“Be sure to bring your camera and appetite!” read the invite.
A lovely invite to join the California Avocado Commission and the Too Hot Tamales at Ciudad-LA restaurant this past weekend.
One of the benefits I have recently realized about living in the OC is that I am pretty darn close to LA. It means I can get to one of the best cities for everything food. In the past few months I have met so many bloggers. So many new friends. From Tartelette’s photo workshop, the Food Blog Forum, the Share Our Strength Bake Sale and now a trip to downtown LA for this event at Ciudad. Did I get lost again? But of course!
Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken are the Too Hot Tamales. Their show was on the Food Network for quite few seasons and they have also authored five cookbooks together. They are the owners of Ciudad restaurant in downtown LA and Border Grill in Santa Monica. Ciudad has a Latin focus and Border Grille is Mexican themed. Susan can now be seen on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters. She received an episode win and the next stop is the champions round. Both women were an absolute bundle of energy and a joy to learn from. They are seasoned chefs that know a whole lot about how to season food to perfection.
Learning about the avocado was a treat, I use this fruit frequently around here. Did you know the avocado is a fruit?? They are filled with healthy fats and lend themselves perfectly to salads, cooked meals, sweets and savories.
We had an interactive Guacamole Contest. Foodie bloggers were separated in groups of 2 & 3 and were timed to create inspirational/creative guacamole recipes. Each recipe was different and each delicious. Susan and Mary had a blast tasting and judging our creations. My partners were Erika from In Erika’s Kitchen and Rachael from Chick’s with Knives. There was a huge assortment of perfectly prepped ingredients on the table—–(wish I had someone prepping for me at home like this!) The groups were judged on the name as well as flavor. Our was “Pure Guac LA.” My partners chose to keep it really simple. They wanted to showcase the clean, creamy flavor of perfectly ripe avocados. It was delish, but I would have also gone with some of the other enticing ingredients on the table.
My favorites from other bloggers included the “Pomocado Guac” bursting with pomegranate seeds. I enjoyed Sophia’s “Kimchi Mole” which had chunks of pickled kimchi in the mix. I LOVED the winner’s guac “Spud Not: Guac Fully Loaded.” It was a decadent, creamy guac filled with chunks of smoky bacon.
The chefs gave a wonderful cooking demo that included 5 avocado based recipes.
As each course was prepared, we got to enjoy each nibble at a lovely sit down lunch!
Recipes from the Event
California Avocado Bacon and Tomato Salad
Crispy California Avocado Tacos
Chicken and California Avocado Skillet Chilaquiles
California Avocado with Yogurt Honey and Lime
Video from the Event
Here is a clip of the Too Hot Tamales preparing the Chicken and California Avocado Skillet Chilaquiles recipe. Don’t mind my editing skills, or lack there of!
This sounds like tons of fun! I wish more food blogger events were going on in Philly. I would love to partake in a guacamole contest! Avocados are becoming more than just a treat in my diet. I love them!
wow what a cool menu and you do live in a cool place enjoy lol Rebecca
what a great event, it looks like you and sophia had a great time, oh so many avocados how did you restrain yourself? I love the two hot tamales, they have great cookbooks
sweetlife
I am so jealz that you got to hang out with such cool people, bloggers, and had such a fab time!!!! Soon, very soon, I hope to be right there with ya my friend! you’re a total milf, too, of course. and Sophia, love that girl too. You’re both too awesome for words!
xo
Averie, we need you here soooooo bad. I can’t wait to pal around with you! You have so many buddies here in soCal. Seeing your face at events is gonna be awesome.
oh man, am i jealous! the avocado is one of the world’s greatest treasures and that’s all there is to it. 🙂
What a fun day! I love that guac contest, and the menu sounds fantastic! (Especially those crispy avocado tacos! 🙂 ) Great coverage of this event, Marla!
What a fun food event to attend! And all the different ways they used an avocado…who would have thought?
I cannot believe you met these two chefs – I LOVE THEM and used to watch their show all of the time when the Food Network first came out and they were in it. They are incredible chefs. I have to read this more carefully when I get home. I am so excited to find out about this. My daughter lives in Palo Alto and I do get to CA – if they teach or offer cooking classes – I am SOOOO in!
Valerie
Valerie, you would have had so much fun with us at Ciudad. Definitely your kind of thing. Mary Sue and Susan were really so genuine, and super fun to spend time with. I can’t wait to meet you someday. If you come out this way you must let me know.
What a fun event! I love avocados. This morning I had toast topped with avocado eggs and for lunch i’m having avocado in my wrap. I just can’t get enough of that tasty fruit! I’ll have to check out those recipes for some fresh ideas.
It all looks delicious! How funny to see everyone lined up to take pics of the food.
: )
A great day indeed! I love guacamole and avocados!
Cheers,
Rosa
Marla, I’m still dreaming about that fried avocado. Everything tastes better deep-fried, yeah? And it was GREAt to see you in person! Hee.
Averie, I insist you move your honey buns over here! Pronto!
How fun!
I love avocados!!!!!!
Oh my gravy! This was an awesome post. I had so much fun reading it, and the pictures are so drool worthy. Thanks for posting!
Great recap! Mmmmmmmm, now I want some more avocados! It was so fun seeing you there 🙂
Sounds like so much fun! I love avocados. My favorite guacamole is the “crunchy guacamole” served at a local Mexican joint – it has smoked almonds, toasted corn nuts, jicama and pepitas – and it’s seriously addicting!
Cara, that crunchy guac sounds amazing! I have never had anything like it. Love the idea of the toasted corn nuts & smoky almonds.
Look like a wonderful event, everyone look so cheerful. I saw the post over at Sophia, I thought I come by and say hello to you.
Cheers,
elra
What a fun event! I’ll be honest and admit that I’m jealous! That must have been so much fun meeting everyone and watching the Too Hot Tamales do a cooking demo. I love avocados and could literally eat them every day. I actually made some awesome guacamole last night! I bet the contest was a blast!
Great photos, too!
Love avocado and love these two; I used to watch their show way back and loved it; sound like you had a grand old time meeting all these ladies!
What a terrific experience! I loved the video! These gals are so fun to watch. 😉
Looks like it was a fun event. I have a tough time getting to these events that are all the way up in LA! Too far for me to drive for the day.
Great photos! I linked to them from my blog, Nibbles of Tidbits. I had a guest blogger at the event with a new camera that’s not nearly as good as yours. She’s going to be returning it, ha. Enjoyed your report. Thanks, Shelly 🙂