Friday, June 14, 2013

Ice Cream and Berries and Cake, Oh, My!

Ice Cream and Berries and Cake, Oh, My!

There are a number of things that happen around here that I file under the category of Being a Food Blogger Does Not Suck.  Samples of fun new kitchen tools for me to play with and review.  Boxes that arrive with free cookies, bottles of liquor and all kinds of other tasty samples.  Coupons.  And the occasional really cool invitation.

Ice Cream and Berries and Cake, Oh, My!
Strawberry Lemonade Smash Cocktails
How cool you ask?  What would you say if you were invited to a private event at the Jacques Torres chocolate store where you could meet Mr. Chocolate himself, taste sample after sample of all his new ice cream flavors complete with outrageous toppings, sip a rum cocktail made with fresh strawberries courtesy of co-host Driscoll's Berries and stuff your face with freshly made strawberry shortcake in honor of National Strawberry Shortcake day?  You'd say hell yes, that's what you'd say!  I did, too.





Ice Cream and Berries and Cake, Oh, My!
The drool-worthy selection of ice cream toppings!
I brought my friend Susan from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen because that's a woman who loves ice cream, booze and cake!  We both stuffed ourselves sick daintily sampled a variety of the offered treats and declared them to be quite fine.  Some items, like the ice creams, needed to be sampled multiple times to arrive at that conclusion but it's all in a day's work for a food blogger.








Ice Cream and Berries and Cake, Oh, My!
Anita (left) and Susan (right) with Chef Jacques Torres
We also both imposed on Chef Torres to pose for photographs.  I have no idea why the photographer (that would be my girl, Susan) caught me not smiling because I was pretty much grinning from ear to ear around this man.  Talent aside, he is one of the warmest, friendliest people I've ever had the pleasure to meet and his perpetual smile makes everything right with the world.




Ice Cream and Berries and Cake, Oh, My!
The evening's fun included a gift bag with some of the Jacques Torres chocolates, a well made whisk (can never have too many of those), the recipe for the shortcake, a pound of the plump, juicy Driscoll's berries and a container of the new strawberry ice cream line.  I wish I could say I enjoyed these items but Brian pretty much relieved me of them as soon as he was home and all I saw afterwards were empty containers and a happily smiling man.  Oh, well...

Ice Cream and Berries and Cake, Oh, My!


Ice Cream and Berries and Cake, Oh, My!
Check out this link to see Driscoll's anatomy of a shortcake and read other fun strawberry facts.  I have a long standing love of shortcake and I made my own, light version, using the beautiful Driscoll's berries in honor of National Strawberry Shortcake Day.  You can see my recipe here and check out Driscoll's on Facebook and Pinterest for more delicious inspiration. 

9 comments:

  1. Thanks again for brining me, it was a fun time for sure! I told Braden he's not allowed to eat the ice cream because I have plans for it.

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  2. Oh wow what a great event! It so fun to meet the food celebrities like Mr. Chocolate!!

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  3. You are soooo cute! Well, if you get all that free stuff - you and Brian may as well just quit work now and enjoy the spoils. When my blog grows up I want it to be just like yours! :) Love strawberries and cream!

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  4. This is over the top cool and I'm trying to not be jealous but it's not working. High 5 for you!!!

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  5. This is definitely how a food blogger's life should be every day! Next time, give me some notice so I can go with you!

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  6. Oh my goodness!! Well you can color me positively green with envy!! What a fun day. Yes, being a food blogger really does have its benefits sometimes, you hit the jackpot here!
    (And I've never had any alcohol to sample... still waiting for that one!! :) )

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  7. I'm with Kayle--jealous! Look at you two lovely ladies cooing all over Mr. Chocolate. How lucky! Did he smell sweet? I bet he did.

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  8. Jealousy is dripping through my veins right now. What an amazing event! Those are great photos of you and Susan. Mr. Chocolate looks like such a sweet man (pun intended)! I'd give my right arm to go to an event like that. I'm glad you ladies had a deliciously fun time!

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