This summer in Irvine, Chef Alberto and I were given the unique opportunity to spend time teaching in our CG community. Chef held his Grilling with Chef Event where he shared his secret tips, tricks and recipes for an exceptional barbecue with friends. My favorite question and answer was when an associate asked Chef how he managed hosting an event at his house while still keeping up with the mess. Chef answered very quickly, the trick was to host a barbecue party at someone else’s house, so they were responsible for the clean up! All kidding aside, Chef Alberto puts on a great interactive event every summer, ending the event with a delicious sampling of brisket, pork belly, grilled vegetables and summer fruit.
On the flip-side, I was invited to speak at a Women of AFSG meeting where the topic was wellness. This was a powerful opportunity to point out how committed to the well-being of our guests we are in the Pacific Café. Not only do we have our farm to fork station which features lean proteins and composed salads made from seasonal and local ingredients, we offer healthy side dishes, and prepare all of our soups, stocks, salsas, and sauces from scratch! In addition to sharing our wellness message, Chef Alberto designed a menu of small sips and bites that I was proud to share with the ladies. We brought the Pacific Cooler (which is a fan favorite), the Southwest salad, chia puddings flavored with seasonal fruit, and other delicious offerings. To top the wellness event off, we ended with an amazing story of self-discovery, healing and meditation. Truth be told, my first true meditation session, and it was such a relief, literally!
Chef Alberto and I feel so lucky to be a part of the Capital Group Community, to teach, to learn and to engage.
A true partnership.
– Nicole Bell | General Manager