Event: The Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show

By: Amanda Brashears

One of the DC areas hottest cooking events is almost here, so mark your calendars. The Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show is November 3rd and 4th at the Convention Center. With cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs Giada DeLaurentiis, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Gail Simmons, Tom Colicchio, Jeff Mauro, Claudine Pepin and Jacques Pepin this is truly a must for any food lover. Many other local chefs will also provide demonstrations, so get your tickets early.  We'll be having a contest to win free tickets so check back soon!

Metro Cooking Show Back in DC

by Samantha Grieder
Capital Cooking Contributor

On Monday evening, DC media members gathered at PS7's Restaurant for a preview of what's to come at this year's Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show. The event, also held in Atlanta and Houston, will be held at the Washington Convention Center on November 5th and 6th.

Event planners and DC food writers sampled small bites from Peter Smith and drank wine and fabulous fall cocktails by Gina Chersevani and Owen Thomson, who will be competing against each other in cocktail throwdown. The two spoke to the group, wearing boxing gloves in preparation and playfully giving a couple jabs in the process. Each admitted that the brother-sister relationship they have isn't getting in the way of wanting to come out victorious during the three-round competition.

Gina Chersevani, Owen Thomson and chef Peter Smith talk about upcoming Metro Cooking events

One of the highlights of the evening was Jacques Pepin joining in via Skype and chef Michel Richard of Citronelle stepping up to the mic to address his friend. At one point, Pepin even picked up his dog onto his lap to say hello to the crowd. Both chefs were happy to see each other, almost unknowing of how excited the rest of the room was to see the two of them. Both Pepin and Richard will be making presentations during the Metro Cooking Show weekend.

Chef Michel Richard addresses Jacques Pepin via Skype

Guests at the show have more to look forward to than ever. There will be two full days to visit with and learn from chefs, attend tastings, and go to workshops. Over 350 companies will also be present for shopping needs. Products will range from gourmet food to party planners.

Events to look forward to:

• Appearances by celebrity chefs: Jacques Pepin and daughter Claudine, Paula Deen, Giada De Laurentiis, and Guy Fieri
• James Beard (award-winning, nominated or Beard House guest chef) presentations at the Bloom demo stage, including Scott Drewno of The Source, Peter Smith of PS7's, Bertrand Chemel of 2941, Michel Richard of Citronelle, and Jeffrey Buben of Vidalia
• Mike Isabella and Laurie Forster Food & Wine Pairing challenge
• Cocktail throwdown with PS7's Gina Chersevani and Think Food Group's head bartender Owen Thomson
  

Visit www.MetroCooking.com to learn more and to buy tickets online.

The Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show is only 1 Month Away

Have you bought your ticket yet?  I'll be there doing an amazing Holiday Cocktail Demonstration featuring drinks from the Capital Cooking Cookbook.

Photo by Emily Clack

Don't miss my demonstration on November 13th and 14th at 12:30-1:00 p.m.  I'll be doing a book signing immediately following at the Vinbev.com booth.

This is Capital Cooking's 3rd year participating in the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show.

Photo by Shauna Alexander

In 2008, The Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show was a huge success! I couldn't have done it without the help and support of my fabulous team: Carolina Aguilar, Shauna Alexander, Katie Clabby, Capital Carpet, C'Vita Dancy, Jesse Goldberg, Denise Medved, The Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show team, Leya Terry, Carla Warner, Mom, and Corey. 

Photo by Shauna Alexander

We sold lots of super cute aprons that I wear on the show. We handed out pumpking gooey butter cake and recipes... I signed autographs...I presented at the Tasting Workshops (the Thanksgiving Appetizer recipes are available on my blog)...we tasted lots of great food at the other booths including the Texas Sassy, Happy Jalapenos, Cuginos, Alili Morocco and many more... I even saw Chef Patrice Olivon perform at the Chef Stage. Denise Medved demonstrated some recipes from her Tiny Kitchen cookbook with the Geico cavemen. At the end of the weekend we were all wiped out. 

In 2009, we were back again Bringing the Mediterranean Diet to Your Plate.

Each year gets better than the next so we hope to see you there this time!