Thursday, October 29, 2009

Fri Oct 29, 2009

On Today's Show: CRNtalk.com

Marina Mellino "Cook Like a Latin Lover"
A passionate, daring perfectionist and self-taught chef who began learning her trade from her Italian nonna (grandmother) at a young age, Marina Mellino was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and raised in Canada for many years. An artist by trade, Marina s recipes contain simple step-bystep instructions that are the result of her life experiences. Colorful, Spicy, Romantic Book Brings to Life the Magic of Argentine Cuisine and Culture More than a cookbook, Cook Like a Latin Lover introduces readers to Buenos Aires and the lifestyle of a Latin lover from an Argentine s point of view. Author Marina Mellino has written more than a cookbook. Cook Like a Latin Lover is a tool kit that offers readers a glimpse into a Latin experience through cooking, romance, dancing, and the love for life! She comments, My Nonna, who taught me everything I know about cooking, showed me that it s not always about the food, but that food can taste so much better if there is a lot of love involved. Though Mellino moved with her family to Canada as a child for political reasons, she believes Buenos Aires offers one of the most seductive and satisfying cuisines. She adds, I have never forgotten how well I ate as a child, how tasty everything was, and I mean everything. Mellino s book offers a wealth of mouthwatering recipes, including traditional favorites such as milanesas to popular Latin American flavors like fresh chimichurri and savory empanadas to modern recipes using Starbucks Latin American coffees. It also offers chapters on Argentine wines, Latin music, and Spanish tutoring, all flavored with Mellino s sultry encouragement to Put out the food, put on the salsa music, and get sexy! Buenos Aires is more than a city; it is a sensual idea, says Mellino, who still has family in Argentina. Accordingly, her book contains sections called A Day in the Life of a Latin Lover, Must Have Latin/Dance Songs, and Thrilling Argentine Wine Discoveries.

Belinda Chang Wine Director for New York's Museum of Modern Art
Star sommelier Belinda Chang is known in the wine industry for creating wine programs and wine lists that make ordering wine enjoyable rather than intimidating. Belinda's effervescent personality and wine expertise has graced the dining rooms of Fifth Floor in San Francisco as well as Charlie Trotter's in Chicago. In 2004, she received the James Beard Foundation's nomination for Outstanding Wine Service. Belinda was the opening Wine and Service Director for Chef Rick Tramonto and Chef Gale Gand's five new restaurants in Chicago: Osteria Via Stato, Osteria di Tramonto, Tramonto's Steak and Seafood, RT Lounge & Gale's Coffee Bar. Belinda now works with famed restaurateur Danny Meyer as the Wine Director of The Modern in New York's Museum of Modern Art. James Beard nominee and nationally recognized sommelier Belinda Chang (of Fifth Floor in San Francisco, Charlie Trotter's in Chicago and now wine director for New York's Museum of Modern Art) . She’s the expert when it comes to Halloween wine pairings and can make recommendations for how to pair wine treats like, caramel covered apples, spicy popcorn balls, toasted and salted pumpkin seeds and much more…she also can identify popular wine to fit any character costume this Halloween.

Chef Tal Ronnen "The Conscious Cook"
Chef Tal Ronnen is the most celebrated vegan chef working today. In the spring of 2008, he became known nationwide as the chef who prepared vegan meals for Oprah Winfrey’s 21-day vegan cleanse. He was recommended to Oprah by Kathy Freston--who will write the book’s foreword--for whom he has catered hundreds of meals. Oprah was instantly taken and invited Chef Tal to spend the month of July cooking at her summer home. He has since catapulted to fame, with mentions in mainstream media, from People to US Weekly to MSNBC. In August, he catered Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi’s vegan wedding. Later that month, he catered Arianna Huffington’s party at the Democratic National Convention. He also cooked the first vegan dinner at the U.S. Senate, and has been called a “truly creative visionary.” Chef Tal is the country’s hottest vegan chef; with Oprah’s Veggie Chef, his first cookbook, he is poised to become a bestselling author and household name. THE CONSCIOUS COOK features a center-of-the-plate protein in all of its entrees-a first for vegan cookbooks. Seventy-five original recipes are organized by categories that include starters and small plates, soups and salads, entrees, and desserts. Each recipe is accompanied by stunning full-color photographs.


Steve Evans "The Movie Guy"
Tips on the best & worst this weekend at the Box Office. Steve reviews and comments on all the latest from Hollywood and gets the story behind the film.A veteran of the industry, "The Movie Guy" says exactly how he feels about the movies that you will be watching this weekend. Mike Horn comments on the lineup of big screen offerings but does not always agree with what Steve has to say. This is the movie review program to listen to every week and get the "real deal".