April 25th, 2013
It really was a great evening on Wednesday, 4/24, when Jody, Donna, and I took off for a cooking class with Paul Cullen at The Cordrey Center located in Millsboro, Delaware. We were looking forward to great food and music. We had heard that the previous event was so much fun and a sell-out.
Now, I was a little worried, since I have been counting fats…and calories too. It would be very interesting…pasta…olive oil; you know what I mean.
A little reception with wine and friends. I only knew a few people.
Bonnie (Paul's wife), Jody, Donna
Paul Cullen has his own wine label. Both, wine and music, were for sale on Wednesday.
Louie and Frank from Frank & Louie’s located at 58 Baltimore Avenue in Downtown Rehoboth Beach, arrived with cheeses and Italian delicacies….They are the Bascio Brothers who are on their own and waiting for you to come to the store and check them out. Their tel. 302-227-5777. You can find them on Facebook.
Maria DeForrest was taking the professional photos of the evening. Please check her out at http://www.deforrestphotography.com.
So let’s get started…we all got the recipes…Paul does not measure; it is a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
Paul had fixed an Antipasti Salad with White Balsamic Vinaigrette. The salad consisted of Romaine, fennel, radishes, cucumbers, red onion, salami, and sharp provolone. The dressing took no time to make with Paul mixing the white balsamic vinegar, Virgin olive oil, stoneground mustard, a dash of salt and pepper. Simple, tasty, and so easy.
Next course was Ricotta Cheese Crostini with a Balsamic Drizzle…..the key for making the homemade Ricotta Cheese is to stir constantly to keep the milk and half and half from burning on the bottom of the pan.
The next course was Homemade Potato Gnocchi with Pancetta Chive Sauce. Plenty of Italians in attendance at this event. They liked them!! Paul did make this dish look easy. To tell you the truth, I would have made such a mess in my kitchen!
You have to work in batches…bring out the potato ricer…make a mess!!
Knead until dough comes together…form into a ball, divide and roll each piece between hands.
Cut and place them in boiling water and as soon as they float, they are ready!!
The Pancetta Chive Sauce was easy and was done in no time…key ingredients? Butter and Olive Oil!
Paul took a little break from the kitchen while we were all enjoying our food and played a little music for us. The evening was flowing well. Everyone was relaxed, taking it all in.
And one more dish…making pasta dough for Ravioli. Again, Paul made it look easy. The necessary ingredients of unbleached flour, eggs, salt….and have fun on the counter.
The ideal is a pasta machine for roling and cutting the dough. And, a glass of wine in front.
On this photo, Paul shapes the ravioli and then will use a glass to cut them. He likes the round shapes.
His simple sauce called Grandma Tags Fast Sauce consisted of San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, shallot, basil and olive oil.
Bonnie watching the sauce.
And then it was our turn to taste again….So good!! Bonnie told us that she never has to cook. Paul does all the cooking at home!!
The evening went quickly..2 hours in the middle of the week with friends…perfect!!
Note: Please check Paul Cullen’s website http://www.paulcullen.net for more information and other events.
Also, please visit The Cordrey Center’s website at http://www.thecordreycenter.com. They have already on their schedule…trips, classes, events, activities and even a cruise!!
Have a good one!!
April 23rd, 2013
It was supposed to have been just one signature event….but the public wants another one. “Tune Your Palate” is an innovative cooking class from former Bad Company Bassist, Paul Cullen.
Paul artfully blends his passion for cool music, jazzy wine and divine cuisine into one signature event. He will demonstrate how to make his Italian cuisine, such as handmade ravioli, gnocchi and ricotta cheese. All this while pairing his delicious wines and playing an intimate concert to finish the night.
The Cordrey Center, a garden event venue, is located at 30366 Cordrey Rd., Millsboro, Delaware. 19966. It will only take you 2 turns off of Rt. 24. The event is from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The cost is $30 per person. For reservations, please call 302-945-5853.
The evening will have an added bonus with an artisan cheese tasting/demo with Andy Meddick of Morgan and Gower Cheesemongers of Downtown Rehoboth Beach. Also available will be handmade breads from Old World Breads.
The first event was a success; this second one should be a sellout, as well. Talk to you later!!
March 29th, 2011
Raison d’etre = “reason for existence”. I have not thought about that phrase in a long time, but seeing Checkers’ portrait at the fundraising event Paws for the Cause Foundation, I could not help thinking about it.
This little dog whose passing has given its owner a reason to not sit back, has now a non-profit foundation. As I just mentioned, the foundation is Paws for the Cause. The website is www.pawsforthecausefoundation.org. The Foundation has also partnered with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine’s Chase Away Canine Cancer Program. Website? http://www.acvimfoundation.org.
Sunday was the event. It was a beautiful day. The 1st Annual Chef’s Challenge was from 2 to 5 p.m. The venue? The Cordrey Center located at 30366 Cordrey Rd., Millsboro, DE 19966. For more info., please visit their website www.thecordreycenter.com.
The Cordrey Center is situated among plants, flowers, shrubs. It is also the home of East Coast Perennials. Gorgeous flowers were already abundant.
I arrived a few minutes early and then at 2 p.m. the place started filling up. I have lived at the Delaware Beaches for many years, and granted, Millsboro is about 1/2 hour inland, but still I really did not know many people, at all.
Lite fare was served courtesy of Fish On, from Lewes.
There was a silent auction with so many items. A few caught my attention.
Pet Portraits by Jerry Dahl, 103 Brookthorpe Ter., Broomall, PA 19008. Tel. 610-356-4943.
The Delaware Dog Book. In Three Words. It is also a fundraising event for Paws for the Cause Foundation. I will be getting more info. but basically it consists of your dog or dogs, sitting for a photo shoot and in 3 words your description of your pet. For more info., please visit www.pawsforthecausefoundation.org.
Another was the Twin Lakes Brewing Co. from Greenville, DE. Their website is www.twinlakesbrewingcompany.com. The Twin Lakes Farm has a long and prestigious history dating back to our found fathers, George Washington and Caesar Rodney. The beer is all natural, brewed using whole flower hops; unfiltered and unpasteurized. Considered to be “all natural” beers.
The Chef’s Challenge:
Three restaurants with their chefs were on one side of the building. We were all asking questions and they were prepping. The restaurants were Fish On, www.fishon.bz, Abbott’s Grill, www.abbottsgrillde.com, and Luca, www.lucaristorante.com.
Getting ready for a food challenge takes some preparation, and here are a few pictures. The aroma was amazing.
Three judges were selected to sample the delicacies, which included scallops, fish, and lamb.
Even though I had to leave early, I did find out that the winner was…..
The Live Auction
There were about 6 items in the Live Auction. The auctioneer that lent his services for this worthy cause was Richard (Dick) L. Bryan. Dick is a native, a real estate broker, and an auctioneer with a specialty in residential and commercial real estate. His e-mail is rbryan@dmv.com and his tel. is 302-645-4800.
It really was such a nice afternoon. I congratulate Bonnie Benson for a job well done. She really should be proud on how smoothly everything went.
The fundraising does not end there. Everyone that has a pet knows how attached we become to them. They bring so much joy and love into our lives. There will be other fundraising events and I will be passing them along to you.
Have a great day!!…talk to you later…
February 26th, 2011
“Each of our journeys with canine cancer are different, but together, we can help find a cure.” bonnie benson
Bonnie’s story about losing her beloved dog, Checkers, probably hits home for anyone that has had a dog succumb to cancer. They do get our diseases, don’t they? Bonnie did not sit back; unlike most of us, she sprung into action. After going through that painful experience, a non-profit corporation was formed.
Paws for the Cause, www.pawsforthecausefoundation.org. Please visit this website to see what it is all about.
This charitable foundation has partnered with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine’s Chase Away Canine Cancer Program http://www.acvimfoundation.org.
Check your calendars and see if you can attend the 1st Annual Chef’s Challenge on March 27th from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at The Cordrey Center in Millsboro, Delaware, near all the Delaware Beaches.
The Cordrey Center is one of the newest venues in Delaware to hold events like this one. It sits on a historic property in a beautiful and secluded natural setting in Millsboro. The address is East Coast Garden Center, 30366 Cordrey Rd., Millsboro, DE 19966. Take Rt. 24 north, right on Mt. Joy Rd. by the Royal Farm’s store, then left of Cordrey Rd., 3/4 of a mile on the left. Website is http://www.thecordreycenter.com.
Now that you know date, time and place, then let me tell you how much fun you will have if you attend the Chef’s Challenge.
First of all, a Head to Head competition among the following Chefs:
Phil Mastrippolito of Fish On, Lewes
Ryan Cunningham of Abbott’s Grill, Milford
Drew Lopuski of Stingray, Rehoboth Beach
The price is $35 in Advance and $40 at the Door. This will include: Wine Tasting by Fenwick Wine Cellars, Beer Tasting by Twin Lakes Brewery, Entertainment and Silent and Live Auction.
The featured 3 chefs will compete for various awards. There will be guest judges. Atendees can vote for their favorite, a 50/50 raffle will take place.
The live auction will have: Chef’s packages, bed and breakfast-dinning package, golf packages, Cover of the 2011 Book of Dog Photography entitled “In Three Words”.
You will experience lite fare by Fish On from Lewes and, of course, live entertainment.
For more information, please call 302-644-7182, or visit www.pawsforthecausefoundation.org.
I have written about my dog, Addy, in the past. She is a “rescued” dog and I have been thrilled to have given her a “forever” home. But, years ago I had a Springer Spaniel named Koko and I loved her to death. She developed diabetes and I went through the stages of helping her get through this devastating disease that also affects canines. I know what Bonnie went through and I hope you help her raise funds for Paws for the Cause and the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine’s Chase Away Canine Cancer Program.
On her behalf, I thank you.
Talk to you later…..have a great week-end….
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