Jamie Oliver

Dario Cecchini to Prepare Special Five Course Meal at Mario Batali's Del Posto

Filed under: Dining

On Monday, January 24th, Mario Batali's Del Posto restaurant in Manhattan will feature a unique five course meal specially prepared by by Dario Cecchini, world famous butcher and chef, who will travel from Italy for the event.

"Dario is the Maserati of butchers, the Bob Dylan of the Tuscan cow, the Jimi Hendrix of juiciness," an enthusiastic Batali told Luxist. "There is not one person more integrally involved in the true Italian beef experience than this single heroic figure. He can recite Dante and sing Verdi while taking a half a cow down to individual portions in an hour."

Often referred to as the "Michelangelo of Meat", Cecchini has a unique philosophy of respect for each and every part of the animal. He works with whole animals, beef and pork, utilizing each cut to its greatest potential, transforming what some might regard as lesser cuts into tasty dishes. Dario's consideration for the entire animal follows his family's traditions-they've been butchers for over 250 years, and at home they prepared the cuts that clients weren't interested in.

Cecchini's passion, hospitality and expertise have won him recognition from the likes of Alice Waters, Anthony Bourdain, Jamie Oliver and Prince Charles. His butcher shop, Antica Macelleria Cecchini and restaurants Solociccia, Officina della Bistecca and Dario+ in the Panzano village of Chianti, Italy, are well-known culinary destinations for food-lovers from all over the world.

The evening on January 24 will begin with a cocktail reception from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm featuring Del Posto Executive Chef Mark Ladner's selection of passed assaggi (hors d'oeuvres), Bellinis and Fontodi Chianti.

Guests will be seated at 8:00 pm in the Piemonte room at Del Posto for the five course meal.

Gallery: Mario Batali's Del Posto

A view of the interior of Del Posto from the lounge

Tags: Alice Waters, Anthohy Bourdain, Dario Cecchini, Del Posto, dining, dining out, Jamie Oliver, Mario Batali, Mark Ladner, Prince Charles

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Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver Take Eel Off The Menu

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Chefs Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver are making a menu change. They both served European eel at some of their restaurants while taking part in campaigns to highlight overfishing and have been called out as fish hypocrites. European eel was listed as an endangered species in 2008 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. After being contacted by The Sunday Times both chefs removed the eel from their restaurant menus. There is some controversy over whether or not the eel is endangered but Greenpeace has said the population has declined dramatically and that it is in danger due to pollution in the water. The unagi freshwater eel served in sushi restaurants is also on the Monterey Bay Aquarium avoid list because although it is mostly farmed the young are captured in the wild.

The Dutch Eel company, which has supplied both chefs, posted an open letter on its website saying in part that it feels that the eel is not in danger at this time. The Dutch Eel company does use farmed fish and other sustainable means of procuring its eels.

Ramsay recently appeared on an English television program: Gordon Ramsay: Shark Bait, which had him campaigning against the shark fishing industry. Chef Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall who is also part of that program has his own website, Hugh's Fish Fight, which details his own journey toward learning more about sustainable fish and creating a healthier ocean. That website also highlights the issue of discarded fish. Fisherman often cast back dead fish they don't want. The website says that part of the action needed is not just to stop eating certain fish but to diversify our fish eating habits, and change policies so that it works for fish, fishermen and consumers.

Tags: eel, endangered eel, european eel, gordon ramsay, jamie oliver

Gordon Ramsay Heads To Dubai To Debut Chef's Table Concept

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Gordon Ramsay may have had to sell off a couple restaurants in the past few years but that hasn't stopped him from continue to expand and modify his existing holdings. Ramsay will be in Dubai later this month to check on his restaurant, Verre by Gordon Ramsay at the Hilton Dubai Creek in Dubai. Arabian Business reports that the newly refurbished black and white restaurant is debuting a new concept, a chef's table with a kitchen view. The table will be served by executive chef, Scott Price. Price says the menu is a surprise and created specifically for each group. Part of the redesign of the restaurant includes a clear glass kitchen wall that allows guests to watch the chefs in action.Those who want to see Chef Ramsay himself can make a reservation for October 23rd. In addition to the chef's table, the full three-course a la carte menu will be available at AED395 per person. The chef's table is designed for groups of four or more, is priced at AED695 (around $190) per person.

Another English chef Jamie Oliver is set to open a restaurant in Dubai in late November. Jamie's Italian, a 290-seater restaurant with a past a bar, will open in Dubai Festival Centre in late November. The restaurant will be located at Festival Centre's Marina Pavilion with waterfront views.

Tags: celebrity chefs, dubai, gordon ramsay, jamie oliver

Jamie Oliver Will Serve Rustic British Food For G20 Guests

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been chosen to cook for world leaders at the G20 summit this week. The Daily Telegraph reports that Oliver is planning to serve lamb fresh from a Welsh hill farm in Snowdonia with flat bread, wild garlic and a starter of English asparagus for the meal at 10 Downing Street. Oliver will be cooking with apprentices from his Fifteen Restaurant in London, part of his group of restaurants that takes underprivileged youth and trains them to become chefs.This menu is quite simple fare compared to last July's G8 feast in Japan, an eight-course spread that included caviar, smoked salmon and Kyoto beef.

Jamie Oliver will have to surrender his mobile phone for security reasons but the Downing Street staff has promised to notify him if his wife, Jools, goes into labor. She is expected to deliver their third child on the same day.

UPDATE: The official menu has been published on Oliver's website:

Baked Scottish Salmon with Seashore Vegetables, Broad Beans, Herb Garden Salad, Mayonnaise and Wild Garlic-scented Irish Soda bread.

Vegetarian option: Childwickbury Goat's Cheese with Roast Shallots, Seashore Vegetables, Herb Green Salad and Wild Garlic-scented Irish Soda Bread (no mayo)

Slow-Roasted Shoulder of Welsh Lamb, very-first-of-the-season Jersey Royals (potatoes), first-of-the-season Asparagus and Wild St. George Mushrooms. Mint Sauce and Gravy.

Vegetarian option: Lovage & Potato Dumplings with first-of-the-season Asparagus and Wild St. George Mushrooms

Hot Bakewell Tart with Homemade Custard.

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Tags: 10 downing, 10Downing, fifteen, g20, jamie oliver, JamieOliver

Jamie Oliver Puts Restaurant Plans On Hold

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Jamie Oliver becomes the latest British chef to succumb to economic pressure. The television host and cookbook author known as the Naked Chef, has postponed plans to open a fifth branch of the restaurant chain Fifteen at Holbeck Urban Village in Leeds in June. The Fifteen Foundation inspires disadvantaged young people to create careers in the restaurant industry and runs restaurants in Amsterdam, Cornwall, London and Melbourne, Australia.

The charity has said it may revisit its plans in the future when the economy is in better shape. Oliver joins other British television chefs Gordon Ramsay and Antony Worrall Thompson in having to adjust his restaurant empire desires to the whims of the economy.

Gallery: Celebrity Restaurants

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Tags: celebrity chef, CelebrityChef, chef, fifteen foundation, FifteenFoundation, jamie oliver, JamieOliver, naked chef, NakedChef

Jamie Oliver Plans to Expand His Eateries to Dubai

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

As one of the UK's premier chefs and a favorite of the Food Network, Jamie Oliver is expanding his culinary reach by opening two restaurants in a luxury residential development as well as contributing to the design choices made for the kitchens within the development. The pair of eateries are not expected to open until 2011 in the Jumeirah Golf Estates' Water neighborhood. Oliver hopes to expand patrons' knowledge of healthy eating and may also include cooking classes and other educational offerings in his plans. It certainly seems Dubai is the place to see and be seen...or eat and be...um...cooked for...

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Tags: dubai-restaurant, expire-images2009-10-21, jamie oliver, jamie oliver dubai, jamie-oliver-restaurant, JamieOliver, JamieOliverDubai, jumeirah-golf-estates