World Expo, 2010 World Expo, Shanghai, China Growing Organic

The US Pavilion is 3 stories; the VIP area/kitchen is located on the top floor and separated by the two buildings is the organic chef garden. After a few quick translation sessions with the garden keepers they are now growing everything for our specifications. It has become my own personal organic supermarket! (Something that is so far from reality in China)

This garden is located about 50 steps from my kitchen door, so much like an organic farmer, we pop out to pick what is ready to harvest for the day. The US Pavilion is the only building with its own sustainable garden. additions to this garden have been planted in deep roasting pans and other kitchen wares to showcase that it is truly now a “chef’s garden”.

I dedicate to this post to all chefs that are as passionate as myself to enjoying the “back door” garden and to close friend, organic farmer, and entrepreneur, Marie Tedei, owner of the thriving Edens Garden in Balch Springs, Texas.

Come visit us in China, we would love to see you!

Cooking lunch for Miss USA- Rima Fikah

What a rough first week!  I have met several celebrities but the one that happen to stick out most to me (wonder why…) was the current Miss USA, Rima Fakih.  Rima was great to meet, she had lunch at the Pavilion, then was all about taking a few photos- that is the nice part about being the chef…

I am sure everyone wants to know what she had to eat… she sent a special request in advance for a Cobb salad with sauteed shrimp…

thanks, Donald- I owe you one! Can you send Miss Universe next please?

Happy Birthday America!

Hello all- a bit behind on updating about the food scene from the Pavilion- The basic run down on sourcing ingredients in China has come to be more challenging than expected! I will elaborate more in future posts, but for now let me wind back the clock to America’s Birthday.. July 4, 2010.  The Pavilion closed for a private function, we hosted the Commissioner General and other VIPs along with the USAP staff.   The party kicked off with the open bar and tons of individual cold canapés, followed up by a wide range of reinterpreted “picnic classics”.  It was an exciting evening for all of us! The party was finished off with the cake cutting ceremony and big photo session.   To be quite honest there were so many flashes shooting off it reminded me of when I was at The Beverly Hilton during the Golden Globe Awards. Much of the products we are accustomed to back home are hard to come by here, that is the beauty of being able to work closely with Director Batwin of the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office here in Shanghai.  We both share the same passion for importing and sourcing the best products from local farms.  ….China the land of the red tape

This cake will be in many future publications and print all throughout the world- I wish I could have brought in my close friend and dynamic Pastry Chef Christine D’Angeli from Slice Cake Designs!

Old Shanghai- (Part I)

After arriving and seeing a few things around the Expo Site I was dying for some real Shanghai… you know the image we all have of China! Let’s forget about the giant Trinitrons and flashing lights- let’s get back to the basics… fabric markets, street food, and wild dogs roaming around (then cooked on a stick for you..)!

Well, lucky to say I have met an excellent chef here- who was given the job of making sure I got settled in. (sounds dangerous)So needless to say we have become friends and from Day 1, and has shown me the starter ropes of Shanghai! Enough to say hello, thank you, and a few other things that can only lead one to get hitched or in big trouble- thanks for the lessons in Mandarin!

The real China that every chef is craving for… I had a friend (another chef) visit me from the States who’s general plan was to see Shanghai- I agreed but in trade he was going to have to help me in the kitchen… (… so much for that vacation he thought he was about to have!)  Guys this post is dedicated to the good times we had in OLD Shanghai… what’s actually left of the 200 year old French Colony.

Not sure what was better- the street food or the 18 items we ordered at the restaurant (no English on the menu… yes, a major crap shoot in what was coming out..)

Sneak Peak inside the World Expo Grounds 2010

Here are some updated random shots from inside the Expo grounds.  The USA Pavilion is the 3^rd busiest pavilion out of 197 participating countries.

The average wait time to enter the show (7 minutes long, then right into the retail store) is 4 hours.  Now, the last time I remember standing in any line for that long was to buy U2 tickets back during the Achtung Baby tour… remember those days before the internet!

….I doubt anyone holds your place in line if you need that emergency bathroom break, careful if you’re coming to the US Pavilion!

More shots to come…

« Previous Entries