I was in the Houston Metropolitian Cooking and Entertainment Show on Saturday!!!

Hey everyone!!!!!

This weekend I had the priviledge of being a part of the Houston Metropolitian Cooking and Entertainment featuring Paula Deen!!!!! IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE!!!!!! Sorry some of the photos came out a little blurry!  They were taken with my phone!!! 

I actually wasn't nervous at all. I just remembered everything Alissa taught me about just being me and sharing my passion for Raw with everyone.
The entrance to the show:

Chef Renee:

 

This was So Much fun!!!! They gave me 4 Sous Chefs to help me! The REALLY took the pressure off of me having to do everything from start to finish...which is what I'm used to doing. They prepared all of my veggies for me, so I could focus on presenting to my audience!

Right behind the black curtain was a working kitchen. Actually, I brought everything I needed for my show because all of the Chefs there had to share all of the equipment and I wanted to make sure that I had my Vitamix and Food Processor available when I needed it for my show. I brought samples of the food that I make for Tru Meals and displayed it on the table in front of me. The poster is advertising my Detox Box. (see http://www.trumeals.com/detoxbox.html). People were so amazed to see Raw Burgers, Stir Not Fry, Raw Tacos, and Mock Tuna Salad displayed right in front of them! During the show, I chose to make a Green Smoothie and Almost Salmon Pate on a bed of Romaine with Flax Crackers. I only had 30 minutes, so I had to make something quick and easy. I also took my "baby" Excalibur dehydrator because most people have never seen one, and I explained how to use it.

The Director of the Culinary Program was Chef Daniel Traster! He was SO nice...definitely knew his way around the kitchen!!!!  It was such an incredible priviledge working with him and seeing him in action!!!!

Daniel introducing Paula Deen:

My Presenters badge gave me access to all of the backstage "magic"!!! And, the kitchen was INCREDIBLE!!!!
I had 2 shows, one at 11:00-11:30 and one at 3:30-4pm. There were more than 7,000 people at the event!!!! My show was held in the main show floor and I had enough seating for 50 people! The first show, only 15 were sitting with me because Paula's show was starting at the exact time mine was and the line extended behind my seating!!! By the time my second show started, Paula's show was over and so I had every seat filled and people standing watching me!!!! I was cool as a cucumber, yau'll!!!!! :-D
 
Between shows I got to hang out with the other Chefs in the VIP Chill Lounge where Paula Deen was having her Celebrity Luncheon...(which I was not invited to, but didn't care to go to anyway...).

Paula was totally in her "element" though! What you see is what you get...absolute down-home southern bell!!!! And yes, totally queen of butter!

During my show, I didn't want to offend my gracious host, so since "It's all about the food" I focused on that.
My darling Hubby taped it for me, so as soon as he uploads it, I'll put the link on here if you'd like to see!
What a RAWsome experience!!! :-D
 
Chef Renee'