Posts Tagged ‘Emerila Lagasse’
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
By Buzz McClain
Courtesy of Planet Green
Yours truly shared the frustration of trying to feed interesting fare to my divergent family (flexitarian daughter, protein-devouring son, hard working spouse) with the “Emeril Green” producers. Chef Lagasse took pity.
Catch my reality TV-cooking gauntlet—taped over six hours at the Fair Lakes’ Whole Foods—July 13 at 8 p.m. on Planet Green.
- 1:06 p.m.: I’m absorbed into the scrum of cameras, lights and boom mics that follow Emeril around. I shake his hand—the same one I’ve seen make chicken fried pork chops with andouille milk gravy on “Emeril Live.”
- 2:25 p.m.: We cruise the aisles looking for ingredients. Emeril admits he has no idea what we’re going to make.
- 2:45 p.m.: “Oyster sauce,” I ask, “does it have oysters in it?” He explains yes, wise guy, why do you think they call it that? “Well,” I say, “then what’s baby oil?” Emeril laughs (he gets my joke).
- 3:10 p.m.: The menu unfolds: Mongolian barbecue, vegetable lo mein, scallion and mushroom pancakes, and pickled radishes with daikon. I’ve never eaten—much less made—any of it before.
- 4:30 p.m.: There are few breaks once we start the marinades for the chicken and pork. Things speed up as he begins conjuring the meal. He’s doing this from his head. It feels like a magic trick.
- 5:15 p.m.: My family arrives on set to sample the fare. Of course it gets a passing grade; what else are they going to say? But it is good. I intend to keep it in my kitchen playbook for a long time.
- 6:00 p.m.: I depart with 10 pounds of Asian food prepared by Emeril himself—when’s that happening again? In an hour, I’m reheating it for dear friends who offer up good wine.
(July 2009)
