From left to right, Chef Frederic Larre, Chef Sylvain Leroy, Chef Eric Bertoia, and Chef Calogero Romano 

Have you ever heard of "writers block" or needed some inspiration?  It happens to all of us, and in the food industry it happens to chefs as well.

Unlike most vendors, Paris Gourmet offers a solution to that problem.  A team of chef technicians that service our customers nationwide to answer any technical questions about our products, recipes, consulting, and our favorite... demo day!

Chef Calogero Romano and staff at Malverne Pastry Shop

"Demo day" is a unique service that Paris Gourmet's chef technicians provide.  Depending on your location, the chef technician schedules a date to spend a day in your kitchen to show you and/ or train your staff on how to produce pastries.

Paris Gourmet provides ingredients and recipes for the demo and prior to the day, the chef technician usually discusses and goes over details of what the customer is looking for.

It is a day filled with lots of cooking, photo taking, and the best part... tasting of all the pastries that were produced for that day!

To book a demo and for more information, please contact your sales representative.

Meet our Chefs:

Chef Sylvain Leroy

Instagram @bertoiaeric

Instagram @flarre16

Instagram @charliepastrynewyork

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Last week, Paris Gourmet had a webinar on tomatoes.  Not just any type of tomatoes, but peeled plum tomatoes from Italy!

In cased you missed it, we got you covered!  See below for the video featuring Val Italia tomatoes and feel free to contact us with any questions.

Photo Credit: USA Today

In honor of this years Inauguration Day (January 20th), we dedicate todays blog to weird rules that the staff of The White House Chefs have to follow and former White House Presidents favorite foods.

Photo Credit : WhiteHouse.Arichives.Gov

To find out about former POTUS favorite recipes such as Theodore and Edith Roosevelts spiced cake, John F. Kennedy's New England fish chowder, and Abraham Lincolns corn dodgers, check out the link below

14 Of The Best Recipes From US Presidents and First Ladies

Weird rules that former chefs of The White House have to follow are quite interesting.

The First Lady can hire/fire the executive chefs at anytime.

Presidents can ban foods during their term.  After being served brussels sprouts, George W. Bush was quoted "Tell (chef) Pierre to never serve that to me again!" 

Barack Obama asked the kitchen staff to brew their own beer from scratch using in house ingredients.

Executive Pastry Chefs of The White House spends the whole year planning The White House gingerbread house (on top of their daily duties, banquets, etc).  Baking begins early November and continues the whole month.  After Thanksgiving for 4 days straight, they assemble the house.  Then in December, The White House gingerbread house is on display in The State Dining Room where over 60,000 guests walk through and view this delightful, eye catching treat!

For more weird rules that The White House Chefs have to follow

See the link below

Really Weird Rules White House Chefs Are Forced To Follow

Photo Credit: @floydcardoz

In March we lost Chef Floyd Cardoz to Covid- 19. The food industry was at a loss for such a talented chef that also pioneered Indian cuisine to the mouths of many who dined at his restaurant Tabla.

Photo Credit: @sogadesigncollective

Prior to his death, chef Floyd was working on a collaboration project with a Queens based spice company Burlap & Barrel.

The concept is to create a line of masala blends and thanks to his wife, Barkha Cardoz the product is now available. With each purchase a $1 of the proceeds is donated to Cookies for Kids Cancer.

It is honestly a winning purchase for all parties. We can't wait to hear, taste, see, and of course try all the delicious creations that will come out with this spice line. What an amazing way to honor chef Floyd Cardoz!

NY Times - Floyd Cardoz Masalas Spices

Food and Wine -Floyd Cardoz Burlap Barrel Spices

Photo Credit: NYDailyNews.com

Chef and restaurateur Andrew Carmellini is an Italian American chef based in New York City. Well known for his restaurants such as Locanda Verde and The Dutch, chef Andrew shared his experience as a line cook serving the notorious mobster John Gotti.

Photo Credit: www.grubstreet.com

The story itself is quite intriguing. The fact that it is based on a real life experience in the 90's which was John Gotti's prime. The "Dapper Don" made back then "line cook" Andrew drop everything in the middle of a Saturday night dinner service run down the block in search for some "sole" for the mobsters to consume.

Photo Credit: community.qvc.com

The story ends with Chef Andrew Carmellini learning a valuable lesson that night with him stating "big lesson... doesn't matter who is coming into your restaurant... you have to treat them with respect!"

Another lesson should be embraced as well. At the end of the meal John Gotti's associates went around the restaurant and personally tipped each employee from the waiter to the pastry chef $50 and saying "Mr. Gotti would like to personally thank you for tonight"

We may not have the finances to tip every staff $50 every time you go out to eat, but maybe we should take a page from John Gotti's book and show other ways to appreciate BOH (back of house) staff. Some restaurants are even offering options like a round of beer for the line cooks on their menu's.

A round of beers doesn't sound so bad after all, but can they drink it after they serve us? 😂

What do you think?

Story Time: What Do You Do When John Gotti Comes to Dinner? | On The Line

NoHo Hospitality Group - Chef Andrew Carmellini

GOTTI Official Trailer (2017) John Travolta Mafia Thriller Movie HD

@renatapdx

As time passes our passion for cooking at home continues, but shopping for certain ingredients lacks hope due to inconsistency of sourcing products. So what does one do when they want to cook a delicious meal for their loved ones while in quarantine? The answer is... think locally!

Thanks to companies like Hello Fresh and Blue Apron who paved the way and became pioneers for home cooks to produce quality meals with the convenience of not only having it delivered to your front door, but have all the ingredients measured and ready to throw in the pan. Now, local restaurants are taking a page from that book and starting to supply their neighborhoods with meal kits in both savory meals and sweet treats ready to cook and consume.

@bratobk

Listed below is Paris Gourmet's recommendations of where to get your local "mis en place". So start clicking and planning your meals for this week... bon appetit!

***Did we miss a neighborhood favorite spot of yours? Feel free to comment below where to go and what you suggest to order.***

APPS & MAIN COURSE MEAL KITS

Brooklyn Benchmark Brooklyn, NY

COTE NYC, NY

Sous Vide Kitchen NYC, NY

BREADS & DESSERT MEAL KITS

Plum and Honey Brooklyn, NY

L' imprimerie Brooklyn, NY

ARTICLES THAT FEATURE MORE MEAL KITS

Eater.com NYC Restaurant Family Style Meal Kit

Theinfatuation.com 54 Restaurants Selling Groceries and Meal Kits

Newsday.com Long Island Restaurants Meal Kits

Purewow.com NYC Meal Kits

That is what an odd request, Kiki said while interrupting a conversation between Sous Chef Bib and Executive Chef Roland White. Chef Bib's response to Kiki turns into a semi mental breakdown and a hilarious and legendary scene from a British TV show called "Whites".

So if you miss working the line and wearing an apron check out the list of some great shows and movies focusing on restaurants. This list of entertainment should be a great enjoyment for the chefs and cooks, but most importantly.... a remedy for when you miss working in the kitchen. Please share your favorites scenes, characters, movies, shows and more, so your fellow "chef whites" can agree or agree to disagree.... enjoy!

List of TV Shows:

Whites - A British TV show about an executive chef Roland White, working at a country house hotel with his overworked sous chef Bib, and their quirky and definitely entertaining staff. To laugh and witness the legendary scene, click the link below:

Eggless Omelette- Whites TV Show

The cast of RAW

RAW - A TV show based on the lives of the staff working at a restaurant in Dublin, Ireland. This show is filled with drama and shows you the transitions of both the characters and restaurant as it goes through its ups and downs of owners, staff, and significant others. To most people it seems really intense but to those who work in the food industry, its just another day.

RAW Trailer

Kitchen Confidential - Before The Hangover and A Star is Born, Bradley Cooper took on the lead role of Chef Jack Bourdain in the short lived show loosely based off of Anthony Bourdain's book, No Reservations. This is a kitchen comedy showcasing typical kitchen scenarios into some hilarious entertainment.

Kitchen Confidential - Teddy Takes off

Lists of Movies:

Ratatouille - A Disney and Pixar movie that you can enjoy watching with kids. The movie is about a rat who loves food and can actually cook. HE runs into a young cook at a restaurant and makes an unusual alliance where he is able to cook at a famous restaurant in Paris, France.

Ratatouille - Keep your station clear!

Spanglish - Adam Sandler takes the lead role as a father and chef. This movie features more personal life issues for the characters, but the kitchen moments in this movie are worth watching. Thomas Kellar was the consultant for this movie and Ratatouille as well! He taught Adam Sandler how to make "the world's greatest sandwich", in which this movie is known for that scene.

Spanglish - Sandwich Scene

Chef - John Favreau stars as the main character who is a head chef that quits his job at a restaurant. He decides to buy a food truck to reclaim his culinary creativity while reclaiming his relationship with his son and ex wife, Sofia Vergara. This movie is packed with an all star cast and the chef consultant is LA- based chef Roy Choi, who is known for his food trucks, Kogi.

Chef - Trailer