BY BECKA WOOLF
Foods that remind you of your childhood. Ready, set, go!
Some that come to mind for me are Corn Flakes, grilled cheese and pancakes. Easy, affordable, accessible, staple foods. Many people across the country would say that Cream of Wheat is one of those items that they remember eating as a child. However, did you ever think that Cream of Wheat could be a main component of an upscale dish, such as Crispy Catfish Fritters with Red Hot Cilantro Aioli or “French Style” Cream of Wheat with Mushrooms and Leeks?
Cream of Wheat Upside-Down Apple Cake
Family favorite Cream of Wheat has partnered with an all-star line-up of chefs to launch Cream of Wheat Goes Gourmet, a charitable initiative leveraging the product’s rich history and exciting versatility. Earlier this year, the brand invited top chefs around the country to develop upscale recipes featuring Cream of Wheat as a key ingredient. Eight notable chefs tapped into their favorite memories of Cream of Wheat and merged it with their distinctive styles to create unique recipes.
Participating chefs and their recipes include:
- Antonia Lofaso of Bravo’s “Top Chef” fame, created Crispy Catfish Fritters with Red Hot Cilantro Aioli
- Arturo McLeod of Benjamin Steak House in New York, created Cinnamon Swirl Nut Cake
- Claudine Pepin, noted chef and author of “Jacques Pepin’s Kitchen: Encore with Claudine,” created “French-Style” Cream of Wheat with Mushrooms and Leeks
- Donatella Arpaia of Donatella, DBar and Iron Chef America, created Upside Down Apple Cake
- Jet Tila of Wazuzu in Las Vegas created Crispy Thai Salmon with Green Apple Slaw
- Josh Wahler of Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” and Symcha’s in South Beach, created Pan Seared Chardonnay & Thyme Marinated Florida Black Grouper with White Truffle Scented Cream of Wheat and Citrus Grilled Asparagus
- Michael Ferraro of Delicatessen and macbar in New York, created Cream of Wheat Crusted Tuna with Charred Corn Cream of Wheat Sauce and Marinated Tomatoes
- Sara Moulton, noted chef and star of “Sara’s Weeknight Meals,” created Warm Creamy Mocha Pudding
Each recipe and accompanying photo can be easily downloaded from the Cream of Wheat Facebook page. In addition to making a monetary donation in each chef’s name, the brand will donate one box of Cream of Wheat to a national hunger relief charity, up to 5,000 boxes, for every recipe downloaded on Facebook. Please do your part by liking the Cream of Wheat Facebook page and downloading recipes.
I got to chat with celebrity chef Donatella Arpaia about some of her childhood Cream of Wheat memories:
Donatella Arpaia
Do you have memories of eating Cream of Wheat as a child? What other foods remind you of your childhood?
We used to call Cream of Wheat “farina” when I was growing up. I remember the original box had a little blond boy on the box cover. On especially cold weekend mornings, my mom would make the special treat for us – we were used to cold cereal during the week so this was always a special treat! My mother would also make my siblings and I Cream of Wheat as a nighttime snack and swirl maple syrup throughout the creamy mixture. I have fond memories of sharing a bowl right before bedtime.
Your recipe for Upside Down Apple Cake looks delicious! Do you have any other favorite C of W recipes?
I really enjoy adding Cream of Wheat to my muffin recipes. They change up the texture making it similar to cornbread and add a slightly sweet and hearty flavor to any muffin recipe. Truly delicious!
As a food blogger, I am always looking for affordable ways to create memorable dishes that look more expensive than they really are! Cream of Wheat seems like a great way to do that. Any other tips?
I am a firm believer that presentation is the way to make humble, affordable dishes look more expensive. Next time serve up your Cream of Wheat in a stemless martini glass and top it with edible gold dust for a special finishing touch!
Who knows – maybe Cream of Wheat will be the next secret ingredient in Iron Chef America! Alton, are you reading?
