Thursday, July 06, 2006 

The Rock & Roll Kitchen, Jr.







HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT'S BEEN GETTING OVER AS "KID'S COOKING SHOWS?" If you do a quick online search, you may be less than impressed about what seems to be the standard out there.

WE'VE BEEN DOING KID'S COOKING SHOWS FOR YEARS. And we're not talking the annoying "Today, we're going to make a smiley-face peanut butter sandwich!" drivel perpetually served up by most kid's programs, either. Based on this, we figure it's high time to start work on OUR version of a quality kid's cooking program. Title: The Rock & Roll Kitchen, Junior.

KIDS ARE NOT STUPID! Inexperienced, yes; but assuming they can't handle some basic cooking techniques is patronizing and condescending. Every future chef starts at the bottom, with simple duties they can handle; it should be no different with kids.

AND IF THE PARENTS DON'T KNOW HOW TO COOK... We've seen this over and over again. So few parents know how to cook - or are insecure about what they do know - they have no knowledge base to teach from. More, instead of giving a child some basic chore they can handle (chopping parsley, peeling garlic, washing dishes, peeling potatoes, etc.) , they chase them out of the kitchen instead. In our experience, most younger kids are eager to help - especially when the reward is a tasty dish. When an adult projects their culinary insecurities onto a child, it not only sends a terrible message, it also instills a negative message about cooking, which will be difficult - if not impossible - to overcome in later years.

EDUCATION VS. ENTERTAINMENT. As most teachers know, anytime the lesson is fun and watchable, the lesson has a far greater chance of taking root. This speaks to our overall philosophy of the one crime you can't commit onstage: Being boring. However, it has also been pointed out that our format could easily be adapted into the Holy Grail of kid's programming: Cooking/nutrition; live/interactive music; and physical fitness (i.e., dancing). We'll have to agree...

USING A COMBINATION OF PRE-PREPPED AND LIVE TECHNIQUES, here are some of the many dishes & techniques we have featured during various kid's cooking demos:

NEW ZEALAND MUSSELS WITH TARRAGON WINE SAUCE IN LINGUINI

MESCLUN SALAD MIX WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

MANGO/CHICKEN QUESADILLAS

HOW TO CUT AN ONION

HOW TO MAKE AN OMELETTE

MARINARA

GUACAMOLE

Stay tuned...

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9:10 AM | |

Saturday, July 01, 2006 

Fortunate Son | Live Video

Although we haven't been doing this tribute project for real long (2 paid gigs, plus an apearance on Chicago's WGN Morning News), there are a few things that stand out.

First (owing a great deal to the invaluable efforts of our pal & starmaker/image builder Leigh Hanlon), we've been able to create more video content than most bands - national or local. We're feeling great about this, as most local/startup bands don't even consider the power and value of ANY kind of video. Agents and talent buyers really appreciate this, as they can see/hear exactly what they'll be getting.

Second: Am I the only one who thinks lead singer Dan McGuinness will be (is already?) a big-time, world-class singer? The guy has sailed through some relatively challenging situations, with nary a stumble. He sang every song for a two hour show (our debut), and absolutely killed 'em; he notched up his performance even more for an early-morning live TV show (2nd "gig"); And things got even more watchable/fun for the 3rd appearance at an outdoor Chicago festival. See for yourself as we do "Fortunate Son."

8:50 AM | |