Michael Symon and Calphalon Cooking Up a Retro Feast

One of the highlights for me at this year’s International Housewares Show in Chicago took place when I sat down with several other Mom bloggers for an intimate dinner – prepared by Iron Chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author Michael Symon.

Symon teamed up with Calphalon cookware to create a retro dinner fest, entitled “1960s Americana Food with a Twist,” a fabulous four-course meal, featuring innovative cuisine, along with selections from Symon’s new cookbook Carnivore (see my review below).

For seasoned chefs, Calphalon offers the very best in cookware, yet it also emerges as a brand that works as well in busy households. Not surprisingly, it played a key role in the incomparable menu Symon prepared. With selections ranging from succulent, fluffy Arancini balls to vegetarian pirogues (made with Emmentaler cheese and crème fraîche) to a superb kale Caesar salad to cherries jubilee, the meal exemplified all the reasons why we equate food with such images and emotions as comfort, family, and love. And with special touches – he flew the aged beef into Chicago just for the occasion – the dinner achieved just the right blend of personal warmth combined with a memorable menu.

Celebrating Carnivore Creations

Perhaps it stems from our Midwestern upbringing or simply that we gravitate toward comfort food – but my husband and I love meat as a centerpiece to dinner. Grilled in the summertime, broiled in the winter, or sautéed via the cast iron skillet anytime, meals featuring meat continue to be a household staple.

So imagine our delight when we caught a glimpse of Michael Symon’s new cookbook, Carnivore. Filled to the brim with recipes for everything from beef to chicken to lamb to pork – and even game and goat – this cookbook features offerings for both novice cooks and culinary masters.

Right off the bat, we prepared the Pan-Roasted Sirloin with Chanterelles and Soy – and what a delight! We’ve made it twice now in a matter of weeks and neither time could we find chanterelles, but no matter. We tossed in a combination of gourmet mushrooms and a few white button varieties, and it worked beautifully. The sauce proved rich and delectable – infused with red wine and soy.

You can purchase a signed copy of Carnivore online at Michael’s website for $35.

Disclosure: Mom Central was invited to Calphalon’s blogger dinner and received a complimentary copy of Michael Symon’s cookbook, Carnivore. All experiences and opinions are our own.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.