20180314 - New Spring Summer Menu, Chocolate Guiness Cake with Irish Cream Filling

I've heard it said that travel is one of the best ways a chef can reboot his or her creative juices. I could not agree more! In the last couple of years, I've been doing a lot of traveling, mostly because my children. They are all in their 20's now and have either finished or are finishing up college and I have been tagging along with them a bit as they are seeing the world while studying abroad. I didn't do that in my 20's, so now I get to live vicariously through them. I'm very lucky to be able to do this and my children have been great traveling companions! This week I'm going to Dublin with a friend then meeting up with my son Jake as he finishes his last quarter of college studying Europe. These trips have been invaluable to me in broadening my horizons and helping to inspire my menus and classes. I hope you have enjoyed the inspiration too!

Here in Los Angeles...LA Food Works has launched a new website, or to be more specific, a new design for our website. The old design was very dated but now we have a gorgeous new look that is up and running! lafoodworks.com Go have a look! Even better, google us and then go look! We are still tweaking some final details but we are very excited about it!

Also, this will be the last installment of my newsletter/blog in this format. With the new website, comes a new blog format. I'm really looking forward to sharing all that with you too!

We've also released our new Spring-Summer 2018 Menu. Go look at that too! And check out one of the new dessert recipes below. It's perfect for St. Paddy's Day. I hope you enjoy what the entire menu has to offer and come cook with us soon! Don't forget to become an LAFW Facebook Fan. Click Here to get fun updates from our kitchen or check us out on Instagram.

LA Food Works is proud to present our new Spring-Summer 2018 Menu! Our signature interactive, hands-on cooking parties are ideal for corporate summer outings, summer associate events, team building exercises, client entertaining, birthday parties, showers and the celebration of any special occasion!

* Hors d'oeuvre and beverage reception on arrival
* Fun and knowledgeable chef instructors to guide you through your recipes
* Private cooking and dining experience at our charming venues
* Seasonal gourmet menu selections for lunch, brunch or dinner
* Chef aprons to use while you are cooking
* Recipe packets for everyone to take home

Grilled Game Hen with Z’houg
(This option can be done with hen and/or steak)
Spinach Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Za’atar Vinaigrette
Grilled Mixed Vegetables with Tahini Dressing
Baked Minty Rice with Feta and Pomegranate

Dry Rubbed Grilled Beef Tenderloin
with Fire Roasted Onion Salsa
(This option can be done with steak and/or chicken)
Pickleback Slaw
Creamed Corn with Kale and Lemon
Root Beer Baked Beans

Coconut Shrimp Curry with Turmeric and Lemongrass
(This option can be done with shrimp and/or chicken)
Mango and Avocado Salad with Peanut Dressing
Malia Broccoli – Roasted Broccoli with Cashews and Cardamom
Masoor Dal – Spiced Red Lentils and Sweet Potatoes

Peruvian Roasted Chicken
(This option can be done with chicken and/or steak)
Quinoa Salad with Roasted Vegetables and Lime Vinaigrette
Grilled Zucchini with Aji Sauce and Salsa Criolla
Tacu Tacu – White Bean and Rice Pancakes

Roasted Salmon with Mushrooms and Red Wine
(This option can be done with salmon and/or steak)
Shaved Cauliflower Salad
Grilled Carrots with Black Pepper Crème Fraiche
Smoked Gouda and Rosemary Grits

As a nod to my upcoming culinary adventure, I found this A-MAZING recipe for chocolate lava cake made with Guiness, Irish Whiskey (nothing fancy required) and Bailey's. How much more Irish can you get?!?!? Featured on our new Spring-Summer 2018 Menu it's really special! The trick to this lovely sweet thing is to not over cook it! You want the middle to be gooey and soft. And although the alcohol bakes off, the smell is intoxicating! Try it and may the luck of the Irish be with you in your kitchen and home!

Preheat the oven to 400°. Spray five 6-ounce ramekins with nonstick spray and place them on a sheet tray until ready to fill.

Make the Irish Cream filling: In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and yolks. In a small saucepan, melt the butter then remove the pan from heat and whisk in the sugar until combined. Add the Irish cream and then egg mixture. Whisk again until combined.

Place the sauce pan over low heat and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until mixture thickens and coats the back of the spoon, or a thermometer registers 170°. Remove from the heat. If there are solids present in the mixture, blend with an immersion blender to smooth out the filling. Stir in the whiskey. Pour filling into a small bowl and cover with the surface of the filling plastic wrap. Let it cool in the freezer or refrigerator while making the cake.

Make the cake: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate chips, butter and Guinness. Remove from heat.

In another small bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon and cloves. Set aside.

In the bowl of a standing mixer, whisk together the eggs, yolks, sugar and salt at medium to medium-high speed until pale yellow for about 5-7 minutes (you can also do this in a medium bowl with a hand held mixer). Stir in the chocolate mixture until smooth, then add the flour mixture and mix just until combined.

Fill the ramekins so they're approximately two-thirds full. Add 2 tablespoons of the filling to the center of each ramekin, then fill with the remaining batter.

Bake the cakes for 14-16 minutes, until the tops lightly spring back when pressed. Be careful not to over cook. You want to have the outside cooked but the inside saucy like lava cake. Let cook on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then gently loosen each cake by running a butter knife around the edges of the ramekins. Invert cakes onto individual plates and dust with confectioners' sugar to serve.

Adapted from a recipe on tastingtable.com

Makes 5 Baby Cakes. Per Cake: 458 Calories; 25g Fat (52.1% calories from fat); 8g Protein; 43g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 357mg Cholesterol; 408mg Sodium.

WANT TO USE THESE TIPS AND RECIPES IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you do not alter the information in any way and include a credit that reads "by Rose LeBoeuf, www.lafoodworks.com, Interactive Cooking Classes, Parties, and Corporate Team Building Events for Groups Looking for a Fun and Unique Dinning Experience."

Ideal for Team Building, Summer Outings, Client Entertaining, Birthday Parties, Showers and Private Gatherings.

Let LA Food Works make your party one which your guests will not soon forget!

No previous cooking experience required!
Just willingness to put on an apron,
get your hands a little messy,
indulge in some great food
and have lots of fun playing in the kitchen!

We also happily design Custom Cooking Parties. If you have a group of 10 or more foodies who love great food and playing together in the kitchen, contact us and we will design a custom menu or theme class for you and your group.

Our interactive cooking parties both unify and entertain...perfect for any occasion that requires great food, interesting activities and lots of fun!

For information or to book your event, contact Rose LeBoeuf at 310-288-0100 for an event planning kit, pricing and availability.