St. Patrick's Day

The Claddaugh School of Irish Dancers, performed at
a recent St. Patrick's Party held at Holy Cross in Moorpark.
Students of Irish Dancing begin lessons as early as 4 years
old and proceed through the various levels of achievement.
The Claddaugh School recently returned from competition
in Dublin, where they placed 3rd in the world!
The US will be hosting their first competition in the next
couple of weeks to be held in Philadelphia.



Our daughter-in law-Stefani and granddaughter Aubri
look on as the dancers perform....I think Aubri knows
she has 2 1/2 years before she can sign up for classes in
San Luis Obispo, but she'll have the steps mastered
early on... seeing as she has been at the annual St. Patrick's
Party with Irish Dancers and music even before she and
Mason's arrival!




Mason and Aubri are performing for the group....showing
some new steps. Did I ever tell you I love being "Oma".




Our son Ryan, my husband Jeff and good friend and fabulous
Irish Tenor Patrick Leyden...on stage.






Stefani and Mason and Aubri singing with the band!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all....


Chef Mary Jane
Custom Cuisine

Vegan Recipes for Gilded Fork Cookbook

Taste testing of the Vegan menu for Gilded Fork Cookbook.
All the recipes tested todate are superb....
The Culinary Media Network plans release of the cookbook
soon, with pre-sales planned for April 2009.



Blood Orange Granata... excellent dessert or palate refresher
between courses.




Hot and Sour Black Bean Soup with Japanese Tofu






The final plated dishes, all vegan....all delicious!

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If you are interested in taking Cooking Lessons to
learn a new recipe or technique...
contact Custom Cuisine.

Gift Certificates available.




Chef Mary Jane
Custom Cuisine

Cake Decorating Students

21 Students are enrolled in various cake decorating courses
this month, taking beginning cake decorating, fondant gumpaste
and royal icing flowers and color flow plaques and basketweave
designs.




The future cake decorators are attentive and motivated
to excel through the various techniques...




Each Course is covered over 8 hours of instruction with
classes meeting one night a week for 4 weeks.

Seeing the students enthusiasm and accomplishments

as they master each course is gratifying. Many students

register for all courses offered, completing 1 course at a time

continuing through the full program offered over 4 - 6 months.

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If you are interested in baking and cake decorating and would

like to get together with a group of friends for cooking, baking,

cake decorating or other classes contact:

Chef Mary Jane @ Custom Cuisine

e mail: maryjanecurry@gmail.com

Lessons can be arranged for groups of children or adults.

Private Lessons are also available.

New York Steak with Sage Butter & Caramelized Apple Bread Pudding

The Culinary Media Network will have pre-sales
of their upcoming cookbook The Gilded Fork
in April 2009.

The entree for the Father's Day menu ~New York Steak.
I prepared the steaks last night and yes they are definitely
a man pleaser! In following the recipe, steaks are sauteed
over a high flame and garnished with a tasty sage butter,
then topped with a specialty onion braised in a mixture of
champagne, champagne vinegar, sugar and sea salt. This is
the juicest steak you can imagine and the complimentary flavors
of the butter compound and champagne braised onion, not only
looks fantastic but tastes spectacular.

Another delicious recipe in the book is a Caramelized
Apple Bread pudding with a cider caramel sauce.

Now this is true comfort food with a gourmet flare!















I have tested a handful of the recipes so far
and have found them all to be fabulous, easy to
follow and treasured flavor combinations,
perfect for a special dinner or entertaining...


Chef Mary Jane Curry
Custom Cuisine
http://www.personalchefreservations.com/

Recently, I was testing recipes and photographing the
finished product for an exciting new cookbook that will be
available for pre-sale this Spring, "The Gilded Fork"
produced by Mark Tafoya of Culinary Media Network
located in New York.

The Lavender Pound Cake with Lemon Glaze was a huge
hit at our family gathering of a bakers dozen of relatives
taking part in our February birthday celebrations. We met
yesterday at Shannon and Brian's home in the foothills
of Altadena. Other family joining the party arrived
from Boise, Carlsbad, Grover Beach, Mission Viejo
and Camarillo.

Putting the cake together was a fun family affair with
our son Ryan trimming lavender from the backyard,
and my sister Margaret joining me in gathering the
freshest lemons and other produce at the local
farmers market. We assembled the ingredients for
the lavender pound cake and then prepared a
simple syrup on the stove that candied a lavender
garnish. My daughter-in-law then Stefani diced some
fresh lavender for the cake batter... and the cake was
lovingly placed into the oven.

We knew this cake recipe was going to be something
special as the flavorful aromas filled the entire kitchen
just as the cake baking was near completion.

I've won many blue ribbons recently at the Ventura County
Faire in varied baking and Professional Cake decorating categories.
I also teach cake decorating 3 times a week and can validate that
this recipe is a winner...perfect for spring and summer bridal
showers and weddings. Devine with a glass of champagne!

Family bonding at it's best... and an outrageously
delicious recipe - What could be better!





















Preparing the Pistachio Crusted Salmon
with shredded cabbage and Bailey's Irish
Cream Sauce for a dinner party of 6
on Saturday was another delightful
experience!

The guests thoroughly enjoyed this luscious recipe
& the distinct layering of the complimentary flavors.
This entree is another fabulous recipe planned
for the Gilded Fork Cookbook.


The Gilded Fork Cookbook will definitely
be a superb addition to any cookbook collection
and one that you will appreciate using when
entertaining guests in your home.

The Culinary Media Network plans to have
pre-sales of the Gilded Fork cookbook available
in April, 2009.

Although my current cookbook collection exceeds
500+ cookbooks, this treasure will be at my side
in the kitchen as I prepare special meals for my
clients and family!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you have a special ocassion coming up, contact
Custom Cuisine. As a personal chef I am pleased
to consult with you in planning of the menu.

On the day of your party I will arrive with the
freshest quality foods, prepare the meal onsite
and serve you and your guests a delightful gourmet
meal...

Having a Personal Chef prepare the food for your
special ocassions, provides you the time to mingle
and enjoy the celebration along with your guests!

Cheers...

Chef Mary Jane

P.S.
I'll be posting additional recipes from the Gilded Fork soon!

web: http://www.personalchefreservations.com/
e mail: personalchefreservations@gmail.com

Chef Mary Jane here, welcoming you
to Custom Cuisine's blog highlighting
recently celebrated culinary events.

If you live in Southern California in the
Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Moorpark,
Newbury Park, Santa Rosa Valley, Somis,
Simi Valley, Oak Park, Westlake, Malibu or
other areas in this vicinity, contact your
personal chef at Custom Cuisine and
be a guest at your next event....

chef@personalchefreservations.com

Yes... First bite of cake and totally different reactions...
Aubri and Mason celebrate their 1st Brithday
at Biddle Park in Arroyo Grande, California.



















New Years Eve celebrated at Cafe' Firenze in Moorpark.




















Chef Fabio co-owner of Cafe' Firenze and currently
in the finals on Top Chef New York, is a gracious host
serving spectacular food in his well appointed restaurant.
Cast your votes on Bravo.com to select Fabio
as the viewers favorite!



















3/4/09 Update~Fabio won Fan Favorite
Top Chef New York this evening.


Kitchen staff in action at Cafe' Fireneze in Moorpark.



















Superbowl Party 2009 at Sandy and Joe Pomerantz's home
in Moorpark. Always a fun-filled event with great food,
plenty of friends and fans, multiple TV viewing areas,
beer pong and of course a football pool...




















Superbowl football stadium ordered by the hosts
from Custom Cuisine in Camarillo.




















The hosts of this spectacular annual event.
Joe and Sandy Pomerantz.



















Superbowl party in full swing...



















On to Wine tasting in the Central Valley 2/7/09



















Wine production area at Tolosa Vineyard San Luis Obispo,
a visit to their wine tasting room and their vineyard.




























Wine selections carefully chosen at Tolosa in San Luis Obispo
and Alapay Cellars in Avila Beach....now to pair the wines
with seasonal foods at their peak for upcoming parties and
special ocassions for clients.

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The books listed below are great reading and reference
material for food and wine lovers.

What to Drink with What you Eat
by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page

Culinary Artistry
by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page

Wine for every day and every Occasion
by: Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher

The Wine Lover's Cookbook
by: Sid Goldstein

Cheers!

Chef Mary Jane
Custom Cuisine
chef@personalchefreservations.com