Giada De Laurentiis kicked off the Sundance Film Festival last night by cheffing the Artist at the Table [1] dinner. An intimate group of 350 filmmakers, actors, and festivalgoers paid between $1,500 and $25,000 to dine on Giada's menu to benefit the Sundance Institute. As Giada gears up to open her first restaurant [2] on the Las Vegas Strip in April, she served a preview menu, revealing some of the highly anticipated dishes. Take a look at the behind-the-scenes shots, including Giada in a minidress and heels, stirring a giant vat of pasta!
Giada's Sundance Snaps
Giada snapped pics of the scene at Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley [4], both inside and out, before her dinner began.
The Ambience
Celebrity guests at the star-studded dinner included Aaron Paul, Katie Couric, and Mark Ruffalo [6].
The Preview Menu
Whether intentional or not, Caesars Palace posted a pic of the preview dinner menu, which included the following dishes: lobster risotto arancini [8], chicken marsala meatballs, fig and goat cheese crostini [9], grilled artichokes with lemon basil aioli, San Daniele prosciutto pops, prosciutto di parma melon, rosemary focaccia, lemon flatbread, a duet of salads, and vegetable bolognese with rigatoni [10].
Duet of Salads
Giada kept morale high as a line of cooks plated her duet of salads consisting of arugula with crispy pancetta, candied lemon, and parmigiano-reggiano and romaine with fried capers, torn croutons, and caesar dressing.
Cooking For a Crowd
Giada had to feed 350 people! In order to accommodate such a large number, large tilt skillets were used.
Vegetable Bolognese With Rigatoni
Giada posted a video [14] of her stirring a giant vat of rigatoni bolognese [15].
Veal and Stuffed Peppers
Giada inspected the plates of veal loin saltimbocca [17] and quinoa-stuffed bell peppers before service took them away.
Tangerine Sorbet
For dessert, Giada served a scoop of tangerine sorbet with vanilla cream and candied pistachios [19].
Chocolate Nibbles
Giada celebrated the end of the evening with something sweet and chocolatey.
Creamed Ice
Who would have thought to pour cream over the icy sorbet?