From the Editor

What a year we have had! We opened the Simple Gourmet Kitchen, expanded our cooking classes to include guest chefs and cookbook authors, launched new catering services to include to-go options, discovered new team builiding event locations and launched our first Food Drive! We worked harder this year than ever before and still had a great time!

We feel so lucky to have the support of our clients, friends and staff - you are all truly a part of our Simple Gourmet family. We wish you the very best Holiday Season and can't wait to cook with you (and for you!) again in 2010.

Every season has something special to offer. Some fruit or vegetable that is truly not available any other time of the year (even in our warm-weathered California). One of our favorite Fall/Winter gems is Persimmons. The two varieties, Fuyu and Hachiya, are so different and both so delicious. If you’ve walked by them every year in the grocery store, we encourage you to give them a try this season.

Fuyus are firm, like ripe apples, and have a similar texture to a crisp apple variety. The surprise is in the taste, which is something like a Autumn version of an apricot. Hachiyas are the shorter, quart persimmons and are very soft when ripe. At their best, you can simply cut into them and spread their soft centers like jam. Here are some of our favorite ways to eat them:

- Wrap slices of Fuyus with Prosciutto and drizzle with aged balsamic vinegar for a salty and sweet snack.

- Use chunks of Fuyus in Fall salads with other seasonal favorites like pomegranates, apples, fennel, celery and a salty cheese.

- Hachiyas are best known for playing the starring role in steamed puddings (kind of like a giant steamed cake). But we love them simple spread on cinnamon-raising toast with a little butter.

- Blend ripe Hachiyas with Greek yogurt, a pinch of cinnamon, some banana and a bit of orange juice for an amazing Fall smoothie.

One of our favorite bakers, David Lebovitz, has an extraordinary recipe for Persimmon Bread from James Beard on his blog. Check it out!

The season of entertaining is here and that can mean a lot of stress about throwing the perfect holiday party. Here are some easy tips on taking that popular cheese platter to the next level.

- Toss together baby mozzarella balls with pitted Kalamata olives, red chili flakes, orange zest, chopped chives and olive oil. Serve with toothpicks.

- Crumble mild goat cheese in an oven-safe small dish and top with store-bought chutney or jam (try things like cranberry chutney that’s only available this time of year). Bake at 375 degrees until warm and bubbly. Serve with sliced baguette.

- Pair a soft, creamy blue cheese with a good quality fruit and nut bread (La Brea Bakery is our favorite) for the perfect blend of sweet and savory.

- Serve slices of good aged cheddar on crostini with a dollop of apple butter (or pumpkin butter) for a seasonal twist on the classic apple-and-cheddar combo.

- If you do just want to put together a simple cheese platter, here is what to keep in mind: choose one soft (like brie), one semi-soft (like Port Salut) and one firm (like an aged Gouda) for a nice variety. Use a fork and break the harder cheese into irregular chunks for easy eating. Always serve some fresh or dried fruit on the platter for flavor and color contrast. Find some interesting, tall crackers or breadsticks to serve standing up in glasses for a nice visual effect.
 

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NEW!! Basic Cooking Series

Join us in January for our new Everyday Basic Cooking Series. Designed for home cooks who want to learn the basics and improve their cooking, these three classes will be full of life-changing culinary tips.

Everyday Sauces - The cornerstone to any great cook's repertoire is sauces. We'll teach the ones you need to know.

Meat & Seafood -- The bacbone to cooking delicious meat and seafood: how to braise, grill, sear and roast.

Vegetables, Beans and Grains -- Always wondered how to make these foods taste good? We'll show you how to incorporate these into your everyday cooking.

Sign up for all three and get $30 back!

JANUARY CLASSES

Mediterranean One-Pot Meals - Sooth your soul with these simmering one-pot meals and learn to make the most out of a few ingredients. Our Quick Pasta Fagiol and Fennel-Tomato-Bread Soup will soon be family favorites.

KIDS CLASS: Superbowl Party Food - Get  your kids in the kitchen to help with Superbowl Party prep. They'll come home with recipes for the best-ever sliders, homemade salsa, and chocoalte chunk cookies.

Fridays with Friends: Sushi & Kirin Beer - Bring a date or just a friend for a night of cooking and eating! We'll roll sushi and wash it all down with Kirin Beer.

Click here to see all our upcoming classes and sign up!

Holiday Food Drive

We are hosting a Food Drive for the Los Angeles Food Bank from December 7th - January 15th. Come by the Simple Gourmet Kitchen anytime between 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Monday through Friday to drop off canned and boxed food items. Our goal is to gather 200 pieces of food by the end of the drive! With each donation, you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a free cooking class.