What a pleasure it was talking with Chef Eric Rodriguez of Everybody's Cafe at the Great Taste LIVE show.  The kitchen at Green Building Supply was really humming as Michael Zador, James Spielmaker, and Anna Shaner were assisting in the prep of several dishes.  

Everyone in attendance at the live show sampled nachos, a veggie wrap, bruschetta, and a roasted cauliflower soup. One common denominator of each dish was a simple vinaigrette-four dishes, four different vinaigrettes, and Chef Eric explained and showed how to make each one.

This was part of his presentation on what he terms "real" fusion cooking, which begins with bringing all five tastes-salty, sour, savory, bitter, and sweet into balance, plus considering how the other senses o

f sight, smell, and touch will come into play.  Add to that the interplay of the dish with our emotions, thoughts, and spirit, and the result is a "tantric dining experience."  

I'm going to continue exploring Chef Eric's "fusion" style in a follow-up interview scheduled for late February.

The next LIVE show at Green Building Supply is on Tuesday, March 7 with Chef Matt Steigerwald, former owner of the Lincoln Cafe and Lincoln Wine Bar in Mount Vernon, IA.

On this week's Great Taste Live show, half of the Organic Matters crew discussed their new venture, Organic Matters Cafe, opening in Everybody's on January 12.  If you missed the live show you can catch all their plans for the restaurant on  KRUU Wednesday evening and again on Friday morning.  Also, look for the video available soon at www.fairfieldmediacenter.com.