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Oktoberfest a festive round-up in Beaver Creek

Wren Wertin
Special to the DailyDaniel Joly, a master Belgian chef and owner of Mirabelle restaurant, will be taping a cooking show in the Bon Appetit outdoor kitchen Saturday at 5:45 p.m.
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This weekend, as part of the Bavarian blowout in Beaver Creek – Oktoberfest – a local chef will be taping a cooking show in the Bon Appetit outdoor kitchen. He’ll get started at 5:45 p.m. Saturday.

Daniel Joly, a master Belgian chef and owner of Mirabelle restaurant, will show the home cook how to make a three-course meal: sweet bread salad with seared foie gras for a starter, halibut en papillote for entree and a warm chocolate cake for the grand finale. In less than 45 minutes.

What home cook would actually prepare foie gras ands sweetbreads?



“First of all, just because I sit and read a cookbook doesn’t mean I’m going to use those recipes,” he explained. “But I might use the idea of those flavors. It gives you a mix of ideas to draw from. This salad would be beautiful with seared shrimp instead of foie gras.”

But he doesn’t think people should simply dismiss foie gras as restaurant food.

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“The secret is the quality. Just get a nice piece and pang, pang on both sides,” he said, motioning searing the foie in a pan.

“Cooking with Daniel” is a cooking show that airs on TV8 on a regular basis. Joly co-hosts with Linda Gustafson, whom he jokes works as a good “interpreter” for him – Joly’s accent is charming and strong.

Even those who don’t intend to make the food at home will enjoy the taping, as they’ll get to eat the fruits of Joly’s labor. The halibut en papillote is a stand-out dish, oozing flavor and healthiness. (I speak with authority, because the chef sent me home with two for dinner.)

The halibut is placed in aluminum foil with potatoes, tomatoes, asparagus, herbs, broth and a smidge of butter. The whole affair is sealed up tight, placed in a hot oven and cooked for about 10 minutes. Opening up the packet, a fragrant steam emerges. Cooking the fish in the broth makes it quite flavorful.

“It’s a good summer dish,” said Joly. “And it’s something easy. It’s good for guests, because you can just pop it in the oven to cook while you spend time with them. A few minutes later, it’s done and ready to eat.”

And after the prep work is done, there are no dishes in the sink. Perfect.

Everybody attending will get to leave with written recipes, in order to re-create the tasty morsels in their own kitchens.

Joly will probably ask for a volunteer from the audience to help him. As for himself, he enjoys watching cooking shows on the television.

“It’s relaxing to watch other people work,” he said, laughing. “I think it’s sad we don’t have a show from people in Colorado. When you watch them, you get hungry.”

Oktoberfest is the last hurrah for Beaver Creek’s summer festivities. Joly is a big fan of all the events the resort hosts.

“It’s good to be involved with different restaurants and work with the resort,” said Joly. “It’s also good to set yourself outside your restaurant and and work with other chefs.”

Those other chefs include Pascal Coudouy of the Park Hyatt, Deanna Scimio from The Cooking School of Vail, and David Walford and Soa Davies from Splendido at the Chateau.

Oktoberfest is a free event, open to the public.

Saturday

10:30 a.m. Culinary demo: Pascal Coudouy from the Park Hyatt

11 a.m Kids’ activities until 4 p.m.

Bavarian Costume Contest until 3:45 p.m.

Food booths until 6 p.m.

11:30 a.m. Music: Arlberg Musig

12:45 p.m. Music: Helmut Fricker Band

2 p.m. Music: Arlberg Musig

3 p.m. Music: The Helmut Fricker Band

4 p.m. Music: Roomful of Blues

5:45 p.m. Culinary demo: Daniel Joly from Mirabelle

Sunday,

10:30 a.m. Culinary demo: Deanna Scimio from The Cooking School of Vail

11 a.m Kids’ activities until 4 p.m.

Alpenhorn Contest until 3:45 p.m.

Food booths until 6 p.m.

11:30 a.m. Music: Arlberg Musig

12:45 p.m. Music: Helmut Fricker Band

2 p.m. Music: Arlberg Musig

3 p.m. Music: The Helmut Fricker Band

4 p.m. Music: Roomful of Blues

5:45 p.m. Culinary demo: David Walford and Soa Davies from Splendido

Wren Wertin can be reached via e-mail at wrenw@vaildaily.com or phone at 949-0555, ext. 618.


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