Elena Fernandez
The Yummy Bull had the opportunity to host a Mediterranean dinner last Friday for Euro Seattle Startup Weekend, as I was representing Spain in the Organization Committee.
Startup Weekend is a global movement of active entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. Anyone is welcome to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. The top ideas will work during the whole weekend creating a business model as a beginning of a new venture.
I´d never prepared food for 100 people but this is what life is all about, about pushing your own boundaries. Right?
Luckily I counted with the sponsorship of Culinary Collective, one the most important and respected Spanish gourmet importers in the US who donated all the Spanish food for the meal. Making good food with amazing ingredients is always easy…
I was alone and tight in time to prepare the catering, so I conceptualized a realistic, diverse and healthy menu. I chose to prepare a “bonito del Norte”, a variety of tuna from the Cantabrian sea, and piquillo peppers salad (see recipe below).
I wanted to feature an array of Mediterranean countries in my dinner so I decided to showcase French endives too. I love their bitter flavor, not so common in the Pacific NW, because fits perfectly with smoked salmon and blue cheese. I couldn´t find best dressing that salt, Spanish Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Pedro Ximénez Reserva vinegar.
Brie and blue cheese combined with grapes and Spanish Marcona almonds, the “Ferrari of the almonds” in experts opinion, and Italian delis rounded the meal for meat and cheese lovers. More veggies and hummus, coming from the other side from the Mediterranean, made things easy for the vegetarians.
I wanted to add a light, colorful and healthy dessert so I decided to bring Greece to the table too adding yogurt with berries and pomegranate to the ecuation. And for the sweet tooth authentic Seville tortas de aceite and catalonian milk and dark chocolate.
A diverse Mediterranean dinner for a diverse and energetic bunch of entrepreneurs who worked hard all weekend long to bring their best ideas into life.
I`m proud to say that we received a lot of compliments about all the meals that we served during the weekend. You know we, Europeans, take food business really seriously.
Where You can find Culinary Collective products in the Seattle area:
Metropolitan Market, DeLaurenti, The Spanish Table
Bonito del Norte and Piquillo Peppers salad
1 can of Piquillo Peppers or Roasted Peppers
17 oz Bonito del Norte
1 sweet onion
5 Extra Virgin olive oil tablespoons
Parsley
For the dressing
5 Extra Virgin Olive Oil tablespoons
2 Sherry Vinegar tablespoons
Cumin
Grounded black pepper
Salt
Slice the onion and poach it at slow heat for 10 minutes in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Drain it and put into a flat tray with the sliced peppers. Pour the dressing and add the bonito and parsley as decoration.
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