Dining at Tchoup Chop the Night Before the Pillsbury Bake-Off
Last Sunday, I flew to Orlando, Florida to take part in the 45th Pillsbury Bake Off contest. If you watch my television show, then you know that we were there at the event and I announced the winner live on TV. Tomorrow’s blog will be all about that, but for now, I’d like to focus on the media dinner held the night before at Emeril’s Tchoup Chop (pronounced Chop Chop) at the Royal Pacific Hotel at Universal, which serves a menu of Asian and Polynesian influences. My team and I were joined by other members of the media and a few Pillsbury executives for a preview of my newest book, Martha’s American Food: A Celebration of Our Nation’s Most Treasured Dishes, From Coast to Coast, published by Clarkson-Potter and due out on April 24th.
1 All set to go to the Sunday Night Media Dinner at Emeril's Tchoup Chop. My dress is a Loro Piana.
2 My welcome sign
3 MSLO's Deb Dowling - PR Director, Esther Chen - PR Director, and Melany Lynch - my Executive Assistant
4 More of my team - Pilar Guzman - Editor In Chief of MSL, Geoffrey Darby - General Manager, Television, Lisa Wagner - SVP, Supervising Editorial Producer, Michael Morrison - Executive Producer, and Lucinda Scala Quinn - VP Editorial Director of Food
5 Fran Brescia - Producer, Pilar Guzman - Editor In Chief of MSL, Geoffrey Darby - General Manager, Television, Lisa Wagner - SVP, Supervising Editorial Producer, Michael Morrison - Executive Producer, and Lucinda Scala Quinn - VP Editorial Director of Food
6 Ilene Spector - Jewish Press, Fran Carpentier - a freelance writer from New York, and Carol Jackson - Medina, MN
7 Connie Hay - Hay Cook 'n Write and Kim Cool - Venice Gondolier
8 John Szymanski - Corporate Chef for the Kroger Company, Christine Koury - Woman's World magazine, and Michael Klein - www.philly.com/food
9 Julie Deily - The Little Kitchen, Heather Taylor - Social Media Manager for 'MyCorporation,' and Angie McGowan - Eclectic Recipes
10 Lisë Stern - Taste of the Seacoast, Cheryl Good - Pillsbury, Pam Lolley - Southern Living Magazine, and Jan Norris - www.jannorris.com
11 Lucinda, Pilar, and Michael
12 Deb Dowling, Esther Chen, Melany Lynch, and Angus Chen - Executive Support Analyst for MSLO
13 Jackie Bakk - Executive Assistant, General Mills and Erin Howe - Manager of Meetings and Special Events, General Mills
14 There were passed hors d'oeuvres served in Tiki Bar, including chicken satays with teriyaki sauce, assorted sushi, beef satays with hoisin bbq sauce, and spinach & cream cheese stuffed mushrooms with sake-soy glaze.
15 Emeril's Tchoup Chop gets its name from Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans.
16 Tchoup Chop is a stunning restaurant that even has a flowing pool.
17 Another look at that pool
18 The turquoise tiled walls are very elegant.
19 When it was time for me to speak, Mark Addicks, Chief Marketing Officer at General Mills, gave me a warm introduction.
20 My 77th book, Martha’s American Food: A Celebration of Our Nation’s Most Treasured Dishes, from Coast to Coast, is about to be published by Clarkson-Potter on April 24th.
21 During my speech, I provided some insights on the state of American food.
22 I also talked about my passion for using local, fresh ingredients whenever possible.
23 In 1949, the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest began as the 'Grand National Recipe and Baking Contest,' set in the elegance of New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
24 To celebrate Pillsbury's 80th birthday, executives at the company's advertising agency created the contest and invited homemakers to share their treasured recipes.
25 Response was so great that Pillsbury decided to hold it again the following year, and the year after that, until it became an institution.
26 Almost immediately, the media dubbed the Grand National the 'Bake-Off' Contest. The name fit so well that Pillsbury adopted it as the contest's official name.
27 When convenience food items such as processed cheese and refrigerated dough like Crescent Rolls came into the market in the 60s, they were allowed in the competition. The first recipe made with refrigerated dough to win the Bake-Off was in 1969.
28 Since the competition's inception, there have been over 4,000 finalists from all over the country.
29 The menu for the evening
30 A salad of mixed Asian greens with candied pecans, fresh oranges, and soy vinaigrette
31 The main course was a duo of slow roasted Kalua pork shoulder in banana leaf and jade pesto steamed Chilean sea bass with taro root, sweet potato, and toasted garlic soy jus.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Love the red dress!
Posted by: Rebecca Rothman | April 2nd, 2012 at 3:03 am
That red piece looks stunning on you!! Can tell u had a great time at the event.
Posted by: MamaTim | April 2nd, 2012 at 5:49 am
I also love the red dress!! Fabulous looking restaurant-kudos to Emeril!!
Posted by: Gail Hildreth | April 2nd, 2012 at 6:44 am
Emeril's restaurant, Tchoup chop, looks so swanky! I bet the food was delicious.
Martha, you looked gorgeous in that dress, perfect accessories by the way. I'm looking forward to your countdown to Easter show today, no one does holidays better than you Martha!
Posted by: Cindy F | April 2nd, 2012 at 8:09 am
Hi Martha, I agree with the other followers, you look absolutely fantastic in that gorgeous dress and I agree with Cindy that you are the best holiday producer ever! The best things in my life are from you! You always make me happy everyday! I love all that you do and every event is spectacular and so much fun to see! Being in Orlando must have been a terrific time for you and your fabulous employees who look so lovely also, even the guys! Love all of these photos and Emeril's restaurant is also beautiful! How neat to have that pool in his restaurant and the food looks delicious! I can't wait to get your 77th new book on April 24th and I know it will be great! Hope you have another great day! Off to see F&S Meeting the Frenchies, Limon and Lulu! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | April 2nd, 2012 at 10:32 am
Martha,
You look just darling in that dress! Thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | April 2nd, 2012 at 11:57 am
I do love that dress--simple but very eye-catching. I look forward to hearing about the contest winner and hope you had the opportunity to try their creation.
Posted by: Cameron | April 2nd, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Hi Martha,
What a great event the Pillsbury Bake-Off was and then a media dinner at Emeril’s the night before sounds equally exciting. Tchoup Chop is a beautiful restaurant. Emeril and his staff sure can do large fabulous dinners, like the one he did at South Beach. I’ve done a few smaller ones for around 25 people but even they need a lot of planning. As a result, I’m quite sure I could never be a really good caterer or a chef. Okay, now for my two cents re: your dress, I’m going to say the color is coral and I think you wore it to South Beach, which I think is nice that you wear your designer clothes more than once. Thanks for the early introduction of your book which I will definitely check out when I see it for sale. Until tomorrow – Trish.
Posted by: Trish | April 2nd, 2012 at 12:55 pm
You look beautiful Martha, love love your dress and your turquoise jewelry.
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | April 2nd, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Wow, what tasty looking food. Nice to try new exotic foods. On your show today you mentioned kielbasa. Our very favorite place to get it is at Chicope Provision in Chicope Massachusetts.
Posted by: Carol Delaney | April 2nd, 2012 at 3:08 pm
That is your color..plus the accessories accent! Martha and Emeril continue to inspire me! Happy Easter and Passover week..enjoying the web and TV suggestions. Look forward to more pics about Bakeoff..A fellow Pennsylvanian WON!! Another suburban Philadelphian! Very inspiring!
Posted by: E. Teresa Touey | April 2nd, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Can't wait to see who wins!
Posted by: Holiday Baker Man | April 2nd, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Well Done. MSLO has the best people. Lucinda, Pilar, Emeril and all the unnamed but hard working individuals thank you for you ability to bring smiles, laughs and good things to us.
I appreciate all of you diligent contributions in making our lifes more pleasant.
Posted by: Margie | April 2nd, 2012 at 6:35 pm
I loooove that tangerine orange and turquoise combo and fab nude shoes;perfect.......
Posted by: yolanda | April 2nd, 2012 at 8:21 pm
Martha, I love your dress- So pretty and the color is so spring! Delicious post! Xo Dani
Posted by: Dani Fiori | April 2nd, 2012 at 8:42 pm
You took the right time to leave NYC! I hear it got colder! I'll bet it was nice & warm in FLA. I'm in Savannah,GA & its REAL warm here!
Posted by: Shirley Walkowicz | April 2nd, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Martha,
You look great! as usual....Orange is one of my favorite colors. Cannot wait until your new cookbook is out, love your cook books. Quick question....was at the grocery store today, and please pardon me for my ignorance, but I saw a container of "mince meat", what is it??? I'm a caterer and personal chef for 10 years, I've never cooked with it nor do I know what it is...Mystery meat? It scares me!!!!
thanks,
Joseph from the San Francisco Bay Area!
Posted by: Joseph Sciascia | April 2nd, 2012 at 9:28 pm
What a simple lovely red dress and it looks great on you Martha, would love to know were you got it....
Posted by: Lucie Tuttle | April 2nd, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Martha,
I had the pleasure of meeting you rhis past week when
you came to Orlando and visited The Home Depot store
on East Colonial. You inspired me and my associates with
your visit.
Hope you can come visit us again.
Susan Aguiló
Design Consultant
Posted by: Susan Aguiló | April 2nd, 2012 at 9:33 pm
We were staying at the hotel--I would have loved to meet you and Lucinda!!
Posted by: Dawn Dress | April 2nd, 2012 at 11:07 pm
hello you really look nice in your red dress. you look cute as a buton. hope you had a good time. and i know you did, hazel boykin
Posted by: hazel boykin | April 2nd, 2012 at 11:32 pm
Wow!! You look great. Love that colour on you. Hope you had a great evening. Happy Easter!
Posted by: Debbie Panton | April 2nd, 2012 at 11:36 pm
That really looks very nice, very clean lines, it looks great on you.
Posted by: Laura Hewitt | April 3rd, 2012 at 3:29 am
Martha!. You Are Alway's There To Give Support To People And Their Event's,How Fortunate Everyone Is To Receive Your Kindness.. And Again Just Have To Tell You That You Look "LOVLEY" As Alway's .You Truly Are An Inspiration To Me, A Breath Of Fresh Air. And Happy Easter Holiday To You And Your Family:-)..
Posted by: Darlene Martinez | April 3rd, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Hi Martha - After hearing about how you will be cooking Kielbasa for Easter, I was wondering if you will be using MRS. KOSTYRA'S KIELBASA'S recipe? It is an a family favorite that I have been using for Christmas Eve and Easter since April 1998. Thanks for sharing this very special recipe years ago! Happy Easter!!!
Posted by: Karen Snyder | April 4th, 2012 at 11:10 pm