Geneva pastry chef to be inducted into culinary hall of fame
As if it weren't enough that he has three world records under his toque, Geneva pastry chef Alain Roby has achieved yet another milestone.
Roby, owner of the All Chocolate Kitchen, has been named the 2013 Pastry Chef of the Year by the Chicago Culinary Museum and will be inducted into the Chefs Hall of Fame later this year.
“I'm greatly honored to be given this wonderful award and with such great company,” Roby said. “I have been blessed with many amazing opportunities in my life, and am thankful for this recognition.”
Roby, an internationally renown chocolate and sugar artist, will be joined in the hall of fame by chef Paul Kahan (Blackbird, Publican) as Chef of the Year and Lettuce Entertain You founder Richard Melman as Industry Leader. The mission of the Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame is to promote and celebrate Chicago as a culinary mecca. You can drool over some of Roby's record-setting creations at his shop, 33 S. Third St., or sample some of his to-die-for chocolates, pastries and gelato or pick up a copy of his book, “Alain Roby's American Classics: Casual and Elegant Desserts.”
Oh, mama: A chocolate dessert recipe and an essay about your mom can win you and a guest (perhaps mom?!) a day in the kitchen with chef Roby.
All Chocolate Kitchen is holding “The Mother of All Foodies” Contest asking contestants to share their favorite chocolate dessert recipe for a chance to bake with chef Roby himself. But that's not all ... The winner and a guest also will be treated to spa treatments at Beauté by Sylvie, a European Day Spa, 211 James St., Geneva.
To participate, send your best chocolate dessert recipe and a letter on why your mom is the sweetest to info@allchocolatekitchen.com by 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 8. The winner will be notified via email and must be available to share their recipe, enjoy a day at the spa and bake with chef Roby on Saturday, May 11. I'm trying to talk my own sweet sons into entering, though they don't seem too keen on the idea of pedicures.
Tale of two foodies: Please, don't make me choose a favorite when Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert come to town for an evening of food-focused storytelling and insight.
That's right, two of the food world's most provocative and most eye-pleasing chefs will share the stage May 9 at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago when their Good vs. Evil tour comes to town.
Bourdain, award-winning host of Travel Channel's “No Reservations” and “The Layover,” and Ripert, universally acclaimed chef and co-owner of New York's famed Le Bernardin, will share stories and muse on the place of food in our personal, community and global lives. Expect an engaging evening of storytelling and frank insight into what really goes on behind kitchen doors.
Tickets are on sale now and cost $35 to $65. Get tickets at (800) 982-2787, ticketmaster.com or in person at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office, 50 E. Congress Parkway. A limited number of VIP tickets (includes a poster, a meet-and-greet and munchies) also are available.
Tip of the toque: Congratulations to Sanjiv Bhogaraji, a fourth grader at Countryside Elementary School in Barrington. His dish beat out 15 other fruit and vegetable salads to win Sodexo's Future Chefs Challenge. The 16 students who competed over the weekend had been culled from a field of more than 80 recipes. The student had just over an hour to prepare and present their salad to a panel of eight judges — including myself and my son Jerome Gabriel who writes the kids cooking column in Suburban Parent.
It was no easy task but the judges picked Sanjiv's plate of lightly dressed lettuce, cucumber, mango and red onion to win. You can try this refreshing summery salad for yourself as the recipe will be featured next month at Ciao Baby! restaurant in downtown Barrington.
Ÿ Contact Food Editor Deborah Pankey at dpankey@dailyherald.com or (847) 427-4524. Be her friend at Facebook.com/DebPankey.DailyHerald or follow her on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram @PankeysPlate.