Thanksgiving Tips with Chef Todd English and Macy's Culinary Council

How many of you spend a week eating leftover turkey after Thanksgiving? I know I do, and I confess it's not in very creative ways. Last Saturday, November 16th, Macy's Culinary Council's renowned Chef Todd English, conducted a cooking demonstration at the Macy's in Dadeland Mall. He gave a very interactive crowd some mouthwatering tips on what to do with all those leftovers once the holiday has come and gone.

Chef Todd English and I

Before I go on to talk a little bit about Chef Todd English, let's get one thing out of the way. Yes, he is extremely handsome - I repeat, extremely handsome. I figured I'd put that pink elephant in the room out of the way before moving on to how amazing he is in the kitchen (no pun intended). Todd is a culinary legend in his own right, being a four-time James Beard Award winner and inductee into the James Beard Award Foundation's "Who's Who in Food and Beverage in America". He has also authored several critically acclaimed cookbooks, including his latest Cooking in Everyday English, the ABC's of Great Flavor at Home, owns and operates over twenty restaurants worldwide and has created a houseware line called the Todd English Collection featuring his GreenPan cooking merchandise.

The fun started by sipping a refreshing Crisp Night Cocktail for 2, prepared with cranberry juice, cranberry bitters, Apple Cranberry Compote, lemon juice and club soda. It was an aromatic way to relax and get ready for the demo. Next up, Todd explained the best way to brine a turkey to add flavor and retain its juiciness, as well as the importance of using the right cutting tools in the kitchen. We could smell the enticing aroma fill the room as he worked his magic.

 

After answering some questions, and engaging in funny anecdotes with the audience, Todd prepared Turkey Quesadillas and Cranberry Apple Relish. They were delicious; a tasty combination of pulled turkey breast and leg meat with brie. I would've never thought of doing that with my leftovers and now I can't wait to try it at home. I noticed he likes to add sour cream to his dishes and he uses a good amount of butter in his cooking. My kind of man, er chef.

His next dish was Turkey Gravy & Biscuits with EVOO Fried Eggs. As Todd said, "it takes a tough guy to make tender biscuits" and these were as tender as it got. The biscuits were warm and he ladled a generous amount of turkey gravy on top, crowning the delight with a sunny egg.

Those who purchased $35 or more in the Home Department received a $10 Macy's Gift Card, valid from November 16th-23rd, a special holiday entertaining gift, and a copy of Todd's latest book. After the demonstration, Todd signed the book and chatted with those in attendance. As usual with Macy's Culinary Council chef demos, it was an awesome afternoon. You can learn more about Chef Todd English by visiting his website and if you'd like more information on when Macy's Culinary Council is bringing one of its fabulous chefs to a store near you, click here.




I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with compensation for this post about Macy's Culinary Council. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.