11-20-10 On board the Carnival Triumph with our Sign & Sail Cards

Hey Young Chefs!

During the Thanksgiving holiday week I went on a Carnival Cruise to Belize, Honduras, and Mexico! It was exciting. I ate a lot of tasty food, had some thrilling adventures, and had the time of my life. (Sing Fergie!) LOL

11-20-10 Taking a picture before we set sail, with New Orleans as our backdrop

We were on the Carnival Triumph. It was my first time on a cruise ship. Boy, was it BIG. On the Lido Deck (Floor 9), there was a humongous screen for an outdoor theater; 4 swimming pools and 5 Jacuzzi tubs; a basketball court; and a putt putt golf course.

11-20-10 Paw Paw enjoys putt putt golf with my cousins, Ashlynn & Camrynn on the top deck of the ship

The view from the top deck was amazing. Here is a picture of the city of New Orleans. Pretty!

11-20-10 A picture of the city of New Orleans from the aft of the top deck of the Carnival Triumph

After the ship set sail, we had dinner and then we went to a family dance party at the Hollywood Dance Club. We even learned a new dance called “The Wobble.” It’s so much fun!

11-20-10 My mom, my cousins and I dance at a family dance party in the Hollywood Dance Club. We learned a new dance called the Wobble!

It was a fun ending to a great first day on the Carnival Triumph. More to come!

Cool Kids Cook and Cruise!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

8-1-09 Kid Chef Eliana with Pastry Chef Tariq Hanna of Sucre in New Orleans

Hey Young Chefs!

Today I had a totally gourmet day. Mommy, Daddy and I visited St. James Cheese Company, a gourmet cheese shop filled with aged meats, preserves, cheeses from around the world. You could also eat there. I had a Beechers cheddar and turkey sandwich. Yum! Yum!

8-1-09 St. James Cheese Company

We bought three kinds of cheese (Manchego [Spain], Comte [France], and Ibores [Spain]). We also bought Serrano ham. We will be using these yummies for a surprise meal – stay tuned!

8-1-09 St. James Cheese Company's cheeses

After St. James Cheese Company, we went to Sucre’, a sweet boutique.

8-1-09 The window of Sucre', a Sweet Boutique

If you have a sweet tooth, you will LOVE Sucre’. It is filled with artisan chocolates (handmade), stuffed cupcakes, creamy gelato, and desserts that look like works of art with edible glitter. I even met Pastry Chef Tariq Hanna. He said, “Everything tastes better with sparkles!”

8-1-09 Sucre's marvelous macaroon cake

Chef Tariq was very nice. He said that he wanted to be on the Eliana Cooks! Show. How cool is that?! I hope to film a segment at Sucre’ with Chef Tariq before school starts. I had a toasted coconut fudge gelato, filled with small shavings of coconut and ribbons of fudge. Mommy had a dark chocolate and raspberry mousse while Daddy had a caramel chocolate mousse cake. Look at this presentation! Ooh la la!

8-1-09 Sucre dessert - caramel chocolate mousse cake and dark chocolate & raspberry mousse

If you visit New Orleans, the sweet treats at Sucre’ on Magazine Street are a MUST! Chef Tariq and the “Sweet Boutique” are city treasures. Chef Tariq’s pastries are so good that he competed on TLC’s Ultimate Cake-off, which will be airing episodes this August (2009). You can catch a sneak peek on Monday, August 3, 2009 at 9:00pm CDT. Good luck, Chef Tariq! I hope your story ends with sweet success!

Cool kids cook and get creative in the kitchen (like Chef Tariq Hanna)!

Bon Appetit! Eliana