I also took my Aunt Laura and her husband Mike. Mike is a manager and chef at one of the few fine dining restaurants in Des Moines so he had a great experience, especially chatting with Ben Ford about various cooking tips.
Here we are in the pastry kitchen of Ford’s Filling Station, which is where we had our cooking lesson. Don’t we look lovely in our DOLE aprons?
Mike is attentively watching Ben Ford demonstrating how to make the Pina Colada Creme Caramel with Pineapple Chantilly Cream
Here I am eating the Pineapple Shrimp Curry. I have actually never had a curry before. This was delicious and very simple to make. In my “Cooking Experience with Ben Ford and Dole,” Part 2, I will demonstrate how to make each of the recipes Ben Ford taught us how to make. They are simple to make, perfect for the Busy Mom. I am sure many of you have the recipe ingredients in your pantry (like DOLE canned fruit :) )
Here is the whole group. The winners, DOLE, and the Rogers Group who is DOLE’s Public Relations. Everyone was very nice. We actually didn’t think anyone was going to be at Ford’s Filling Station when we got there. We were debating on whether to walk in and say “Hi, we are here for the cooking lesson,” and be afraid Ben Ford would respond, “Huh? Who are you dorks?” But when we arrived, as soon as we got out of the car, a camera man came rushing towards us and started taking photos. (I have those photos and they are hilarious. We have strange looks on our faces like, “what is going on?”)
I don’t know if you can see the family resemblance here, but Ben is Harrison Ford’s son. I know he probably doesn’t like to be referred to that, but it is funny how they look alike. We all had a great time chatting and Ben Ford seems like a great guy. He told us about many of the upcoming shows he is going to be on and I think he will become a regular on TV. How exciting!
Be on the lookout for more photos of my “adventure,” as well as the step by step photo instructions of Ben Ford’s DOLE recipes.
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What a awesome experience. I love DOLE and that sounds so delicious and looked delicious too.
Hey is my picture showing up now? I tried to upload it on wordpress and wasn’t sure if it worked and wasn’t sure what the heck it looked like!!
What great pictures! Sounds like you had a really good time too… sounds so fun!
Yummmm! What a wonderful opportunity! My husband and I are from Iowa (now live in Omaha); what restuarant does your uncle work at? We’re always looking for new places to try for date night when we’re in Des Moines.
How awesome! You look great, and it sounds like you had a fabulous time! I can’t wait for that curry recipe, it sounds delicious.
WOW!! that looks amazing. bet that was a ton of fun. i love the comment about corn rash.. i never heard of that, and i grew up on a farm. lol… nice post.