The DC Metropolitan Cooking Show 2009

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The DC Metropolitan Food & Cooking Show

Below or here: Wild, Farm-Raised Thanksgiving Turkey and Stuffing; Rigatoni with Squash; Spinach Tostadas with Shrimp and Potatoes; Pad Thai; Chicken with Spinach Arugula Pesto; Broiled Sockeye Salmon with Caper Cream Cheese Butter and Roasted Onion Risotto; Oyster Gratin

Food network stars. Demos by some of the best chefs from around the area. Hundreds of food and beverage producers. Kitchen suppliers and naturally, people to help you lose weight, too.

The D.C. Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show (MCES) held in early November is a two-day food orgy, a Woodstock, a real millennial-style happenin' of food. The wine, the food, and yes the money, flowed freely. No wonder, as the MCES points out, it's one of the fastest growing tradeshows in the nation.

On Saturday, when we visited, Celebrity Chefs Giada De Larentiis, Guy Fieri, and Paula Deen and her extended family all demo'd. Sunday, the Neely's were due in, and Paula Deen would be back for more.

The Paula Deen show was a lovefest. Literally thousands of fans and admirers filled the hall (we tried to count). Behind the stove, the boys and staff got to cooking while Paula manned the mike, mugged for the camera, and rocked the house. It was something to see.

On the floor, there were non-stop events, three stages (one for kids), a wine and beer tasting area, and dozens of exhibitors. Several exhibitors were locals: Caroline's Cakes, Little Ragghi's Crackers, Divine Chocolate (fair trade Ghana chocolate headquartered here).

Our local boys at Pork Barrel BBQ were there with BBQ sauce and the All American Spice Rub we love. Word has it they're working on a restaurant opening next spring, go to their website and sign on to their Twitter account for updates. We also discovered a terrific Somali Chai from Barlin Ali in D.C.

Speaking of websites, go check out the site for the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show.

You'll discover that A) there are three of these events yearly, another in Palm Beach and one in Atlanta, and B) that in each area are LOADS of recipes, there for your enjoyment. For the recipe Paula's family made, you'll need to search the Atlanta file. Here are just a few of the recipes of dozens available:

Click for these recipes from the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show:

♦ Wild, Farm-Raised Thanksgiving Turkey and Stuffing (Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve)
♦ Rigatoni with Squash (Giada DeLaurentiis)
♦ Spinach Tostadas with Shrimp and Potatoes (Guy Fieri)
♦ Pad Thai (Carla Hall)
♦ Chicken with Spinach Arugula Pesto (Patrice Olivon, L'Academie de Cuisine)
♦ Broiled Sockeye Salmon with Caper Cream Cheese Butter and Roasted Onion Risotto (Barton Seaver, Blue Ridge)
♦ Oyster Gratin (Daniel Giusti, 1789 Restaurant)

Caroline Reutter of Caroline's Cakes

The butterheads wait for Paula

Streaming in to celebrity theatre.

Paula Deen and Family entertain the foodies

Paula's devoted fans wave butter sticks.

Barton Seaver of Blue Ridge demos.

D.C. foodies line up for book signings.

Guy of Little Ragghi's Crackers from Ocean City, MD

Divine Chocolate lives up to its name.

Lots of peanuts folks. Belmont, here, and the Peanut Board, too.