Super Bowl Culinary Nirvana By Chef Ali

Cover photo Alin Cruz, (Chef Ali) a Culinary genius in the kitchen, serves her homemade Sangria. Photo by Mark Sevier. Inside photo-The sexy Alin Cruz sans apron.

By Buddy Sampson

I discovered something great about social media sites such as Facebook. You are able to meet some of the most exceptional people in the world. I met one of those people on Facebook; a lovely lady named Alin Cruz, (Chef Ali), from Tel Aviv, Israel.  We had a number of conversations and one day, she told me about her business, CulinaryPassions.net.

She invited me to her Super Bowl party Sunday, February 3, 2013 in Valley Village and I have to say it was culinary nirvana. Guests were treated to a myriad of seemingly never ending culinary treats. As we walked in the door, we were greeted by Chef Ali, a friendly lady with a jovial and fun attitude who assured me that her team, The Baltimore Ravens, was going to be victorious. She started the evening with a Red Wine Sangria, loaded with fruit and quite tasty. The game started and many of the guests, of course began trash talking about their teams, including I, who was rooting for The Baltimore Ravens.

Chef Ali's Bacon Wrapped Dates W Gorgonzola Cheese.

But then the courses started. The first serving was Goat Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomatoes Crostini, a very healthy offering that started the evening to a tasty start. After that, the delicious culinary assault on the guests started. There were Croquettes with Manchego Cheese and Bacon Bites, Goat cheese and Pine nuts Staffed Mushrooms, Garlic Butternut squash Crostini, Staffed dates with Stilton cheese wrapped with Bacon, Coconut Shrimp, made in Chef Ali’s personal style, Cherry Tomato Mozzarella Basil, Garlic Hummus Dip, Tri color Tahini dip, Potatoes pine nut pastels Chicken and almonds pastels, Beef pastels and fresh homemade dinner rolls.

She had three kinds of chicken wings:  Crunchy lemon pepper Thyme Chicken Wings, Honey Garlic Chicken wings and Chef Ali’s Buffalo Jalapeno Chicken Wings. The entrées were Braised Short Ribs with Red wine and my personal favorite of the night, Carrot potato Mash Chicken with Potatoes in Cola Sauce. I had never tasted food made with Coca Cola and it was positively fantastic.

I had no room left for dessert, but there was chocolate cake and cheesecake. Chef Ali’s cooking was to die for. There’s a saying in the hood that definitely applies to her cooking and culinary style, “Almost wants to make you slap your mama!” Now maybe a bit of an overstatement, but almost true.

Scoop LA Publisher Buddy Sampson w Alin Cruz. Photo by Mark Sevier.

We recommend that you find a way to have Chef Ali (Alin Cruz) to cater your next event. On her website, she mentions that she can work with any budget, so you must call her and be delighted by her cooking at your next function, event or party. Call Chef Ali at (424) 666-8873 or email her at Culinarypassions@gmail.com.Visit her website at www.culinarypassions.net. She is a master in the kitchen and an architect of culinary nirvana. Oh and by the way, there was a game, too. And, as she assured me, The Baltimore Ravens won!