PA Baker
Master Chef
Last night, DH and I attended the inaugural gala for the PA governor. What an amazing experience! What made it more exciting (probably only for me
) was that as we entered there was a sign saying that Food Network was going to be taping a segment. I'm not sure what show--it's been awhile since we've watched much tv around here because of Sofie, but there was another sign that said something about the one food station being filmed for a Chef's Challenge.
Anyway, it was a black tie affair, with about 3,000 people in attendance. We were able to get more dressed up that we have in years! The first two hours were a concert, featuring such a huge variety of performers--gospel choirs, the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Tramps, Mike Reid (a prolific songwriter who's written all sorts of famous songs, including I Can't Make You Love Me), Monica Mancini (Henry Mancini's daughter) and even Jon Bon Jovi who performed a duet with our first lady.
The food was a wide variety. Governor Rendell is an infamous junk-food junkie so they had cheese steaks from Pat's King of Cheese steaks in Philly, a sausage sandwich from his favorite greasy spoon here in Harrisburg, Yocco's hot dogs (famous in eastern PA). But then there also was an amazing carving station, great crudettes, and the station that I think was being featured by Food Network which was serving wonderful food made with ingredients native to PA--apples, mushrooms and venison. I'm not a venison fan usually, but these things were wonderful. We sampled a venison, raisin and apple sausage baked in philo dough, spicy venison wontons, an individual pizza with mushrooms and goat cheese on puff pastry, jumbo shrimp stuffed with venison and mushrooms and wrapped in bacon, and some part of venison (DH said if you're not sure but it tastes good, don't ask! )wrapped around steamed asparagus and a slice of mushrooms.
The dessert table was huge, but we were awfully full by then. I had a mini eclair, cheesecake, a great mini fruit tart and an amazing hazelnut tort that had about 8 very thin, delicate layers of hazelnut mousse, chocolate cake and some sort of luscious cream. OK, we weren't that full by then!
So I guess you'll have to keep an eye out for PA on the Food Network!
) was that as we entered there was a sign saying that Food Network was going to be taping a segment. I'm not sure what show--it's been awhile since we've watched much tv around here because of Sofie, but there was another sign that said something about the one food station being filmed for a Chef's Challenge.Anyway, it was a black tie affair, with about 3,000 people in attendance. We were able to get more dressed up that we have in years! The first two hours were a concert, featuring such a huge variety of performers--gospel choirs, the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Tramps, Mike Reid (a prolific songwriter who's written all sorts of famous songs, including I Can't Make You Love Me), Monica Mancini (Henry Mancini's daughter) and even Jon Bon Jovi who performed a duet with our first lady.
The food was a wide variety. Governor Rendell is an infamous junk-food junkie so they had cheese steaks from Pat's King of Cheese steaks in Philly, a sausage sandwich from his favorite greasy spoon here in Harrisburg, Yocco's hot dogs (famous in eastern PA). But then there also was an amazing carving station, great crudettes, and the station that I think was being featured by Food Network which was serving wonderful food made with ingredients native to PA--apples, mushrooms and venison. I'm not a venison fan usually, but these things were wonderful. We sampled a venison, raisin and apple sausage baked in philo dough, spicy venison wontons, an individual pizza with mushrooms and goat cheese on puff pastry, jumbo shrimp stuffed with venison and mushrooms and wrapped in bacon, and some part of venison (DH said if you're not sure but it tastes good, don't ask!
)wrapped around steamed asparagus and a slice of mushrooms.The dessert table was huge, but we were awfully full by then. I had a mini eclair, cheesecake, a great mini fruit tart and an amazing hazelnut tort that had about 8 very thin, delicate layers of hazelnut mousse, chocolate cake and some sort of luscious cream. OK, we weren't that full by then!
So I guess you'll have to keep an eye out for PA on the Food Network!
