PART-TIME CHARLESTON RESIDENT AND 2011 IACP AWARD WINNING AUTHOR LISA DUPAR SHARES HER NORTH MEETS SOUTH CUISINE

Chef Lisa Dupar, owner of two multi-award winning Seattle area based businesses as well as the author of the 2011 IACP award winning cookbook “Fried Chicken and Champagne:  A Romp through the Kitchen at Pomegranate Bistro”, will be making guest appearances in Charleston from June 19 through 23rd. Lisa calls Charleston her second home, as her family owns a house there where she often spends time with her husband and kids. 

 

On Sunday, June 19th, Dupar will do a Father’s Day book signing from 3:00 to 5:30 pm at the Heirloom Book Company located at 123 King Street.   She will serve tastes from her book which was honored by the International Association of Culinary Professionals at their 2011 Awards Gala in Austin on June 2nd.  “Fried Chicken and Champagne” took home the Julia Child/KitchenAid Award for “First Cookbook”- the first cookbook by a writer who has not previously authored or coauthored a food or beverage related volume.  Dupar joined the ranks of the evening's winners which included food luminaries Dorie Greenspan, Amanda Hesser and Lifetime Achievement Award winner Martin Yan, as well as presenter Jacques Pepin.

 

Tuesday, June 21st at 6:30 pm, Lisa will bring a touch of the Northwest south at the Coastal Cupboard in the Belle Hall Shopping Center.  At this class, she will share recipes for Strawberry-Rhubarb Collins, shots of “Rich Man” Gazpacho; Farro & Arugula Salad with Lima Beans, Asparagus & Basil; Pan Seared Rainbow Trout with a warm Summer Tomato, Olive and Caper Salad; and the “summer version” of Pomegranate’s famous Ginger Molasses Cookies.

 

Lisa will appear at 6:30 pm as a special guest chef on Thursday, June 23rd at Charleston Cooks.  Keeping the South on the table for this hands-on summer class, she will greet attendees with a Sparkling Peach Julep; followed by shots of Crab Gazpacho; Summer Corn Fritters with Watermelon Chutney; Fried Chicken and Waffles; and Caramel Cheesecake with Salted Pecans.

 

Lisa found her passion for food while growing up in her Atlanta, Georgia family home. Her mother, not interested in cooking, offered Dupar a compromise – she would clean, if Lisa would cook.

 

Following high school, she started a culinary apprenticeship at the Westin Hotel‘s Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta. Three years later, at age 25, Lisa continued her training in Zurich, Switzerland. While abroad, she cooked for several top rated European restaurants, before returning back to the states in 1981.


She was drawn to Seattle when a position at the Westin’s elegant Palm Court Restaurant opened up, becoming the hotel chain’s first female chef. In 1984, Lisa left to open her first restaurant, Southern Accents which focused on the food she loved from her upbringing in the South. Shortly thereafter, she started Lisa Dupar Catering, with the goal of providing stylish restaurant-quality food at catered events. Over the ensuing years, she has had the privilege of cooking for many noteworthy clientele including: Martha Stewart, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Julia Child, Bill & Melinda Gates, President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and Sophia Lauren, to name a few.

 

In 2005, Lisa and husband Jonathan Zimmer opened Pomegranate Bistro – a neighborhood restaurant, with the concept of providing locals with fresh, casual, comfort food and a fantastic hand-picked wine list.


Both businesses have garnered numerous accolades. Among the most recent, Lisa was named one of the “Top 25 National Trendsetters” by Modern Bride Magazine. Lisa Dupar Catering has won Seattle Bride’s “Best Caterer” award from 2005 – 2010, and has also been named “Best Caterer” by Seattle Magazine. Pomegranate Bistro has won Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence” from 2007 – 2010, Seattle Metropolitan’s “Best of Dining”, and Seattle Weekly’s “Best of Seattle” award.

 

With the release of her cookbook, Fried Chicken & Champagne: A Romp through the Kitchen at Pomegranate Bistro, Lisa shares both hometown and haute recipes drawn from her culinary life.

Filed in