06/17 Alain Coumont, Le Pain Quotidien, Daymond John, Shark Tank, Larry Van Aalst

Alain Coumont founder of Le Pain Quotidien

Alain Coumont is the founder of Le Pain Quotidien and currently serves as the Company's Chief Creative Officer. In this role, he remains the driving force behind the brand's dedication to organic ingredients. Prior to founding Le Pain Quotidien, Alain began his career working as a chef with Michel Guerard, Georges Blanc and Joel Robuchon. He lives with his family near Montpellier, France. Jean-Pierre Gabriel is an award-winning author and photographer.


FAVORITE RECIPES FROM THE LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN KITCHENS, THIS BOOK IS A LITTLE SLICE OF 'OUR DAILY BREAD' TO ENJOY AT HOME LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN COOKBOOK

Best known for its organic bread and signature tartines, Le Pain Quotidien is also about enjoying great food with family and friends- any time of the day. Now Alain Coumont, the founder and driving force behind Le Pain Quotidien and a true pioneer in promoting organic food, presents more than 100 of his recipes for simple, wholesome and healthy fare—everything from handmade breads and breakfast dishes to tartines, soup, salads, sharing dishes for family and friends and desserts—in Le Pain Quotidien Cookbook (Mitchell Beazley, June 2013, $29.99, Hardcover).

First there are the world famous breads from grissini, baguettes and focaccia to the popular nut and raisin flutes and signature sourdough bread, which is the foundation of Le Pain Quotidien tartines. Coumont reveals his secrets for baking great sourdough bread at home: getting the temperature right, helping the dough to rise and creating steam in your oven to get the characteristic dark, chewy crust. He also provides step-by-step instructions for creating the all important sourdough starter. Baking your own bread goes against the very nature of the modern world and demands patience, he explains, but it is ultimately greatly rewarding and embodies Le Pain Quotidien’s embrace of the slow life.

The  book features a wealth of recipes for tartines, the wonderful open-faced sandwiches made on slices of sourdough: Smoked Salmon and Celeriac; Toasted Camembert, Walnut & Fig; Asparagus & Ricotta; Eggplant, Mozzarella & Tomato; Goat Cheese, Pear & Honey; Lamb and Rosemary. Tartines are delicious, easy to prepare, and adaptable to seasonal produce. And they are perfect for lunch, dinner, snacks, and entertaining. Throughout, healthy, fresh recipes prevail, calling for more grains and vegetables and less meat.

For breakfast there is a Chia Seed Banana Muffin, Buckwheat Pancakes with Chestnut Puree and a zesty Thai-inspired Lime & Coconut French Toast. Tantalizing salads include Yellow Beet & Chicken Salad and the classic Belgian Liégeoise Salad. An innovative Brussel Sprouts Carpaccio served with goat cheese offers a summery take on this favorite little vegetable. Mussel Soup with potatoes, saffron and aioli seduces, and main dishes for sharing feature a rich and full flavored Chili Sin Carne and Pearl Barley Paella. Desserts favorites such as Classic Canelés de Bordeaux; a brownie-like Chocolate Tart; and Ines’s Cookies, a fantastic and flavorful cookie with ginger, clove and cinnamon topped with nougat, are sweet notes to end a meal on or delectable on their own anytime.

With Le Pain Quotidien Cookbook, Alain Coumont reveals all, from artisanal baking tricks to delicious slow-fast food recipes that you can now make at home. Le Pain Quotidien began in 1990 as an artisan bakery in Belgium and has evolved into a chain 172 restaurants worldwide serving delicious, slow-fast food that does you good - all handmade with the best organic and local ingredients. With its communal tables where guests can sit and eat together in a tranquil, rustic environment, Le Pain Quotidien transports its customers to a simpler way of life.

Worldwide locations include Belgium, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, United States, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Russia, Qatar, Australia, Spain, Mexico, Bahrain, India, Japan, the Netherlands and Brazil.



Daymond John - ABC's  'SHARK TANK'

A young entrepreneur, industry pioneer, highly regarded marketing expert and a man who has surpassed new heights of commercial and financial success are just a few ways people have described Daymond John. Based on his early success as a young entrepreneur creating tie-top hats for himself and his friends in New York, Daymond recruited neighborhood buddies to create FUBU (For Us By Us), one of the most iconic fashion brands for the once untapped urban apparel space.  Daymondeventually convinced Hip-Hop superstar LL Cool J to wear FUBU for a promotional campaign. The Hip-Hop community began to support the new brand and eventually transcended into mainstream and at its peak recorded annual sales of $350 million.  Many of today’s greatest companies were started by a group of friends with a good idea. TV Star, fashion icon, branding expert, author, and motivational speaker, Daymond John, will talk about the launch of an exciting New Business Competition; “Miller Lite Tap the FutureTM,” where up-and-coming entrepreneurs Compete for a $400K Prize Pool in business grants. Five regional teams can win $20K each, but only one team can win the grand prize of $250K. Additionally, consumers will be able to vote online for their favorite team. The five teams with the most fan votes will be awarded $10,000 each. Competitors will also have a chance to pitch and receive advice from some of the sharpest business minds in the country, including Daymond John, also known as “The Shark” from ABC’s “Shark Tank,” and other inspirational entrepreneurs.


LARRY VAN AALST - SOMMELIER

LARRY HOSTS A WEEKLY PROGRAM ON CRN AND ALSO IS AN EXPERT ON WINE WHO IS SOUGHT AFTER FOR EVENTS, TASTES AND MAJOR SOMMELIER EVENTS IN  THE SAM FRANCISCO AREA. HE COMMENTS ON THE INDUSTRY AND HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT WINE.