Behind The Butter

Cookin’ With Steam

I thought I would do a quick little post on what I learned at the Thermador conference, just in case any of y’all are in the market for some new and innovative kitchen appliances.

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As I said before, the whole event was pretty darn exciting. I mean, it’s pretty much every foodie’s dream to be let loose in their ultimate dream kitchen. What more can I say? Even though I’m no where near owning my own home and designing a kitchen that’s larger than a closet, it was still fun to dream and make a major wish list for the future. Muhahahaha

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A bunch of y’all asked if I actually got to cook yesterday. Well, sort of.

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I felt very privileged to be picked to turn on the stove to boil the potatoes. It was hard but I think I did okay. Honestly though, I thought it would be more hands on than what it was (sort of like the cooking class at the New Harvest conference), but I was totally okay with that. Sometimes it’s nice to have professionals do the dirty work while you just sit back and do the eatin’, ya know?

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And gosh darnit, that salad with the strawberries and feta was so freakin’ delicious. I can’t stop thinking about it.

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Other than stuffing our faces with unbelievable food, the main reason that we were brought out here was to learn about the new Thermador Steam and Convection oven, which isn’t even out on the market yet.

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Yeah, it’s pretty cool. Tina and I both agreed that if we had one of these sweet new fangled appliances in our kitchens we would eat a lot more vegetables. And reheated pizza. And cinnamon rolls.

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Yep, my dream kitchen would definitely include one of these (both steam oven and cinnamon rolls), a regular oven, a warming drawer, a DISHWASHER and a wine rack. Definitely a wine rack. Until that marvelous day arrives though, I will have to just stare at photos in glossy magazines and keep adding luxury appliances to my wish list in my head.
On a final note, if any of you get one of these new ovens, please invite me over for dinner. I promise to bring dessert. Pretty please?

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  • Krista (kristastes)
    July 9, 2010 at 4:06 pm

    Feta + berries is a fantastic combo!

  • Evan Thomas
    July 9, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    That oven looks spectacular, but I heard from Tina it was $3k. That’s def not in the budget :-/

  • Liv
    July 9, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    I am totally with you on the test kitchens — just being in there is inspiring! I’m really lusting after this one.

  • Kaz
    July 9, 2010 at 4:28 pm

    I think they were trying more to wow you with their appliances rather than let you play with them. Hah. Still looks like fun, though! πŸ˜€

  • eatmovelove
    July 9, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    I love your hair!
    …and at this point, I’d just settle for a kitchen…:(

  • Cara
    July 9, 2010 at 4:42 pm

    That one chef is quite easy on the eyes!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
    July 9, 2010 at 4:44 pm

    I don’t even LOVE cinnamon rolls and I want that one!

  • Daisy
    July 9, 2010 at 4:57 pm

    Pretty sure the B&W kitchen IS my dream kitchen. I’m in the same boat as you and Tina – nowhere near owning a home! or fancy schmancy expensive appliances (even though this sounds so amazing!) You DO need a wine rack asap. I’m kinda in shock you down have one!!

  • The Wife of a Dairyman
    July 9, 2010 at 5:03 pm

    What a fun filled food trip:) That salad and cinnamon rolls looked delicious!

  • Rebecca
    July 9, 2010 at 5:10 pm

    I want to eat that salad off the screen. Looks sooo good! The oven sounds so cool, too.

  • Allie
    July 9, 2010 at 5:12 pm

    that oven sounds really cool. can it completely replace a regular oven, or it is meant to be an additional oven in the kitchen? can you do all your cooking with a steam oven?

  • Danica
    July 9, 2010 at 5:14 pm

    Jenna,
    We just moved into a new house and have one of those steam ovens but we don’t know what to make with it besides vegetables and fish!
    Do you have recipes from the test kitchens????

  • Angela (ohsheglows)
    July 9, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    I’m surprised you guys couldn’t really test the products…it would have been nice if you could see how they cooked compared to conventional ovens- first-hand.

    I must agree with your comment though…’Sometimes it’s nice to have professionals do the dirty work while you just sit back and do the eatin’, ya know?’ haha HELL yes! I pray for a professional to appear in my kitchen every day. πŸ˜‰

  • Cynthia (It All Changes)
    July 9, 2010 at 6:13 pm

    I think you could have given us a better description if you had to use them. But the food (and chefs) look good πŸ™‚

    • Kendall
      July 9, 2010 at 8:42 pm

      Just what I was thinking…

      • ashley
        July 10, 2010 at 4:08 am

        agreed. tina gave a nice pro and con list. reading this post all i know about the oven is that it’s “pretty cool”.

  • Suzanne de Cornelia
    July 9, 2010 at 6:23 pm

    When your book is published it’ll be a best-seller and you can buy your dream house. We always get what we think/say (that’s just quantum physics). So believe it, think it, say it, and start the collecting the designer pix!

    Mmmm, strawberry/feta cheese salad–know what I’m having this weekend.

  • Emily
    July 9, 2010 at 7:23 pm

    that chef is a dime piece and a nickle!

  • A Teenage Gourmet (Sami)
    July 9, 2010 at 7:27 pm

    Jenna . . . how do I get your job? πŸ™‚

  • kristina
    July 9, 2010 at 7:38 pm

    jenna, yes, that is definitely a dream kitchen isn’t it?? i can keep dreaming too πŸ˜‰ i’ve been meaning to ask you, where did you get that sleeveless dress – in the last post, where you and Tina are posing?? you always have on cute sun dresses. thanks!

  • Staceyhttp://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/
    July 9, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    That salad looks so good I’m making that for sure.

  • Heather (Heather's Dish)
    July 9, 2010 at 8:25 pm

    oh my goodness, that cinnamon roll kills me every time i see it! i really really want that oven!

  • Deva (Voracious Vorilee)
    July 9, 2010 at 8:33 pm

    After reading yours and Tina’s posts about the oven, I looked at The Boy and said “I want a steam oven. For the sole purpose of reheating pizza.”

    Yeah… I don’t like soggy pizza.

  • Maura
    July 9, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    if you come with those cinnamon rolls, you are sooo in for dinner with or without that superman oven!

  • Diana @ frontyardfoodie
    July 9, 2010 at 8:52 pm

    oh my goodness! What an awesome looking event! I’m jealous of all your incredibly delicious eats.

  • Jennifer
    July 9, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    This event looks really cool. And can I just tell you that I think you are so pretty!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
    July 10, 2010 at 3:37 am

    This looks like so much fun (even if you’re just potato boiling!) And that cinnamon roll is making me salivate!

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down)
    July 10, 2010 at 4:25 am

    Oh fun! As much as I love cooking in the kitchen, I also love being served and eating. πŸ˜‰

  • Annie@stronghealthyfit
    July 10, 2010 at 6:13 am

    Steam oven, huh? Interesting. I’d like to check it out!

  • Beth @ DiningAndDishing
    July 10, 2010 at 6:24 am

    Too bad you didn’t get to cook more…that kitchen is like a dream! The food does look delicious though and you’re right – sometimes it’s nice to just sit back, watch food being made and then enjoying the fruits of some one else’s labor πŸ™‚

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing
    July 10, 2010 at 8:03 am

    Wow, the cinnamon roll looks SO GOOD!!! Clearly, I have priorities.

  • Alyssa
    July 10, 2010 at 9:06 am

    I was so confused when I saw that your pics were the same as Tina’s! Then I noticed you guys were at the same awesome conference! How did you get selected to do this?? Super cool opportunity πŸ™‚

    ~Alyssa

  • Shelley (Pink House)
    July 10, 2010 at 9:17 am

    Is the wine rack special in anyway? Like is it cooled or…?

  • Kate
    July 10, 2010 at 9:47 am

    Sounds like a nice opportunity for a free trip to Arizona, but not sure I understand why you were selected given your lack of immediate interest in the product. If your “job” was to inform your blog audience re. the marvels of the appliance, you neglected to say anything of substance that might sway us/potential customers.

  • Courtney @ 3 Months
    July 10, 2010 at 9:56 am

    I want want WANT that cinnamon roll very badly right now! Delish!

  • Molly
    July 10, 2010 at 10:16 am

    Wait so, what did you learn? What does the oven actually do that makes it so special? Sorry if I missed it.

    Also, Tina’s blog mentioned this is a goat cheese and strawberry salad. Did you mean goat cheese? Or did you ask for yours especially with feta because you’re an Athenos rep?

    • jenna
      July 10, 2010 at 10:20 am

      That was my mistake—the salad did have goat cheese in it, not feta…my mind was thinking feta so that’s what I typed..I was reading too many of your feta friday ideas! haha! Oops.

      The oven is a steam oven so you can steam anything (veggies, fish, eggs) or bake anything that requires steam for a crispy crust. It’s also great to reheat pizza.

      In order for my blog to not just become a “sales pitch” for companies and keep things in my own voice with my own opinions, I’m extra careful about how I portray products and my goal was to give you all a glimpse more of my experience at the event than sound like a used car salesman (oven salesman?).

  • Jennifer
    July 11, 2010 at 8:42 pm

    So, what did you learn?