Culinary Travel « Where and What In the World

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La Cocina que Canta, Rancho La Puerta, Walnut and Fig Muffins

Saturday, May 19th, 2012

Dining Room at Rancho LaPuerta Photo: Maralyn D. Hill

Maralyn and I will be meeting again at Rancho La Puerta in July to present our writing workshop and take a few cooking lessons. I can hardly wait. The Ranch has so much to offer so many men and women of all ages from all over the world. Rancho La Puerta and the Golden Door have brought wellness into the lives of over 500,000 Americans in the past 72 years. The Hill team believes in making our health one of our top travel priorities.

During the week of our presentations we will have a choice of many mindful activities such as Herbs for the Body and Soul, Kung Fu for Fitness, Exploring the Night Sky, Love Cycles and so much more. My personal favorites are the early morning hikes, yoga, art classes, African dance, swimming, massages and cooking lessons at La Cocina que Canta. This is the hands on “kitchen that sings” built at the edge of their organic farm. It is here that we meet many talented chefs.

This recipe is from the La Cocina staff led by Executive Chef, Denise Rosa.

Gluten-free Walnut and Fig Muffins

Ingredients for 12 muffins

Dry

3 cups flour mix (see recipe below)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baling powder

1 cup brown sugar (packed)

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

Wet

2 eggs

11/4 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup grape seed oil

1/2 cup fresh or dried figs, chopped

La Concina Canta - Cooking Demo Kitchen - Rancho La Puerta Photo: Maralyn D. Hill

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Method

Preheat oven to 350F.

In large bowl, mix all dry ingredients.

In a separate bowl, lightly beat eggs and other “wet” ingredients together. Pour wet into dry and mix with a spoon by hand until some dry flour is still evident (do not over-beat).

Use ice cream scoop to dollop muffin mixture into olive-oil-misted muffin pan (preferably one that makes small cork shaped muffins).

Bake approximately 20 minutes or until wooden pick comes out clean.

Gluten-Free Flour Mixture

Ranch La Puerta uses all Bob Mill’s ingredients which are commonly available in health food grocery stores. For precision, this mixture is by weight: Combine equal parts of corn, quin and sweet brown rice flours until weight is 700 grams. Combine equal parts potato starch and tapioca flour until weight is 300 grams. Mix all together. store excess in air tight container to use soon for any baked-goods recipe. Experiment with amounts to accentuate certain flavors you might like best.

Look for more recipes from the teaching kitchen and garden this summer. Or find them by contacting www.rancholapuerta.com. Phone 877-440-7772.

Rancho La Puerta is a short, easy, and beautiful drive from San Diego in the charming village of Tecate, Mexico, Baja California, P.O. Box 69, Tecate, California 91980.

Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success With Writing Where And What in the World

Tags: brenda c hill, Chef Denise Rosa, gluten free muffins, gluten free recipe, La Cocina, Rancho La Puerta, Where and What in the World
Posted in Bread Recipes, Cooking Schools, Culinary Travel, Culinary Travel, Spas, food, luxury travel, recipes, travel | No Comments »

Creative Cuisine, Incredible Wines, Spectacular Art, and Breathtaking Views – The Kennebunkport Festival’s Grand Tasting and Art. Works.

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Since I have been talking so much about this exciting evernt, I thought you would enjoy seeing more of what is involved.

Creative Cuisine, Incredible Wines, Spectacular Art, and Breathtaking Views – The Kennebunkport Festival’s Grand Tasting and Art. Works.

Portland, Maine — The Events Team at Maine magazine released details for the Kennbunkport Festival’s Grand Tasting and Art. Works. event, sponsored by Huston & Company, that takes place on Saturday, June 9, at the Colony Hotel. This four-hour grazing event and art exhibition features more than 60 nationally acclaimed wineries, local restaurants, culinary establishments, and chocolatiers, and works from more than 60 artists at an iconic seaside hotel.

“Food, wine, and art are cornerstone features of the Festival ” said Leanne Ouimet, Director of Events and Sponsorships at Maine magazine. “And this year’s Grand Tasting & Art. Works. event brings some of the area’s most respected restaurants, food-related businesses, wine merchants, and artists together under one roof in a location with views that are nothing short of spectacular,” she added.

This year’s event features fare from:

98 Provence Academe at the Kennebunk Inn

Arrows Restaurant David’s Restaurant

Grissini Italian Bistro Kitchen Chicks Catering

Linda Bean’s Home Kitchen Nonantum Resort
Pedro’s Restaurant Rococo Artisan Ice Cream

Sea Glass at Inn by the Sea Stonewall Kitchen

Stripers Waterside Restaurant Sweet Marguerites

The Colony Hotel Vignola | Cinque Terre

Willard Scoops Zapoteca Restaurante y Tequileria

Wine and beer from:

A to Z Winery Banville + Jones Wine Merchants

Brown + Forman Cannonball Wine Company

Cellardoor Winery Constellation Brands

Croney Estates Dendor Wine Management

Friexenet USA Hall Wines

Kobrand Wines + Spirits Mason Marques + Domaines

Majestic Fine Wines Moet Hennessy USA

One Hope Winery Pernod Ricard

Purple Wine Co. R.P. Imports

Rutherford Wine Company Sebago Brewing Company

Silver Oak Cellars Southern Wine + Spirits

USA Wine West Villa Banfi

Zaca Mesa Winery + Vineyards

Among the Artists Featured:

Julie Freund Patrick Plourde

Phillip Frey Peter Ralston

Alex Gnidziejko Holly Ready

Edward Gordon Janis Sanders

Pamela Hansen Francine Shrock

Jill Hoy Ann Sklar
William Hoyt Tom Stewart

Anne Ireland Kim David Tomlinson

Henry Isaacs Matthew Welch

Laura Tryon Jennings David Witbeck

Craig Mooney Andrew Wyeth

Petrea Noyes Jamie Wyeth

Elizabeth Ostrander

The afternoon promises to be a treat for the eyes and palates of all attendees.

Tickets for the Grand Tasting and Art. Works. are just $55 per person and available online at kennebunkportfestival.com. The Festival producers strongly suggest advance purchase of tickets because last year’s event sold out.

Event Contact: Leanne Ouimet, louimet@themainemag.com, 207.772.3373

Media Contact: Angie Helton, nema@maine.rr.com, 207.653.0365

About Maine Magazine

Published 12 times a year by The Maine Media Collective, Maine magazine (themainemag.com) is the state’s definitive lifestyle publication, offering readers a fresh look at the incredible people, places, restaurants, artists, and business people who make today’s Maine such a vibrant place to live. The Maine Media Collective is also home to Maine Home+Design (mainehomedesign.com), Eat Maine, Art Maine, and The Brand Company – a marketing firm.

About Huston & Company

Huston & Company, designers and builders of fine custom furniture, are located on Log Cabin Road in Kennebunkport. Dedicated to design and function. Built on Maine Integrity. hustonandcompany.com.

Angie Helton

Northeast Media Associates

141 Brigham Street

South Portland, ME. 04106

www.nemediaassociates.com

207.653.0365

: Maralyn Dennis Hill

Maralyn D. Hill, President

International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association

CityRooom.com, Editor-at-Large, The Epicurean Explorer
Books By Hills Success With Writing Where & What in the World Blog

NoraLyn Ltd.

Member: Society of Professional Journalists

Tags: Angie Helton, Kennebunkport Festival, Northeast Media Associates, The Kennebunkport Festival’s Grand Tasting and Art. Works.
Posted in Culinary Travel, Destinations, Events & Activities, chefs, culture, food, luxury family travel, travel | No Comments »

Interview with Executive Chef Phil Reid, and a Recipe for Lobster Fried Rice

Friday, May 11th, 2012

Chef Phil Reid

In addition to classic Maine recipes like baked haddock and steamed lobster, Executive Chef Phil Reid of One Dock at theKennebunkport Inn, creates an array of newer dishes focusing on all that culinary Maine has to offer. (Insider tip: Phil will be atCocktails at One Dock – Tuesday, June 5^th Kennebunkport Festival 2012.

My interview questions and recipe for Lobster Fried Rice was published on CityRoom on April 25, 2012.

Click here for recipe and interview.

We asked Chef Reid to share a little more about himself.

Kennepunkport Festival 2012

This event is produced and presented by Maine Magazine in cooperation with The Kennebunkport Festival Committee. There are many sponsors who support this endeavor as it benefits Share our Strength. The event will have art shows, cocktail parties, dinners and unforgettable experiences.