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Showing posts with label preparation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preparation. Show all posts

Thursday, July 25, 2013

July 25, Culinarians Day
A Tribute to the Culinary Arts Profession


Culinary education is available from a wide number of institutions offering diploma, associate, and bachelor degree programs in culinary arts. Depending on the level of education, this can take one to four years. An internship is often part of the curriculum. Most professional kitchens follow the apprenticeship system.

These are some of the most well known culinary schools in the food-service industry and culinary arts.
International Culinary Schools at the Art Institutes


Health and Nutrition
About twenty years ago, a dear friend who was a chef told me “if it is not made from real butter and real cream, it is not real food.” Sadly, he passed away from heart disease.

Nutrition and food safety is now apart of all culinary school curriculums. There are dietitians who have certification in the culinary arts and are creating healthy cuisines that have grown in popularity.

More chefs are teaming up with dietitians to meet the needs of the community. Even Elmo and the White House Assistant Chef Sam Kass talk about the importance of healthy and delicious school meals.


The videos featured below give you a history of the profession during the 20th and 21st century. As we move towards the present, you will notice how health and nutrition play an important role in the development of new cuisines and the modification of traditional favorites.

The History of the
Culinary Institute of America (CIA)



The American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF), a professional, organization for chefs and cooks, was founded in 1929 in New York City by three chefs’ organizations: the Société Culinaire Philanthropique, the Vatel Club and the Chefs de Cuisine Association of America. They are an organization based on promoting the professional image of American chefs worldwide through education of culinarians at all levels.

In 1976, ACF forever changed the culinary industry by elevating the position of the executive chef from service status to the professional category in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Dictionary of Official Titles. Since this change, the culinary industry has grown tremendously.

ACF is the culinary leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and programmatic accreditation designed to enhance professional growth for all current and future chefs and pastry chefs. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions, and to the Chef and Child Foundation, founded in 1989 to promote proper nutrition in children and combat childhood obesity.

The American Culinary Federation (ACF)
Culinary Team USA 2012
Seven chefs unite to take on the challenge of their careers. They will compete in a
global event to test their skills like never before. They are ACF Culinary Team USA.


Elmo joins White House Assistant Chef Sam Kass in the White House kitchen to talk about the importance of healthy and delicious school meals following President Obama's signing of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.  This legislation is an important step forward toward ensuring that no child goes to school hungry and that all children have access to healthy, nutritious foods at school.



Research Chefs Association (RCA)

Formed in 1996 by a group of food professionals with a common interest in the challenges facing the profession. RCA has become the premier source of culinary and technical information for the food industry, with a professionally diverse membership including chefs, food scientists, and other industry professionals who are shaping the future of food research and development.

What is Culinology®?
"It is the blending of culinary arts and food science, promoted by the
Research Chefs Association. This fast-growing discipline is gaining popularity
in the industry and popping up in degree programs at the college level
because the food product development industry is demanding that
their professionals have a combination of culinary and food science skills"









Saturday, May 21, 2011

Artichokes - from the Garden to the Table







May 21-22, 2011
52nd Annual California Artichoke Festival held in Castroville, CA, the Artichoke Capital of the World.







Artichoke Field Harvest, Castroville, CA

Artichoke Preparation and Cooking


Artichoke Nutrition

Featured Recipe, Modified
Couscous Stuffed Artichokes
from the California Artichoke Advisory Board
Makes 4 generous servings


Ingredients
4 large California artichokes
1½ cups low sodium vegetable broth
1 teaspoon curry powder
¾ teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup instant couscous
¼ cup currants
½ cup sliced green onion
½ cup toasted slivered almonds, chopped
½ teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Plain lowfat yogurt, optional


Directions
Wash artichokes. Cut off stems at base and remove small bottom leaves. Stand artichokes upright in deep saucepan large enough to hold snugly. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 2 to 3 inches boiling water. Cover and boil gently 35 to 45 minutes, or until base can be pierced easily with fork. (Add a little more boiling water, if needed.) Turn artichokes upside down to drain. Carefully remove center petals and fuzzy centers with a spoon and discard. Keep warm or chill as desired.

In medium saucepan combine vegetable broth, curry powder, and cumin; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in couscous and currants. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork. Stir in green onion and almonds. Combine lemon peel, lemon juice and vegetable oil; stir into couscous.

Gently spread artichoke leaves until center cone of leaves is revealed. Pull out center cone. With a spoon, scrape out any purple-tipped leaves and fuzz. Fill centers of artichokes with couscous mixture. Serve with plain yogurt, if desired. 

Nutritional information per serving: calories 368; protein 11 g; carbohydrate 54 g;
fat 13 g; sodium 135 mg; cholesterol 0 mg; dietary fiber 8 g
 

Resources