Ming Who?

I am all for a great meal! I'm all for even a good meal! As long as it wasn't cooked by me I am there! So when my good friend Lisa had an extra ticket to a 'food' event she thought of me!

Lisa: "Hey Cez, are you free Weds night?"
Me: "You mean like in two days from now?"
Lisa: "Well .. yeah."
Me: "Ummm yes... (hesitantly) Ah.. why?"
Lisa: "I wanted to invite you to a dinner that I bought a table for and I had an extra ticket so I thought you'd like to come eat with me. It'll be fun. We'll try all different dishes from different chefs."
Me: "Really? Wow that sounds great! Where is it going to be at?"
Lisa: "Michael Mina's Restaurant at Levi's Stadium"
Me: "Levi Stadium? I've never been and have been dying to go. Yes! I am free!" (of course I did not check with my husband yet.. bad wife)
Lisa: "Great! Well it's a fundraiser for a great cause."
Me: "Oh.. Should I bring my checkbook?"
Lisa: "Oh no.. I got you covered. Just come eat and have fun!"

And so I did!

I have never sat at a table with this much silverware and glassware for just one person!

In fact, I had a lot of fun! It was an experience to remember!

The event was a fundraiser for Family Reach, a national organization which has been helping families with a child or parent afflicted with cancer deal with the overwhelming financial burden of living life with significant out-of-pocket medical expenses. Family Reach helps families sustain themselves financially when one parent has to quit their job to care of their sick child; or help pay for transportation to and from the hospital for treatments; to help cover car payments, mortgages, the gas and electric bill and other everyday expenses that they now may have trouble paying due to this horrible devastating illness that has invaded their family.

One dedicated ambassador for Family Reach is Ming Tsai, a renowned chef and Food Network personality with his own cooking show. He gathers fellow cooking colleagues to host "Cooking Live with Chef Ming Tsai and Friends" all around the nation.

Michael Mina welcoming us to his restaurant.

There were five chefs that came to demo their signature dish and then serve it to you along with their chosen wine. The event was hosted in Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak Restaurant at the Levi's Stadium. Apparently, it is not 'easy' to come eat at this restaurant during a Niner game. You need to prepay to come eat here. It's an "all you can eat" buffet  but it has a hefty price tag: $500 per meal during the game or $10,000 for 10 games.

But before dinner there was a cocktail hour... where five delicious appetizers created by Ming were served to us. I was too busy eating to take pictures nor to remember their fancy names but it was a flattened suimai, a raw scallop, tempura lobster, uni, and a curry something. I tried everything except the scallop and uni which were served uncooked. I am so not a raw sushi eater.

During cocktail hour the numerous TV screens flashed all their event sponsors acknowledging them and above is Lisa's name (well.. her husband's name) and Friends.. that's me!

I was a part of a table of 8 with Lisa, her friends and her daughter Danika and her friend. Lisa's husband Jay was in Spain on business. Lucky moi!

My friend Lisa is to the right of me, her daughter, Danika is seated on the right side front.

The first dish was by Ming Tsai which was a "New Style Faroe Islands Salmon Sashimi, Madras Curry Oil, Green Papaya Salad and Crispy Rice". Now I don't eat raw sushi and sashimi is exactly that! But I did not want to pass up the opportunity where Ming Tsai was cooking for me. I mean it's rude to not even try the dish right? So I did and it was delicious. Plus it was served with a TY KU Sake Black from Nara, Japan. I have never tried sake but it was quite light and flavorful. Much taster than any of the wines I had that night. But of course I'm not into wines, white nor red.

The sashimi wasn't entirely raw.. the warm curry oil blanched it a little and with the papaya and crispy rice it was quite flavorful. Plus the salmon was tenderized to a very thin piece.

Here is Michael Mina preparing the second dish.

The TV screens were a much better view that the real thing.

Michael Mina made his signature Brandt Farm Short Rib with Horseradish Potato, Oxtail Jam, Bacon & Marrow. It was served with a 2009 Biagi Family Cabernet.

The short rib, on a slice of toasted bread, looked small but it was quite filling.

The third dish was from the renowned chef of The Slanted Door located in the Ferry Building in SF, Charles Phan. He has quite a few restaurants located in SF.

His dish was Vung Tau Fisherman's Stew with Vietnamese Mint. The tomato base was simmered for a day or two. It was served with a 2012 Pont de Chevalier Sauvignon Blanc.

Instead of stewing the seafood together with the broth, the broth was poured over the seafood so the seafood wouldn't get over cooked. I thoroughly enjoyed this one especially it had some Asian flavor to it.

His staff assembled each dish proportionally the same for each guest.

The fourth dish was from a French chef, Dominique Crenn who owns Atelier Crenn in SF.

She definitely was French since she had a heavy French accent when speaking.

This dish was Duck Egg, Liver Mousse, Buckwheat and Cherry Blossom served with a ZD Wines 2012 Pinot Noir, Carnernos.

I have to admit that this was my least favorite dish. I'm really not into French food.

Last was pastry chef Bill Corbett, who used to be the executive pastry chef at Michael Mina and now is at Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, SF. He created Roasted White Chocolate Cream, Raspberries, Cocoa Nib & Hibiscus.

This, too, was just alright.

I had my eye on the cookie bar Michale Mina's pastry chef set up for us. We were so full that we got take-out boxes to fill with these little bits of heaven!

The macaroons and caramel rolls were my favorite but everything was so delish!

Here we are with Ming Tsai... now a personal friend of my friend Lisa.

(L-R): Lisa, Ming, Danika and Lisa's family friend , Mike

Disbursed between the dishes were testimonies of families that had been greatly impacted by the Family Reach organization. It just emphasizes the importance of  coming together to help others in their time of need.

www.familyreach.org