The Culinary Institute of America

Olive Oil in the Plant-Forward Kitchen Interview Series: Rolando Beramendi

In this interview, Rolando Beramendi discusses high quality olive oil and American consumers and diners.
Rolando Beramendi is the founder of the Italian food importer Manicaretti. His products, cooking classes, and culinary expertise have been praised by Ina Garten, Alice Waters, Mario Batali, Thomas Keller, and Nancy Silverton. He splits his time between New York, San Francisco, and Florence.
This recipe and video were produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service, thanks to the generous support of the International Olive Council.
Learn more about olive oil at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen

Olive Oil in the Plant-Forward Kitchen Interview Series: Paul Bartolotta, The Bartolotta Restaurants

In this interview, Paul Bartolotta talks about the importance of olive oil bringing history and tradition to Italian cooking, prioritizing good oils in your restaurant, and showcasing a range of olive oils in your menu.
Paul Bartolotta is co-founder and owner of The Bartolotta Restaurants, and is based out of Milwaukee, WI. Four-time nominated and two-time James Beard award-winning Chef Paul Bartolotta has worked in kitchens all over the world – from Italy to Paris to New York to Las Vegas – for more than 30 years.
This recipe and video were produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service, thanks to the generous support of the International Olive Council.
Learn more about olive oil at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen

Olive Oil in the Plant-Forward Kitchen Interview Series: Mehmet Gürs of Mikla

In this interview, Chef Mehmet Gürs discusses the role of olive oil in Turkish cuisine. 
Mehmet Gürs is the chef and owner of 10 successful restaurants in Istanbul, Turkey, including the unique Mikla. He was credited by many as being the one “kicking off the contemporary restaurant scene in Istanbul” when he returned from the U.S. to start his first restaurant in 1996. His company, the Istanbul Food & Beverage Group, is at the forefront of the culinary world in Turkey. He is most known for his recent introduction of the visionary “New Anatolian Kitchen.” In this new approach, traditional and true “noble” products are treated with the utmost respect while being transformed with a blend of new and ancient techniques. Years of extensive research and a dedicated creative process together with a team of chefs, a full-time anthropologist, villagers, mothers, and grandfathers have resulted in an extensive network and a deep knowledge of the traditional habits, products, and techniques of the area. The result has been a successful cooperation between the keepers of the land and the chefs in the city. 
This recipe and video were produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service, thanks to the generous support of the International Olive Council.
Learn more about olive oil at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen 

Olive Oil in the Plant-Forward Kitchen Interview Series: Rafi Taherian, Yale Hospitality

In this interview, Rafi Taherian discusses including extra virgin olive oil in hospitality cooking, and maximizing its value within a challenging budget. 
Rafi Taherian ’95 is associate vice president for Yale Hospitality. Rafi believes that campus dining operations can be a testing ground for positive and pragmatic change. He has forged collaborative partnerships within Yale University and in the food industry that have created a benchmark reputation in dining services for one of the most prominent institutions of higher learning. Since 2008, he has guided the continued development of Yale Hospitality’s sustainability initiatives and robust culinary concepts by merging principles of a healthy, plant-based Mediterranean diet with an operational approach that promotes regionally-based and sustainable food systems. Yale Hospitality serves more than 15,000 meals per day with a staff of 840. Rafi’s organization is comprised of three operational divisions with shared business and administrative support and an annual budget of $55 million. Before joining Yale, Rafi was the executive director of dining at Stanford University. Prior, he held various management positions in the hospitality industry. As an undergraduate, he studied architecture at Università Iuav di Venezia in Italy and later earned a hospitality degree at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. Rafi has received numerous awards for his vision and leadership, including the Food Service Director of the Year award in 2013, the Illuminating Excellence and Leadership award from Premier (one of the industry’s largest procurement organizations) in 2014, and Yale University’s Seton Elm-Ivy Award in 2016. That year, Rafi was also awarded both the Silver and the Gold Plate Awards by the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA). (New Haven, CT) – master bio doc July 2018.
This recipe and video were produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service, thanks to the generous support of the International Olive Council.
Learn more about olive oil at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen 

Olive Oil in the Plant-Forward Kitchen Interview Series: Naama & Assaf Tamir, Lighthouse

In this interview, Naama and Assaf discuss using olive oil to elevate dishes by creating great flavor profiles, as well as the role of olive oil in Middle Eastern and Israeli cuisine.
Naama Tamir was born and raised in the city of Rehovot in Israel, and moved to New York in 2000 after her mandatory Israeli Defense Force service. Naama studied philosophy and psychology at Hunter College while moonlighting in the hospitality industry. In 2011, along with her brother-partner Assaf Tamir, they opened Lighthouse, a socially and environmentally progressive restaurant. In August 2016 they opened their second location, Lighthouse Outpost. Naama is a producer for the Umami Food and Art Festival, chair of sustainability practices and green initiatives for BaBar, and contributor to the No Free Lunch sustainability platform. Naama also consults for the Fair Kitchens Initiative, and contributes to the James Beard Foundation Impact Program.
This recipe and video were produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service, thanks to the generous support of the International Olive Council.
Learn more about olive oil at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen 
 

Olive Oil in the Plant-Forward Kitchen Interview Series: Ana Sortun, Oleana Restaurant and Sofra Bakery

In this interview, Ana Sortun discusses the versatility of olive oil, how she approaches olive oil as an ingredient, and the role of olive oil in Spanish cuisine. 
Ana Sortun is the executive chef and co-owner of Oleana Restaurant and Sofra Bakery and Café, in Cambridge, MA. She is also the co-owner of Sarma Restaurant in Somerville, MA, which is modeled after a Turkish meyhane or meze restaurant. Ana, a native of Seattle, graduated from La Varenne École de Cuisine de Paris in 1989 and opened her restaurant, Oleana, in 2001, immediately drawing rave reviews from the New York Times. She was named Best Chef: Northeast by the James Beard Foundation in 2005 for bringing Middle Eastern flavors into the mainstream through her passion for Turkish cooking, spices, and her husband’s (Chris Kurth of Siena Farms) fresh, organic vegetables. A 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and, most recently, a 2020 James Beard “Outstanding Chef” semi-finalist, among her many accomplishments, solidifies her as a leader in the industry.  She is the author of two cookbooks—Spice: Flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean (William Morrow, 2006), and Soframiz: Vibrant Middle Eastern Recipes from Sofra Bakery (with Maura Kilpatrick, Ten Speed Press, 2016). 
This recipe and video were produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service, thanks to the generous support of the International Olive Council.
Learn more about olive oil at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen 

Baked Sweet Potato stuffed with Goat Cheese, Roasted Red Grapes, Walnuts and Thyme

This baked sweet potato stuffed with goat cheese, roasted red Grapes from California, walnuts and thyme is vegetarian comfort food. Your guests will love the combination of creamy, whipped goat cheese, sweet-tart roasted red grapes, and savory walnuts.
This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service for Grapes from California.
Get the Baked Sweet Potato recipe here!

Chimichurri Chicken and Green Grape Skewers with Green Grape Chimichurri Sauce

These Grilled Chicken & Green Grape Skewers are served with a vibrant green grape chimichurri sauce. Adding Grapes from California to the skewers provides a juicy taste and texture to complement the spiced chicken. Chimichurri is an herbaceous sauce that originated in Argentina, and is now beloved the world over. Grapes are a fabulous carrier for these flavors and add body to the chimichurri.
This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America for Grapes from California
Get the Chimichurri Chicken recipe here!