Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 56

eatiras fthis week 2G RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL New Ideas for Meals, Products and Events WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2001 TV chefs: the Naked, the Iron and the Lego versions (13 Here it is, ladies: I am in love with The Naked Chef. Well, OK. Love is a strong word let's call it infatuation. But darn if that Jamie Oliver isn't one tempting morsel. If you haven't seen the show, check it out some Tuesday on the Food Network, 10 p.m.

(or Saturdays, at 9:30 p.m.) Eiswsi It's best to run screaming from the room. But an Iron Cnef would have those slimy monsters deboned before they stopped writhing. They're culinary superheroes, which is why we love them so. Camp gets campler Need even more Iron Chef? Check out amateur filmmaker Steve Iervolino's spoof of the show, Lego Chef. The 6-minute film includes all your favorite characters, rendered in Lego blocks.

Watch for a cameo appearance by "Sean Connery" (voiced by Iervolino) on the judging panel. Go to www.legochef.com. Write to Kathleen Stebbins at the Gazette-Journal, P.O. Box 22000, Reno, 89520, e-mail kstebbinrgj.com or call 788-6426. "The Naked Chef" (list price Think I'll run out and pick myself up a copy.

You know, for the recipes. Ifs not "Smackdown," but Speaking of Food Network, did you catch the Iron Chef marathon over the weekend? It struck me, as chef Sakai beheaded a live octopus (which had bit him a moment earlier), how far removed we diners are kept from the processes involved in our feeding. Iron Chef takes those less-tnan-appetizing details and puts them right, well, on your plate. For example, the recent Piglet Battle. Six piglets, already gutted but left whole, were piled in a cozy little clutch, looking as though they'd simply fallen asleep.

"I can't watch this, it's Babe!" I groaned to my husband, but I watched anyway, even as the challenger boiled a head for stock. Seafoods get butchered alive most frequently, probably because tney're small enough to handle and are generally pretty creepy-looking, at least from a human perspective. Iron Chefs do not agonize over the humaneness of boiling the lobster vs. halving it, at least not openly. From their perspective, ingredients are ingredients.

Sometimes they move, and sometimes they don't. It's a ruthless business, all right. But presumably such shock value contributes to the show's success. If Takeshi Kaga suddenly appeared in my kitchen with a pan full of live eels and said, "Make dinner, Stebbins-san," assuming I didn't faint dead away, I'd bow respectfully and fowl or fussing over broken emulsions. Lifestyle is a big appeal too.

Oliver's house (flat?) seems always filled with trendy friends, and he delights in delighting them, smiling shyly over the range and chatting in that fab British slang. "Isn't this just pukka (excellent)?" Oh, yes. Truth be told, I'm neither the first nor the only foodie to rhapsodize over the, ahem, talents of Mr. Oliver. More than a few wobbly kneed females have posted their "I love yous" at the FoodTV.com fan forum.

It certainly doesn't hurt matters that he also drums for a band (called "Scarlet Division," in case you were wondering). There is, of course, a cookbook, appropriately titled Drink KATHLEEN STEBBINS Oliver's not actually naked, of course. "Naked" refers to the simplicity of his cooking, which focuses on a few potent ingredients (herbs, garlic, brandy, you get the idea) and pares technique to the bare minimum; there's no deboning watch alone or in the company of women, because, trust me, any men in the room will suddenly develop bad Jamie Oliver, with clothes imitation German accents and offer to show you their biceps. By Bonnie Tandy Leblang and Carolyn Wyman supermarEcet sampler Mark your calendars Wine tastings New Ideas from Your Grocery Store Haagen-Dazs created the best new food in 2000 Haagen-Dazs Our work this week is to tell you which of the roughly 150 new food products we tried in 2000 is worth toting along with you in 2001 and which to bid a not-so-fond adieu. Let's get the bad news out of the way first.

Here are five products neither of us recommend, at least, not if you want to have a happy new year. Double forks down Melissa's Natural Extracts. Essence of garlic, basil, ginger, in hand-lotion-like pump containers that turned Bonnie off. Carolyn complained that the bottles don't say how a pump relates to standard measurements. Natural Touch Tuno.

Dolphins and cats might like this soy-based imitation usually associate Uncle Ben's with rice. But anyone able to create chicken dishes as interesting and highly spiced as these can serve them with any starch he wants. Hershey's Candy Bar Factory. A candy-bar kit with a construction theme that is as cute and as much fun as food can be. Chef Boyardee Homestyle Chicken Parmesan Style Canned Pasta.

This rivals Stouffer's gourmet frozen version of this dish at less than half the price. Breyers Ice Cream Parlor. With mix-ins as good as the ones in these, who needs the richness (and rich price) of Ben 8c Jerry's? Some of my other favorites: Hellmann's Citrus Splash Salad Dressings, Boston Market Home Style Oven Roasted Chicken Breast Quarter with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy; Heinz EZ Squirt Ketchup and Pillsbury Chocolate Toaster Strudel Pastry. Breyers wasn't the only company to introduce a great new frozen dessert this year. The other one is the winner of our 11th annual Golden Shopping Cart Award.

It is (drum roll, please): Haagen-Dazs Gelato. A tuna, but people with taste buds won t. I v. for prizes and wines from more than two dozen wineries. Cost is $25 and tickets are now on sale, available at Ben's Fine Wine in Reno and Carson City.

Tickets also will be available at the door. Call 883-7477. The Atlantis Casino Resort will offer winemaker dinners once a month for most of 2001, beginning with the Jan. 17 dinner featuring wines from Joseph Phelps Vineyards. The dinner will pair the wines with food from the Atlantis Seafood Steakhouse and MonteVigna Italian Ristorante.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and cost (inclusive) is $11 5. For reservations: 824-4411. Cooking classes Washoe County School District Community Education offers regular cooking classes. A class on "Hong Kong Menu" is from p.m.

Jan. 17 at Mendive Middle School. The class will be taught by Steve Kirch, sous chef, with guest chef Borgie Kwong. Cost is $27; please bring $10 to class for supplies. Call 353-5781 or stop by the office at 255 Prater Way, Sparks, to register or for information.

"Asian Gourmet Cooking" teaches how to prepare gourmet dishes from Thailand, Japan, China, Korea and India on Tuesdays, Jan. 23 to Feb. 20 at Billinghurst Middle School. This TMCC Community Services class costs $49. Details: 829-9010 or http:commserv.tmcc.edu.

Send information for the food calendar to Kathy Smith at the Gazette-Journal, P.O. Box 22000, Reno, 89520, fax 788-6458 or e-mail ksmithrgj.com. Adele's at the Plaza sponsors its Wednesday Tasting Experience from 4-7 p.m. today at the restaurant. Today's event is the 3rd anniversary wine tasting celebration, featuring four hot new wines and raffle prizes.

Cost is $15 per person or $25 per couple. Details: 333-6503. Viaggio Italian Cuisine and Wine Shop in Franktown Corners on Kietzke Lane offers a weekly wine tasting from 5-9 p.m. Thursdays. Cost is $15 and includes four wines and appetizers.

Call 828-2708. Whispering Vine Wine Co. sponsors wine tastings from 4-8 p.m. each Thursday. Cost is $15.

Call 787-9463. Ben's Fine Wine and Spirits has free wine-tastings from p.m. Fridays at Moana Lane and Lakeside Drive. Wine tastings are also a feature at the 4th and Keystone and Carson City locations on Fridays. Call 825-0244.

Bananas Restaurant offers a Wine of the Week tasting party featuring Bananas' wines by the glass at half-price between 5-8 p.m. Fridays. There's also the chance to pay $5 to taste three wines normally sold by the bottle only. Bananas is at 2323 S.Virginia St. Details: 786-9735.

Wine events, dinners The Carson Nugget Casino is the site of "Winter Wine All That Jazz," the annual fund-raiser for Carson Advocates for Cancer Care, from 7-1 0 p.m. Jan. 13. A silent auction of artwork and collectibles will be offered, as well as a raffle Oscar Mayer Lunchables Cinnamon Rolls Meal Combinations. Near clones of those pecan twists that supermarkets practically give away, except that the Lunchables rolls are half the size and almost twice the price.

And not even Chopped green olives make this one of few truly different pasta sauces. It's also moderate in sodium and organic to boot. Bruce's Sweet Potato Pancake Mix. A just-add-water pancake mix chock-full of the nutritious goodness of sweet potatoes (that's vitamin vitamin folic acid, calcium, iron and even fiber). What's more, they taste good.

Athenos Travelers Hummus Pita. Finally a fiber-rich, delicious, convenient portable lunch for people who like to avoid highly processed foods. Five flavors of hummus (flavored chickpea dip) to choose from. Yum. Some of my other favorites: Spice Islands World Flavors Spice Blends; Caflard 8c Bowser Cinnamon Altoids; Frieda's Pango Mango and Melissa's Ready to Eat Soybeans.

Carolyn's favorites Keebler Harvest Bakery Crackers. Finally, mainstream American crackers substantial and interesting enough to enjoy without toppings. Bonnie: Enjoy a taste of Italy with Haagen-Dazs' rendition of gelato, a frozen Italian treat that's not as fatty as premium ice cream. That's because its main ingredient is milk, not cream, although you'd never guess that from its delicious taste and creamy texture a result' of gelato's higher proportion of solids-to-liquid. One portion of any of the five flavors contains 240 calories and a half to one-third the amount of fat in traditional Haagen-Dazs premium.

This Gelato is better for you and overflowing with delicious taste. Carolyn: Haagen-Dazs' new gelato is bound for glory. I say that mainly because of super-rich flavors that more than make up for its reduced creaminess. The incredible coconut flavor will turn coconut-haters around 180 degrees. Leblang is a registered dietitian and creator of Express Lane Cooking: A Simple Solution to What's for Dinner (Universal Press Syndicate).

Wyman is a junk food fanatic and author. Each week they critique three new food items. Carolyn eats cinnamon rolls for lunch. Sugar Busters Ice Cream. Cheap ice cream at a gourmet price because of its link to a popular diet.

Give us a break (and some Ben Jerry's). Gorton's Skillet Fillets. Twice the calories and three times the fat of Gorton's Grilled Fillets for the oven, plus you have to clean up the greasy skillet. If this is progress, we'll take stagnation (cooked in the oven, please). Now for some of the best foods introduced into supermarkets this year, as we each saw it, and one outstanding product: the winner of our Golden Shopping Cart of the Year award.

Bonnie's favorites Kellogg's Smart Start Soy Protein Cereal. A good-tasting soy-based cereal with enough soy in it to claim that it may help reduce the risk of heart disease. Available only in parts of the country. Kettle Sesame Rye, and Sweet Brown Rice Black Bean Organic Tortilla Chips. Chips don't get much better or tastier than these nutritious, organic ones made with sprouted corn.

Muir Glen Organic Green Olive Pasta Sauce. Uncle ben Spicy Peanut Chicken and Spicy Thai-Style Chicken Noodle Bowls. I BE ecu: Staurant Mexican CHIROPRACTIC is pleased to announce and "directory present new associate doctor. Dr. J.

A.Vondra Chiropractic Physician LasTrojes II 499 E. Plumb Lane, Reno -Plenty of nearby parking 323-1334 Peg's Glorified Ham Eggs 425 S. Sierra Reno 329-2600 Downtown with nearby parking I GIVE 5 CANS OF FOOD AND RECEIVE A Jose Jose 1845 Prater Way, Sparks 358-8828 Between Sullivan and Rock Blvd. I I "pie Restaurant Directory is an easy way to locate a dining spot whether it is for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner. You have a variety of cultures in which to satisfy your taste buds.

To advertise on this special Restaurant Directory listing, call 775788-6241. FREE New Patient Exam Wildwood Restaurant Gold Dust West Fourth Vine Sts, Reno 323-221 1 Plenty of nearby parking STEAKHOUSE including 2 x-rays If you call by 1 2401 I Expires 2101 LsPRACTic Call 358-9550J Call 358-955C Sundowner's GK's Steakhouse Bar 450 N. Arlington Ave, Reno 786-7050 Plenty of nearby parking Normally a 375 exam fee. Normally a $98 x-ray fee. Additional service guaranteed at normal office fees.

X-rays as per doctor recommendation If we feel we can accept your case. Save on Dining. Click Here! Napa Sonoma Grocery 294 E. Moana Lane, Ste. 10, Reno 826-0595 Independence Square TJ FTMfi Cl TP WAT Staff writes for Wednesday IXX1NU UALZ 1 1 JUUK1NAL Friday Calendar and Sunday Sierra Style sushi Aloha Sushi 3338 Kietzke Lane, Reno 828-961 1 EDITOR Kathy Smith Food Drink editor ksmithrgi.com (775) 788-6591 REPORTERS Kathleen Stebbins Food, restaurants, dining kstebbinrgj.com (775) 788-6426 Camilla Hayes Nightclubs and dining chayesrgj.com (775) 327-6770 r- i i MF Lex.

jfano Gazette journal Jayce's Sushi 5000 Smithridge Drive A25 827-9191 Under new ownership Tell us what you think (please feel free to attach an additional sheet of paper with more comments) I Did a story, headline or other element of today's news cause you concern? Blue Sky Chinese Restaurant 585 East Moana, Reno 826-1991 Our online coupons will save you money. For great savings and super offers from local merchants, visit www.RGJ.com, and extend your purchase power! You'll find a variety of coupons to suit your appetite. Here's some examples: Elegant Dining Family-style Fun Mexican Asian Buffet Make your dollars count. Visit www.RGJ.com today and start saving. Anywhere.

Anytime. Find them every day. Only on RGJ.com. Reno Gazhte Journal I Did you see a mistake in today's newspaper? Reno -828-7311 Sushi Club 294 Moana Lane, Unit 1 Independence Square THAI zL Is there a good story out there? Are there issues, trends or situations in the community that you feel should be covered? Garden Restaurant 2999 S.Virginia Reno 826-9711 Above European Fitness Cafe DeThai 3314 S. McCarran and Mira Loma 829-8424 Plenty of nearby parking We'd like to hear from you: Jim Sloan, senior editornews features Reno Gazette-Journal, P.O.

Box 22000, Reno NV 89520-2000 Telephone: (775) 788-6338 Fax: (775) 788-6458 E-mail: rgjfeedbackrgj.com.