The Club Culinaire of French Cuisine is back once again and will hold its 32nd Annual Picnic des Chefs on Sunday, May 20th  from 11:30 AM -4:30 PM at beautiful Vasa Park in Agoura Hills at 2854 Triunfo Canyon Road in luscious 4 acres mountain green landscape.

This year we’ll be getting there earlier with the family to enjoy a sampling of the food, unlike last year I got so caught up in taking pictures of this event for my blog as it was one of my very first post!!! We enjoyed wonderful wine tasting from various vineyards, the big boys played pétanque and drank pastis while the kids spent the whole afternoon in the lifeguard supervised giant pool & slide.

LA’s top chefs will create authentic French dishes from various main regions of France. Participating chefs (partial list): Marius Blin (Hotel Sofitel); Michel Blanchet (Michel Cordon Bleu); Joe Miller (Joe’s Restaurant); Josie LeBalch (Josie Restaurant); Neal Fraser (BLVD); Yvan Valentin (Sweet Temptation); and Christian Kaufmann (Emil’s Swiss Pastry).

Chefs will cook up over 700 lb of meat, poultry and fish,500 lb of vegetables, 200 lb of cheese and 500 baguettes, 50 artisan breads and much more. Over 50 wineries will be pouring their favorite selections. take a look at the menu!

The event is extremely kid-friendly (including a moon bounce paradise, heated swimming pool with a giant water slide, rock climbing wall, drawing competition, and games). Adults can play pétanque, (win your weight wine), soccer, volleyball, and badminton. Raffle prizes include two roundtrip tickets to Tahiti or Paris on Air Tahiti Nui, a weekend at The Ritz Carlton Laguna Nigel, Porsche knives, gourmet dinners, and shopping certificates. Musical entertainment will be provided by a French DJ. There are tables under patio awning or you can also enjoy a picnic on the grass followed by a stroll in the park as you mingle with family, friends and make new friends.

Highlights of this event and proceeds will benefit the Concern Foundation and the HOPE Program at Children’s’ Hospital Los Angeles.

Order your tickets here and enter promo code picnic2012 for $10 discount on adult tickets ( $50/adults  $20/children 8 & up, FREE Children under 8)  and join Club Culinaire on Facebook for more succulent news!

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Le Picnic des Chefs French Cook-off

Hats off to the Club Culinaire of Southern California.  This was the 31st Annual Picnic des Chefs Fundraiser of regional French cooking held this last Saturday under the trees in a beautiful natural setting, a place called  Vasa Park in Agoura Hills. A snippet of the afternoon in a Photo-Reportage:

We were warmly greeted by Kora Kroep the event organizer and handed a blue Picnic bag containing all our picnic utensils to sample the regional French food either ” sur le pouce”, “à table” , or “sur l’herbe”.

Or under the giant tent entertained by a live band and a little dancing following the raffle of many worthy prizes including the big prize: Air Tahiti Nui two Round trip tickets to Paris or Tahiti fo the lucky winner!

There was something for everyone, a real family-oriented event. the big boys played Pétanque with Los Angeles Petanque Club

….not far from the “refreshment” station aka le bar sipping pastis.

While the littler kids headed for the giant slide in the supervised heated pool and other attractions around the park:  petting zoo, rock climbing, photo Ops, etc…

The ladies strolled down wine country after lunch sampling a variety of different French wines & champagnes from the many Picnic Wineries.

The menu choices were très alléchants but be forewarned and get there early next year to enjoy some of the best LA French chefs in LA.

Appetizers Pate de Canard  made by Maison Akira, Josie Restaurant ‘s Quiche Lorraine and Pissaladiere from  The French Market Cafe  and Smoked Salmon from Michel Cordon Bleu to name a few and wonderful artisan Bread & Baguette  from various bakeries in LA ( Jacques bakery, Bread LA, Sadie Rose Baking Company, etc…)

From Provence; leg of lamb (Sofitel), Tri-Tip ( Lilly’s) Ratatouille (Le Cordon Bleu) and Golden Beet Salad with Goat cheese ( Joe’s Restaurant) , inspired from Britanny we had Shrimp & artichoke (BLVD), Rice Pilaf & Poached Salmon ( St Regis Hotel/ Church & State) and last but not least Rotisserie Chicken  from Paris (Biltmore) with oven-roasted potatoes ( La Cachette) and a Mesclun salad (Le Chêne)

Cheeses & desserts from Sweet Temptations, Maison Richard, LA Patisserie, Emil’s Swiss pastries,  Berty Siegels, and Melissa’s Produce Co. went very fast! Crepes, eclairs, clafoutis, and waffles. I got to taste an almond base chocolate mousse, pas mal du tout!

Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne (NY) also welcomed us warmly with a delightful sampling of bubbly which set the tone for the afternoon.

I also enjoyed sampling delightful new white wines, Piqueboule, Chardonnay, as well as a few delicious French Rosés Do You Tropez  and Clos Clementine Rosé de Provence as well as an unpretentiously delicious Blanc de Blanc called Le Grande Courtage Blanc de Blanc .

See you next year! A l’année prochaine!