buy some fresh dried pastas or orzo mixes from the new vendor from Ocean Springs selling stellar combinations. I tried the whole wheat garlic ribbons and it needed no sauce it was that good. The man who used to own Toni-El Bakery in Midtown is there selling the sandwich rolls, stollen and other specialties.

Taste of the Bay

The 31st Annual Taste of Mobile Bay will be held this Thursday, Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m., at the Mobile Convention Center. Presented by the Mobile Chapter of Alabama Restaurant Association and featuring music by The Grand Band. Ticket outlets are: All Wintzell’s locations, Atlanta Bread Co., Mobile Fixture. Ticket information can be found by calling 694-2500.

Art Soup

I love attending the Art Soup fundraiser each year. This year the event will be held on Friday, Nov. 14, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral to benefit 15 Place, Mobile’s multi-service center for the homeless. The menu will feature a dinner of hearty soups and a complimentary homemade bowl made by one of Mobile’s finest potters. Music by Bay Runners, plus a silent auction. Tickets available from Henry Brewster at 251-479-9781, 251-433-2002, brewster919@bellsouth.net.

International Festival

There are lots of events coming up, with one more to tell you about. Mobile International Festival Family Day will be held on Saturday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Mobile Civic Center Arena and Expo Hall. The 25th Annual International Festival will host over 70 nations to present and showcase world cultures. Admission: $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4 ages 7-15, free ages 6 and under. For more information go to www.International Festival.com or call 251-470-7730.

Next culinary level?

Parkside, the home store on Conti Street has closed – not due to business, but they got an offer they could not refuse from Richard Dorman, a local attorney who backs NoJa. Plans are not available, but from what I have heard it will take our restaurant scene to another level of sophistication.

Panache

It looks like the former L’Estrade above The Spot of Tea will now become an upscale place called Panache. I hear exciting things and am looking forward to checking it out.

Mea Culpa

I incorrectly reported that Pallette Café in the Mobile Museum of Art is now open on Friday nights. That was a one-time thing and my fault. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. for lunch and from 2 – 4 p.m. for dessert Monday-Thursdays.

My apologies to anyone who showed up at the wrong time.

Kinnon Phillips is Lagniappe cuisine editor. Contact him at kphillips@lagniappemobile.com.

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