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Test kitchen tours!

May 23, 2013 by Mary Frances 60 Comments

Yesterday was such an interesting, exhilarating and exhausting day!!

I enjoyed a day of touring test kitchens as part of Internet Week here, as a guest of Anna Curran from Cookbook Create, a site where you can make custom cookbooks. (Great gift idea, right?) We visited the kitchens of Bon Appetit, The Daily Meal and Food 52. Each one made us a little something special to eat, and we even had wine at The Daily Meal!

All of them were so helpful and sharing of information. We were 13 bloggers chosen for this day, and lucky ones at that. It was all good fun and useful information, plus I met some great new fellow bloggers!

These are the lovely ladies I spent the day with: Alejandra from Always Order Dessert, Amie from The Healthy Apple, Caroline from Taste, Love, & Nourish, Carrie from Poet in the Pantry,  Diana from Appetite for China, Daina from The Hungry Fan, Heidi from Brooklyn Allergy Mom, Jennifer from Savory Simple, Jen from Champagne Problems, Kimberly from Mom in the City, Lisa from Nutcase Crunch, Melinda from Kitchen Tested, and Sloane from Allergic Girl.

Here are some pics from the day.Bob Appettit magazine covers.

We started at Bon Appetit! They served a delicious fresh ginger, lime and seltzer drink with horseradish deviled eggs – yummy!
Fava beans and spinach on a white plate.
At The Daily Meal they served us a fava bean, spinach, garlic and onion tasting. So pretty!
Red Kitchen Aid stand up mixer.
The Daily Meal is giving away this fabulous Kitchen Aid!! I wonder who will win this shiny beautiful tool. I would LOVE it!! (so nice of them to do this!)
Food 52 kitchen with antique shelves.
Food 52’s new kitchen in their new space with antique wooden shelves and walnut cutting top.
Two girls serving English pea soup with a garlic cream and ramps.
The girls at Food 52 serving us English Pea Soup with a garlic cream and slivered ramps.

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Filed Under: Lunch, Travel Tagged With: Bon Appetit, Cookbook Create, custom cookbooks, English pea soup, fava beans, Food 52, ginger, horseradish deviled eggs, Kitchen Aid, ramps, spinach, test kitchen tour, The Daily Meal

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Comments

  1. Heidi Bayer says

    May 23, 2013 at 8:44 AM

    I am coveting the walnut. Great blog post and wonderful pictures.

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 23, 2013 at 11:54 PM

      Me too!!! See you tomorrow, right?

      Reply
  2. Busy Girl Health says

    May 23, 2013 at 11:34 AM

    Looks fun! 🙂

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 26, 2013 at 3:49 PM

      It was totally fun – and an opportunity to meet some other great fellow bloggers!!

      Reply
  3. myvermontkitchen says

    May 23, 2013 at 3:47 PM

    I’m very jealous! What a treat! 🙂

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 26, 2013 at 3:50 PM

      Don’t be jealous – but it was a treat!!

      Reply
  4. myvermontkitchen says

    May 23, 2013 at 3:47 PM

    I’m so jealous! What a treat of a day! 🙂

    Reply
  5. poet in the pantry (@PoetInThePantry) says

    May 23, 2013 at 7:35 PM

    It was such a fabulous opportunity getting a behind-the-scenes peek, wasn’t it? So glad the rain held off.

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 23, 2013 at 11:49 PM

      Definitely!! Hope to see you tomorrow!

      Reply
  6. Mary Frances says

    May 23, 2013 at 11:53 PM

    Diana, great to meet you too!! You have such a winning smile. Hope to see you tomorrow at the brunch (which is really breakfast!)

    Reply
  7. DellaCucinaPovera says

    May 24, 2013 at 7:12 AM

    What I would do for that kitchen aid!!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 26, 2013 at 3:47 PM

      I know!! 🙂

      Reply
  8. yummychunklet says

    May 24, 2013 at 9:43 PM

    Sounds like a great and fun way to get a Kitchen Aid!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 26, 2013 at 3:48 PM

      For sure!! I’m working on it – keep talking to me about it!

      Reply
  9. abrooke65 says

    May 24, 2013 at 11:22 PM

    OMG! I had no idea you were doing this! I would love to do that too! I always wanted to see the home of where all this great cooking and food reporting takes place. Enjoy! Keep us updated!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 26, 2013 at 3:49 PM

      I will – look for the next post for some things I learned!

      Reply
  10. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

    May 25, 2013 at 10:23 AM

    I’m so envious!!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 26, 2013 at 3:51 PM

      Don’t be envious, but it was great fun!!

      Reply
  11. Steve says

    May 26, 2013 at 5:56 PM

    Wow I love the beautiful new Kitchen Aid color, I vote for you to win!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 26, 2013 at 6:53 PM

      From your mouth to the judges’ ears!!

      Reply
  12. Kari@Loaves n Dishes says

    May 28, 2013 at 10:46 AM

    How fun! I am totally enamored with that kitchen, I could spend days in it!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 7:48 AM

      I know!!

      Reply
  13. Sarah Loves Fresh Feasts says

    May 28, 2013 at 6:24 PM

    Sounds like there are some very kind folks at The Daily Meal to give away that Kitchen Aid mixer! I hope you get the red one, Mary. It would be very well deserved!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 7:50 AM

      You’re right – The Daily Meal folks are great! And you’re sweet – thank you!!

      Reply
  14. Marie says

    May 28, 2013 at 8:05 PM

    How wonderful! Looks like you had a great time.

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 7:50 AM

      I did – it was great fun!

      Reply
  15. Susan Chamlin says

    May 28, 2013 at 8:41 PM

    What a great adventure. I always wondered how those test kitchens worked – they look so professional.
    What a great color for the mixer!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 7:51 AM

      It was great!! And the mixer is so shiny!

      Reply
  16. judyerdman says

    May 28, 2013 at 8:52 PM

    The kitchen aid mixer is red hot for “love”. You are meant to win this Mary.

    Attention judges: I have a kitchen aid mixer that sits dormant in my closet. If Mary wins the prize, she will no doubt blog with some great recipes and have all the unused mixers move from the pantry to the counter tops.

    Good luck Mary.

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 7:52 AM

      You’re great!! Thank you!!! (and it is perfect for LOVE!)

      Reply
  17. MARIE says

    May 28, 2013 at 8:54 PM

    Wow thank you for sharing. I felt I was on the tour as well except for the tastings.
    i would have loved the fava beans.
    That Kitchen Aid is wonderful like your cooking!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 7:53 AM

      Thanks Marie!! 🙂

      Reply
  18. Agata says

    May 28, 2013 at 11:14 PM

    I have a craving for this Food 52 English Pea Soup! Looks yummy!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 7:53 AM

      It was bursting with flavor – you would have loved it!

      Reply
  19. Tammie says

    May 29, 2013 at 12:36 AM

    Looks like fun!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 7:54 AM

      It was!! : )

      Reply
  20. kate says

    May 29, 2013 at 6:55 AM

    So envious of those gorgeous open shelves at Food 52! And even more envious of whoever wins the Kitchen Aid – it’s an appliance that will always remind me of baking with my mother 🙂

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 7:54 AM

      Sweet!! 🙂

      Reply
      • judyerdman says

        May 29, 2013 at 8:27 AM

        I am not familiar with Food 52 and just checked out the website. Great recipes and ironically I have been looking for a good spring roll recipe and there is a Cambodian spring roll one I will try. Thanks for sharing Mary.

        Reply
        • Mary Frances says

          May 29, 2013 at 11:03 AM

          Yes – they have a terrific site – Amanda and Merrill are doing a great job!!

          Reply
  21. ringo says

    May 29, 2013 at 9:17 AM

    A privileged look behind the scenes. Surely you picked up some ideas for kitchen hardware and workspace layout. Wish I could have been there. Always wanted a KitchenAid mixer; maybe for Father’s Day.

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 11:03 AM

      Hmmm – maybe I’ll let some boys know!

      Reply
  22. sheila says

    May 29, 2013 at 9:18 AM

    Mary + Red Kitchenaid = LOVE

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 11:04 AM

      So right you are!!

      Reply
  23. Lee says

    May 29, 2013 at 10:15 AM

    What a fun and exciting day!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 11:04 AM

      It was! 🙂

      Reply
  24. bert says

    May 29, 2013 at 10:25 AM

    The wooden shelves look great, I wish someone would install some at our place to get rid of the clutter. Good luck Mary!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 11:05 AM

      You are too funny! Thanks Bert!

      Reply
  25. Ann Regan says

    May 29, 2013 at 10:35 AM

    Your blog regarding Test Kitchen Tours is very interesting, I love the pictures! You inspire me to experiment more when I cook. You would put that Kitchen Aid to great use!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 11:06 AM

      Thanks Ann! Keep experimenting!!

      Reply
  26. Joan says

    May 29, 2013 at 10:44 AM

    In my opinion, one of the best bloggers was chosen and what a wonderful and exciting opportunity for you. LOVE makes the world go round. Fingers crossed for you to win the Kitchenaid!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 11:16 AM

      Joannie – you’re so sweet!! Thank you!

      Reply
  27. Trish P. says

    May 29, 2013 at 12:56 PM

    What a fun day! A dream for all the chefs out there.

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 2:40 PM

      Totally!! 🙂

      Reply
  28. lisa Haug says

    May 29, 2013 at 12:57 PM

    Awesome pictures and what a great experience. Really like the RED kitchen aid mixer.

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 2:40 PM

      Me too!! 🙂

      Reply
  29. Pat Pisarkiewicz says

    May 29, 2013 at 3:15 PM

    At 9:00 this morning, I was looking at all the food, the beautiful mixer and the walnut cutting board. It made me want to cook and eat with “LOVE”.

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 4:30 PM

      🙂 🙂 🙂

      Reply
  30. Cookbook Create says

    May 29, 2013 at 4:08 PM

    You always take such lovely photos, Mary. Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re glad you had a great day with us!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      May 29, 2013 at 4:31 PM

      Thank you Anna!! It was a great day!

      Reply

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