Cook and Dine with James Beard Award-Winning Chef Thierry Rautureau
- September 12th, 2011
- Posted in Dine . Experience . Seattle-ing
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*contest winner is Krista Phipps, comment #20 
Fresh off the heels of the most brilliant food and adventure weekend in Portland, Oregon, I’m back in the saddle. And by saddle I mean bed, because Oregon chewed me up and spat me out like a piece of too-tough tentacle. And I liked it. I can’t wait to share the highlights with you once I shake this eensy cold, but in the meantime, I have a peace offering, since you deserve a bit of food fun too. At least if you’re going to be in Seattle in early October.
With the launch of Gilt City Seattle, along came curated partnerships with some of our area’s top chefs. Thierry Rautureau is top of the tops, and he even has the ever-present fedora hat and James Beard Award to prove it. His restaurant, Rovers, has consistently made “best-of” lists since way back in 1987 when Thierry took the reins.
Thierry sure knows how to squeeze a pastry bag! (photo credit baisafoto.com)
Gilt City, Rovers and moi would like to offer you the chance to learn under the tutelage of the Chef in The Hat on either October 1st or October 8th from 10am-2pm. Thierry and you will compose a brunch fit for French Royalty, and then you will eat it together, possibly off each other’s bodies a la naked sushi, but probably not. There will be champagne, haute cuisine, and a good time had by all. Oh, and I’ll be there too, just to keep things raucous with deftly ill-timed one-liners.
To sum it up, here’s what you get:
- Cooking instruction at Rovers from the Chef in the Hat on your choice of dates in October (the 1st or 8th)
- Brunch to follow the lesson (I’m going to call this portion of the day clothing-optional, but I don’t have any authorization from Gilt City or Rovers to do so, therefore if that’s the kind of party you want, you’ll have to assume all inherent risk, penalties, spankings, jail time, et cetera).
- To hang with me. And I will be on my best behavior. I promise to only bring one flask and I’ll fill it half-full. I will also wear clothes, sit on my grabby hands, and cover my mouth with duct tape like in those awesome NO on H8 ads I SO wanted to be a part of.
- Contest runs until Friday, September 16th, winner informed by Monday, September 19th.
In order to win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. I’ll use a random number generator to select the winner. If you win, expect a phone call from me in which I will loudly shout “WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER” over and over until your ears start to bleed caviar. Because they will be so happy to hear the sound of my voice.
If you don’t want that to happen, I can make do with just emailing you. Or tweeting you if you leave your twitter handle in the comment. I would say that bonus points will be awarded for clever commenting, but unfortunately there is no way to teach a random number generator cleverness. So be banal. Really, really banal. Because you know how much I love that.
*Gilt City Seattle is assuming the financial responsibility behind this post. It’s a giveaway, sponsored by them. I am disclaiming that here. The way I see it, you win, I win, and they win, since it’s a damn cool giveaway, but somebody somewhere sitting in a fancy chair with a wingback wearing an elbow-patched sweater wanted to make sure I put this part in the post.
Did I tell you what a wonderful wife I have? She is an accomplished person in the kitchen, but is giving the event to me as an early birthday present. I am so looking forward to meeting you and getting to receive instruction and enlightenment from Chef Rautureau. I am getting the flask all polished up for the event. What should I fill it with?
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This would be a dream come true!
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Ooh, ooh! I spotted an exceedingly rare misspelling in your blog: “…since way back in 1987 when Thierry took the reigns.” Reigns >> reins — an easy mistake to make. I love reading your blog, typo & all. :-) Cheers, C.
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Cool, who wouldn’t like to hear “winner, winner, chicken dinner?!” Pick me, pick me!
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It’d be nice to win. I am a culinary school brat, who doesn’t currently work in a restaurant. Wish I did though…
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Pick me! I make no promises about the appropriateness of my own behavior, though. I don’t usually plan my indiscretions.
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I’m handsome by the way.
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What an honor it would be to learn at the hands of experts. Please, please, please pick me. I will grow wings and fly to Seattle it I have to and I know a very special brother that would put me up. However, he would most likely kill me as I slept that first night at his house so he could take my place. Simply cannot wait to get that call “WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER” Let me know if you need my number!
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Cook with you AND The Chef in the Hat? Yes please!
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Here we go!
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Oh oh oh! I am so entering this drawing! :)
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I’m just jealous that you get to cook so much cool stuff with the three-year-old around. You know what I’m blogging about today? Gluten-free cornbread. For the three-year-olds. Woo. I’ll spare you the link.
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Considering I’ve never been to Rovers, I’d say that’s a damn shame! I’d love to worship you and Tierry over the same meal. PS. Forget the flask…we need’ll need a bottle!
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Um… as much as the fedora intrigues me, a meal with you would suit me just fine, Linda.
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Sounds Fab – count me in !!
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Oh, my. My husband would almost KILL to get instruction from Chef Rautureau . . . AND meet you in person, Salty. What a birthday present this could be. Oh, yeah. Fill the flask with really old Jamesons or Rare Breed – he’d love to share it with you.
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I wish for delicious adventures!
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i refuse to grovel. i just wanna win.
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Is it too presumptuous of me to have already blocked these dates out in my calendar? Enjoying the mental image of you sitting on your hands in the corner of the room with duct tape over your mouth is almost as good as winning. We should probably tie you to the chair for good measure.
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Okay, I’ll give up my spot if I win for obvious reasons. But I get to shout “I TOLD YOU SO” until YOUR ears bleed Oysters and Herbs. May I recommend Scott Carsberg and Kerry Sears next?
This would be so much fun that I’d fly up. If a baby wasn’t about to fall out of my vag,that is.
xoxo.
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Wow, sounds like it’s an experience to remember, and learn something from the best. Being a novice, no bad habits to break, but might need to be “explained” what we are talking about and how to cook it.
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Commenting on behalf of my significant other – he’ll be (is, really) a far better cook than me, even following a lesson.
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I heart the man in the Hat! My boys and I dined there for a bachelor party (I know its a little off the beaten path) alas we are true foodies.
This would be a foodie fantasy – people would be screaming jealousy if this wish came true!
Thanks for this opportunity!
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Ok here goes…I’ve posted. May some best, luckiest, happiest…man..woman win!
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Wow! Sounds like an amazing way to spend the day! Fingers and toes are crossed
@kstar
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Can’t think of a better way to celebrate my birthday (10/8 weekend) than bubbly and good eats!
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I have gladly paid to eat at Rovers… so free would just make me as excited as charcuter in a world made of pork belly.
Pick me, pick me, pick me.
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Sounds wonderful. Of course, in the unlikely event that I actually win, I am going to hold you to the “Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner” phone call.
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All you can drink Champaign, and homoerotic naked sushi eating, count me in!
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Instead of clothing optional, I would like to wear my No on H8 Duct Tape Bikini, if possible.
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Linda Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 13:04
@Jackie, This comment is very clever. I hope the random number generator somehow takes that into account.
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My sis will be in Seattle for the first time ever during the weekend of the first event. Food, fun and free-flowing bubbles may be the key to family harmony. @charynpfeuffer
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Linda Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 13:05
@Charyn, What a perfect sisterly activity. And yes, I need free-flowing bubbles to achieve sibling harmony too;)
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awesome, i’m sure it will be an adventure. regardless if i win or not, i’ll still hang with you.
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Linda Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 13:05
@Lorraine, Thank god someone will put up with me, I know it’s rough.
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