Hello everyone, I am cooking dinner for my brother every day, and even though we are trying to eat mostly plant-based at the moment, I was craving a burger so I thought I would take the opportunity and make something Halloween-inspired. I hope you enjoy it. 

Boo! Halloween is creeping around the corner, and I have a wickedly delicious treat for you. Say hello to the Monster Cheeseburger and Ghost Potatoes—a spine-tingling feast that'll leave your taste buds howling for more. 🍔👻
🍔Monster Cheeseburger Recipe:
Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef (or veggie burger for a meatless option)
• 4 hamburger buns
• Ketchup, mayo and mustard
• Sliced tomatoes, onions, and lettuce
• 4 slices of cheese (your choice) (for teeth) - I used a heart-shaped cookie cutter to create the teeth
• Green olives with pimento (for eyes)
• either long sliced pickles, or buy pickles and slice them the long way (for tongue)
• Tools:
• 8 Toothpicks
• toaster
• frying pan or grill
• spatula
• heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out teeth
• knife and cutting board

Instructions:

• Shape the ground beef into four monstrous burger patties, just a little bit bigger than the buns.
• Grill or cook your patties to your liking. (in a hot frying pan with a little bit of olive oil and butter I cook mine for 2-3 minutes on each side- flipping only once)
• Butter the buns and toast them.

To assemble the burgers:

And serve these delightful burgers with some ghost potatoes.

👻🍔 Voilà! You've conjured up a Halloween feast that's equal parts eerie and delicious. Perfect for a hauntingly good time with family and friends.
Remember, Halloween is all about creativity and fun. So, get your apron on, let your culinary imagination run wild, and enjoy these spooktacular treats that will make your Halloween night one to remember! 🎃👻🍔 Better yet, get the kids involved and see who can create the most spooktacular monster burger!
Who says we can’t play with our food!? 😂
Greetings from Munich, Germany!
Best, Chef Pascal

I have traveled back to Germany to launch my son, who just moved to Berlin. After spending a few nights in Berlin, I decided to come to see my family in Munich.

And guess what!?, it’s Oktoberfest time!
The whole city is overrun with people who want to experience this festival and for the most part the weather has been incredible! Big blue sky and the perfect temperature to venture into downtown Munich for this yearly festivity. This year is especially festive because it is the first time since 2019 that the Oktoberfest is happening. (Due to Covid it was paused for the last two years)
I thought I would compile a few fun facts as well as some tips in case you ever go to Oktoberfest.

1. Locals call it “Wiesn” (how to pronounce it) It’s a colloquial way of saying Theresienwiese, the name of the festival grounds.
   

Traditional Attire aka “Trachten”: Many attendees and workers at Oktoberfest wear traditional Bavarian clothing. For men, this includes lederhosen (leather shorts can cost over 1000 Euros), and for women, it's the Dirndl (a type of dress with an apron - costs around 500 Euros). The tradition of trachten is rather new- Unfortunatly we started seeing tourist come in cheap knock offs that look more like Halloween costumes.
Typically you want to dress up to go here, this is a special event and even if you don’t have a Dirndl or Lederhosen, people generally dress up. A button-down shirt and long pants, or a pretty summer dress will do. Do bring a cardigan for the evening, as it does cool off.

Traditional Attire aka “Trachten”: Many attendees and workers at Oktoberfest wear traditional Bavarian clothing. For men, this includes lederhosen (leather shorts can cost over 1000 Euros), and for women, it's the Dirndl (a type of dress with an apron - costs around 500 Euros). The tradition of trachten is rather new- Unfortunatly we started seeing tourist come in cheap knock offs that look more like Halloween costumes.
Typically you want to dress up to go here, this is a special event and even if you don’t have a Dirndl or Lederhosen, people generally dress up. A button-down shirt and long pants, or a pretty summer dress will do. Do bring a cardigan for the evening, as it does cool off.

1. (if you see this, follow the arrow to the bathroom)
   
2. Words to know:
   “Prost” - Cheers
   “Dirndl” - Baviarian traditional Dress
   “Mass” - The big glass of Beer
   “Bierzelt” - Beer tent
   “Brezn” - Pretzel
   “An Gudan” - Bon Appetit in Bavarian
   

I hope this helps!

Best wishes,
Chef Pascal

As parents, we strive to provide our children with the best opportunities to learn, grow, and develop essential life skills. Today, I want to emphasize the importance of sending your child to cooking classes and the profound impact it can have on their overall development.

• Nurturing Healthy Habits: Cooking classes empower children to make informed choices about their nutrition. By learning to prepare meals from scratch, they gain a deeper understanding of ingredients, portion sizes, and the benefits of wholesome, balanced meals. These valuable lessons instill a lifelong appreciation for healthy eating habits, setting the stage for a healthier future.

1. Promoting Independence and Responsibility: Cooking classes teach children to follow instructions, organize their workspace, and complete tasks in a methodical manner. From measuring ingredients to timing recipes, young chefs learn to take charge of their culinary creations, fostering a sense of independence, responsibility, and self-confidence.
2. Enhancing Math and Science Skills: Cooking is a delicious blend of art and science. Through measuring, weighing, and timing ingredients, children develop their math skills while exploring concepts such as fractions, ratios, and temperature conversions. Additionally, experimenting with various ingredients and observing chemical reactions in the kitchen provide a hands-on approach to understanding scientific principles.​

• Encouraging Creativity and Critical Thinking: Cooking classes offer an outlet for creativity, allowing children to experiment with flavors, textures, and presentation. As they explore different recipes and adapt them to their liking, young chefs develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and the confidence to think outside the box.
  
• Fostering Cultural Awareness: The world of food is a gateway to diverse cultures and traditions. Cooking classes expose children to new cuisines, flavors, and cooking techniques from around the world. Through exploring global recipes, children develop an appreciation for cultural diversity, broadening their horizons and nurturing their curiosity about different societies.
  
• Strengthening Social Skills: Cooking classes provide an environment for collaboration, teamwork, and communication. As children work together in the kitchen, they learn to share responsibilities, coordinate tasks, and appreciate the value of effective communication. These social skills are essential for success in various aspects of life, both now and in the future.
  
• Building Lifelong Memories: Cooking is a sensory experience that engages all our senses. Sending your child to cooking classes creates lasting memories of shared moments in the kitchen. These memories not only strengthen family bonds but also instill a passion for cooking that can be passed down through generations.
  

At Bake Austin, we are committed to providing a nurturing and educational environment where children can explore the joys of cooking. Our carefully designed programs aim to inspire young chefs, foster their creativity, and cultivate lifelong skills that extend far beyond the kitchen.
Invest in your child's future by enrolling them in our upcoming cooking classes. Together, let's empower the next generation of talented chefs, passionate food enthusiasts, and well-rounded individuals.
Happy cooking!

This is one of my favorite easy summer dinners. Make it with steak or shrimp for a change. 

Ingredients:

• For the chicken:
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 3 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• For the kabobs:
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 red onion
• For the Tzatziki sauce:
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1  cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp fresh mint and/or dill
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 medium clove garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1-2 tsp olive oil to drizzle
• ​Serve with Pita bread 

Instructions:

1. Begin by cutting the chicken into approximately 1 1/2-inch cubes. Place the chicken cubes in a large bowl.
2. Add olive oil, lemon juice, dijon mustard, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper to the bowl with the chicken.
3. Mix the chicken and marinade together until well combined.
4. Allow the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes.
5. While the chicken is marinating, cut the red bell pepper, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and red onion into 2x2 inch pieces, which will be used for skewering later.
6. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
7. Take skewers and assemble them by alternating the marinated chicken cubes, bell pepper pieces, and red onion pieces. Leave a small space between each ingredient on the skewer.
8. You should be able to make approximately 8 skewers in total.
9. Place the assembled skewers on the preheated grill.
10. Grill the skewers for 8-10 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables have become tender.
11. Once cooked, remove the skewers from the grill.
12. Serve the kabobs with tzatziki sauce and any additional sides you prefer, such as potatoes, rice, or quinoa.
13. This recipe serves 4 people, with each person having 2 kabobs.

To make the Tzatziki Sauce: 

1. Place the grated cucumber in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth. Squeeze out any excess moisture from the cucumber.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and chopped dill.
3. Stir the ingredients together until well combined.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning according to your preferences.
5. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the tzatziki sauce for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
6. Before serving, give the sauce a quick stir. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
7. Serve the tzatziki sauce as a dipping sauce for the chicken kabobs or any other dish of your choice.

​Enjoy!

​I did this thing:
I went to Burning Man.
My friend Michi (on the left) asked me a few months ago if I wanted to go to Burning Man and I didn't even hesitate... it was a YES!

Burning Man is a collaborative event where people from around the world gather together in the middle of the Nevada desert to share art in all forms - during 1 week each year, people transform this isolated, vast space of sand into a place of community where awe-inspiring art and music is shared.  What began as a small gathering of people 36 years ago is now 80,000....
Here is how the Burning Man Project describes itself: "We will bring experiences to people in grand, awe-inspiring, and joyful ways that lift the human spirit, address social problems, and inspire a sense of culture, community, and civic engagement."
The result is a time that can be not only challenging to the senses but inspiring to the spirit.

Understand please that I do not like the heat, large crowds, EDM music, staying up all night, dust, camping in extreme situations, and everything that goes with what you might imagine Burning Man stands for.

But this lady has been my friend for more than 10 years and when she asks, I usually say yes.

We applied to be part of a camp, some people camp on their own but we thought we wanted to have the full experience of being in a community and some of the emotional and physical support like shade and water.  
After going through several interviews, we were asked to be team leads, Michi was in charge of decorations, which is her specialty as she is the art director and stylist of Obsidian & Blush.
I was asked to be the head chef for 76 people, which included three meals per day plus snacks plus some beverages, like coffee & iced teas.

For months I met with people online and in person from all over the globe to discuss, plan and design a game plan. We created a book full of recipes, schedules, shopping lists, etc. to feed and hydrate everyone.

In retrospect, I appreciate that my co-leads, who all have been to Buring Man several times, did not start laughing when I suggested, beard nets, face masks, and high cleaning standards.
Don't get me wrong... we tried, but washing hands, wearing a clean shirt, and tying our hair back was about the extent of what we were able to pull off on a daily basis.
The dust was incredible (and I don't mean in a good way).
Black Rock City, where the event takes place is in the basin of an ancient lake flat made of alkaline dust.
Here is how someone describes it:
"Playa Dust: The dried lakebed dust of the playa is an all-infiltrating constant of Burning Man. It's not dirt. It's not sand. It is a fine, fine powder that turns skin ghost gray, shades all fabric with a chalky cloudiness."
You keep your skin from cracking by washing yourself with a mixture of vinegar & water to replenish the PH of your skin. 
At any given moment it could blanket every single surface even inside our kitchen shelter and I am sure we all ingested a pound of that stuff throughout the week.
We had a dishwashing station, and we had clean running water (most of the time) - which is pure luxury!!!! 
We had several fridges and freezers, a BBQ smoker and a couple of camp stoves, and one electric stove top.
Right before we went into the desert, we got a few crockpots and one huge instant pot (I named her Bertha - she was my BFF) ​

In spite of challenges and these curveballs, we managed to make some incredibly yummy meals and every meal also had vegan options.
As you can imagine with a group of 76 people, there were many dietary needs and requests.
Anything from Gluten Free, Dairy Free, high protein, vegan, vegetarian, Keto, high calories, low calories, ..... the list goes on.

Our menu was ambitious: Toddy Coffe, Breakfast tacos & a bagel bar with overnight oats, fresh fruit, bacon, and eggs every day for Breakfast. Lunches were pita pockets & wraps, loaded with lots of fresh veggies and protein. Dinners were crowd-pleasers, like burgers, Frito pie, hot dogs, peanut stew, Indian Butter chicken, lasagne, enchiladas and we even had a steak night (which I have to say was probably the best meal I have had in a while).
I used many recipes from our classes which felt amazing because I felt like I was taking all of you with me on this trip. 
Teaching these recipes to my fellow campers brought me right back to teaching your kids. 

Many of my fellow campers told me they don't eat this well in their day-to-day life!
 
You can imagine that ordering everything, calculating the numbers, and delegating everything was a challenge. We only had three days in Reo to prep and shop- we placed orders with various stores, and some of the orders were not fulfilled.  So we ended up with no pita pockets, no eggs (but we ended up getting some delivered to the desert!!), too many snacks, too much salami, bacon, onions, lettuce, and apples to keep fresh etc. 
But if you know me, you also know that I thrive in situations where I have to pivot, so we made our adjustments and some of the things we created like an apple compote to save the many apples we had received, ended up being one of the groups' favorites. ​

It was an ongoing struggle between keeping everyone fed, keeping things clean, and also having some time to go out and explore the event. 

I was surprised by how many people my age were actually at this event. So many parents whose kids had just left home, like mine, and just like myself, they are doing things that they have not been able to do while raising their kids. 

Seeing all the incredible art was so inspiring, meeting people from all over the world, with nobody on their phones (there is no WIFI!!!), actually talking to humans because there are no distractions, lots of hugs, and every time you turned a corner, there was someone happy to see you. 

It was a beautiful reaffirming experience that we are all still a big family. ​

In closing here are a few facts:

Top 5 meals in our camp at Burning Man:
1. Pancakes with apple compote served during a dusty day while setting up hex tent.
2. Warm Vegan Chickpea Curry in big Bertha, served in the early morning hours when people came home from watching the sunrise.  
3. On Friday night we had an epic Steak Dinner with mashed potatoes and a giant salad, as a celebration, and thank you for everyone's huge effort.
4. Frito Pie, to my surprise some people were like "what's Frito pie?" - It was an uphill struggle, LOL, but they all loved it. 
5. Chef Pavla's (my culinary teacher's) Mexican Wedding cookies - not necessarily a meal but a delight! She had sent me with hundreds of these cookies, plus banana bread, and her famous jalapeno jelly which was devoured! 

We used:
432 eggs
34 lbs coffee
120 bagels 
50lbs rice
27lbs chicken tenders
20 lbs ground beef
and I could go on.

We served 1776 meals to our campers
65 gallons of iced coffee
and about 45 gallons of iced tea

I could have not pulled this off without some key players here in Austin and abroad who helped me brainstorm and execute this undertaking. I am so grateful for everyone who showed up for their shifts and helped when needed. 

Next year, yes I know it's crazy to think I might do this again, I want to create a more magical menu, and I am already brainstorming fun titles and new menu ideas.
If anything comes to mind, please let me know.
i.e.
"Sparkle Pony's delight"
"Unicorn surprise"
.......

Michi and I are safely back in Austin, diving deep into our work again and inspired by all the incredible impressions from this event. 
And if you are ever inspired to go, I am happy to share my packing list with you. I learned A LOT! 

Happy to be home for now
Chef Pascal ​

2. Simple equipment like an electric mixer, and food processorI am not a big fan of a lot of gadgets, but an electric mixer will make your life easier, especially when whipping cream or egg whites. It does not need to be a super fancy stand mixer, though I do recommend that you get an electric mixer that also has a whisk attachment! Like this (I do not get any cut for any of these items, these are just examples) 
A food processor is great for making pesto, smoothies, ice cream, gelato, sorbet, etc. It also works great for chopping up things like onions or carrots. This piece of equipment is not a must but sure is nice to have. Make sure you show your kids the blade, explain that this is nothing but a knife, so they need to treat it with the utmost respect. Also show them how to turn the food processor on. I like to do several test runs, because if you have ever used one of those machines, you know. :) ​

3. Kitchen basics like a set of good potholders, apron, dishtowels, spongesInvest in some good fitting potholders, for me this is probably the one thing that is an absolute must! They can’t be too bulky, you still need to have some dexterity while wearing them. I prefer the mitten style, just because your hand is fully protected. 
Make sure those potholders are not close to any water, a moist or wet potholder is absolutely never to be used on anything hot!  
Aprons are nice but not necessary. I go back and forth of wearing an apron. Obviously as a chef we wear our uniform but when I cook at home I oftentimes don’t wear one. But for kids it creates another layer of protection.  Aprons protect your child's clothing from stains but also they protect your child from potentially spilling hot liquids on them.
An inexperienced chef should always wear long sleeve cotton shirts to protect arms from spills and burns.
Of course close toed shoes are also a great idea, just in case a knife falls or something spills. 
In my classes I always teach the kids how to clean up, so make sure they know where everything is for that. I like to tell them before they start that I expect the kitchen to look the way they found it when they are done. 
Get them their own sponge, soap and dish towel if you have a very anti-cleaning child, sometimes that is all it takes.
Sometimes even a little rug on the floor, kids can get a little messy and a wet floor can cause someone to slip and fall, so maybe invest in a cheap little non-slip rug to lay on the floor in front of your sink. 
I hope these tips and tricks were helpful. If you have any tools or items you find super helpful in your kitchen do let me know, I am always curious how other people manage their spaces.
Chef Pascal ​

​If your kids are already making dinner, why not include dessert too?

• Monday (7/11): Biscotti & Raspberry Sorbet
• Tuesday (7/12): Pana Forte & Amareti Cookies
• Wednesday (7/13): Bombolini & Italian Lemon Cookies
• Thursday (7/14): Panna Cotta & Peach Crostata
• Friday (7/15): Tiramisu

Take a full week of classes or choose just a day or two. Single classes are available for this week!