January, 2016 – Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival 2015

The Discerning Palate

Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival 2015

By Sandy Axelrod

For the 9th year celebrity chefs from all over the United States invaded Palm Beach to bring us the Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival. This was a food lovers dream event that began on Thursday, December 10 with “Sustain – part of a Palm Beach Post Dinner Series” at PB Catch and ran through Sunday, December 13 culminating with the Grand Tasting at the Gardens Mall. For me this was one of the highlights of my year. So let’s take a journey together as I share my weekend with you.

Dinner at PB Catch was an awe inspiring beginning. As we entered this beautiful restaurant at 251 Sunrise Avenue in Palm Beach, we were welcomed with tray upon tray of delicious passed hors d’oeuvre and an open bar. We nibbled on such tasty offerings as Beef Tartare Topped with a Fried Oyster, Shrimp and Mini Brats in a Toasted Buttered Bun with Fennel Slaw and Mustard, Pickled Mackerel  and Walleye Canapés. After our cocktail hour we were ushered to the dining room for our dinner. My husband Steve and I had the bests seats in the house. We were seated at the raw bar and each chef plated his dishes right in front of us. Plus we had a chance to have light conversation with all of them; some of whom we already knew.

The owner of the restaurant Thierry Beaud and two time Pulitzer Prize winning Liz Balmaseda introduced the chefs who prepared each course. And Master Sommelier Andrew McNamara paired all of the wines to their dishes. To start, Mike Lata of Fig and The Ordinary in Charleston, South Carolina, served us Maine Razor Clam Aquachili which was paired with Zonin Prosecco, Italy NV. The dish was so fresh tasting. It was peppery from the juice of chiles and had brininess from the poached clam. Pickled apple, fennel and radish enhanced the great mix of textures. It was chewy and crunchy all at the same time. Our second course was created by Stephen Stryjewski, who with partner Donald Link own Cochon and Peche in New Orleans and as of Monday a bakery Boulangerie. Chef Stephen’s dish,  Shrimp and Potato Stew, Fermented Black Beans, Olives and Chiles, tasted of Creole cooking with the refined heat of the chiles and the saltiness of the olives. The sauce was so good we didn’t leave a drop. The Donnafugata Anthilia Bianco, Sicily 2013 was perfectly paired with it. For our third course we enjoyed Pompano BLT en Croute, Bacon Tomato Vinaigrette and Romaine Lettuce Fermented with Crème Fraîche and Caraway, prepared by Aaron Black of PB Catch, was paired with Domaine de La Sandglière, Breezette Rosé, Côtes de Provence 2014. The vinaigrette was sweet and smoky, the fermented Romaine was tangy and the delicate fish was cooked to perfection. Next Jonathon Sawyer, owner of several restaurants in Cleveland, Ohio including Green House Tavern, presented us  with an incredible Clambake of Clams, Cockles, Double Smoked Kielbasa, Guinea Hen Involutini, Marble Potatoes, Local Corn Bones, Thaxtons Organic Garlic that was deliciously paired with Frescobaldi Chianti Castiglione, Italy 2013. The dish tasted of the sea and was presented with a buttery broth in a tea cup to sip after each bite. Our last exquisite course was dessert prepared by Johnny Iuzzini and was a Taste of Florida Citrus. This light and refreshing dessert was a double whammy of deliciousness. I really don’t know which I liked better, the Pink Grapefruit Pepper Sorbet or the Key Lime Posset. But can tell you that the Schloss Vollrads Riesling Cabinet, Germany 2013 was perfection in a glass with this not too sweet final plate.

Friday afternoon we enjoyed watching the chefs compete in beach volleyball in front of the host hotel The Four Seasons. And since this was a food and wine event we were treated to pulled pork tacos and meat filled steamed buns along with specialty cocktails at the beach bar. It was so much fun watching the chefs let loose and have compete at something totally not culinary.

For me one of the highlights of the weekend was the Chef’s Talks. We sat in on two different panel discussions which were both moderated by Michael Ruhlman who is a very prolific cookbook author. The first of the discussions had Stephen Stryjewski, Christina Tosi, Johnny Iuzzini and Hugh Acheson discussing the good and bad aspects of social media. The second panel of Anita Lo, Elizabeth Faulkner, Ken Oringer and Mike Lata discussed whether or not cookbooks still matter; with the consensus being a resounding YES. And they also talked about how to deal with gluten free, vegan and food allergies. They all agreed that this is something they need to address in their restaurants and always have options available for their customers. In addition they debated on the topics of GMOs, organic food, sustainability and farm raised fish vs. wild caught. The bottom line is that chefs have a huge responsibility as caretakers of the food on the planet. Television has made people more open to try things they’ve never tried before and this gives chefs the encouragement to be more and more creative.

The weekend was made complete with the Grand Tasting that took place on the entire first floor of the Gardens Mall. We just about literally ate and drank our way from one end to the other. We tasted so much food that by the time we were through it all became a blur. There were over 60 restaurants and caterers represented with everything from savory to sweet. And then there was Stella Artois, Elit Vodka by Stoli, Hiro Sake and numerous wines to taste. Music filled the air with the horns of the Potash Twins and there was a Throwdown Cook-off to boot. And as if that wasn’t enough Marc Murphy and Robert Irvine both did book signings of their brand new cookbooks that they gave complimentary to attendees. One thing I know for sure I will enjoy reading Marc Murphy’s “Season with Authority” Confident Home Cooking and Robert Irvine’s “Fit Fuel” a Chef’s Guide to Eating Well, Getting Fit, and Living Your Best Life!

To sum it up, if you love food, make sure to attend the fabulous and decadently delicious events of the 10th Anniversary Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival December 8-11, 2016. Be sure to sign up early because tickets sell out very quickly.

Chef Sandy Axelrod has a Grand Diplome from “le Cordon Bleu” and more than 40 years experience in the kitchen. Sandy and her husband Steve have been living in Florida for more than 30 years. She was owner and Executive Chef of Affairs to Remember Catering for 18 years with events such as the Grand Opening of Saks Fifth Avenue at the Gardens Mall, opening parties at The Mall at Wellington Green, SunFest, opening season at International Polo and assorted private parties throughout South Florida to her credit. Now, in addition to writing a blog about food, restaurants, travel and life experiences at foodandfondmemories.com and writing cookbooks she teaches private hands-on cooking classes, does small catered parties, is a free-lance food writer and photographer. Her passion and love of food never wanes.

Also, please look for her work at the following links:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=affairs+to+remember+by+sandy+axelrod

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/affairs-to-remember-sandy-axelrod/1122594972?ean=9781628652284