 |
|
|
Faith Alahverdian, chef and culinary educator, directs ShopRite’s Culinary WorkshopTM program. She believes that it’s the perfect forum to introduce customers to new ingredients and flavors and to help enhance their cooking skills. Culinary Workshop Click on the image above to view To learn additional food and cooking tips, register for one of our fun, interactive Culinary Workshops in select ShopRite stores
ShopRite Culinary Workshop is a hands-on cooking class program taught by a select team of professional chefs from top restaurants, caterers and hotels. These friendly chef instructors share their professional skills and knowledge in a hands–on class offered most weeks in select stores. These enjoyable and affordable classes (only $20-$35!) are offered in a number of ShopRite Supermarket locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. |
|
|
Welcome to the Chef's Corner, the newest section of our e-newsletter, Your ShopRite Connection! The Chef's Corner includes culinary tips and delicious product picks, written by our very own Chef Faith Alahverdian, Executive Chef for the ShopRite Culinary Workshop.
It’s finally summer and all I can think about is the colorful, fresh abundance that is available in ShopRite’s produce department. Salad and grilling season doesn’t have to mean the same old, same old. Below, you will find some creative salads and a fabulous burger recipe based on my seasonal produce and product picks for your 4th of July or summer picnic and patio table buffet. If you have trouble locating any of these products at your local ShopRite, our friendly store managers will be more than happy to assist you. Chef’s Product Pick: La Tourangelle Oils Award winning La Tourangelle Oils are the same brand of fine, artisan handcrafted French nut oils used by the world’s most discerning chefs. This small family owned mill in the Loire Valley of France has specialized only in the small batch production of very fresh, very pure nut oils for 150 years. Other wonderful oils they produce include Almond, Avocado, walnut as well as black and white truffle oil. In select ShopRites near you. Why would you use an expeller-pressed nut oil such as this? Packed with all the great health benefits of nuts and the rich, earthy flavor that is the soul of the nut, these specialty oils are the secret ingredient in 5 star restaurant quality salads and marinades. Salads take on a whole new dimension when dresses with these subtle oils, citrus juice or a fine quality wine vinegar, a bit of sea salt & freshly cracked pepper.
French Green Bean & Grape Tomato Salad with Hazelnut Vinaigrette By Chef Faith Alahverdian Serves 6-8 Ingredients: 1- 2lb. package pre-trimmed Haricot Verts (French green beans) 2 shallots, minced 1 ½ cups grape tomatoes, halved 1 tablespoon fresh chives ½ cup La Tourangelle Roasted Hazelnut Oil 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice Sea Salt & Freshly cracked pepper to taste Directions:
Serve a top a large lettuce leaf. Add some sliced, freshly grilled tuna for a full meal. This salad may come as a surprise to you but it’s power packed with beta carotene, valuable vitamins, minerals and nutrients. It’s a great alternative to the hum drum lettuce salad you might be bored with. This dish works great on a buffet! Great Beta Salad with Carrots, Yams, Cranberries and Orange Squash By Chef Faith Alahverdian Serves 6-8 Ingredients: 4 cups prepeeled, precut Butternut Squash, each piece cut in half 1 ½ cups baby carrots, halved 2 yams, peeled and cut in large cubes 1 cup Dried Cranberries 1 garlic clove, minced 2 shallots, minced ¼ cup La Tourangelle Roasted Almond Oil 1 tablespoon ShopRite Imported White Wine Vinegar Sea Salt & Freshly Ground Pepper to taste Pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg and ground coriander 2 tablespoons minced flat leaf parsley 6 oz. toasted, slivered almonds for garnish Directions:
Add all of the remaining ingredients and toss gently. Chill until ready to serve. This salad keeps and travels well.
Chef’s Product Pick: Twinings African Rooibos Red Tea You may have heard about rooibus tea, a traditional South African tea which recently has been found to be a rich source of anti-oxidants. Homemade iced tea takes on a delicious naturally red hue with this tasty tea and summer’s best berries. Red Berry Iced Rooibos Tea By Chef Faith Alahverdian Makes 2 pitchers Ingredients: 6-8 teabags of Twinings African Rooibos Red Tea 1 gallon of filtered water 1 lemon, thinly sliced ½ pint each red raspberries and blackberries, washed and frozen Fresh mint for garnish, if desired Directions:
Chef’s Product Pick: Certified Angus Beef
ShopRite is proud to offer Certified Angus Beef to our family of customers. While other stores offer “angus” beef, only the top 8 % of the angus beef qualifies for the CAB label. Certified Angus Beef is the only brand of angus beef that’s good enough for our customers. Sure, it’s a bit more for an outrageously good burger or steak when you select this super premium quality, but it’s still 1/3rd the price you’d pay in a restaurant. You’re worth it!
Chef’s Product Pick: Cabot Vintage Choice Extra Sharp Cheddar Tucked away in our gourmet cheese case, you will find a purple waxed bar of cheddar that may be one of the best cheddars you’ve ever tasted. Aged up to 24 months and hand selected by the president of Vermont’s Cabot Creamery, this cheddar will turn your ho hum burger into a gourmet burger any day. Ultimate Backyard Cheeseburger By Chef Faith Alahverdian Serves 6
Ingredients: 1 1/2lbs. Ground Certified Angus Beef from ShopRite 3 Tablespoons low sodium beef stock or cold water 1 teaspoon steak seasoning from spice section ShopRite Grapeseed oil Romaine lettuce leaves, washed & dried well Vine ripened tomatoes, washed & sliced 8 oz. Cabot Vintage Choice Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, sliced Maille whole grain mustard from France 6 artisan baked rolls from ShopRite, sliced halfway Gloves for food handling Directions:
Assemble your burgers and enjoy ! Chef’s Product Pick: Fresh summer Apricots Fresh apricots are in prime season right now. Incredibly tasty just on their own, tossed with a spinach salad or stirred into vanilla ice cream, fresh apricots are a versatile and delicious summer fruit. Here’s an elegant but easy summer dessert recipe your family and friends will rave over. Honey Almond Roasted Apricots By Chef Faith Alahverdian Ingredients: 12 Fresh Apricots ¼ cup La Tourangelle Almond oil ½ teaspoon ground coriander ¼ teaspoon almond extract ¼ tsp. Lemon zest ½ teaspoon orange juice ½ teaspoon lemon juice A very small pinch of salt 3 Tablespoons honey 2 Tablespoons sliced blanched almonds, toasted One Pyrex baking dish Directions:
Vanilla Yogurt Sauce
Ingredients: ¼ cup whipping cream ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract ¼ tsp. Coriander ¼ tsp. Cinnamon 1 cup of Whole Milk Vanilla Yogurt 1 Tablespoon ShopRite Honey
Happy summer and Happy 4th of July! |
