Mother's Day Tea* Chef's Table Dinner Chef's Cooking Class Easter
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A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS OF THE ATHENAEUM n THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY APRIL 2011 Chef’s Cooking Easter Brunch Class On the beautiful patio and along Entrée Salads the Olive Walk is the perfect Easter Sunday setting for you and your Crisp, fresh, and flavorful are family. Join us for our holiday just a few ways to describe a brunch and children’s Easter Egg great salad. Chef Kevin takes us Hunts with the Easter Bunny. A Platinum Club through the different variations and basic essentials SUNDAY, APRIL 24 of America for preparing a delicious entrée salad that’s filling and nutritious. See menu on page 3. 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Seating every half hour $42.00 per person / $45.00 per person after April 17 SATURDAY, APRIL 2 $22.00 for children 4-11 yrs. 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Complimentary for children under 3 yrs. 10:00 a.m. Registration Easter Egg Hunts 10:15 a.m. Class (begins promptly) $75.00 per person 10:30 a.m. / 12:00 p.m. / 1:30 p.m. Children must bring their own Easter basket. Prizes will be Napa Valley awarded at each hunt to the children who find one of the 12 Vintners* Golden Eggs. Egg hunts are available for both younger and Easter Brunch older children. The egg hunt is for Athenaeum members and Get a taste of Napa Valley’s their guests only. Only children with brunch reservations SUNDAY, APRIL 24 finest here at The Athenaeum. are eligible for the golden egg prizes. See menu on page 5. Celebrate the holiday We’re showcasing Napa’s with your family at premier wineries at this special, Chef’s Table Dinner our lovely brunch. one-of-a-kind tasting event featuring premium tray passed hors d’oeuvres, sushi and appetizer stations. These intimate dinners showcase the extraordinary talents of our culinary TUESDAY, APRIL 5 team. This dinner provides you with 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. an artfully designed meal, as well $25.00 per person. as kitchen insight and preparing expertise from our dinner hosts. See menu on page 5. Administrative Professionals Week International WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 Nights 6:00 p.m. MONDAY, APRIL 25 $125.00 per person through International Nights are the perfect way to FRIDAY, APRIL 29 explore the culinary world Mother’s Day Tea* Treat the most important without leaving town. Join person in your office to us for these special dining experiences. International Treat the exceptional ladies lunch at The Ath and enjoy prix-fixe dinners are available in addition to á la in your family to our elegant a complimentary red velvet carte dinner. See menu on page 5. afternoon Mother’s Day Tea. pudding cake for dessert. MONDAY, APRIL 11 – Sardinia Delightful tea-time delicacies MONDAY, APRIL 25 – Morocco make this a wonderful way to Seating from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. show your love and appreciation. $25.00 per person WEDNESDAY, MAY 4 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reservations Beer Dinner $29.00 / $36.00 including wine cocktail Breakfast, Lunch, Pales, ales, lagers, and porters. This beer dinner has something Dinner and Special Mother’s Day Brunch* for every beer-drinkers' Pamper mom at our lovely Mother’s Day Events preference. Get a taste of a brunch. Celebrate her at our table with (626) 395-8282 variety of beers from around the savory favorites and decadent desserts. world. We’ve carefully crafted Hotel Rooms each course to pair perfectly and to complement the flavor (626) 395-8200 of each beer. See menu on page 5. SUNDAY, MAY 8 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Seating every half hour FRIDAY, APRIL 22 $42.00 per person / $45.00 per person after May 1 6:30 p.m. Reception 551 South Hill Avenue $22.00 for children ages 4-11 yrs. Pasadena, CA 91106 7:00 p.m. Dinner Complimentary for children under 3 yrs. $60.00 per person * All of our event menus are available on our website at http://athenaeum.caltech.edu EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH: (Marisu’s Message Corner) February 2011 A Prayer in Spring JESUS DE LA TORRE Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today; And give us not to think so far away As the uncertain harvest; keep us here All simply in the springing of the year. And make us happy in the darting bird That suddenly above the bees is heard, The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill, And off a blossom in mid air stands still. - Robert Frost (1874-1963) I’ve always started my column with a poem in April since April has been designated as National Poetry month. With spring coming in April, the Robert Frost poem above seems very appropriate as it captures the essence of the month and the season. The Athenaeum attempts to capture the essence of spring and April through the many Jesus De La Torre has been an employee events scheduled for members. The month starts appropriately with a cooking class on of The Athenaeum since 1998. Since then, entrée salads scheduled for Saturday, April 2. With temperatures becoming more temperate, a lighter fare seems to be the best suited for the season. For this particular Jesus has been a much relied upon kitchen class, Chef Kevin will have attendees prepare salads that include sesame crusted chicken, expeditor and server. It is Jesus’ attention duck confit, lobster cobb and grilled Thai beef. It will be a no-guilt lunch! to giving quality service and his helping On Tuesday, April 5, we will be offering tastings from 10 Napa Vallery wineries that will nature which has earned him Employee include Ahnfeldt; Ancien; Detert; Gemstone; Krupp Brothers; Location, Elevation & Slope, Inc.; Rombauer; Schramsberg; Titus; and Tres Sabores. This is an opportunity to of the Month four previous times and taste handcrafted, artisanal and premium wines from all these small Napa Valley wineries in Employee of the Year once before. Jesus one night. Seating is limited. Wine tasting and reception starts at 6:00 p.m. has received much enjoyment from Our International Nights on Mondays have been very successful and well attended. assisting members and forming This month, our kitchen brings to you the flavors ofSardinia on April 11 and friendships over the years. Morocco on April 25. Like the blossoming of the flowers in spring, we end the month with an offering of three more great events – the Beer Dinner on Friday, April 22, Easter Brunch on Sunday, Aside from his position at The April 24 and the Chef’s Table on Wednesday, April 27. The Chef’s Table has been very Athenaeum, Jesus works at Lake Avenue successful with members dining INSIDE the kitchen. Experience first-hand how all those Church supervising the church’s gourmet dishes are prepared by Chef Kevin. Then, Jerry Rodriguez, Food & Beverage Director, expounds on the pairing of the wines with each of the dishes. Definitely not maintenance needs. Time away from to be missed. both jobs is always spent with his wife The Rath al Fresco opens Friday, May 20; 50 days remaining and our countdown has begun. of 17 years and three children. Family time is spent taking part in recreation I look forward to seeing you all at The Athenaeum. Please drop by my office when you are next at the club. and sports activities. The De La Torres The Athenaeum has proudly received the reside in Covina. Award of Merit . from the International Wine Society Marisu Jimenez for the commitment to fine wine & dining experience. General Manager This award is truly one that distinguishes The Athenaeum’s fine dining from other clubs. CARNIVAL! 2 Executive Chef Kevin’s Recipe Corner Almond Fig Feta Risotto Directions Ingredients 1. Place the figs and Marsala in a small sauce pot and simmer briefly for 3-4 minutes. Let cool and cut the figs into small dice. ½ cup dried Mission figs ½ cup Marsala 2. Put the almonds on a baking tray and place in a pre-heated 325 degree oven for ½ cup whole blanched approximately 5-6 minutes or until the almonds are lightly browned. Remove from the California Almonds oven and let cool, coarsely chop the almonds. 2 Tbsps. extra virgin olive oil plus 3. Heat a large sauce pot over medium heat, add the 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil additional to drizzle on cooked and the 3 tablespoons of minced shallots. Sauté the shallots briefly without browning them, risotto (approximately 1 minute). 3 Tbsps. shallots, minced 2 cups Arborio rice 4. Add the Arborio rice and stir with a wooden spoon, evenly coating the rice. Add the ½ cup white wine white wine and while stirring reduce the wine by half. Add 1 1/3 cup of the vegetable stock 4 cups vegetable stock or water or water and continue to cook stirring frequently. When the liquid is almost absorbed into ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled the rice, add an additional 1 1/3 cup of stock and repeat the previous step. Add the last 1 1/3 4 Tbsps. butter cup of the stock again repeating the process, cooking until the stock is absorbed and the rice Salt and black pepper to taste is al dente. Add additional liquid if necessary. 5. Add the almonds, figs, feta cheese and butter to the risotto, season to taste with salt and black pepper. Garnish with additional chopped almonds, grated feta cheese and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.