April
NAPA, California
Patricia McCausland-Gallo, author of “Passion for Coffee,” the English version of “Pasión por el Café,” will sign copies of this new cookbook at the Napa Copperfield’s Books on April 13 at 3 p.m. The Napa Copperfields Books is at 3900A Bel Aire Plaza in Napa. Contact the store at 252-8002.
 
TV in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
If you're reaching for another cup of coffee, hold up, because we not only drank coffee this morning on 2une In, we cooked with it.… Link to see
 
IACP Nueva Orleans
WS-30 Carnaval Foods of Latin America Cookery Demonstration and Tasting
Three Latin-American chefs will present attendees with video, sounds and tastes of one of the most important feasts in the world. Some of the most traditional street foods found in these festivities will be taken to the next level as our chefs delight the audience with innovative ways to present them.

Patricia McCausland-Gallo, moderator, Creative Culinary Works Edna Cochez, Bistro Panama Jorge Jurado, Exec, chef Miramar Intercontinental Hotel and culinary instructor
 
IACP
Book signing event for Passion for Coffee cookbook.
 
Lechona Tolimense in Panamá
A Group of Colombian friendo had a celebration around a tradicional food of a whole pig called lechona Tolimense with all its side dishes that include torrejas or arepitas de arroz,  insulzo,  morcilla and more, See article.
 
Recipe for FAO
I Developer a delicious recipe for the program FAO has organizad Chefs Against Hunger. It was a nutritious recipe of lentils cooked in coconut water with curry and potatoes. Delicious one dish meal for the program.
 
The Meadowod in Napa Valley

The Meadowood offers three Ealing possibliities of which w echose the formal dining for the evening and the morning terace for breakfast. Both extraordinary service and dining places. Reserve tours for the next visit to Napa.
 
Auberge Du Soleil

Another fantastic place for lunch, which we did, or dineer is Auberge du Soleil. Give yourself ample time to be able to enjoy each and every pasrt of this wonderful experience.
 
International Party at IACP

The International comité prepared a fantastic party  with live Jazz.
 
GUMBO GIVEBACK
A real New Orleans party! Live music, Great Chefs, Fabulous Food and the spirit of Giveback! The most sensational Cajun food prepared by renown chefs like Paul Prudhomme, Darin Nesbit and Donald Link. We had a wonderful time with live music and the whole New Orleans spirit.
 
March
Holy Week Sweets
I was in my hometown of Barranquilla learning to prepare traditional fruit and vegetable sweets that are sold this week. We prepared 11 different ones including tamarind, tomato, pineapple, coconut, corozo, ñame and others.
 
Parque Suri Salcedo
In this park is where vendors sell and display the variety of sweets that exceed 30 types and are sold only this time of the year. With colorful tables they are here for us to buy and eat during the Christian celebration.
 
Cartagena 8-18 and Donde Olano Restaurantes
A weekend in Cartagena for the Movie Fest was a great place to enjoy all our street foods and at the same time visit restaurants that offer good Colombian style foods. At Donde Olano we had the most delicious Lobster au natural. At 8-18 seafood of the best quality is prepared in the young Colombian chef’s great seasonings.
 
Fritanga Barranquilla Fried Street Foods
A simple fritanga is the perfect scenery for friends to get together over small bites of street foods. We had empanadas de maíz, carimañolas, arepas dulces de anís and mini arepitas de huevo! Divine!
 
Party for Holy Week Sweets
As I arrived in Panama I decided to invite my Colombian friends to indulge in a table of 22 different types of sweets that I had learned and bought at home. We served this wonderful display with a spiced coconut chicken that we prepared in a paella cooker outside so we could all be there. It was a fantastic reunion for many who had not tasted these treats since they lived in Colombia or were children.
 
DC Restaurants ZAYTINYA
The James Beard Foundation nominated José Andrés Outstanding Chef

We went to ZAYTINYA for a late lunch and ate at what is the most wonderful Greek, Mediterranean Middle Eastern restaurant. Everything was perfect; we ordered 18 dishes for four of us and had a feast. Their pita bread is by far the best I have ever tasted.
 
CEIBA

Congratulations to the chef for this Latin oriented restaurant. I felt he had served wonderful versions of our ceviches, empanadas and much more. What a great place to go for lunch, dinner or to the bar.
 
BISTRO BIS

An incredible meal started with a special selection of pates and foie gras specially sent to us by the Chef Joseph Harran who had been informed we were there and that we know his friend now chef at the Panamanian restaurant La Posta. The foods, the place, the wines, were all fantastic. Here we sat, the whole family and passed a great night that started with scallop quenelles then risottos, tuna tartare, and more. We even had dessert, all of it!
 
FIT MEETS GOURMET CLOSES WITH GREAT DESSERTS

Alter a month of highly sweetened foods I have closed the development of recipes for my new book which brings nutritionally sound and tasty recipes with a Latin touch. Fruits were used to prepare the desserts and give a satisfying and flavorful finishing touch to any meal or snack.
 
February
Carnival Foods of Colombia
Street foods offer an array of fruits that we can eat on the go!
 
NUTRIR Barranquilla
Barranquillas undernourished children have come a long way with the help of the sales of Secrets of Colombian Cooking which I donated 100% for 10 years and others. www.nutrirbarranquilla.org
 
Las Vegas
Nobu

Fantastic, pretty casual dress code. The best open fried fish with red curry paste, served over coconut sauce, smothered onions…. Our tasting menu started with fresh yellowtail with jalapeño and cilantro, perfect and unforgettable.
 
Mon Ami Gabi…At the Paris Hotel and Casino

Very French, very relaxed, great wine by the glass or bottle. Escargots, oysters on the half shell, onion soup and pâté, with baguettes served in paper bags. Desserts not very good.
 
Lunch at the Venetian
TAO, Asian, good food, very slow service, great bathrooms!
 
Room service at the Bellagio

Great, hotel prepared guacamole and chips, cheese platter with guava paste and good breads and crackers, spring rolls with spicy sweet and sour sauce or soy mixture sauce. The service here I believe is the best in town.
 
Jean Philippe Patisserie a the Bellagio
The most impressive chocolate melted display I had ever seen. Their lemon tart was great.
 
Bartolotta
Here comes the worst in town, terrible service. A 155 dollar menu serve family style… that is everything set in the middle of the table, just like you would be eating in an Italian trattoria, plates of food just dropped in them, no sides cleaned. The food was ok, the seafood that was supposed to be flown in daily had a fishy taste. The pasta was not great.
 
JOEL ROBUCHON
THE best in town, Joel Robuchon, has a six course-tasting menu that was perfection in an evening. All items perfectly placed in their plate, served at the ideal temperatures with fantastic wines. The service was impeccable and very warm for such an elegant and French restaurant.
Six course tasting menu: $250/person
  • L’Avocat dans une infusion juste prise aux herbes et une caillebotte à l’huile d’olive
  • Avocado purée in a thin herb gelée and olive oil flavored curd cheese
    La Truffe noire en duo mêlée de pomme ratte à l’huile vierge, comme un carpaccio aux copeaux de foie gras
  • Shaved black truffles and potatoes with olive oil, topped with foie gras carpaccio
    Le Gorgonzola en royale avec une vierge de poires et de tomates à la sauge
  • Custard of Gorgonzola with a pear vierge and sage tomatoes
    Le Bar poêlé à la citronnelle avec une étuvée de jeunes poireaux
  • Pan-fried sea bass with a lemon grass foam and stewed baby leeks
    Le Bœuf de Kobé grillé, cristalline au poivre, cresson en tempura, raifort à la moutarde
  • Grilled Kobe beef, watercress tempura, horseradish mustard
    Le Victoria ananas parfumé au praliné-noisette givré de thé Orange-Pékœ
  • Pineapple with hazelnut-praline and orange Pekœ tea sorbet
    Le Café ou le Thé escorté de mignardises
 
 
January
Carnival of the Arts, La Cueva, Barranquilla-Colombia
If you can attend this cultural event, please do so. Five days of concurrent talks, visits to restaurants and learning about cultural and traditional events of our country and our neighbors´. Very relaxed, dress a be who you are, no need to impress anyone.
 
Interview with Mr. Avelino Stanley, sub secretary of Culture of Dominican Republic
I met Mr. Stanley at the Carnival of the Arts and he kindly gave me an interview. I wanted to learn about the foods offered at the Dominican Carnival. As is always known, Dominican kindness and great service was shown by Mr. Stanley, who cut a morning short to give me this time. Thank you!
 
Learning Experiences: Petrona Márquez, Palenquera African Descent sweets vendor
I spent a day at Petrona´s home learning about her cooking of tradicional sweets she sells day by day on the streets. (see article.) Five Stars for her.
 
Noris Daza de Moscote
I was taught by Noris the making of Dulce de Ahuyama or Squash paste. It was fantastic, very simple to make and delicious. It is eaten cold and will thicken slightly more or less like slurry. Thanks to Noris and her daughter I was able to meet Petrona and Josefina …, thank you very much. I Hill be back if received to learn more.
 
Josefina Gonzalez Pérez
A great cook, longtime favorite of large events serving traditional foods in Barranquilla let me into her busy kitchen to match the production of a banquet I was attending later that evening. The hustle and bustle of all kinds of sweet and savoir products that included caballitos de papaya, cocadas, hayacas, deditos, quibbes and more. Thanks Josefina for allowing this, I know how hard it can be to open your kitchen the day of a mayor event. Congratulations on your organization and delicious food.
 
Street Foods
Egg filled arepas and cheese filled yucca fritters, Arepa con huevo and caribañolas
Prepared on the streets for all to enjoy in a sunny Caribbean day.
 
Fruit all over
Is sold for people walking by or driving. This great idea keeps us eating healthy snacks full of color, flavor and nutrients and allow us to wear our bikinis year round!
 
YUCA Snacks
Sold in corners around town and in the middle of the parades… pandeyuquitas, roscas and more. They are all based in yucca flour.
 
Another Palenquera
A second Palenquera sells bolitas de tamarindo, or tamarind balls… Divine!
 
Restaurants
Proveedor del Río, On the Magdalena River
The best fried-fish in town is prepared here. I was in their kitchen as they served over 100 plates of plantain and different kinds of fish. Wonderful food and view!
 
Kilimanjaro, at the Pradomar Beach
The view!!!! Out of this World. We had fish eggs, huevas de pescado y and shrimp cocktail. There was live music and dancing next to the ocean waves hitting at night.
 
Restaurant NAIA, In Barranquilla
Don’t miss the fish eggs, or huevas de pescado prepared at NAIA, crispy and dry, delicious and a rare dish from the town. A modern ambience with a traditional composition of foods with an Asian touch.