Teaching Chef

Bloggers / Chad Burnett / Girl Meats Fork / Graeme Blair / Sean Currid / SK Chef / Smart Kitchen News / Steven Butler / Teaching Chef — 1 Comment
9
Mar 11

The Grill Cheese Throwdown 2011

 

At Smart Kitchen we were very excited to get back in competitive action at the Grilled Cheese Throwdown in Scottsdale on March 6, 2011.

De-Constructed Grilled Cheese Sandwich

The De-Constructed Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Smart Kitchen

Our entry was a Deconstructed Grilled Cheese Sandwich, served open-faced with thyme infused gruyere cheese and garnished with a fine julienne of tomatoes and prosciutto over which were drizzled micro-greens, white truffle oil and Hawaiian smoked sea salt. We got some raves and have the recipe for the Smart Kitchen Grilled Cheese Sandwich up at Smart Kitchen.com. We did not win the contest, though we hear we did get two nice scores from two of the three judges. Apparently, one of the judges was not as ecstatic about our entry and that sank us.

To see the crowning of the victor, Sean Currid of Cafe Zuzu watch the video. We could swear we saw some well-earned tears of joy on his face.

The Contestants and Organizers of the Grilled Cheese Throwdown 2011

The Contestants and Organizers of the Grilled Cheese Throwdown 2011

We want to thank Susie Timm of Girl Meats Fork (second from right) for organizing the event. We also want to salute Sean Currid of Cafe Zuzu on his impressive Cheese Crown, and congratulate the other worthy contestants.

 

Grilled Cheese Throwdown Cafe Zuzu

Sean Currid, the King of the Grilled Cheese Throwdown, (& Team) Throwing Down!

Cafe Zuzu's Grilled Cheese Entrants

Cafe Zuzu's Winning Entrants

5th & Wine’s Steve Butler took second place.

Steve Butler fo 5th and Wine

Steve Butler Churning Out Grilled Cheese Wonders

Grilled Cheese Throwdown Entry from 5th and Wine

The 5th & Wine Entrant

Executive Chef Chad Burnett from Parc Central at the Scottsdale Quarter earned third place.

Chad Burnett of Parc Central

Exec. Chef Chad Burnett of Parc Central @ The Scottsdale Quarter

Parc Central's Grill Cheese Throwdown Entrant

Parc Central's Entry

Graeme Blair from the Brittlebush Bar & Grill at the Kierland Golf Club won the People’s Choice Award.

Graeme Blair of Brittlebush Bar & Grill won the People's Choice Award

Grilled Cheese from Brittlebush Bar & Grill

The People's Choice Winning Grilled Cheese Entry

Matthew Rizzo from Humble Pie rounded out the competition and did an admirable job single-handing his station.

Matthew Rizzo from Humble Pie

The Humble Pie Entry

We hope to see you at the next one.

P Chef

Smart Kitchen

“The Smartest Way to Learn to Cook.™”

Creme Brulee / Eric Ireland / SK Chef / Smart Kitchen News / Teaching Chef — No Comments
13
Feb 11

First Introduction of Smart Kitchen to the Public

The Smart Kitchen Team had been working a long time to reach this day. As you may have seen in a previous post, on February 4th, 2011 we finally went “Live” with the www.smartkitchen.com Online Culinary School Site. Going Live was a big deal but one that was heralded by little public fan fare or marketing. We celebrated internally mostly by overdoing it at our Super Bowl Party with family and friends, and setting our work flow back a bit come Monday. This Saturday event, a traditional Farmers’ Market was our coming out party.

Smart Kitchen at North Scottsdale Farmers Market

The First Booth in the First Hours

Its 04:30 AM as I write this message about another important date for Smart Kitchen, February 12, 2011, when our company and Online Culinary School product first met the public; and the meeting was good.

Eric O'Neill at the Smart Kitchen booth

Apparently, SK Chef was Serving up HAM!

Behind the Curtain of SmartKitchen.com's booth

Behind the Curtain

We had a heck of a good time, introducing ourselves to the people of our hometown and learning that many of them are interested in learning to cook. We had some sign ups, and a lot of positive feedback which feels great after so many months of long hours getting Smart Kitchen to this point. We also had a lot of support from our hometeam fans, thanks Mr. & Mrs. Teaching Chef (below supporting in close proximity). And thanks to Mrs. P Chef, who was exhibiting team play by watching the little chefs-to-be so that Dad could be with the public.

Family Support for the Smart Kitchen Foray

Family Support from the Teaching Chef's & C Chef

We also had some great neighbors, including Merissa and Billy who put on the North Scottsdale Farmers’ Market and have a new home delivery service they are offering if you aren’t able to make it to the market.

On our other side, our neighbor was Julia from Torched Goodness who (along with her husband Chef Eric Ireland), makes great Creme Brulee. Keep an eye out for them, or their sweet dessert coach. It was a bit of torture standing and watching so much fabulous dessert being prepared while working for Smart Kitchen and sampling nothing.

Julia from Torched Goodness

Julia of Torched Goodness Setting Up

 

Down the way a bit, was Royal Dogs, who offered up a pleasant sausage curiosity: Bison Dogs. My Bison Dog (close to closing time and off the clock) was enjoyable and a great novelty. The first bison item that was worth a return. The dog wasn’t too dry as Bison products can easily become.

I will likely be a returning customer this coming Saturday, February 19th, 2011 when Smart Kitchen returns to the Farmers’ Market, hopefully with  a banner.

P Chef

Smart Kitchen

The Smartest Way to Learn to Cook™

SK Chef / Smart Kitchen News / Teaching Chef — No Comments
4
Feb 11

Smart Kitchen Goes Live

The Live Homepage

After years standing on the backs of the luminaries at KP Culinary, porting much of their content over to the web, Smart Kitchen has finally launched its consumer friendly face. The pressing work, long hours and early mornings are not over but just beginning anew, though for a few hours on a Superbowl Sunday, we took the opportunity to celebrate our new arrival.

smartkitchen.com smart kitchen

Everyone Pitched In

Scotts North of Scottland

Toasts Were Drunk

 

Food Was Laid On

Chef's Cooked

Chefs and the Fathers of Chefs Supervised

A good time was had by all until Monday, when we were all, temporarily, a sub-optimal, Online Culinary School Team. We want to thank our families and friends for helping us launch Smart Kitchen. We could not have done it without you.

We also can’t wait until the next celebration milestone. You can help us get there while brushing up on your techniques. Visit Smart Kitchen and sign up for only $9.99 a month. Its the “Smartest Way to Learn to Cook™”

Chefs / Smart Kitchen News / Teaching Chef — 1 Comment
15
Jan 11

Big Video Production Weekend

Teaching Chef and his Director on the Culinary Stage

Teaching Chef and Director Mike on the Culinary Stage

We are pretty excited to shoot a number of videos that we have been itching to make and put up on Smart Kitchen. We have a two day shoot planned and plenty of exciting meals will be made. To see most of them though, you will have to join Smart Kitchen and get into the members only content. We hope to see you there.

P Chef

Smart Kitchen – The Smartest Way to Learn to Cook™