ReMARKable Palate #230: The Foods of Basilicata

On this week’s show, I attend a special dinner at Felidia Restaurant in New York City to celebrate the foods of basilicata, the region in southern Italy at the instep of the boot. The dinner was hosted by Chef Lidia Bastianich and our old friend Lou Di Palo of Di Palo’s Fine foods in Little Italy, who’s great grandfather emigrated from Basilicata. We got to taste the products of this charming land. Later in the show, I speak with my pal Chris Marquardt about the 2nd Edition of our Brooklyn Cookin’ workshop.

You can register for the workshop at www.tfttf.com/bk2010

Theme Song: “Go Fish”, by Big Money Grip, from the Podsafe Music Network.

ReMARKable Palate is a production of The Culinary Media Network. www.culinarymedianetwork.com

Our first Brooklyn Cookin’ Workshop this past October was such a huge success, we decided to do it again this summer! I’ve teamed with Chris Marquardt from Tips From the Top Floor, one of the most popular photography shows on the web, to develop this parallel track workshop. Chris leads the photographers, sharing tips and tricks of photography in general, and food photography in particular. I lead those interested in cooking as we explore the kitchen, learning foundational cooking techniques, and several great recipes that help us practice these techniques. Then every once in a while we get together to shoot the food we made, and then enojy the fruits of our collective labor.

This is the perfect (and rare) workshop where couples can learn together, even if they have different interests.

There are still a few spots left. Learn more about the workshop and register at www.tfttf.com/bk2010

Brooklyn Cookin’ – Be a Chef! Be a Food Photographer! And bring someone to share… from Chris Marquardt on Vimeo.

Theme: Food Photography & Cooking
Date: July 16-18 2010
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Price: starting at $699
Language: English
Instructors: Chris Marquardt (photography) & Mark Tafoya (cooking)

http://tfttf.com/bk2010 – This workshop is for couples, or for friends who share different interests. One’s a cook, one’s a photographer. And finally they can share a great workshop experience together. Personal Chef Mark Tafoya (http://culinarymedianetwork.com) and photographer Chris Marquardt (http://chrismarquardt.com/) share their knowledge about their respective fields with the workshop participants to make them great Chefs and perfect Food Photographers. Extend your horizon and upgrade your knowledge.

Here’s my AUDIO PODCAST from this past year’s workshop, inlcuding words from many of the participants.

And the Podcast we did for TIPS FROM THE TOP FLOOR.

“I can not say enough about how much I enjoyed the cooking workshop — learned a lot and use what I learned all the time: Pork Adobo, poached pears, and having fun in the kitchen!”
-Jacqui North, 2009 Participant

“Mark was great. He is so patient, understanding and knowledgeable. Very easy to talk to.. He showed us how to pick out the proper cuts of meat and ripe vegetables. He was very helpful to anyone who asked him questions, even if they were not in the class. He was a very understanding instructor and made cooking seem simple. This was my first cooking class and Mark made me want to take another one.”
-Sally Lovers, 2009 Participant

“Mark adds so much more to his classes than “just” his expertise and love of cookery. Mark can take you through the full culinary experience, from sourcing the ingredients at local markets through to magazine-cover presentation at the dinner table. His style is informal and entertaining, but still professional and extremely knowledgeable. And if you get the chance to be out and about with him in New York City, his knowledge of the area is encyclopedic!”
-Martin McNeil, 2009 Participant

To Register, CLICK HERE

Good News! The Early Bird Registration deadline for the Brooklyn Cookin’ Food Photography workshop co-hosted by Chef Mark and Chris Marquardt has been extended! You now have until March 15th to take advantage of the $50 discount for early birds, making the total cost of the 2 day workshop $649 per person. You’ll save up to $100 per couple.

My good friend Chris Marquardt from Tips From The Top Floor is coming to Brooklyn from Germany, and we’re offering a great workshop together: Brooklyn Cookin’ ! Details are below:

Food photography and a cooking class in one workshop? Only here!

Brooklyn Cookin
Workshop Information
Date: Oct/23-24 2009
Optional: Oct/22 – farmers’ market shopping with Mark Tafoya, market/street photography with Chris Marquardt
Optional: Oct/25 – restaurant behind the scenes, both photography & cooking
Location: Brooklyn, NY
# of participants: 20 max (10 cooks, 10 photographers)

Signing up to this workshop together with a friend or a partner is encouraged!