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

Hunting Camp? Ski Trip? We Can Do It!!!

Wouldn’t THAT be great!  Load up an Extra Cooler or Two and have your meals ready to ‘Heat and Eat’ no matter what the primary heat source in your Camp or Cabin may be!  Just let us know how many folks to cook for, what you’d like to eat and when you’d like it delivered and we’ll do the rest!

SEE…this ‘Personal Chef’ thing is a pretty versatile and SMART option!  We can help no matter what your needs may be!  From a full weekly meal plan to help with Family Gatherings or Holiday Parties to hooking you up with ONE LESS THING TO DO during your next ‘Get Away’!

Looking to see what we can do for you, visit us online at GreatQ4U.net or call us; 717-254-1937

Make the Most of the Markets!

NO….not the Stock Markets….that’s WAY too big of a risk these days!  I’m talking about the Farmer’s Markets…or if you’re lucky enough to live in a City like Lancaster, York or even Philadelphia…the CENTRAL Markets!  – I know…it’s WINTER…there’s snow on the ground…what could I be talking about???

I’m talking about a number of things actually;

• Buying Local! – Vendors at local ‘Markets’ typically are largely representing local businesses, farms and producers!  Not only does this keep as few miles between you and your food as possible,(reducing its ‘Carbon Footprint’ too!) it helps to keep your MONEY in the local economy…which will save you having to drive to a MALL some day to get all your stuff from big BOX stores!
• Buying Fresh! – Local markets typically feature LOTS of fresh stuff!  From produce and protiens to Baked Goods and other stuff like hand made sausages or fresh ground spices…it’s amazing the difference that fresh makes! Much better than stuff that was flown in, held in ‘ripening’ rooms and then trucked to your local Mega-Mart!
• Learn About Your Food! – Markets typically give you ‘face time’ with the source!  You can ask questions about what those Chickens or Cows ate, learn where that Broccoli came from and how it was grown or perhaps get some tips about what to do with it!  You’ll learn about how those fish were caught and whether or not that Shrimp travelled the whole way from Indonesia…or if they were caught right here in the USA!

OK…I could go on and on, but assume that you get the point!  If you have a “Market” of any kind close to where you live…begin to get in the ‘habit’ of visiting it on a regular basis!  It may take some practice…and you may have to adjust your schedule to accomodate ‘Market Hours’, but the benefits FAR outweigh any temporary inconveniences that you may have to endure.

Mark Twain said, “Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.”  I would suggest that you should break the habit of the BIG grocers and find your way back to the local guys!

Reflecting on the ‘Locavore’ Movement

As a caterer and chef, I am truly committed to sourcing as many ingredients as possible from local producers!  We are truly fortunate to live in the middle of very fertile farmland that produces everything from incredible milk and dairy products to farm fresh veggies and that’s not to mention the many orchard and vineyard growers that benefit from the terrain of the area.

My wife and I travel frequently through Adams County and routinely take advantage of the many fresh fruit & vegetable stands and shops, we LOVE our nearly weekly trips to Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum (and Candy Shop) on Rt. 30 in Orrtanna and while there we love to visit the Adams County wineries that we pass along the way!  SO…with all of this goodness right in our own backyard, why purchase from anywhere else?

Well, as much as I love to purchase locally and then tell the stories of the products, I am also keenly aware that Central PA doesn’t have ALL the good stuff available to folks who just love food!  By confining your menu to all locally sourced ingredients, you automatically limit the truly great products available from other areas!  When I think of the incredible cheeses (especially blue veined) that I’ve tasted from Seymour Dairies in Wisconsin and the heavy tannins on my tongue from a nice BIG Cabernet from Napa or the Dry Creek Valley Zins….I can’t help but realize that there are a LOT of folks all over the country who are producing incredible quality!  More examples; Bourbon Barrel Foods in Louisville, KY who are making some REALLY cool stuff that they can produce simply because of their proximity to the ‘Bourbon Trail’, Edward’s Hams in Surry Virginia who does it the way they’ve been doing it since before the US was a country…the Savannah Bee Company and their Award Winning Honey selections…although we’ve got some GREAT honey producers right here in Central PA too!  I could go on and on….

BUT, I’ll spare you the many details and encourage you to hunt down some artisanal products made by folks who are passionate about their crafts, no matter where they’re from!  My goal is ALWAYS to put as few miles between you and the ingredients on your plate, but when someone does it right wherever they are…I am a huge fan of quality ingredients!

ANY diet can include diversity!

I get the questions all the time…I have this or that condition and my diet has to be ‘bland’!  No it doesn’t!  No matter what your tastes or dietary requirements are, you can enjoy a wide variety of foods and spices to liven up your taste buds! 

If you aren’t so adventurous in the ‘Spice’ category, your flavors can come from the unique tastes of locally grown veggies or proteins!  Grass finished Beef has a discernibly different taste, locally raised heritage hogs actually taste like PORK and Hormone & Antibiotic Free Chickens are much different than those ‘boneless, skinless’ chicken breasts in the grocer’s fridge!

How about fresh Heirloom tomatoes that look and taste much different than those your used to seeing at the store?  There is much more to squash than the Zucchini and Yellow varieties that are so prevalent in today’s markets.  Consider adding some of the many different greens that are now locally grown and sourced, Mustard, Collard and of course fresh baby Spinach!

We also know our spices and ethnic cuisines very well and make a concerted effort to find unique products that represent the best that America’s got to offer!  For example, we can provide artisanal blue and gorgonzola cheeses that are made in Wisconsin by Seymour Dairy Products or perhaps the entire line of VERY unique and tasty products from Bourbon Barrel Foods in Kentucky…like their ‘Small Batch’ Bourbon Barrel Aged Soy Sauce that is simply INCREDIBLE!

SO…no matter what your tastes or diet, we’ll listen to you, make suggestions and work together to prepare meals that you and your whole family will LOVE to eat!  For more info, visit us online at; GreatQ4U.net or give us a call: 717-254-1937