I Ate Brussels Sprouts and Liked It

1.28.2014


One of the things I enjoy doing is cooking. Washing dishes are annoying as crap, but cooking is usually fun for me. I love watching shows like Top Chef and Chopped (which I hardly ever get to watch since we don't have cable), and Jordan and I will often watch America's Test Kitchen on Saturday mornings. PBS for the win!

For the past three years, I've gotten the chance to attend an annual celebrity chef cooking event hosted by Saint Anthony's Hospital downtown OKC. Jordan's dad works at the hospital and has been nice enough to get me a ticket. Attendees get to eat a meal prepared by the chef, who actually shows you how to cook it while giving cooking tips and answering audience questions AND we all get a little booklet (shown above) with all the recipes for the food we've eaten. I've never made any of the food myself yet, but it's nice to know it's there if I wanted to use it.

It might be the closest I'll ever come to eating at a fancy top chef restaurant. It's also much cheaper. (aka free. Holler!)

The first year, I saw Iron Chef Cat Cora. I actually won her cookbook in a raffle drawing and got it signed by her after the meal. This is where I discovered the deliciousness that is enchilada pie (recipe here).
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Last year I saw Rick Bayless, who is originally from Oklahoma and now lives in Chicago (woot!). He is one of the top American Mexican chefs, and that meal was goooood. I remember the dessert was some type of chocolaty pie thing. Yum.
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This year, the guest chef was Anne Burrell, also known as the lady with the crazy hair.
And, you guys, she is CRAZY. But lots of fun.
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The Menu

entrĂ©e 
rack of lamb
frizzled brussels sprouts
pancetta & walnuts
with cheesy polenta

dessert
lemon curd tart with almond crust

It's so fun to be able to watch a celebrity chef cook, and it's really fun to eat fancy foods that I only hear about on TV. I had never eaten brussels sprouts or polenta before, and let me tell you: I am SOLD. Seriously, I don't know what she did, but the brussels sprouts were delicious. I might have to actually try this recipe out, and if it works, I'll be sure to share it.

UPDATE: I will definitely try the brussels sprouts recipe and share it with you if it's successful. I had no idea so many of you guys were fans!


Have you ever been to an event like this?
Do you like brussels sprouts?

Sydney said...

I am toooo jealous of you!!! This looks so cool AND delicious. I got a Giada signed cookbook from my aunt one time, and I thought I was cool.

Also, I've been on a brussels sprouts kick lately. I used to not like them, but now I'm obsessed!

Ashley {in MKE} said...

Excuse me while I wipe the drool off of my keyboard. YUM. That event sounded awesome and I'm rather jealous we don't have anything like that here.

xo

Jenna Griffin | Gold & Bloom said...

Wow, this is amazing! Such an awesome event! That meal looks delicccciousssss. My husband loves brussels sprouts, but I never can cook them just right. Share that recipe, girl!

Unknown said...

I went to a Farm Dinner with Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard and it as AMAZING!!!

The Girl who Loved to Write said...

So fun! Please, please share if you try it. I've only tried them a few times and had to throw them out because of how disgusting they were.

Megan said...

Mmmm I do like Brussel sprouts but I LOVE polenta!

Madison @ Wetherills Say I Do said...

I've never tried brussel sprouts, I'm a little afraid. But I'd eat anything Anne Burrell cooked for me. That is such an amazing event to be able to attend!

Anonymous said...

Celebrity chefs make everything look SOOOOOO easy. I wish I had their creativity. Looks like such a great time, I'd die to eat any of those chef's food.

I like brussels sprouts too, but only if they're roasted.. :)

Beka @ Sunshine to the Square Inch said...

What a fun event you got to attend. You should definitely make brussels sprouts and share the recipe. I have never liked them much. Polenta - that stuff is good! I grew up eating that in Brazil.

17 Perth said...

Oh my gosh...my husband is a chef (so I rarely cook!), but he would olive something like this!! I would too--who doesn't love an outstanding meal! And I'm fascinated by y'all who are good cooks!! No doubt this was so fun! Love Cat Cora! Also---love love love top chef!

Mimsie said...

I am one of those weird people who would rather eat Brussels sprouts than pie. My favorite veggie ever.

Unknown said...

That sounds like an awesome event! I love cooking too, and I would LOVE to attend something like that. Look at that menu!
Oh, and I absolutely adore brussel sprouts. In the winter, I always have some in the fridge. :)

Brandi said...

I was always the weird kid at the holiday dinners who ate the brussel sprouts, and I'm so glad my kids like them, too. Definitely share the recipe! Sounds like such a fun time!

Tracy said...

I didn't hear about the event until a couple of days before and they were sold out. I was so bummed. I'm not a lamb fan so maybe I'm glad I didn't get to go?

Kerry @ Till Then Smile Often said...

I photographed an even a few time for a school down on Cape Cod and they had a bunch of Celebrity Chefs including Ming Tsai and Mario Batali and a French Chocolatier it was amazing getting to watch them work and create. I didn't get to eat the food though so I think you are the lucky one!

Ali said...

I love these types of events! Sadly, I've not been to one. But there's a local thing sort of like it where the restaurants do their top dishes and we get to judge them. That's fun!

I also love Top Chef, but don't get to watch it since we don't have cable either. Although, the year that Hosea Rosenberg won (Season 5 I think), we went to the restaurant he was cooking at in Boulder, Jax Fish House. It was sooooo good! I don't think he works there anymore. Sad face :o(

Anonymous said...

Be sure to share the Brussels sprouts recipe if you make it! I love those little cabbages and am always looking for new and creative (and delicious) ways to cook them. Roasting in the oven with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper is my old standby. :)

-Amy

Allie @ Everyday Adventures said...

Oh my GAW, I am so jealous. That sounds like an AMAZING meal. I love Top Chef & MasterChef, and would love to eat at one of those chefs' restaurants someday! And I can't believe you'd never tried brussels sprouts! I used to hate them as a kid, but now I can kinda get on board if they're cooked well!

Kate @ Another Clean Slate said...

I actually do like brussels sprouts which is weird because I am so picky about a lot of other things. That seems like such a cool event- jealous!

Caitlin said...

I've never been to an event like this, but what fun! So many familiar cooking faces in this post :) Glad to hear you had a great time.

I love Brussels sprouts.. they are one of my favorite veggies. They're pretty good roasted :)

LeAnna said...

Love Brussels! Thankfully all the kids do, too. And um, I think you need to get me a ticket next year to this shindig and let me go with you. JUST SAYING. ;)

Christina @ The Murrayed Life said...

The event sounds great, and brussel sprouts are the BOMB DOT COM. That's right, I went there. I have gotten sooo many people to like them by serving them roasted, usually just with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and walnuts. Super easy and addictingly delicious. Just like that whole plate looks. And a tart with almond crust? mm mmm MMM!

Allison said...

That is so awesome! Free amazing food? What's not to love? Brussels sprouts are actually pretty good! They have such a bad rep though, haha.

Jenny Fish said...

That looks like so much fun. I've heard that I need to try the brussel sprouts at a nearby restaurant, but I just don't know if I can pay for something I don't think I'll like. That make sense? I feel like I decided that brussel sprouts were disgusting after watching Franklin {the cartoon turtle} growing up. Maybe I should give those little guys a second chance... or find a celebrity chef to cook them for me.

Rachel said...

I've actually never had brussel sprouts before!

Susannah said...

This is awesome!!! I totally wish I could go to something like this!!!! And I want the brussel sprouts recipe as soon as you're able. ;-)

Unknown said...

This is so cool! You are now required to cook the brussel sprouts and share them with us! :)

Julie @ Just the Joy's said...

How cool! Gotta love some free entertainment! ;)

Unknown said...

Oh that is so awesome!! I've been to demo cooking shows before but they're usually just hosted by some local chef at our Liquor Store (random I know, but the Liquor Board is provincially owned in Ontario and they tax the CRAP out of everything and the result is really fancy liquor stores and many of them have cook-in demo kitchens so you can eat and have wine paired with a meal). So, yea. Nothing like Cat or Rick! I now expect you to have some pretty mad skills ;)

Anonymous said...

Looks like a great event. I would definitely enjoy going to something like that, even though I'm not too big on cooking.. :)

Cece @Mahogany Drive said...

So cool! My husband would love something like that. I would too but he's the chef. I like brusel sprouts now that I finally know what they are. For years I thought something else was brussel sprouts. I know weird!!

Erika Lee @ A Tiny Rocket said...

I got invited to a place that an iron chef was cooking at and it was so majorly delish! I love brusel sprouts especially from the oven with bacon :)

The Lady Okie said...

It was really fun!

The Lady Okie said...

Yes, I had a great time :) And I am seriously so surprised by how many people love brussels sprouts! I feel like I've been missing out all this time.

The Lady Okie said...

I will definitely share the recipe!

The Lady Okie said...

Yes! Season 5 :) I actually have that season on DVD. I love watching Top Chef while I'm cooking. It makes me feel official. I'd love to go to a Top Chef restaurant!

The Lady Okie said...

Ha! Well... I don't know about that, but I did think they were delicious. Maybe not quite as delicious as pie, though ;)

The Lady Okie said...

Ha! It really was yum. I look forward to it every year!

The Lady Okie said...

I am definitely going to try making them for myself. They were delicious!

Unknown said...

Um, this is AMAZING!! What a fun experience--I am totally jealous. I only became a brussels sprouts fan over the past few years. I hated them with a passion as a child. Is this what happens when you grow up? You start liking brussels sprouts and going to bed early--or is that just me :)?

kristyn said...

This is like a dream come true. Lucky you! As a fellow foodie, I am extremely jealous. And now very hungry :) Happy weekend!

Betsy said...

I LOVE BRUSSELS SPROUTS. love them. here's my protip for the easiest yummiest:

chop them in half, toss with a little olive oil and salt and lemon juice, and roast for like 15 minutes at 400°.

that's not frizzling, but it's an EXCELLENT place to start :)

also: POLENTA. yum. so yum. I don't know if you've looked into polenta options yet? I know you can make it from scratch but honestly I like buying the pre-made stuff and either baking or frying it so it's more of a solid.

now I'm hungry for lamb at 7:50am. awesome.

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