Martini Time with Chef Tina Martini
I attended a preview of “Martini Time with Chef Tina Martini” at the M Resort Spa Casino which debuted on January 26. It’s Las Vegas so you would thin k I might have been enlightened as to how to make a perfect martini. Did I learn whether a martini is best made with gin or vodka and whether is should be shaken or stirred? No. Instead, I was treated to an enjoyable 60 minute cooking demonstration by “naturopathic chef” Tina Martini.
The show is similar to a live network television cooking show. It takes place inside Studio B Buffet’s cooking studio which includes TV cameras, special lighting, and state of the art cooking facilities and seating for 40 arranged for just this kind of program.
Chef Martini is passionate about cooking and cooking healthy. During her more than 25 years of experience in the pursuit of health and healthy eating, she has developed wellness strategies for many celebrities and several major corporations. The Chef has hosted hundreds of live shows for Macy’s School of Cooking in San Diego, California. And yes, Martini is her real name.
I seldom prepare my meals and generally am not as concerned as I should be about the potential health benefits when I do fix a meal. But I did pick up some pointers on healthy cooking and the benefits Phytochemicals have in improving one’s health. In case you, like me, have never heard of these compounds, they are naturally occurring chemicals in plants. Tina’s cooking demonstrations included fresh fruits, vegetables and legumes. I learned that tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit all contain Lycopene. This nutrient helps prevent certain cancers and heart conditions.
Avid cookers will pick up a lot of hints from Chef Martini on subjects such as where to buy kitchen utensils, the best type of utensils to use, and how to prepare and store foods. These hints alone are worth the price of admission.
The show is held at 10AM and 1 and 4 PM on Sundays to Thursdays and is dark Fridays and Saturdays. Ticket prices are $39.95, $49.95, and $59.95, depending on the time and include a Studio B Buffet with reserved seating following the show. I’ve eaten at this Buffet many times and consider it to be among the best in town. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the M Resort between 8AM and 4PM. More information can be found at www.theMresort.com.
By Burt Davis
Photo credit Tom Donoghue
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