The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
In the limelight
Local caterer on 'Today Show'
By Sue G. Collins, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 6, 2008
Milan caterer Christian Thompson was among 22 chefs from around the nation invited to join culinary celebrity Giada De Laurentiis on Miami Beach for the Moet & Chandon BubbleQ, a fund-raiser that paired American barbecue with French champagne.
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Thompson also was a part of the action on the "Today Show," handling prep work for De Laurentiis' cooking segment on location Feb. 22 at the beach in Florida.
"It's another world down there," Thompson said from his Nolan Street kitchen, home to his company, Christian's Catering. "My head was spinning after a week of working with FIU (Florida International University) students, meeting celebrities, attending parties, working on the 'Today Show' and preparing dinner for 1,500 for the BubbleQ."
The Friday evening extravaganza, held under glowing white tents, was the signature event during the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival, presented by Food & Wine Magazine, Feb. 21 through 24.
Thompson and his sous chef, Todd Brown, spent nearly three days in the kitchen at the Miami Convention center before the event, working with dozens of students from the Florida International University's School of Hospitality and Tourism who helped prepare the gourmet meal served Friday. The event, at $300 a plate and including a silent auction, raised more than $1.5 million for the FIU program.
"These kids were great, very hard workers," said Thompson, who taught them his recipes for a roasted peppercorn encrusted beef tenderloin and an arugula and fennel salad, topped with shaved parmesan reggiano and dried Michigan cherries.
The dishes were then transported to an al fresco dining room, where 21 other distinguished chefs served succulent grilled meats, imaginative seafood, charred vegetables, spicy sides and breath-taking desserts.
Thompson said he and the other chefs were asked to create a dinner indicative of their own style, to serve at least 1,500 people.
He was pleased with the outcome, proudly serving up his menu among some of the country's most popular restaurant and celebrity chefs.
"I took my dish to Rick Bayless (of Frontera Grill in Chicago) and Curtis Stone (television's TLC 'Take Home Chef') who gave me positive, honest and really thoughtful feedback and compliments," he said. "I really appreciated that and feel validated and more inspired than ever to continue to think outside the box with my work."
Thompson, his wife Gina and friends were invited to the Versace mansion to a dinner with Food Network personality Bobby Flay and cavorted with the lively Paula Deen and many other popular TV chefs.
He also helped De Laurentiis and his cousin during the "Kellogg's Kidz Kitchen" session.
Back in Milan, Thompson, Brown and their staff caught their breath, barely, then started to "chop, sautÈ, measure and mix" to create a lavish sit-down 70th birthday dinner for 225 people just a few days later.
Thompson continues his popular cooking classes in his kitchen March 21 and 22.
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