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.

food specials of the week, february 11th

besides being a cookbook junkie, i have also started amassing a library of culinary magazines.  while the right cookbook will remain a standard classic in any kitchen, food magazines keep every chef and/or foodie abreast on the latest food happenings from the who's who in the current legion of avant-garde chefs to the new "it" ingredient (can we say pomegranate?).  like all magazines, if you're going to be a loyal reader (more than 3 magazines a year), it's worth a subscription.  here are some of the best deals i've found on the web.

saveur at $5.95 for 9 issues vs. $19.95 on amazon or the saveur website. gourmet at $8.75 for a one year subscription vs. $15.00 on amazon. cook's illustrated at $24.95 for 6 issues vs. a $5.95 cover price. food & wine at $12.50 for a 1 year subscription vs. $19.99 on amazon.

food specials of the week, february 4th

i will confess i am a bit of a shopaholic, and i get an instant high when i find a good deal.  i don't even know how many hours i've logged on the internet looking for cookware deals and restaurant specials (for most restaurants, i find it to be a good enough deal when i can get a table on the weekend).  so i'm introducing a new weekly feature on the site - a posting of all my "good deal" and "special" finds in the eating and cooking world every sunday.

i missed this last sunday, but here are some good finds:

le creuset at the home depot. 

who knew home depot sold le creuset?  well, it does and right now they happen to be having some great deals, like the 6.75 quart oval french oven on the left for just $129.00.  i haven't seen anything below $189 on the net for awhile, so get yours while they're around.  click on the dutch oven above to be directed to the home depot website and then search for le creuset.

your best buy dutch oven. 

cook's illustrated tested and rated several lines of dutch ovens in its recent january/february issue.  while we expected the prized (and expensive) le creuset to show up on its recommended list, a less known chefmate available only at target for $39.95 also passed america's test kitchen standards.  i was lucky enough to snag the shiny red one online for 20% off last week but unfortunately they have all sold out.  however, you can still find out what stores still have them in stock.  hurry as every religious braiser that hasn't been able to afford a le creuset is probably trying to get their hands on this one!

 

famous restaurant and famous dinner guests

besides being a shopaholic, i am also a starwood points whore.  all of you who travel a lot for business should understand where i'm coming from.  the starwood preferred guest program (starwood hotels: sheraton, westin, st. regis, the w, le meridien) offers "starwood moments," a program that allows members to use their starwood points to bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences.  their latest offerings includes a private dinner party with the founders of the zagat survey at thomas keller's much talked about restaurant per se in new york city. if you're looking to cash in your points for something way cooler than just a free night at a hotel, this is your chance for a truly awesome dining experience.  hurry because it ends in 2 days!