When you are attending a Gala Dinner, just make sure it's actually a GALA! According to the Webster Dictionary, it is referred to, as:
Festive Occasion, Celebration, Special Entertainment, and Showy...and that it was! Anything less than that would not have been the proper name for this festive occasion, hosted by Alexia
Foods!
Yes, all these flavors of Alexia's fries, were served for the appetizer course, open bar, and afterwards, the Cooking Demo, by Chef
Tyler Florence, and the Gala Dinner. Doesn't this sound exciting, already?...you bet it was!
Such a fabulous cocktail party...and afterwards the GALA CELEBRATION!...from left to right: Joanna, from
Chic&Gorgeous, and Angela, from
Fab Find Foodie, who was a finalist in the Alexia french fries creation!
Getting the stage ready for Chef Tyler Florence to demonstrate a simple, and delicious
Pork Chops dish, made gourmet!...(sorry, no photo of the dish)
Watching the cooking demonstration, so amazing, Chef Tyler Florence making this simple dish with such style, grace, and so comfortable, with such ease, was so nice to watch. The did show the the dish on the large screen, but my photo turned out blurry, so I had to delete it!
The table setting was so elegant, the appetizers were divine, and starting with the first course:
Bibb Lettuce Salad, with Honey Roasted Pears, Glazed Pecan, and Bleu Cheese Vinaigrette
For the Entree:
Brandt Beef Farms Filet Mignon, and Meyer Lemon Roasted Prawns...Heirloom Carrots, Celery Root Puree, and Peppercorn Demi Glaze. For an entree: as amazing as this, I tend to forget that I shouldn't consume eating a lot of beef. (well, maybe once a month)...I just exceeded my limit...guilty, but a happy feeling!
For dessert:
Scharffen Berger Chocolate Mousse, Sourdough Bread Pudding, and Cowgirl Creamy Cheesecake...yumm!
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| Totally forgot to add this photo, from the Gala Dinner held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel (not a very good photo, so dark in the room, but you can get an idea of the large turnout for this event! |
...and for my dinner companions, Chef Dennis at
A Culinary Journey, with Chef Dennis , and the sweet, and lovely Gina, from
SPCookiequeen.
Across the table, lovely Joanna, from ChicGourgeous...whom I had the pleasure of meeting up in person, all the way from
Malaysia. Now, do you see how far bloggers were willing to travel for this special 3rd Annual
Blogger Festival?
A huge thanks to
Foodbuzz, for making all the possible to bring so many food bloggers together!
Can't leave the photo of myself, and
Chef Dennis! He is every bit of nice, as he is on his blog, Such an honor to have him as a dining companion, and to meet him for the first time!
Afterwards..."girls nite out"...upstairs from the Grand
Hyatt Hotel, from the 36th floor, a final cocktail! Emily, and Gina, in the background! Cheers!...Salute!...Salud!...Egészségedre!
Back at our hotel room...before turning in for the night, couldn't resist taking a photo of the night scene. I'm such a fanatic for view photos, and my little trusty Canon camera does take great photos in pitch darkness, as long as there are lights in the background!
This is the sunrise scene, at approx. 6:30am, Sunday, Nov. 5th...our final day for meeting up at the Farewell Brunch. I hope you don't think I'm a lunatic for taking all these photos (don't answer that.LOL) I'm an early riser, actually it was one hour ahead...changing the clocks back, 1 hr.
My next, and final Foodbuzz last event, coming up, and more photos to show you of the city, from the open two Decker tour bus!
Until then, have a wonderful day!
