Checking IN So As NOT to Lose My Status…

…I think that after a year with NO Check IN’s , you can no longer call yourself a ‘Blogger’, so I thought I should Check In!

That said I have been providing more frequent, but still not regular updates to the GreatQ4U! BBQ Blog as well this Summer ad as we move out of ‘BBQ (Peak) Season’ and into the Fall, we have a LOT Going on for our Personal Chef Clients!  Including our proud introduction of our dealership for the AWESOME Line of SousVide Supreme Water Ovens and SousVide products!  We’ve got LOTS of info on that on the Web Site: www.ChefJimK.com

Additionally, we have a full lineup of BBQ classes (including ‘Whole Hog’) on the Calendar for September which you can read about and sign up online at: www.GreatQ4U.com/BBQ_Classes.html

SO…if you want to eat healthy, easy and with your specific diet in mind…call Chef Jim at 717-682-7703 or E-Mail: Jim@ChefJimK.com 

SEE…that’s why I don’t BLOG Much!  So, I will leave you with THIS:

Good Eatin’!

Jim

Food As A Cultural Bridge!

By, Chef Jim

As many readers may know, in addition to our Personal Chef service, I also oversee operations of a nearly decade old BBQ Catering company.  Additionally, I have been active on the Competition BBQ Circuit as a Team Captain and I am a ‘Certified KCBS BBQ Judge’.  SO…I know a thing or two about slow cooking meats and other stuff (think Cheesecake) over wood flames and smoke.

I bring this up because it was never really my intent to be a Competition BBQ Chef nor a ‘Pitmaster’ in any sense per se, I was simply looking for some great BBQ and there was none to be found in Central PA at the time.  At least, not the kind that I was looking for!  As a tertiary benefit of learning to cook ‘Competition Quality’ BBQ, I also have learned a great deal about the history of American BBQ, which was a dying art when I started MY BBQ journey and has recently experienced an incredible resurgence in popularity thanks to food TV.

Just as with BBQ and many other ‘indigenous’ cuisine styles here in the US, there are many culturally significant, historically important cuisines around the world.  It is a tremendous way to learn about people and their cultures to immerse yourself in the cuisines of their areas.  I spent over a year learning to make a variety of Mole’s from many of Mexico’s regional hot spots for it.  I am still working my way around the spices, seasonings & cooking methods of Morocco and looking forward to my next great adventure which I believe will be India and its curries!

You don’t need a formal agenda or a cooking school to learn about any given cuisine, you simply need a plan!  Do your homework online and find the areas of interest to you.  Read reviews of cookbooks and look for those that are instructional more than simply recipes, pick the best and read through them.  Choose recipes and cook them until you’ve got it dialed in and then onto the next recipe.  Learn about the people who make and eat the food and why it is prepared, seasoned and cooked (if it’s cooked) the way it is!

I have long said that I truly believe the world would be a far better place if we were to all sit down and eat a meal together!  Food is a necessity, yes…but it is a catalyst as well!  It can bring people together and build bridges and there are few better ways to get to know someone than breaking bread with them!

Enjoy your Tuesday and make this a GREAT week!

Back To School Time of Year!

By, Chef Jim

Amazing how fast time flies and how soon the Summer Months pass!  While I REFUSE to hail an end to the Summertime just yet, all the signs of its inevitable arrival are around us!  Kids are going back to school or are getting ready to.  Fall sports and activities have begun their training and schedules are starting to tighten up!  Before you know it, time will be worth more than GOLD for you as your Fall roster fills up!

SO…there’s never been a better time to take advantage of the many benefits that a Personal Chef can offer you!  I know, most folks think it’s a bit of an extravagance to have a ‘Personal Chef’, but truth be told, there’s nothing further from the truth!  You pay folks to mow your grass, or work on your home or do landscaping…why not pay someone to do all or part of your weekly cooking for you?

It all begins with getting to know each and every client personally!  Food is among the most personal things and everyone’s got there preferences!  Additionally, there are a number of conditions from Diabetes to Celiac Disease that may necessitate a special diet…we take the time to fully understand your likes and needs.  THEN, we do all the shopping (where you shop or at one of our ‘specialty sources’), come to your home and prepare meals that you simply heat and eat however you’d like to!  When you look at the time you’d spend doing all of that yourself, the savings can be astronomical, but more importantly it gives you more time to do the things that matter to you!

As if that’s not sweet enough…you can now try us out for ONLY $150 with our new Introductory Offer!  For first time clients, we will provide a free initial consultation and then prepare 4 meals (for up to 4 people) for ONLY $150 plus grocery and container charges.  It’s a GREAT deal and will give us a chance to prove the value that we have to offer you!

For more info, e-mail: Info@ChefJimK.com or visit us online at www.ChefJimK.com for more info about us!  Thanks for reading along, we hope that you make this a GREAT week!

Just Finished Making An AMAZING Grilled Peach Salsa!

By, Chef Jim

Using all home grown and locally purchased ingredients!  In fact, I didn’t really even have to go out of my way to source the incredible ingredients!  As I was on my way home from a brief overnight trip to Baltimore, I stopped by Hollabaugh’s Orchards in Adams County, PA (www.hollabaughbros.com) and picked up some Peaches, Plums, Onions, Beans and more incredibly fresh and beautiful produce!

Making the most of what’s available locally is a great way to save money and to support local producers & businesses!  Without support from the community, family farms are facing increasing pressures from ‘Corporate Growers’ and mass production…SO…wherever you live, find a local farm or farmer’s market and go support them!  It’s a great way to get more connected to your food and it will inspire some GREAT dishes like my Salsa!

I simply Roasted a Peach, Tomato, four Jalapeno Peppers, two small Green Bell Peppers and a bulb of Garlic.  Then I finely diced a 1/4 of a Red Onion and chopped up two unroasted tomatoes, chopping up all the other ingredients however you prefer and then adding them all together with some Balsamic Vinegar, Good Olive Oil, Honey, Ancho Chile Powder, Salt and Pepper to taste…let it sit for 24 hours and then use as a garnish, side or appetizer…easy peasy!

Want To Learn Where To Get The Best…

By, Chef Jim

…whatever you may be looking for?  Central PA is a diverse and agriculturally rich area with access to incredible fresh meats and produce.  Additionally, our Limestone Springs provide nourishment for some incredible Aquaculture operations yielding tasty trout and such!  Our proximity to both the Chesapeake Bay and large seaports in Baltimore and Philadelphia…allows us access to a bounty of fresh and diverse seafood.

If you’ve been looking for a source for a specific ingredient or ‘Special Treat’…such as Oysters, Crabs, Mussels, Sashimi-Grade Seafood, Organic Veggies, Grass Finished Beef…well, you get the point…if you’ve been looking for a source or simply don’t have the time to dedicate to it…we can help!

For nearly 25 years, we have been building relationships with farmers, watermen, suppliers and wholesalers who all have a common bond: a commitment to a quality product!  We can put these relationships to use for you in your search…or if necessary, we can build new relationships…either way, you’re left with the life long benefit of having that ‘go-to source’ that is a perfect fit for you!

For more information about our food consulting options, e-mail: Info@ChefJimK.com or visit us online: www.ChefJimK.com

So, I talk a LOT about Kitchen Knives…

By, Chef Jim

…it’s true!  I have somewhat of a ‘knife thing’ and realize full well that if left stranded on an island full of domestic pigs running around just waiting to become BBQ…chosen correctly, I could survive on a single blade!  Alas…but why?  To each knife there is a purpose…and if not, get it out of your knife block!

Options abound…high quality ‘Department Store Brands’ from the US, Germany and China mostly. The ‘High Dollar Kitchen Store’ versions of the same cutlery, or perhaps some higher quality Japanese steel?  What about Ceramic? I saw all these ‘custom kitchen knife’ makers on the internet…what about them?  Hey…Ming Tsai is selling that Aero knife thingy…..

…OK, so that may be a cheap shot, but I’m not a regular at ‘Blue Ginger’, so I’m not too worried about repercussions!  My point is that it may seem easy to simply buy a $500-$1000 or more ‘Block’ of Kitchen Knives and assume that you’ve got all you need only to wind up with a wasted purchase!  You most likely do NOT need all those knives and you most likely could have gotten a MUCH nicer Chef’s knife for a lot less!

SO…if you ARE thinking a LOT about the most important tool that a chef can wield in the Kitchen and you need some help!  Think about us!  Visit us online: www.ChefJimK.com or e-mail: Info@ChefJimK.com

Chef Jim’s Culinary ‘Excursions’

By, Chef Jim

I am a firm believer that one of the best ways to get to know new people and cultures is through their food!  Having grown up in Pittsburgh, PA during the sixties and seventies I had the great fortune to live in a culinary melting pot!  From the Ukrainian Nut Rolls and Hand Rolled Italian Pasta to the amazing Kibbee of the Middle East and blue collar sammies at Primanti’s!

Our country has grown quickly since then into sub-divisions surrounded by strip malls and ‘box’ restaurants!  It may be easy to think that the culinary diversity that was once so prevalent is gone for good, but alas…it’s NOT!  You’ve just got to know where to look!  Obviously as a premiere BBQ Caterer who’s focus is on paying homage to Eastern North Carolina style ‘Que….we are VERY well versed in the regional BBQ dialects and culinary persuasions and can work to build anything from a quick weekend away to a full blown ‘BBQ Odyssey’!!!  We have the knowledge and ‘connections’ to introduce you to a town, state or whole ‘BBQ Region’ if you’d like!

Not into BBQ?  No problems!  In addition to his years of culinary and Public Safety experience, Chef Jim’s spent some time on the road travelling the roads (LOTS of them) less traveled!  He knows the ‘Food Scene’ in many major US Cities and Regions and can work with you to build a trip that hits the specific areas you’re interested in!  Wine, Craft Beer, Distilleries, Local Producers and Restaurants, Farm to Table, Freshest Sushi Available, Incredible Beef or Bison…no matter your interests, Chef Jim can help!

SO…if you’re looking to do a ‘food centric get away’ and would like to trust it’s planning to someone who will listen to and communicate with you to build a once in a lifetime experience, than let us know…we’re your team!  E-Mail: Info@ChefJimK.com or visit: www.ChefJimK.com

Need Kitchen Related Help? We’re HERE for you!

By, Chef Jim

While the primary role of a Personal Chef is to work with every client to develop custom ‘heat and eat’ meal plans, do the shopping, prepare, pack and label the meals and adjust according to client’s tastes…there is more to it than that!  We strive to offer a ‘full service’ commitment to each and every client!

Thinking about making a major kitchen purchase or learning a new cooking technique?  Whether you’re planning on dropping $1K plus on a Smoker or Grill or even a few hundred dollars on a knife set…we can provide advice, do research and make an objective recommendation!

Speaking of knives, maybe you’re ready to make the leap and buy a set (or a few) ‘Professional Quality’ knives!  Or maybe you’ve already purchased some great cutlery and you would like to learn how to use it?  No matter your needs, we can help you select and probably even let you TRY knifes from the manufacturers that you’re interested in; German, Japanese or even American steel.  We will also come work with you to develop and enhance your knife handling, care and sharpening skills.

Having a family gathering or party of up to 25 folks?  We can provide a professional chef to work with you in your kitchen to prepare and serve a meal or just Appetizers.  Looking to have us provide a complete Full or Limited Catering service for groups of 25 or more?  We can do that too through our Catering Company (www.GreatQ4U.com)

There you have it…looking for ANY kind of help in the Kitchen?  We are here for you! Info@ChefJimK.com or www.ChefJimK.com

We Shop Where You Would Shop!

By, Chef Jim

If that’s what you want!  We understand that many folks are attached to the brands and products available at a ‘specific’ Grocery and as an integral component of our commitment to serving every client as an individual!  If you have a specific place to shop for your gorceries…than that’s where we’ll shop dag nabbit!

If you have ‘specialty’ stores that you prefer, we can work with you to accomodate that as well.  As far as Farmer’s Market’s go…it’s tough for us to reliably shop for ingredients at Farmer’s Markets due to our daily schedules, but we can do our best!

If you are looking for a ‘Specialty’ ingredient or a source for that ingredient, we are more than happy to offer our recommendations or better yet, to source the product for you!  Fresh Seafood from the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and NorthEastern shores, Crawfish from Louisiana…you name it, we’ll find a responsible provider of it! 🙂

SO…as you’re considering the risks and benefits of a personal chef, remember there are no ‘surprises’ with us! Hope you all have a GREAT weekend!

All About the “Boils” – The Basics

Be they Crab, Crawfish, Shrimp, Clam or any combination thereof, add in Red Potatoes, Corn on the Cob and Sausage with just the right spices and you’ve got a party!  We are proud to offer our customers access to incredibly fresh Crawfish, Maryland Blue Claw Crabs, Locally Sourced Clams, Gulf Coast Shrimp and Locally Made Sausage!  We bring it all to you, set up a ‘Pickin Table’, cook it onsite and pour it out on the table for the whole crowd to eat ‘Family Style’!  It’s unique, it encourages discussion and mingling and best of all…it REALLY tastes good!

We begin with the caveat that our ‘Boils’ are best used for groups of 30 folks or less.  (If you’re interested in our Full Service Catering service for larger parties or additional service options, you can visit us at: www.GreatQ4U.com) We’ll work with you to develop a menu that meets your needs, incorporates the freshest ‘in season’ ingredients of your choosing and just basically Kicks A$$!  Then, we’ll stay in contact and make sure that we have all the details correct.  On the day of the party, we’ll show up in plenty of time to set up, cook and serve your ‘Boil’ for you and your guests!  When it’s all done, we’ll even bag up the trash!

No muss, no fuss! While not a tradition that extends back too terribly long into America’s past…the Boil is a gathering that gives a healthy nod to the importance of the American Watermen!  We honor the tradition with traditional technique and a modern commitment to excellence!  For more info, visit www.ChefJimK.com or e-mail; Info@ChefJimK.com – Thanks!