Jan Norris: Food and Florida

Ruth Van Waerebeek

I had the greatest time last night meeting Ruth Van Waerebeek – a Belgian who just happens to run a cooking school in Chile. Her publicist Kate Morgan, a Brit from Yorkshire now living in Queens with a house of food pros, is a trip as well. It was a gal’s night out at Cafe Boulud where the conversation in the lush courtyard ran from all things food to the best consignment stores in Palm Beach. (Chef Zach Bell’s food and vino expert Jennie Benzie’s wines went over great, too.)

Van Waerebeek is appearing tonight at Publix Aprons Cooking School in Boca Raton – info below. She’ll be preparing a great menu matched with terrific Chilean wines. Food and wine pairing is her specialty.

A fresh fish ceviche is up first — then a lump crabmeat gratin with vegetables. An unusual risotto of quinoa with wild mushrooms and goat cheese follows. The main course is a lamb brochette on skewers with a yogurt and mint salsa — clever twist on lamb with mint. The dish contains merquen — a smoked dried pepper used extensively in Chilean cooking

Dessert is poached pears served with a sabayon made with late-harvest.

Van Waerebeek’s school in Mapuyampay — at the foothills of the Andes — was recently named one of the top cooking vacations by Gourmet magazine. Go here to learn more about it — or revisit me this weekend when I’ll post an interview with her to disuss it.

• What: Demo-technique class by Chilean chef Ruth Van Waerebeek (representing Concho y Toro wines)
• Where: Publix Apron’s Cooking School, 5050 Champion Blvd., Boca Raton.
• Cost: $45
• For information or reservations, call 561-994-4883;  www.publix.com/aprons/schools/Boca/Home.do