Ela Area Public Library Gives A 'Sweet' Demonstration

Celebrity Pasty Chef Gale Gand led a baking demonstration and conversation with 140 attendees at the Ela Area Public Library May 24.

“I booked Gale eight months in advance for this,” explained Terri Meyer, adult program coordinator.

As attendees checked in for the event, they had the opportunity to purchase one of Gand’s cookbooks, root beer or aprons and get them personally autographed by her.

Gand, a Deerfield native and current Riverwoods resident, is widely known for her long-running hit show Sweet Dreams on the Food Network. She is a partner and head pastry chef at TRU restaurant in Chicago, developed and distributes Gale’s Root Beer, and is author of seven cookbooks. She is also a mother of 6-year-old twins Ella Nora and Ruby Grace and 14-year-old son Gio.

She began the demonstration with making Applesauce Cinnamon Donuts, a recipe that is not in any of her cookbooks yet.

“I feel that doughnuts are the new cupcake,” said Gand. “Shops like the Doughnut Vault in Chicago are popping up all over the place.”

While waiting for the Canola oil to heat up, Gand mixed together the ingredients of the doughnut dough and pulled out a rolling pin that belonged to her great-grandmother.

“This has been used to make pies in my family for five generations,” she said. “It’s my favorite tool.”

Gand explained the importance of using the right ingredients, not necessarily the most expensive ingredients. She explained that there are three ingredients she will spend money on: butter, chocolate and cocoa powder.

“With everything else, I’ll buy what is on sale,” said Gand. “When making my recipes I don’t want you running around trying to find all these exotic brands and ingredients. Just grab the best ingredients at your local Jewel.”

She entertained the guests with her stories of meeting Julia Child and going to her house in Cambridge, MA, to cook a segment for her show in the 1990’s.

“(Julia) was such a character and so funny without even knowing it,” said Gand.

Her latest book, Gale Gand’s Brunch!: 100 Recipes for the Weekend’s Best Meal, is in its third printing and evolved through Gand’s experience hosting dinner parties.

“The last party dinner I threw, I thought, oh I’ll just make Osso Buco, a peasant food,” said Gand. “It ended up costing me $52 and the couple we invited over ended up breaking up. I’m always so exhausted after hosting these things and people drink too much and stay too long and that’s when it hit me - brunch!”

She explained that brunch is forgiving because you can serve pastries, fruit and eggs or go fancy with asparagus and crepes. It isn’t as expensive as a dinner party and it’s during the day.

Her second food demonstration was her Caramelized Apple Crepe. While preparing the batter and cutting the apples, Gand also answered questions from the crowd.

“I’m new to baking and I’m trying to learn, so this was a fun and entertaining program,” said Bob McKee, Palatine resident and Lake Zurich business owner, McKee Engineering.

“This was the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen at a program,” said Kathy Caudill, library board trustee.

“What a riot. That was absolutely wonderful,” said Jenny Grossenbacher, Lake Zurich resident.

Gand stayed afterwards to sign books and aprons and talk to the guests.

“Coming to a library is a great place to teach people because they are already very receptive and (libraries) usually have nice, big spaces to have a demonstration,” said Gand.