Bakersfield, Calif.—Tasteful Selections hosted select food bloggers at its new facility in Bakersfield, California. As a continuation of grand opening celebrations for the new facility, bloggers enjoyed time to get to know the Tasteful Selections’ family, tour the state-of-the-art, meet the inspirational 14-year-old Chef Jack Witherspoon, and cook alongside Michelin Star Chef Joey Elenterio.
The day’s events led up to the highly anticipated private cooking session with award-winning Chef Elenterio. During the hands-on experience bloggers created an Everything Tasteful Selections Potatoes and Lox while Chef Elenterio spilled the details on latest cooking trends, chefs’ secret techniques and ways to utilize and transform potatoes in unconventional ways. Chef Elenterio has been a proud supporter of Tasteful Selections since 2011. According to the bloggers, working with Chef Elenterio was a rewarding experience, “It was an absolute blast—we learned a few tricks and were inspired to create even more Tasteful Selections recipes.”
Bloggers also met with Tasteful Selections kid-chef partner Chef Jack Witherspoon who demonstrated a quick and easy Warm Tasteful Selections Potato Salad with Corn and Bacon. The inspirational 14-year-old began cooking to benefit research at the age of 6 during recovery from leukemia, and continues his passion of cooking for the cause while receiving national attention for his incredible accomplishments at such a young age. Bloggers received a copy of his signed book, Twist it Up, published in 2011.
The day also included a tour of the new 200,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility highlighting the stainless steel complex and exceptional measures taken to ensure the highest quality potatoes possible, including improved storage, refrigeration and humidification.
Participating bloggers included Stephanie Manley of CopyKat Recipes, Heather Buen of Dallas Single Mom, Shari Brooks of My Judy the Foodie, Christine Tolhurst of Saved by Grace, Jennifer Drummond of Peanut Butter and Peppers, Kathy Hester of Healthy Slow Cooking, Sara Lehman of Sweet Silly Sara, and Marlene Baird of Nosh My Way.
About Chef Joey Elenterio
Chef Elenterio, who received 1 Michelin Star in both 2011 and 2012 during his tenure as executive chef at Chez TJ in Mountain View, Calif., is an up-and-coming talent in Bay Area cuisine embarking on opening his own restaurant after the past few years at the executive chef at Wayfare Tavern in San Francisco. Chef Elenterio has been honored in Zagat’s 30 Under 30 and with the San Francisco Chronicle’s Rising Star Chef award.
About Chef Jack Witherspoon
The inspirational 14-year-old has received national attention for his incredible accomplishments at such a young age. Chef Jack began cooking to benefit research at the age of 6, during recovery from leukemia. He was first diagnosed at 2 years old, and has relapsed twice since. Two years ago he endured a bone marrow transplant, but continues his passion of cooking for the cause and is enthusiastic to partner with Tasteful Selections.
His story has been featured on multiple talk shows including Hallmark’s Home & Family, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Bonnie Hunt Show, The Queen Latifah Show, The Marie Osmond Show, and Rachael Ray Show, as well as numerous newscasts. Jack also appeared on Food Network’s mini-series Rachael vs. Guy: Kid’s Cook-Off.
About Tasteful Selections
Tasteful Selections LLC is a joint venture of RPE, CSS Farms and Plover River Farms Alliance Inc. They are a vertically integrated grower, shipper, marketer of premium specialty potatoes with unique attributes for size and flavor.
RPE, a second generation family farm, is a category leader and key grower/shipper of year-round potatoes and onions. RPE prides itself on maintaining a high level of business integrity that includes commitments to environmental sustainability, as well as category innovation and retail solutions.
Source: RPE
