Four chefs demonstrated their specialty dishes and handed out lots of free samples Saturday at the fourth annual Modesto Art & Wine Festival. Here are some of their thoughts on cooking.
SOUS CHEF CALVIN LEE Clayton's at 1016 H St. in Modesto
Q: If you had 30 minutes to impress someone, what would you make?
A: French cuisine is my specialty, so I would make rack of lamb with a mint jelly sauce and serve it with some roasted herb potatoes.
Q: Do you have a favorite convenience product or secret ingredient?
A: I have a special blend of spices that enhances the flavor of any meat, even if I don't have time to marinate.
Q: Where do you go for ethnic dining in Modesto?
A: I commute from Stockton, so I don't dine out in Modesto much.
Q: What foods do you hate, but cook anyway? A: Okra. It's one of our seasonal vegetables, but it gets slimy if you cook it too long.
Q: What's your favorite guilty pleasure, foodwise?
A: I try to keep healthy and stick to foods I make from scratch. Top Ramen is not cooking. I don't grab a bag of chips. And I don't stop at taco trucks.
HEAD CHEF JIMMY BELLA Vito's Ristorante at 918 13th St. in Modesto and 3851 Crowell Road in Turlock Q: If you had 30 minutes to impress someone, what would you make?
A: People are afraid to cook seafood, so I would make a seafood sampler with clams, fish, shrimp, scallops and a little marinara sauce. Add some sauteed vegetables, and, of course, a nice wine. It's great.
Q: Do you have a favorite convenience product or secret ingredient?
A: Lemon pepper adds zest to all kinds of meat.
Q: Where do you go for ethnic dining in Modesto?
A: I recommend Vito's, because we have great food and moderate prices, but taco trucks are good too. Find the truck on Lander Avenue in Turlock, get the burrito supreme with everything. Mmmmmmm.
Q: What foods do you hate, but cook anyway?
A: I'm not a big fan of Asian food. I'll make tofu and fried rice, but I don't like it.
Q: What's your favorite guilty pleasure, foodwise?
A: Beef jerky -- I'm addicted to it.
CHEF RAMIRO GONZALES Tresetti's World Caffe at 927 11th St. in Modesto
Q: If you had 30 minutes to impress someone, what would you make?
A: Sea bass encrusted with pistachio nuts, served with fresh peach salsa, basmati rice and organic green beans.
Q: Do you have a favorite convenience product or secret ingredient?
A: Garlic, I love garlic. I made garlic ice cream, but it didn't sell well.
Q: Where do you go for ethnic dining in Modesto?
A: For great Spanish-style tapas, try Concetta.
Q: What foods do you hate, but cook anyway?
A: Hamburgers, but I cook a lot of them.
Q: What's your favorite guilty pleasure, foodwise?
A: I love chocolate cake.
CHEF AND RESTAURANT OWNER GEORGE BERTAINA Étouffeé, 924 15th St., Modesto
Q: If you had 30 minutes to impress someone, what would you make?
A: Probably spaghetti, because I love it, but if I really want to impress someone I try to figure out what they like and cook to suit their palate.
Q: Do you have a favorite convenience product or secret ingredient?
A: I don't have a single favorite ingredient, but I know how foods react with each other and I don't cut corners, even if the extra bits cost more.
Q: Where do you go for ethnic dining in Modesto?
A: Tasty Thai or Bella Italia or El Rosal.
Q: What foods do you hate, but cook anyway?
A: Okra. You have to cook it just right or it gets slimy.
Q: What's your favorite guilty pleasure, foodwise?
A: Mr. P's Pizza, from the frozen food section, even though it doesn't agree with my stomach. I'm not a food snob.
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