Jei Grimes Sweeps 3rd Annual Pastry Competition

Pastry Competition 2010


One of the ways The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas fosters and challenges new culinary and pastry talent is through competitions and scholarships.

The Annual Pastry Scholarship and Competition, launched three years ago by Quincy Adams Erickson, took place this past weekend at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts here in Austin.
This year’s grand prize winner is Jei Grimes from Le Cordon Bleu, Austin who received a $5,000.00 culinary scholarship and will have his recipes featured in the Foundation’s online, interactive cook-book, Plate & Vine®.

The two runners-up, Samantha Wiff, and Susan Gofreed, also from Le Cordon Bleu each carried home $1,000 scholarships. The competition encompassed five different pastry challenges, blindly judged by a panel of experts.

The competition is named each year for a Texas Pastry Chef who has made a significant contribution to Texas’ culinary legacy. This year’s honoree was Pastry Chef Philip Speer at Uchi Austin, following last year’s honoree Naomi Gallego formerly of TRIO at the Four Seasons, and the inaugural year’s honoree, Pastry Chef Mark Chapman of Austin. It was hosted at the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin (formerly Texas Culinary Academy).

Meet Our 2010 Pastry Winner!

Jason (Jei) Grimes is a North Carolina native with 16 years of industry experience prior to any formal training. His love for food and cooking was sparked by his grandmother, who introduced him to the basics of cooking and fine dining at a young age.

“Coming from the mountains of North Carolina I was not exposed to much,” he said, “…my dream now is to open a confectioner’s shop.” On the cusp of graduation, Grimes feels that he has a firm grasp on both the business side and now the formal pastry training to go alongside it.

Following the competition, Grimes prepares to go to work that evening. As he cleans up his kitchen space he pauses, “I still can’t believe it.” But he won’t be much time for celebrating, “Tomorrow I’ll be right back here. That’s what this is about.”



*** NOTE: Recipes will be featured in the Foundation’s celebrity chef online cookbook, Plate & Vine® (www.winefoodcooking.com). WFFT members receive special discount pricing.

MEET OUR HONOREE & JUDGE:

PHILIP SPEER – Uchi, Austin
Speer has been showered with awards and praise locally as well as nationally in Bon Appétit, Cooks Illustrated, and USA Today. He appeared as a judge on the Food Network's "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" as well as part of Chef Tyson Cole's team that competed on the Food Network's "Iron Chef America." Most recently, Speer was named a James Beard Award semi-finalist in the overall pastry chef category.

WFFT PASTRY SCHOLARSHIP FINALISTS:

SUSAN GOFREED & SAMANTHA WIFF
(Le Cordon Blue College of Culinary Arts in Austin students).

WFFT JUDGES & CHAIRS:
Quincy Adams Erickson – Fête Accompli
Aimee Olson – Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Austin
Pat Sharpe – Executive Editor and Food Editor, Texas Monthly

Pastry Scares Me!

Quincy Adams-Erickson talks about this year's 2010 WFFT Pastry Scholarship Competition

This year will be the third annual Pastry Scholarship Competition, sponsored by The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas and in 2010, honoring a Texas pastry legend, Chef Philip Speer of UCHI.

Frankly, pastry is terrifying. In pastry, you have to measure, in pastry you must be exact, in pastry you may not know you’ve made a mistake until the pastry is completely done. In pastry, little sins reveal themselves when you cut into them or taste them…but not before. In pastry, a lot more can go wrong that cannot be fixed. And to fix probably means to start from scratch – literally – and begin again. Like I said, pastry is terrifying.

While I have been a chef for 25 plus years, what I knew of pastry was very little except what I managed to teach myself. And it was terrifying to me. I could never make a cake that was not leaden. My breads would not rise. I never tried to make a pie. My children would ask my friends to make their birthday cakes.

Speed forward many many years. I am now a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, in both pastry and cuisine. After nine months with some of the best pastry teachers in the world, I can do pastry. Slap me again, I can do pastry. Amazing. And fun. So much fun.

Inspired by the amazing pastry chefs in Texas, armed with my newfound awareness of these skills and a greater understanding of the daily work and impeccable technique required, I was no longer afraid of pastry. And I thought it was time for a new culinary competition. One that reveals the perseverance, dedication, skills, and hours (months! years!) of practice required to become a pastry chef. I thought it was time to put the spotlight on those people who faced their fears and took on pastry. And Voila, through the generosity of The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas, we are embarking on our third year of competition.

There’s still time! If you’re a pastry student at an accredited culinary school in Texas, we invite you to show us what you’ve got. We’re offering a grand prize of a $5,000 scholarship and the chance to feature your recipes in our Plate & Vine Interactive Cookbook. The two runners-up each receive $1,000 each. Visit http://www.winefoodfoundation.org/pastry and postmark your entries by May 14, 2010. Call 512.327.755 if you have questions. And for everyone else who is still a bit intimidated by pastry, come out on Sunday, May 23^rd, 2010 to help us crown the winner. Photo ops and interviews with the chefs and judges between 11:00 AM and 11:30 AM. Press conference and scholarship winner announced at 2:45 PM.

Cheers!

Chef Quincy Adams-Erickson
Chair, 2010 WFFT Pastry Competition

Rare & Fine Wine Auction Preview

Largest Auction in the Southwest Celebrates Silver Anniversary

The Wine & Food Foundation's signature event - The Rare & Fine Wine Auction - will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at the Four Seasons Austin. (Tickets and more info by calling 512.327.7555.) This year, the auction celebrates its 25th anniversary with a stellar collection of rare vintage wines, luxury travel packages, private wine dinners, and collectible fine wines.

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the auction block this year:

Bond 2006 Terroir Portfolio
5 Magnums (1.5 L) one each

2006 Bond Melbury
2006 Bond Quella
2006 Bond St. Eden
2006 Bond Vecina
2006 Bond Pluribus

Estimated Value: $3,500


2007 Pride Mountain Vyds Cabernet Sauvignon
1 Salmanazar (9L) Etched Bottle
Signed by Owner Steve Pride

"With ample structure, blue-black fruit and great aging potential, this phenomenal wine is reminiscent of past vintages of the Pride Mountain Reserve Cabernet. The nose expresses gorgeous flavors of cassis, black raspberry compote, cocoa and blueberry. The mouth is firm yet round, with intense flavors that evolve in the glass and balance the wine's structure."
Rated 90 Robert Parker

Estimated Value: $2,500


"Back Home Again" Dinner for Four at Jerry Jeff & Susan Walker's Home

Take advantage of this rare opportunity to spend an evening with a Texas music legend. Susan and Jerry Jeff Walker welcome you and three friends to their Clarksville home to share a home-cooked meal prepared by their personal chef, excellent wines from the Walker's personal collection, and maybe a little country music, too.

Must be scheduled on a mutually agreed upon date prior to April 30, 2011.

Estimated Value: $3,500


1982 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild Pauillac
1 Bottle (.750 L)

"This wine remains one of the legends of Bordeaux. The creme de cassis, underlying floral note, full-bodied power, extraordinary purity, multi-layered texture, and finish of over a minute are a showcase for what this Chateau accomplished in 1982. The wine is still amazingly youthful, vibrant, and pure. It appears capable of remaining fruity and vibrant in 2082!"
Rated 100 Robert Parker

Estimated Value: $1,500

Stay tuned for more lot previews from this year's Rare & Fine Wine Auction.

Tickets? More Info? Visit us at http://www.winefoodfoundation.org/ or call the office at 512.327.7555.

An Evening with Karen MacNeil

An Evening with Karen MacNeil
The Carillon hosts exclusive fine wine dinner to benefit Foundation

Austin, Texas (March 1, 2010) - Karen MacNeil, beloved TV personality and author of the popular Wine Bible, is coming to Austin for the 25th Annual Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival. Susan and Ed Auler, Founders of the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival, will act as hosts for this dinner, celebrating the Festival’s 25 year anniversary. This exclusive dinner will be held Sunday, April 18th, at 6:30 p.m. at The Carillon in the AT&T Events Center. Proceeds will, in part, benefit The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas.

Only 16 guests will be able to share this memorable evening at the table with Karen, with an outstanding four-course dinner prepared by the Carillon’s acclaimed Executive Chef Josh Watkins.

Reservations (only 16 places/seats are available) are $200/person, including four courses and all wines. Reservations may be made by contacting the Foundation office (512) 327.7555 or pay online by visiting www.winefoodfoundation.org.


MENU

First Course
Warm Artichoke Salad
Fingerling Potatoes, Fennel and Parsley Chips

Second Course
Asparagus Leek Soup
Jonah Crab, Crème Fresh and Lemon Zest

Third Course
Brioche Crusted Rack of Lamb
English Pea Risotto, Whole Grain Mustard, Tomato Confit

Fourth Course
Chocolate Terrine and Lemoncello Gelato
Coriander Cream, Crystallized Cilantro, Caramelized Orange

WINE 101: Brush Up or Send a Friend!

Sip, Taste, Learn.

Every year, The Wine & Food Foundation offers a series of wine education classes through our 'Foundation Academy' program. Classes vary in subject matter and knowledge level, and occasionally include food pairings.

This spring, we're kicking off the Foundation Academy series with WINE 101. As you might expect, this class is designed for those with limited wine experience. Wine Instructor Brenda Audino of Twin Liquors will lead guests through a fun and interactive (read: drinking!) approach to learning the basics of wine. The class will feature six wines (six different varietals!) and focus on things the wine novice might be interested in learning.

How do I taste wine? What are the aromas and flavors to identify? How do I know what to order at a restaurant or what to pick out for dinner at home? How did I read this wine label? (Yes, there are ways to read wine labels other than determining if they are pretty or not!)

WINE 101 will take place at Twin Liquors Marketplace at Hancock Center (1000 E. 41st Street) on Thursday, March 11th. Hors d'oeuvres will be included. Even if you're a wine pro, we find that there's always something to learn about the complex world of wine. WINE 101 is highly recommended as a gift for clients, customers, friends, and family.

WINE 101 Twin Liquors Marketplace (1000 E. 41st Street) Thursday, March 11, 2010 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM $30 Foundation Members, $40 General Public Tickets at (512) 327.7555 or http://www.winefoodfoundation.org/.