Alena, Alex, and I had the great pleasure of partaking in Taste of the Nation at the Omni Hotel in New Haven.  This is a yearly event hosted simultaneously all over the country by Share our Strength, an organization dedicated to eradicating childhood hunger.  Ben has always had the philosophy, that while we are in business to make money, charity work must be a huge part of who we are as a company.  This event is particularly fun because instead of just writing a check we are allowed to show off our culinary talents and let the audience be the judges.

There were over thirty restaurants, bakeries, and wine shops in attendance making for an amazing spread for the nearly 400 guests.  Each restaurant gets a small set up space where they cook and prepare their dishes for the audience meandering from table to table, sampling a huge variety of amazing food. This is the third year that La Cuisine has entered the event and we did not disappoint our adoring fans.

We prepared three items, two savory and one sweet, all in mini portions so that guests could come by and sample a bite of everything. Our first offering was a Chipotle Infused Potato Pancake with Marinated Grilled Flank Steak topped with an Avocado Cream Fraiche.  Our second offering was a Mushroom  Slider served with our Lemon Aioli on mini House Baked Brioche Buns.  And last but not least was our dessert, a Spring Berry Shot served in mini shot glasses.  Rhubarb compote was the first layer followed by a small thin round of vanilla cake then topped with strawberry mousse and finally a dollop of lemon meringue.  The dish conjured up images of spring and summer while maintaining the perfect balance between sweet and tart.  The reaction of our guests said it all as the different layers of the dessert all interacted harmoniously, generating big smiles and requests for seconds.

This event is particularly satisfying for an number of reasons.  First, you see several area business putting on their best face, presenting amazing food that is beautifully displayed. There is a slightly competitive edge to the entire event because the audience and a small panel of judges decide on best entree, best dessert, best table presentation, and people’s choice.  Because pride is on the line every restaurant really pushes the envelope with their food and presentation.  Finally and most importantly, it just feels good to know that 100 percent of the proceeds to this event go to ending child hunger. This year alone over $60,000 was raised on behalf of Share our Strength.  On a final note, the event was made just a touch sweeter for La Cuisine by claiming the title of Best Dessert on heels of last years Best Entree.  Hope to see you all next April for Taste of the Nation New Haven!

Tags: audience, bakeries, Ben, charity, chefs, childhood, enjoy, feelings, food, hunger, judges, La Cuisine, restaurants, Share our Strength, taste of the nation

Since our opening last July we have been committed to using all natural chicken and beef.  Many of our new customers often ask me why we have made this choice. We here at La Cuisine truly believe that all natural chicken and beef simply taste better and are better for the environment than their conventional counterparts.  Read on for more details!

Does all natural protein taste better than conventional?

We believe this is a big yes and probably our number one reason for using these proteins.   We have found that all natural chicken has a deeper, earthier flavor, tasting in fact more like chicken. The breasts remain tender when cooked and do not have a tendency to dry out even when reheated.  All natural beef exhibits many of the same properties, the beef has better marbling (fat dispersed throughout a particular cut) and the flavor is deeper and richer than conventional products.

All natural chicken and beef are fed using feed that is exactly what the name implies “All Natural”.  That means no animal byproducts are feed to the animals, they eat corn, whole grains, grass, and minimally processed feed.  This also means that there are no antibiotics in the animals feed.  They fight diseases naturally and are not pumped full of hormones to mask real flavor.  This ultimately allows the animal to live a more normal life, as nature intended.  As the end consumer of a long natural cycle, we benefit from all that the animal has ingested.

Most conventional chickens and cows are kept in massive holding areas as they grow and are prepared for harvest.  Their feed is filled with antibiotics and hormones to protect them from being in such close quarters with each other and to artificially inflate their growth rates so they can reach weight faster.  As a result, meat does not develop the deep complex flavor of all natural proteins.  Often times we find conventional meat to be bland and flavorless.  Sauces and rubs easily mask the flavors of the product instead of working in harmony with it as with all natural chicken and beef.

Is all natural chicken and beef better for the environment?

We believe the answer is yes.  Animals are not kept in massive holding lots like their conventional counterparts.  Therefore, animal waste can be processed at normal levels instead of the massive amounts of animal by product that occurs from conventional husbandry.  Many farms actually use their own animal manure to fertilize crops on their land thereby keeping the growth cycle within the farm itself.  Animals eat natural feeds that their own manure originally helped to fertilize.  Sounds slightly graphic but the truth comes out when you taste the products.

All natural feed helps to support organic and all natural farming, minimizing the use of pesticides on the land.  Crops and feed grown organically and all naturally use natural pesticides and herbicides to protect against insects.  As a result farm run off is not toxic and does not contribute to the pollution of our creeks, streams, rivers, lakes, and ultimately the ocean.

All natural beef and chicken tastes fantastic, is better for the environment, and as a result is ultimately better for you the consumer. Stop by today and try our delicious all-natural chicken and beef dishes.  See for yourself what all natural is all about!

Please check out the following web sites for more information on all-natural proteins:

Our meat supplier: www.cambridgepacking.com

All-natural chicken farm: www.springermountainfarms.com

All-natural beef: www.brandtbeef.com

Tags: all-natural, animals, antibiotics, beef, chicken, conventional, environment, flavor, hormones, La Cuisine, pesticides, proteins, taste