So, my weekend in San Diego was exciting to say the least!
Meeting up with some blog friends, hanging out in a beautiful city like San Diego, and getting geared up for a cook-off. What could be better than that?
It truly was a very fun experience and one that I will not forget. I’m going to share all about the cook-off in this post and then I’ve got more to share about San Diego, the city and the BlogHer 11 conference, so I’ll do more posts on both of those soon. I can definitely understand why residents of CA love this city so much. The climate, the scenery, the water, oh it is all beautiful! I could get used to 75 and sunny every day. With no humidity. Oh yeah, I could! Thanks for all the suggestions to visit Coronado Island. That was one of the best things I did! Can’t wait to share all of that too!
Back to the cook-off! It was scheduled for around Noon on Saturday and everything was ready for us. We went up to the big kitchen in the San Diego Convention Center to get ready for our big debut in front of everyone. This is 7 of the 8 of us who were participating in the Knorr cook-off.
There was plenty of activity going on in the kitchen as these chefs were prepping for the Knorr booth cooking demos that were going on for 2 days.
Those guys were really nice and didn’t mind us coming in and taking over their space. I cooked my chicken breast in some water and got it ready to debone.
We each had our own little station in the kitchen, waiting for our time to go down to the booth to get started. The Knorr booth was just that, a booth in the BlogHer expo and it was close quarters for cooking. We each had a hot plate to cook on.
Prepped and waiting. I really wasn’t nervous at all. I figured I’d do my best and try to win and I would be happy if I did.
We made the trek down to the Expo hall to get started. Those 2 cute girls on the front row (right) are my blog friends Monica (who did a great recap on being a BlogHer newbie) and Heather. They were so sweet and watched the whole time, cheering me on and using my camera to take pics. That’s how I got all these pics! Thanks girls, ya’ll were great cheerleaders!
Ready to get started. My chicken was already cooked, so all I had to do was make sure my dumplings got rolled out right. I even brought my own flour, un-bleached all purpose from Kroger.
The left side of the stage, with links to their recipes:
Sydney – Crepes of Wrath
Carrian – Sweet Basil
Mandy – M Cubed
and ME!
Right side of the stage:
Amanda – What We’re Eating
Jan – A Little Glimpse
Tresa – Reese Dixon
Danielle – Daisy, Just Daisy
Good photo op to pose with the rolling pin, a very important tool in my recipe. They had all our requested items ready for us, thank goodness. I would have hated to have to pack a rolling pin!
Name tags and recipe name. I should have brought this home.
Rolling and cutting the dumplings.
I had a large square butcher block to roll them out on and it worked out fine.
Chef Einav Gefen walked around and chatted with us as we were cooking, taking questions from the audience too.
It really wasn’t bad at all and surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous.
Putting in all the dumplings one by one. That is the most time consuming part of it all, dropping in the dumplings. It is definitely a must, to drop them in one or 2 at a time. That part took about 10 minutes to get them all in the broth.
There were photographers all around taking pics as we cooked.
Celebrity chef and youngest man to ever win 3 coveted Michelin stars, chef Marco Pierre White, from England has been a spokesperson for Knorr for many years and he was at the show cooking demos for Knorr, as well as acting judge for our competition too. He was one of 4 judges putting our dishes to the taste test. I felt really good when he came by and asked what I was making. When I said chicken and dumplings, he replied in that wonderful English accent, “I love chicken and dumplings.”
Well, alrighty then, I think we will get along just fine! 🙂 Plus, he’s really cute too.
Chef Marco grabbed the spoon and started tasting my broth. I do think he liked it.
We got the chance to chat it up as others were finishing their dishes and my dumplings were simmering away. He had mentioned to me that he loves simple cooking.
What a treat to have a world-renowned chef hanging out with us. Of course, I couldn’t help but wonder at first what a real chef would think about our family recipe of old-fashioned chicken and dumplings, but after he made that comment to me early on, I felt pretty confident that he would love my dish.
Stirring the pot one more time and then as Chef Marco suggested, I simply left my chicken and dumplings in the pot instead of plating them to get cold. Great idea! In fact, I didn’t get a pic of this, but Chef Marco had me hand my pot back to him and he dished up my chicken and dumplings in a pretty orange Le Creuset pot which looked better in the pics and presentation.
At this point, all the dishes went on the table and the tasting began!
We all stood around for a few minutes watching them taste our dishes and then wandered off until later when the 4 finalists would be announced. It was exhilarating and exciting all at once.
We were told to come back by 3 pm to do individual video interviews with Knorr and then they would announce the 4 winners. I hope to have the video to show to you soon! I’m SO not used to talking on camera, but they said I did great.
We’ll see!
We all gathered back in the Knorr booth for the final 4 announcement and I was absolutely thrilled to hear my name called. I’m very excited to be representing Knorr. We will all be ambassadors for Knorr products, which I am happy to do. I love their products. This chicken concentrate is the best stuff and we will definitely be using it again.
So, that’s the cook-off day! It was fun, exciting, and I’m honored to have WON the final four! Thanks for hanging with me and for all of your support along the way.
Here are the other 3 in the Knorr 4:
Amanda – What We’re Eating
Sydney – Crepes of Wrath
Carrian – Sweet Basil
Congrats to the lucky winner of the Mirror Mate giveaway, she is Amy with Flirting with Design! Congrats, Amy!
If you didn’t win and wish to try out one of these fab mirror frames, Mirror Mate is offering all my readers a 10% discount:
Coupon code is SOUTHERN and is for 10% off. The coupon is good from now until 9.13.11.
Judy Clark says
Rho:
Congratulations! I love the sign that says Iris’ chicken and dumplings. What a wonderful tribute to your Mom. I am so proud of you.
Judy
Sarah says
Hurray to making the final four!!!
I recognise that *famous* chef…he is on the Knorr adverts here I am sure of it.
There are a lot of English accents by the way…just like American ones. I think he has the more *traditional* what people think of as English accent!
jane @ The Borrowed Abode says
Woohoo! Congrats again! I would have been nervous as all getout up there, but you look so calm!
Janette@the2seasons says
Thanks for the recap. I was excited just reading it, and I think the chef might have had a little crush on you. You go, girl!
Lauren says
Rhoda, this is awesome!! So excited for you to have had this opportunity and to win! You looked great cooking, too 🙂
Deb says
Go, Rhoda, go Rhoda! Congrats! Cant’ wait to see the rest of your posts on Blogher and Knorr Cooking Contest!
Pat@Back Porch Musings says
Rhoda, I cannot tell you how proud of you I am. I am happy to have known you all these years, going back to before the land of blog. One thing that has impressed me about you and especially over the past year, is your wonderful attitude about life. You are a true inspiration!! There are many who could learn so much from you.
I am working on a tablescape to publish. I intend to link back to this post and would love to add the picture of you holding the pot lid, looking up at the chef. What a fabulous shot! You absolutely shine in that photo! I hope to publish this afternoon, so if you don’t mind, I will add the photo.
All the best my friend!!
Kristi @ Creative Kristi says
So proud of you girl!! 🙂 I hope you will be making some to bring to Haven so I can taste it 😉 lol I have never had chicken & dumplings so I am 100% positive that yours will be the best I’ve ever had! hehe
Arlene @At Home with the Grimms says
Great Job Rhoda!!!
Andrea Baumhardt says
This looks like an extremely stressful competition. I’m so happy for you! You must be so thrilled and proud. Congratulations! This is quite an accomplishment. I am not an avid cook, so I appreciaite all efforts into a cooking challenege. And you looked loevely while doing it, too! Good job! Andrea @ townandprairie
Ricki Jill Treleaven says
Congrats, Rhoda! You look absolutely adorable in the kitchen set. Too, too cute!!!! 😀
Christine Pleiman says
Congratulations on your win! You’re recipe sounds so great. I am waiting for a cool fall Saturday to try this out with my family. Will have to be a weekend when my oldest is home from college since he LOVES chicken and dumplings!
Deborah Whaley says
Hello~ Congratulations on your Knorr cooking win! I have been following you for about two weeks now and want you to know that I so very much enjoy your blog! In fact I have recommended your blog to my friends. What I love best is the fact that you have wisdom that comes from living and a sense of self that comes from being “of a certain age” ! I love your design esthetics and the ideas for taking something used and giving it a second life. As a designer myself I appreciate your ideas and look forward to your blog post every day! Thanks! PS I grew up in southern California and moved to beautiful Virginia 7 years ago I GET what you say about humidity!
diane says
Wow…congrats on winning. And so glad you loved my home of San Diego. My best friend lives in Coronado and it really is one of the best spots in San Diego to visit (little too crowded with tourists during the summer to live there) And, yes, the weather is usually like that! I hope this win is an indication that the upcoming year will be a better one for you. Just proves that all things happen for a reason!
Debra @ Bungalow says
The pictures tell us all that you have that star quality! I can’t wait for more pictures.
Pat was right, you holding the pot lid and talking to chef is a great shot! Congrats/xxxx/oooo
Debbie L. says
Rhoda! My goodness I got all teary eyed looking at these pictures. I loved the picture of you looking up at Chef Marco. You seemed so relaxed and doing a such a fine job.
I am so proud of you. You are my hero of inspiration to venture out and try new things. Well done:)
Crepes of Wrath says
Thanks for posting all these photos! I didn’t get to bring my camera, so I have none! Congrats to you on winning! 🙂 It was great to meet you!
Becky in 'Bama says
unfortunately I have a gluten allergy (for 30 years now) and I cannot eat your yummy dish, but I so enjoyed reading about it and it conjures up my memories of eating dumplings when I was growing up in rural Alabama. Keep it up Rhoda – you are taking me to places I’ll never see but loving it for you. 🙂
Dianne says
CONGRATULATIONS! I can’t believe how calm and collected and lovely you look. Just cooking in front of a crowd as if you always do it. And then to have a world-renowned chef come and speak to you while cooking;) WOW! You go girl!!!
Talia says
Congratulations! You look so relaxed and like you were really enjoying the experience. Good for you. I’d have been a bundle of nerves.
Well done! I am so very thrilled for you! 🙂