Chef Gwen Kenneally

For Follow That Chef – Meet Cookbook Author and Food Writer Chef Gwen Kenneally!

Gwen was the featured Chef for The Gourmandise School’s “Follow That Chef” this week! We met in our usual spot at The Santa Monica Farmers Market. Our group was very small and we had a wonderful time chatting as we strolled around. Gwen is so personable! We felt comfortable with her right away!

Gwen found some fantastic heirloom tomatoes for her peach salsa! They were just as delicious as they are pretty. :-)

Gwen cut up some fresh peaches, heirloom tomatoes, ginger, torpedo onions, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and combined them to make a fresh summer salsa!

Also on the menu were asian inspired turkey burgers! Gwen filled them with ground turkey, dried cherries and ginger!

Gwen said she would normally grill these beautiful burgers (and I imagine they would be fabulous that way too!) but she fried them on the stove top instead. She suggested a slather of mustard to enhance the flavor of the burger.

Along with the salsa and turkey burgers, Gwen steamed baby purple artichokes. After they were steamed, she sautéed them in butter, onion and garlic!

These were fantastic!

We also munched on three different types of fresh goat cheese paired with french bread baguettes!

The entire time Gwen was cooking, she was chatting about her life, laughing with us and sharing great tips! She’s got a fun new cookbook called “Sweet and Savory!” I think it’s a perfect title! I can’t wait to try her Lemon Rosemary Risotto!

When everything was ready, it was time to eat!

Homemade Tortilla Chips with fresh Summer Salsa

Bread and cheese

Steamed and sautéed Purple Artichokes

Asian Turkey Burgers

It was a FEAST!

I have to tell you though, the best part, was meeting Chef Gwen! She is so down-to-earth and friendly. Food is obviously something she loves to share with others and it shows! Thank you Gwen for a fun morning and a great food demo! Thank you too, for being so patient and understanding while I took pictures. And more pictures. And more pictures. And maybe just one more picture. :-) You can find Gwen writing for “The Daily Find“, on her blog “Back to the Kitchen” or at her Catering Business, also named “Back to the Kitchen“

A big thank you also to The Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories for hosting these wonderful events!

Till next time, foodie friends! xoxox ~ Sara