Category: Food

Tom Cruise towards the end of the movie Jerry Maguire says to Renee Zellweger, “You complete me.” A truer word has not been spoken when it comes to food and wine.

As my experience in the restaurant business has taken me to many different places the understanding and wisdom I have realized through that portal of the culinary arts has helped me in many different facets of life.

Attention to detail, communication through the discerning eye of the guest, and of course the humbleness when you realize the vast subject you’ve undertaken. All of these nuances gives your life outside the culinary world a perspective of three things:

1. 1. How much you know.
   2. How much you don’t know.
   3. How much you don’t even know what to ask.

So that leads to a quest to find the knowledge that will create an experience for the guest that goes beyond their expectations. This starts with trust. When a guest asks you your opinion regarding the pairing of food and wine this sets the stage for an interesting communication, and remember its not important what you like.

The art of this communication is to ask the questions that will lead you to what the guest is looking for. It is important that the pairing of food and wine is kept simple and straight forward. I have realized, after talking with several Master Sommeliers, this is not a game to prove how much you know. This is the expertise of leading the guest to style and structure providing the perfect solution for the ultimate goal.

That goal is to enhance the food experience with a wine that tastes better because you correctly paired the perfect wine based upon the guest preference and the knowledge you’ve acquired through years of learning this very task. There are several indicators as to how to choose the wine with the food the guest has chosen.

Is their preference red or white wine? Dry or sweet? Do they prefer bigger or more subtle wines? And so the dialogue continues until you’ve arrived on a category. Within that category comes the question most don’t like to ask but must be considered, price point.

Obviously if they like white burgundies but only want to spend a $100.00 they perhaps can be gently persuaded to move to a more realistic category. A category that would provide a better product than a $100.00 bottle of white burgundy for half the cost of a comparable product. This would lead them to a California chardonnay.

The gentle movement of regions from France (old world) to California (new world) can be achieved by telling them that in 1976 at the now famous “Paris Tasting” the 1972 Chateau Montelena chardonnay produced by winemaker Miijenko Grgic (now Grgich) beat all white burgundies in a blind tasting thus creating the platform for international recognition of new world wines.

As the barrels are important to the production of wine so are the kitchen tools used to enhance the food chosen by the guest. There are no greater culinary tools than the PAZAZ ™ kitchen tools. The Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat, the Heavy Duty Aluminum Baking Sheet Pan, and the Steel Mesh Cooling Rack.

You will find when you go to pazazshop.com and purchase the PAZAZ ™ kitchen tools… they complete you.

Having lived in different cities in the United States that geographically are located in the north, south, east, and west I must say that Vegas continues to deliver within the confines of, but not limited to, construction of major projects, celebrity chefs, food of all kinds, and of course entertainment.

Nancy and I arrived to Vegas in 2002 and here is a list of just a few of the construction projects we’ve witnessed completed:

1. 1. 1. The entire 215 six-eight lane highway
      2. The Wynn Hotel/Casino
      3. The Encore Hotel/Casino
      4. The Green Valley Hotel/Casino
      5. The Red Rock Hotel/Casino
      6. The Entire City Center (so large they wanted to give it a separate zip code)
      7. Two Water Parks
      8. Demolition and sometimes reconstruction of many already established restaurants and casinos
      9. The T-Mobile Arena
      10. And of course the two billion dollar “Las Vegas Stadium” new home for the Raiders football team

All of the above construction projects are finished except for the “Las Vegas Stadium” which will be completed before the beginning of the 2019 NFL football season.

In the last twelve months we’ve seen “One” the Michael Jackson show (Cirque du Soleil), Tony Bennet, Ringo Star and his All Stars, La Reve (Cirque du Soleil), and the Moody Blues 50th anniversary tour, all at different venues in Las Vegas. This is but a very small sampling of the entertainment that’s available every night in Las Vegas.

Of course to compliment the world class entertainment you must have world class chefs offering their ever changing delectable culinary treats. Chefs like Jean George, Joel Robuchon (named chef of the century in 1989 by the prestigious guide Gault Millau), Guy Savoy, Jose Andres, Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsay, Alain Ducasse, and of course Wolfgang Puck are but a few of the almost thirty world class chefs represented in Las Vegas. With top flight purveyors accessing products from around the world usually within 24 hours to compliment the talented and ever changing restaurant scene… the product selection and quality is literally unsurpassed.

As Vegas gets bigger, better, faster, through change in every different medium it is the constant evolution of gracious hospitality that connects the dots for the expanding list of guests from our own USA and other countries around the world.

The guests are more demanding because the world through smart devices seems like a smaller more accessible place. The guests expect more because of the exposure unfolding before us reflecting the constant stratospheric dissemination of information. Reviews of everything raise the bar through the human element of experience so that others can make a more intelligent decision.

PAZAZ ™ products mirror this revelation because of the five star quality reflected by the reviews of customers from around the country. All hand-crafted products, the Silicone Non-Stick Baking Mat, Heavy Duty Baking Sheet Pan, and the Steel Mesh Cooling Rack are now being used by some of the above world class chefs. There is one item that is included that I’m very proud of but I have to admit so far the world class chefs seem to ignore… my complementary cook book included with the purchase of the PAZAZ ™ products.

But who knows, if someday I see one of my recipes being used by any one of the chefs mentioned above I will know that duplication is the greatest form of flattery.

Today I’m in Chicago, a town I’ve never been to before. Earlier this year Nancy and I were in Boston, this in some ways reminds me of that experience. Discovering new amazing places and then crafting that experience in a short period of time is an art.

Because time is limited this actually helps me design a list of places to see. Reviews, speaking with people that have been here, and then sculpting the list to conform with our own interests creates the perfect vacation strategy.

It’s been years since I fondly remember the days of frequenting the Jazz nightclubs of San Francisco. Friday night we heard the Denise Thimes Quintet at the Winters Jazz Club in Chicago. What an amazing ensemble featuring drums, bass, guitar, piano, and of course, the vocals of Miss Denise Thimes. The harmony and driving beat behind the sensual yet powerful voice of Denise Thimes was something I will never forget.

Denise was personally asked by Aretha Franklin to sing at her 70 birthday party in New York City. Only a select few elite musicians were represented at that event. I admit I had no idea who Denise Thimes was. After about three minutes I quickly discovered that inner smile you can only associate with the moment you discover something special. I found the driving rhythmic sub plots and the complex tonality of chord changes within the context of many of the Jazz standards to be an elevated level of musician ship rarely witnessed in small Jazz venues.

After the Jazz we finished the night at an acclaimed Chicago fine dinning restaurant, BOKA. Finishing strong is important and BOKA didn’t disappoint. The chef sent out several treats as compliments to enhance the meal and set the tone for the dining experience.

Ricotta dumplings topped with fresh black truffles were among the surprise gifts from the kitchen. Jon Leopold the general manager was very kind and gracious coming to our table to help orchestrate the food and wine.

I’m not sure how much restaurant people realize their dialogue, graciousness, and personalized touch enhance what would otherwise be just another good meal. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that at that point I had to reach out to Mr. Leopold and tell him about PAZAZ ™ and the brand I am very proud to have created.

The next day was filled with discovery as we took the Architectural Boat Cruise up and down the Chicago River. What a wonderful way to hear about the history of Chicago through the historical insight of those that helped create its beautiful sky line.

After the boat cruise it was on to the Chicago Art Institute one of the oldest and most respected museums in the United States. I was in awe as I stood so close to the original art of Picasso, Chagall, Dali, Matisse, and so many more.

I’d have to say that my favorite painting was “The Old Guitarist” painted by Picasso when he lived in Barcelona. Picasso was 22 years old at the time and this period was called his “blue period” (1901-1904). The painting reflects the artist’s sympathy for the downtrodden as he knew very well having been penniless during all of 1902.

That night, after being very active all day, we dressed for dinner and went to what turned out to be a very magical dining experience. It is rare when you come upon a restaurant, Spiaggia, that evokes the feeling of rapture. By mere definition it is “the transporting of a person from one place to another” or “the feeling of ecstasy, bliss”.

I want to thank Lucas Chapman the general manager as he and his staff conducted, performed, and executed a dining event that will never be forgotten. Just one example was the chef coming to our table and personally shaving white truffles into a hand crafted gnocchi. There were so many wonderful nuances that were added by Mr. Chapman and the staff with each course being performed flawlessly.

Again I promoted PAZAZ ™as the ultimate Silicone Baking Mat (used in chef Jean Georges Restaurant at the Aria Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas, and Michael Mina’s restaurant, Bardot, at the Aria), Heavy Duty Baking Sheet Pan, and the Steel Mesh Cooling Rack. I will be sending Mr. Chapman samples to enhance their experience in the kitchen of Spiaggia using the finest kitchen tools, PAZAZ ™.

Today it was the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. Soon we’ll be leaving this amazing city but what I’ve taken away from this town is that as in any city its the people you meet that helps create the experience that eventually turns into something you’ll never forget.

Beyond the musical and culinary treats their is so much beauty within the windy city.

As we prepare ourselves for the onslaught of the Holidays our attention turns to the ingredients that make these days so special. Of course it’s the combination of family, friends, social events, and the sometimes overlooked humanitarian thoughts that propel us to become better people.

86 days, 12 hours, 46 minutes and 51 seconds left until Christmas. That is the countdown as I write this blog to promote my PAZAZ™ products for the holidays. All of these holidays have one thing in common… baking and preparing food, which creates an unparalleled connection to family and friends around these wonderful, very special, once a year occasions.

Whether its baking or preparing savory items the PAZAZ™ Silicone Baking Mat, Heavy Duty Baking Sheet Pan, or the Steel Mesh Cooling Rack can launch your recipes into success. Release the stress of timing your recipes based upon inferior kitchen tools. Prepare exact time honored dishes with the confidence that the connectivity between the heat and the dish are conducted evenly and seamlessly to propel you to the kind of success you deserve.

Before I launched these products I received samples from over twenty manufacturers out of one hundred contacted. I then had a check list of what is important to me in baking and preparing both sweet and savory dishes. This list included but was not limited to testing each sample through a series of rigorous tasks designed to test both the heat conductivity, durability, longevity, extreme heat and cold flashing, and the ease of cleaning said products.

In addition to the above criteria I had others test and comment on size, convenience, and results of preparing both savory and sweet products. After months of testing and analyzation I drilled the choices down to five manufacturers that represented through reviews and personal contact the semblance of organization, ease of communication, and the immediate follow-through required for excellent customer service.

If you purchase the PAZAZ™ bundle of all three products in the next thirty days I will also send you a Go-Comb (sixteen dollar value) as my way of saying thanks for your support. PAZAZ™ represents a small business dedicated to quality and enriched by excellent customer service. Bring back “The Magic of Cooking!” with PAZAZ ™ and thank you in advance for your support!

As cooking evolves into an art form that has been exposed to the masses we embrace the possibility of creating a dish that provokes our creativity and smiles upon our most satisfying impulses.

This evolution of sorts has been the result of a heightened exposure through many different forms of the media to exact an almost religious fervor among patrons of this art form. Every different form of cooking show is now broadcast 24/7 to the delight of foodies. Not to mention magazines, talk shows, and blogs such as this one.

When I say every different form, the amount of various configurations of TV shows are endless. We have been exposed to many cooking shows and these are but a few of them; Master Chef (name the city), Master Chef Junior, Chopped, Hell’s Kitchen, CupCake Wars, Cutthroat Kitchen, Iron Chef, and my personal favorite… THROWDOWN with Bobby Flay. Seeing a competitive chef compete against someone that has one spectacular dish is amazing. You have to give chef Flay major kudos when he tries to best another chef on their home turf with a recipe he attempts to duplicate (with a twist), the dish the other chef has been executing for years.

I digress. The reason I mention the above fervor is because with this exposure comes a renewed importance in regards to the culinary and social aspects of food. When using the PAZAZ ™ kitchen products (Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat, Heavy Duty Aluminum Baking Sheet Pan, and the Steel Mesh Cooling Rack), we understand the nuances of quality that help us execute the recipe we’ve seen on TV or the dish we’ve tasted in our favorite restaurant.

This connecting of the dots between food, friends and family becomes an event centered around the love we express through the food we share, or the food we prepare for others. There are few social interactions that we treasure anymore but this is one that has taken on an almost symbiotic relationship between the chef and the guests, friends, or family the food is prepared for.

The importance of cooking with PAZAZ ™ cannot be overstated. To bring a recipe to life through the tools that provide you the greatest opportunity for success means you are honoring yourself and those that trust your expertise. With that labor of love the bridge is built from food to family subtly forming a sensory image that will last well beyond the moment we just captured on film.

From the timing of life’s events to the simple execution of a recipe, timing is everything. I reflect over the course of my life and I see the daily changes that are magnified by the choices I’ve made. This, in almost every case, has to do with either an opportunity lost or a positive moment seized.

A planned positive result is realized by the hard work we put in to line up that event so that the outcome leads us to a calculated win. In the culinary arts we read and execute a recipe that becomes a statement about the many experiences that led us to prepare that dish. I have found that creating layers of flavors entices the recipient to enjoy the many facets of sweet, savory, spicy, combined with textures that intrigue and delight.

No recipe can be executed without calculating the timing that marry’s the ingredients into a cohesive dish. It’s interesting how this formula translates to a series of simple and seemingly unconnected dots that connect into a picture that becomes a vision for success.

When I was a kid I was introduced to building model cars. At first I’d build and paint the outside of the car, put it together, and put it on my shelf. Later I realized that to undertake this task and complete it effectively I had to add the engine. Not because the car actually functioned but because the integrity of the experience was not completely realized. Painstakingly I would assemble those small parts that eventually helped me somewhat understand the inner workings of the engine. Of course without the engine this model was just a shell without the drive.

Without the glue and the proper tools to complete the building of the model it would have been virtually impossible to finish the task. That coupled with the understanding of how the parts fit together and the proper way to assemble the car was an integral part of success.

As we assemble recipes we must follow the steps to perfect the timing that will infuse the flavors perfectly… this is the art. The timing is enhanced by the conductive properties of the PAZAZ ™ products. The PAZAZ ™ non-stick silicone baking mat, heavy duty baking sheet pan, and the cooling rack work together and functions like the glue that holds the recipe together.

The car without the engine is the recipe without the steps being followed in order to execute the timing that is necessary to maintain the integrity of the dish.

Throughout history the most successful endeavors which include but are not limited to the military, business, or sports are the ones that morph individuals into a cohesive team that works as one to achieve a common goal.

Militarily branches and “teams” are responsible for the very freedoms we enjoy today. The Seals, Rangers, The Green Berets, and dozens of other branches of our armed forces train to perfect the most effective way to combat threats. Teamwork increases the advantage in every form of military unit, business, and sport.

In business, Hewlett Packard started as two men working to create technical solutions to devices and then sell to business and the public… this brand began in a garage. Jobs and Wozniak (founders of Apple) wanted to change the way people viewed computers, small enough to use in their homes or business. Now Apple demonstrates a world wide presence that encompasses a variety of devices that have become the standard for a social and economic paradigm shift.

An Austrian born American chef, Wolfgang Puck’s notoriety began in 1982 when he opened Spago in Los Angeles. His team began assembling a like minded group of top quality restaurant management and staff to become a hospitality juggernaut. Involved in over 100 restaurants, retail operations, and catering, his legacy however involves perhaps his greatest vision, bringing world class restaurants to Las Vegas.

In this masterful stroke of genius he supplanted the buffet with top flight restaurants and now food, beverage, and entertainment has netted more revenue for hotel/casinos then gambling.

Within the orchestration of these team concepts comes that one absolute. Without the proper tools to succeed these different tasks that government and entrepreneurial ventures attempt would be virtually impossible to execute without the magic ingredients or the highest quality tools to overcome the obstacles encountered.

When you began to create a team to prepare a dish in the kitchen it is vitally important to incorporate the highest quality kitchen tools on the market today. Bring PAZAZ ™to the kitchen and the use of our Silicone Non-Stick Baking Mat, Steel Mesh Cooling Rack, and the Heavy Duty Aluminum Baking Sheet Pan will bring the “Magic of Cooking” to a dinner that ultimately becomes a memory.

The teamwork I speak of is you and the products that PAZAZ ™ provides. Be it in a restaurant or at home our success in the kitchen will be greatly enhanced by the PAZAZ ™ bundle of products.

These PAZAZ ™products work together as one in a team effort to create a magical moment that brings a smile to the faces of all those that sample our very special culinary creations. With PAZAZ ™in your kitchen success is now a given as preparedness and opportunity meet.