On a snowy, blustery Saturday afternoon, the Boston Elite squad braved the elements for a lesson we’d never forget! For three delicious hours, we were mesmerized by sunchokes, fennel and cachaca, all wrapped up in warm hospitality! From the moment we stepped inside, Rialto welcomed us with piping hot coffee and house-made cranberry scones to warm up from the chilly weather.
We were soon escorted to the main dining room, with chairs arranged in a semi-circle so everyone could have a full view of the open kitchen! Chef Jody Adams and her assistant Steve then walked us through the preparation and cooking of four dishes of antipasti, entertaining us with witty banter, charming anecdotes and useful kitchen tips. Did you know that you should steel your knife every day?
Elites jotted down important notes on their special Yelp Elite recipe programs as the Chef explained how
to properly roast vegetables (space them apart on a baking sheet because if they are too close together, they will just steam), how many times you should get your knives sharpened (once a year), and how to properly emulsify aioli (with room-temperature eggs, of course!).
After a resounding round of applause from the Elites, Rialto’s resident wine and beverage guru Kelly Coggins lent his expertise in schooling the Yelp crew on creating classic cocktails with the world’s first virgin cane rum, Beija. In the form of the Periodista and the Serpentine, Elites sipped sublime while noshing plates of fresh sliced prosciutto, roasted cauliflower, flatbreads and sauteed fennel. once the savory was cleared from our sight, the gracious staff brought out plate after plate of sweet, sweet dessert…the perfect end to a perfect day!It was a pleasure to see some familiar faces of our Elite crew (we’re looking at you, Ben L, Roni E and Becki W) acting as the welcoming committee for Elite-event virgins Min L, Geoff T and Renee G.
A big, big thank you to the entire staff at Rialto who made this event happen: Chef Jody Adams, Steve
, Michael, Nuno, Andrew, Susan, Kelly, Amanda, Aja, Ashley and Tom (who better start yelping more)! High-fives to the guys at Beija (and Alex for trekking it in the snow) for providing their super-smooth rum for our liquid enjoyment! You guys rock!
Be sure to check out all of the mouth-watering photos, captured by our very own Canonite, Kara S. Still wanting more? Relive all the delectable details through the words of your fellow yelpers here, or choose to add our own!
Yelp’s Finest + Learning about divine food from a master chef + creating luscious cocktails with the best + consuming our new-found knowledge? What a way to celebrate the season!
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday and a safe and happy new year. SYOY in 2009!!
Cheers,
Leighann F
