the petite pig

announcing clementine

two months ago, i offered a sneak preview to my latest culinary venture.  after much back-and-forth with my web designer, i'm proud to announce that clementine culinary productions (whose acronym ccp may or may not have something to do with the chinese communist party) has launched and has even lined up a few dinner parties for the month of june.  although just a part-time undertaking, i'm excited to be taking my knife skills on the road.  many names were suggested for the venture (thanks to all those who emailed me with their thoughts) but the final selection of clementine came to me while i was out grocery shopping.  i picked up a clementine, and it just seemed like a natural fit for the name of a petite food entertainment company.  clementines symbolize a token of good fortune in chinese culture so a jar of clementines will be left at the end of each job, to leave just that with each party i feed.

if you're living in the bay area and interested in giving clementine's services a try, you're in luck.  most recently, i've been working with the founders of organicpicks, a great new website providing a community-based directory for organic living, and we've partnered for a promotion running through june 30th.  write five reviews of various green-oriented services or products on their site, and you'll be entered in a drawing to win a tuscan-inspired meal by ccp (aka me) for six in your own home.  not too shabby, eh?  yes, armed with my arsenal of pots, pans and knives and repertoire of italian recipes, i will drive to your home and cook in your kitchen and serve you and five of your guests dinner.  talk about the good life.  and even if you don't win, you can still get all of that.  you'll just have to fork up some cash.

 

and if you're looking for some tips on entertaining and how you can best take advantage of farmers market season (which has finally arrived in full force for all that great summer produce), check out the article i've written for organicpicks on "easy entertaining at home."

all photos by the wonderful allan hsu.

dining out for life: eat for a good cause!

a charitable dining event in a metropolitan area near you:

dining out for life is an organization that allows you eat and support the fight against AIDS at the same time.  restaurants participating in the program donate 25% of their food sales on a certain day to an AIDS service organization in their respective city.  some are even donating 25% of their food and liquor sales to the cause.  check out when your city is participating by visiting dining out for life's website.  san francisco will be participating on thursday, april 26th 2007 and features a few of my favorites in the city (chow, indigo and tres agaves) as well as many that i am dying to try (foreign cinema & firefly) on its list of participating restaurants.  happy eating!