Giada de Laurentis in Toronto for the Chef's Challenge

Yesterday I was invited to go to a Press Conference with Giada de Laurentis the California based Celebrity Chef and mini mogul.  I mean mini because she is a teeny tiny chef who looks like she doesn't have to be surrounded by food all day.   This mini mogul has written many cookbooks with the current one called "Giada's Feel Good Food which is geared to all of the healthy practices, tips and recipes that she uses in her life, including yoga, packing tips and other things she does to keep herself healthy and fit.

She is in town this weekend to be the Head Judge for the "Chef's Challenge" - The Ultimate Battle for a Cure 2014.  An event that has amateur fundraising cooks paired up with some celebrity Chefs like Mark McEwan, David Rocco and Vikram Vij to compete against each other in teams with some random ingredients revealed to them on the day of the competition.  This is the 4th year of this event and Giada got involved after speaking with her friend Bobby Flay about his experience hosting it last year.  It is being held at the Toronto Congress Centre on Saturday, Feb 8th.  (today) as I write this.  and the proceeds of this event will go towards Research of women's Cancer diseases for Mount Sinai Hospital.

Giada has personal family experience with Cancer and wants to take this opportunity to "give back" as she puts it.

The press conference was held at the Hazelton Hotel in their screening room with a select group of mostly food bloggers like myself.  It was an intimate space where we were allowed to ask her questions.  I asked her if she thought chef's were going to far mixing too many different ingredients to think outside of the box.  Her reply was that she thinks there are chefs that use too many ingredients and she thinks that more than 8 ingredients is too much.  She thinks that food should be "clean" as she referred to it and she also thinks it's hard to make things that are made simple with a few ingredients and made well.  She thinks that the food gets muddy when you mix too many things.  At the Challenge she is looking to see things that we all know with a twist like chicken parmigiana with grilled chicken or some other twist.  She said that if anyone knows her they will know the flavours she likes.  Hint: She is partial to citrus flavour if anyone is reading this that is participating today.

She also chatted about her book and her busy life trying to keep up with her tv shows, her products and endorsements, her family and she is now opening a restaurant in Las Vegas that is a huge new venture for her.  She says she has to take care of herself so that she can keep up with her busy travel schedule and hectic life where she finds she must multi task all the time to keep up.

Giada is the first woman chef to open a restaurant on the Las Vegas strip and also the only restaurant that will be located in a small boutique hotel which was a 2 story parking garage which she will convert to indoor and outdoor seating.  She said this was the only one of it's kind on the Vegas Strip.

She is a powerhouse chef with many things in the air.  She said she hasn't been to Canada very much but we hope that she can find the time to come back again a lot more in the future.   Maybe a restaurant in Canada one day??  Who knows what's next for this busy chef. @gdelaurentis

Get your foodie self to the Delicious Food Show this week.

ATTENTION ALL FOODIES!!!!    You want to go to the Better Living Centre this weekend!            I'm excited to see Martha Stewart attend the show.  She was one of my early inspirations for converting things from good to great.            I will be there to sample all the great food and see some of my favourite Celebrity Chefs. The 2013 Delicious Food Show (DFS13) brings Canada’s food community together under one roof this coming Friday, October 25th to Sunday, October 27th. From coast-to-coast, leaders of the nation’s culinary landscape will be showcased, sipped, and sampled. Even the most discerning gourmands won’t be able to argue with these numbers… let’s have a look: Over 80 gourmet food products and services. 38 mouth-watering restaurants and bakeries. 15 innovative kitchen gadget and appliance brands. 25 hands-on workshops and classroom lessons. 8 book signings. 7 alcohol offerings. 6 Canadian celebrity chefs.4 taco wizards. 3 on-stage culinary battles. 2 expert sugar stars. 1 massive Mexican fiesta and, of course, the Queen of lifestyle living.     MUST-SEE FEATURES Food Trucks for Sinai  Food trucks have taken over Toronto! Five of the city’s top mobile kitchens roll their way onto the show floor to serve up a tasty menu amidst hundreds of exhibitors and raise funds for an incredible cause. You’ll find a variety of dishes for $10 from Buster’s Sea Cove(famous lobster rolls), the health conscious Gourmet Bitches, fiery BritsFeisty Jack, Latin sensation Gourmet Gringos (fabulous fish tacos), and the sandwich dictator himself Fidel Gastro. A portion of the Food Trucks for Sinai sales will be donated to Mount Sinai Hospital, in support of support life-saving work in care and research in women’s cancers.  View the Vibe Visit eight of the city's most popular restaurants in the interactive View the Vibe Food + Drink Lounge. Each is offering bites of utter bliss, from burger barons Holy Chuck Burgers to Darwin Bistro Bar's finessed French-influenced fare, to Eastern European edibles fromCzehoski. The spacious View the Vibe Food + Drink Lounge is replete with an eye-catching video wall showing off the coolest restaurant vibes in the city, and, of course, Evolution Wines by Macedo to wash down all the amazing eats.   Cheese + Cheers What will you find at Cheese + Cheers? A match made in heaven. The Dairy Farmers of Canada, CHEESEWERKSand Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company have joined forces to put together one unforgettable stop featuring legendary grilled cheeses, craft beer and more grilled cheeses. Perfect for the lactose-intolerant-intolerant! Sample and shop local Ontario cheese for an experience that as rich and creamy as the as one could ever hope for. Cheers! GE Café Classrooms The forum for which all of your culinary queries can be answered, learn from experts in a variety of fields set in The Dining Room, a theatre-style classroom and The Chef’s Table, a hands-on workshop. Both spaces are outfitted with GE Café appliances that offer the look and feel of modern stainless steel restaurant kitchen. Topics include: Tea Cocktails Fondue Fun Homemade Marshmallows Sandwich Smackdown Healthy Swaps Wine Awakenings The Food Network Celebrity Kitchen presented by The Home Depot Canada (#FNCelebKitchenbyHD) *Please note: schedule subject to change   103.9 Proud FM radio host and DFS13 Celebrity Kitchen Host, Mike Chalut kicks off each of the following presentations with high-energy charm, as he introduces the celebrity chefs and presenters, and leads contests and giveaways valued at more than $10,000 over the three-day event.   Friday 12pm – Chuck Hughes presented by Caesarstone, Host of Chuck’s Week Off Learn how to make a cheesy mushroom melt, mackerel, salsa verde, plum cake, vanilla ice cream & more   2pm – Martha Stewart presented by The Home Depot Canada, Martha Stewart Living Three scrumptious cakes from Martha Stewart’s new, 80th book, Cakes   4pm – Mark McEwan presented by The Hudson’s Bay Company, Head Judge on Top Chef Canada Fabbrica-inspired dishes including flattened Cornish hen, cauliflower puree, grilled corn, and risotto   6pm – Rose Reisman presented by Piller’s, Art of Living Well Sample chicken & sausage-filled paella and Mediterranean quinoa   7-10pm – Opening Night Party: Fiesta Delicioso  Let the party begin!   Saturday 11am – Michael Smith presented by AIR MILES, Host of Chef at Home Indulge your inner Italian with a demonstration featuring three kinds of pasta   1pm – Lynn Crawford, Host of Pitchin’ In Experience the making of a classic breakfast sandwich: the Croque Madame               3pm – Brian Gluckstein presented by The Hudson’s Bay Company, Interior Designer at Gluckstein Design and Product Designer at Gluckstein Home Hear from Brian alongside industry experts, Bill Fulghum, Arren Williams, and Lynn Crawford as they discuss décor    4:30pm – Mini Chef’s Challenge Pre-Battle In advance of Mount Sinai’s largest fundraiser, Chef’s Challenge, watch the four leading fundraisers compete for the chance to cook with Giada De Laurentiis at the main event in February 2014 (www.chefschallengeforacure.com)   5:30pm – Tom Filipou, Executive Chef President’s Choice  Take notes as Chef Tom presents PC Black Label’s Nero di Seppia Spaghetti with Clams – easily re-created at home after a trip to Loblaws             Sunday 11am – Caspar Haydar and Antonella Grillone, Co-Stars of SugarStars  Donuts don’t have to be fried! Learn how to bake them for a healthier alternative; next, sweet table essentials   1pm – Nadia G, Host of Bitchin’ Kitchen Expect a rock’n’roll hour full of pasta, puff pastry, & of course, cocktails – grapefruit spicy maple mojitos to be exact   3pm – David Rocco, Host of Dolce Vita Known for simple & fun food, David will start with mixed vegetable pakoras, share his recipe for mutton ragu & more   4pm – Abbey’s Kitchen Stadium Finals  The final round of Abbey Sharp’s Iron-Chef-inspired culinary battle between Toronto-based chefs  Show Information Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place – 195 Princes’ Blvd, Toronto Ontario, M6K 3C3 Friday, October 25, 2013 - 11am to 10pm Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 10am to 7pm Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 10am to 6pm   Admission Adult (ages 18+) Online - $20 Adult (ages 18+) At Door - $22 Senior (ages 65+) - $18 Student (ages 13-17) - $10 Group Admission (10 people or more) - $15   About the Delicious Food Show sponsored by Food Network Canada The Delicious Food Show, returning for its sophomore year to the Better Living Centre in Toronto, Canada from October 25-27, 2013. The Delicious Food Show is a 3-day culinary event, designed specifically for food-lovers, showcasing the best in food, cooking and entertaining. Sample, sip, and purchase the hottest new products from hundreds of exhibitors. Experience live cooking demos, tastings, and hands-on workshops. Attend presentations and book signings hosting world-renowned culinary genii on the Food Network Celebrity Kitchen presented by The Home Deport, including Martha Stewart, Chuck Hughes, Nadia G, Michael Smith, Mark McEwan, David Rocco, Rose Reisman, Brian Gluckstein, and more. Get ready to sauté, sizzle and simmer the weekend away!   Follow DFS on Twitter: @DeliciousShow Instagram: @deliciousfoodshow And Pinterest: DeliciousShow Like DFS on Facebook: Delicious Food Show #DFS13 #FNCelebKitchenbyHD And visit the official website at www.deliciousfoodshow.com