Hey Young Chefs!
I’m “iced in” here in New Orleans so I thought I would catch up on my blogging. A couple of weekends ago, my family and I traveled to Southern California. I received a Taste Award for “Outstanding Kids” programming as host of Cool Kids Cook on VoiceAmerica Kids. The Taste Awards are the industry’s highest awards for food, fashion, home, and lifestyle programs online, on the radio, and on television.
The event was held at Grauman’s Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, California on Thursday, January 16, 2014. I walked the red carpet in my gorgeous turquoise dress. 🙂
It was so much fun! Chef Ashley James, executive chef of the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills was my presenter. He is so sweet and we have become great friends. He invited me to tour the kitchen at the Four Seasons and taste their cuisine. More on that later.
It was a great night for Louisiana. I won, Baton Rouge Chef Jay Ducote won for his radio show, Bite, and Booze, and Chef Emeril Lagasse won the lifetime achievement award. Here I am with Chef Jay and Ms. Peggy Sweeney McDonald, the Louisiana author of Meanwhile, Back at Café DuMonde.
I also met Cooking Channel StarNadia G, who was my Thanksgiving guest on the show.
I also met Cooking Channel Stars Alie and Georgia. They were both so sweet and I love their vintage style!
On Friday, we went to the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles. I had crêpes filled with salmon and scrambled eggs from the French Crêpe Company.
I also happened to meet actress and comedian Jane Krakowski at The Grove, who was shopping with her mom and her son. She was so sweet and told us how much she loves New Orleans.
I discovered all kinds of yummy gourmet food. Check out how this ground pork is displayed!
On Saturday, we went to the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills to tour the kitchen and sample the cuisine, courtesy of Executive Chef Ashley James.
I met his entire team including his executive pastry chef, Federico Fernandez, who makes AMAZING desserts, bread, and ice cream!
I happened to be at the Four Seasons on the day of the SAG awards. Look at this amazing dessert!
I also got to meet the incredibly talented 13-year-old actress, Sophie Nélisse, who is the star of the movie The Book Thief.
After that, we drove down to San Diego. We received a last-minute invitation to a Filipino debutante ball. It’s a good thing I had a formal party dress with me!
On Sunday, we went to Old Town San Diego.
We had lunch at the Old Town Mexican Café.
They make the corn and flour tortillas completely by hand!
The food was delicious and there was even a Mariachi band playing!
We did a little shopping and sightseeing. Old Town is so pretty!
Later that afternoon, we drove to Carlsbad, California, to catch a sunset on the beach.
It was so beautiful but a little bit chilly. Still, my mom and I went down to the water’s edge and played in the sand and watched the birds.
We had dinner with my Auntie Fe and our friend, Mike. They helped me re-create the One Direction album cover, Take Me Home, with a red telephone booth we came across. Soooo cool!
My trip to California was so much fun! It was a great honor to win a Taste Award and it was fun to visit with friends and travel all over Southern California.
Cool Kids Cook and Get Creative in the Kitchen!
Bon Appetit,
Kid Chef Eliana
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