Thought For Food | Jaden's Steamy Kitchen

I can pick up raw peanuts with my toes and fling them pretty far...

Got this in my email inbox today:

FOOD NETWORK IS LOOKING FOR AMAZING STORIES FOR A GROUNDBREAKING NEW SERIES!!!

Do you or someone you know have an amazing food related story to tell? Do you know someone who has gone from being homeless to the owner of their own restaurant, makes pop art out of pineapples, or eats nothing but peanuts? Do you know someone who is battling food fears or phobias? Has food helped to cure an illness, changed the course of your life, or helped to inspire you in some dramatic way? We are looking for all types of stories even those that are odd or humorous to feature on and upcoming series for the Food Network.

Casting is underway, so Email a brief description of your story with your contact information and picture of yourself ASAP to michaelraptis@alroker.com or call 646.XXX-XXXX to be considered for the show. [edit: email me if you want the phone number...i left it out so poor michael raptis wouldn't be inundated with phone calls from silly blog readers!]

Oh my. Has Food Network run out of show ideas??

My dear readers, I want to hear about your strange/odd/nasty/disgusting food story. The type of stuff that may require therapy. Wouldn't it be funny if the show will include an "intervention" to HEAL THY FOOD DEMONS INSIDE! ;-)

But tell me! Post some funny show ideas!

April 16th, 2008 in Thought for Food |

How this food adventure all started...

So, you curious about how I started teaching cooking classes? It wasn't that long ago, 3 years ago to be exact. While this published in my weekly food column in Tampa Tribune, I wanted to share the column with you guys here on the blog as well. The point of sharing how I started is because I know many of you would LOVE to have a food related career, whether it's food writing, food photography, food blogging, teaching classes or maybe even owning your own restaurant. And hey, if I can do it without any formal culinary training (psssst...I've never even worked in a restaurant before either), anyone can.

Or, in other words, to borrow from great master, Martin Yan, "If ~~Yan~~ Jaden can cook! You can too!"

btw, in the paper, I'm limited to 650 words (which includes the recipe), and I have so much more to say than just these 650 words! So, first the text from the column, and then more from me afterwards:

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March 19th, 2008 in Uncategorized |

Comin' to L.A. + Sharing Food Porn Secrets

Sometimes, I feel like life isn't fair.

and then...I play with Photoshop. All of the sudden, all is right in the world again.

Except there is way too much space btw his head and mine.

Well, it turns out that I'm not only one degree from Justin Timberlake, but get this. I'm ONE DEGREE FROM DAVID BECKHAM.

See that lucky girl above? NO, not me, the one in the first photo. That's Tina. She owns Epicurean Culinary School in Los Angeles. Becks was at her school. Now, I don't remember if he was there taking a class, shooting a commercial or just making out with Tina in the back room, but he was there at the school.

And I too will be there next month teaching 2 classes! All you Los Angelitos - I want to meet you!

Both classes are small, intimate, hands-on cooking classes. Meaning, I teach you how to cook in Epicurean's studio kitchen. Each class holds 15, so if you'd like to participate, give the school a call and reserve your spot. Last December when I taught two classes, both were sold out. By the way, if you took the December classes, these new classes are entirely different menus.

Oh, and one more thing...I'm teaching the Southeast Asian II class with RasaMalaysia!

Class Schedule

Epicurean Culinary Academy - 2 blocks away from the Beverly Center
Epicurean School of Culinary Arts
8500 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(310) 659-5990

April 17: Asian Party Food: Great dishes for easy summertime entertaining
Vietnamese Fresh Summer Rolls with Cashew Nut Dipping Sauce
Minced Chicken in Cool Lettuce Cups with Crispy Noodles
Korean Bulgogi Spiced Burger Bar
Fresh Lemongrass Ginger Ale

April 19: Southeast Asian II
Lemongrass Chicken & Coconut Soup
Malaysian Chili Shrimp
Vietnamese Fragrant Crispy Chicken Wings
Vegetable Pad Thai

okokokok! so, I've got a new food photography feature to share with you...basically I'm sharing some of food porn secrets!....

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March 18th, 2008 in Uncategorized |

Doodlepad gone mad

This is what happens whenkids with wild imaginations learn to draw stick figures. The one on the right was drawn by Nathan...he says, "Daddy has long legs!"

And then Andrew drew me. All these years of changing diapers, nurturing, feeding, loving, encouragement, teaching, PATIENCE...and all he sees in me is 2 tits the size of beach balls!?!?!

I love it.

come see what my sister-in-blog, Veronica, is making....

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March 16th, 2008 in Uncategorized |

Size DOES Matter.

I'm not on the front page, thankfully. But I am in the food section!

This is my debut as a weekly columnist in the Tampa Tribune newspaper! I'll be in there once a week with a "Steamy Kitchen" column.

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March 12th, 2008 in Uncategorized |

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