When I heard that this year's Hokanson Chef in Residence was celebrity chef Susur Lee, I didn't wait long to purchase tickets for the luncheon offered. Ok, I didn't wait at all, I called the restaurant ASAP! Sold out event for 120 people!
Chef Susur Lee is world renown and he's is Canadian! I have watched him on Top Chef: Masters, where he was a finalist, and have seen him on Iron Chef America.
I was excited to sample his food. As you can see, it's so visually BEAUTIFUL. I was eating with my eyes before I even tasted it. Everything was so very good. Wonderful textures and tastes. My hubby, Mr. Maki (hehe), and I were commenting on how we felt that there were so many different flavor notes. We joked how we now understood how judges on Top Chef and Iron Chef can describe the "symphony of flavors dancing together in harmony" in our mouths.
I have to admit, I was a bit star struck so when he was going around to different tables, I forgot to take a picture of the third course, the dessert! A big THANKS to A Canadian Foodie, who was kind enough to allow me to use her dessert picture above. Thanks so much!
Chef Susur is definitely a sincere, wise soul. Seeing him in person, you can feel his humble and gentle nature.
Stand up chef, stand up food. FANTASTIC experience. Worth every penny and would do it again in an instant.
Lovely photos and wasn't it just a wonderful experience ? Thoroughly enjoyed dining with you both.
ReplyDeleteI love when I go to various events and meet people in person whom I've first met through twitter or blogging. Glad we were at the same table!
ReplyDeleteI am crying right now. I love this man.
ReplyDeleteI had the privilage of eating at Lee.
boohoo
You have no idea how dissapointed I am to have missed this
Well, at least I was able to let you visually eat through pictures today.
ReplyDeleteI know... not the same :(
I wish he spoke more but he was busy, in the kitchen!
Being veg I could have only eaten the dessert and maybe the chickpea stuff. Pretty cool none the less. I had no idea he was a TV star.
ReplyDeleteOne of my vegan cookbooks (from a Toronto restaurant) has a smoothie named after him. I guess he frequents that restaurant a lot
:)
Maki - went to DSLR bootcamp last month and have not had a moment to assimilate my "learning" - well, to learn my teachings. I am planning to start, Monday! Your photos are gorgeous... and I laughed at the comment you and Mr. Maki made about "... the symphony in your mouth."...as my husband and his (our) dear friend (our Tuesday dinner guest) are always critiquing my meals after these shows and they SLAY me. I am with you. Worth every penny of the 50 price, and one could NEVER get a meal like that ANYWHERE else for that price.
ReplyDeleteIt was such fun. I did wish we had the time we had last year, to question and listen to the chef. That was stellar... well, would have been stellar with Chef Lee!
:)
Valerie
cookbookcooks: my hubby ate the lobster. I think I have an allergy to it. I had 1-2 small bites and the back of my throat felt it later. Susur Lee smoothie? I'm sure it's tasty. Uh, that sound, uh, wrong. hehe.
ReplyDeleteValerie: yeah, usually when I do that "symphony in my mouth" critiquing, it comes with a funny voice and a drink in hand.
Good luck on applying the teachings. Practice is what it's about.
maki,
ReplyDeletenice pics!
what i really want to know is did susur ask about me?
ha ha ha
glad you had such a GREAT time...good memories...
cheers
su :)
(susur's NEXT wife)
If I had a chance to speak with him, I would asked my friend, I would have asked :)
ReplyDeletehahaha.
I had already seen the story about this event on Valerie's site... The food indeed looks totally amazing!
ReplyDeleteI was so lucky... I had a skylight above me and the food. Great lighting!!!
ReplyDelete