I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere has provided me with compensation for this post about Macy’s Culinary Council. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

Did you know Macy’s has an entire division dedicated to highlighting and promoting cooking demos? Macy’s has gathered a group of some of the country’s most esteemed chefs to create the Macy’s Culinary Council, which include an impressive lineup of chef luminaries such as Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Todd English, Cat Cora, Michelle Bernstein, Rick Bayless, Ming Tsai, Takashi Yagihashi, Tom Douglas and the list just goes on and on!

The members of the Macy’s Culinary Council travel to various Macy’s everywhere as ambassadors and to teach everyone how to be more involved with food, cook better with demonstrations so we can see tips and tricks firsthand, and just talking about food and sharing their culinary advice with all of us home cooks. The Macy’s Culinary Council had their 10th Anniversary just a couple months ago. Can you believe it, 10 years?!

I’ve been aware of the Culinary Council from when I lived in Chicago- the Macy’s downtown on State Street is a huge flagship store, and although it took some getting used to when it took over what was previously the Marshall Field’s, eventually Macy’s found its way into my heart and won my trust. I admit that since moving to Portland, I haven’t been attending any in store events after putting together my bridal registry (now 4 years ago!).  I’ve only benefited from afar, from recipes the Culinary Council has shared and normal shopping trips. But I’m getting back into it!

This coming Saturday the 14th, the Macy’s Culinary Council is in Portland! Both Nancy Silverton (famously of La Brea Bakery and also  in LA Pizzeria Mozza and Osteria Mozza) and our own Northwest celebrity chef, Tom Douglas (of the Seattle restaurant empire- seriously, I love them all, Dahlia Lounge, Dahlia Bakery, Palace Kitchen, Serious Pie, Serious Biscuit, Lola, Brave Horse Tavern and more- I’ve been to most of his restaurants!) will be in Portland!

Tom and Nancy (can I call them so familiarly? 😀 ) will be collaborating at the Macy’s Washington Square at 2 pm at the Housewares at the Macy’s Washington Square, hosting a cooking demo featuring their favorite holiday recipes!

I plan to be there. First of all, to swoon over Tom Douglas and Nancy Silverton and soak up whatever they are imparting to the audience.

In addition, with a purchase of $35* or more in the Home department, you can receive a $10 Macy’s Gift Card**, a special holiday gift and either Tom Douglas’ cookbook The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook, or Nancy Silverton’s cookbook The Mozza Cookbook which the chefs will sign following the demonstration (they will only do signings after the demo). With a purchase of $70* or more in the Home department, receive two $10 Macy’s Gift Cards**, two special holiday gifts, and both The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook, and The Mozza Cookbook.

*One per customer, while supplies last, while time permits.  Seating is first come, first served. Purchase must be made  December 14, 2013 at Macy’s Washington Square
**Macy’s gift card valid Dec 14-21.

How nice is that? I already have some holiday shopping to do, and besides learning from Tom and Nancy I can come back with a gift for myself thanks to gift cards and autographed cookbooks! I particularly have my eye on Tom’s, since I have had the doughnuts that Giada De Laurentiis called the “best thing I ever ate” AND the biscuits from Serious Biscuit and would definitely want to try the recipes. The Tom Douglas’ Dahlia Bakery Donuts are Fried to Order and come with Marscarpone and Strawberry Jam. They are light and pillowy and slighty warm, almost like beignets, but dusted more lightly with brown sugar and perfect for dipping into the fruity and sweet of strawberry and creamy of cheese. And, the biscuit you see just speaks for itself.

The Details: 2 PM @ Macy’s Washington Square, Housewares, Level 2. Reservations are required as space is limited. To reserve your spot visit: https://macyschefswsq.eventbrite.com

To learn more about the Macy’s Culinary Council and upcoming events, check out macys.com/culinarycouncil, or follow them on Twitter @culinarycouncil  For some example recipe shared by the Council, check out their Pinterest Page, Macy’s Culinary Council

Hope to see you there- or check back next week for my recap!