2011 U.S. Potato Board's (USPB) Thanksgiving Dinner featuring US Frozen Potato Creations by Chef Myrna Segismundo of Restaurant 9501

USPB Thanksgiving Dinner Restaurant 9501

"Thank You": Two words that are most often forgotten. We don’t usually celebrate Thanksgiving here in the Philippines but we have so many ways we can show our gratitude for all the blessings we receive throughout the year with our fiestas and holiday celebrations.

The holiday spirit arrived early this year during the Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by the U.S. Potato Board (USPB). Thanks to NomNom Club, I was privileged to be invited by the USPB to celebrate with them what they are thankful for this year. There are three things to be thankful for during the USPB Thanksgiving dinner.

USPB Thanksgiving Dinner Restaurant 9501 Menu

First on the list is that USPB was able to collaborate with Chef Myrna Segismundo of Restaurant 9501 (Restaurant is found at the 14^th Floor ELJ Communication Center, Eugenio Lopez St., Quezon City) to create 5 USPB potato dishes to feature USPB Frozen Potatoes during the USPB Thanksgiving Dinner last November 14, 2011.

Second, despite the unpredictable weather there was almost no empty seat during the USPB Thanksgiving dinner as Restaurant 9501 is filled with distinguished guests including restaurant owners and managers, food magazine editors and writers, traditional media folks and bloggers like me.

USPB Thanksgiving Dinner together with Chef Myrna Segismundo

Third, which I think I share to be thankful for is the bursts of laughter, the constant banging of utensils and plate, the clinging of glasses and the endless conversations going around in every table at Restaurat 9501 that night. For me that is the best way to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner: To hear the sounds of people thankful to be spending time together.

As I’ve said although this is a personal blog, my focus when writing is to describe what I’ve seen, taste, heard, felt, and smelled as a consumer. Why should we, as consumers, be interested on what the US Potato Board is doing? Well, that is the reason why I accepted this invitation. I want to know what happens where my food is coming from and how restaurants use the US frozen potato products they get from USPB. Just think about it, have you ever wondered where do restaurants get their ingredients? Wouldn't it be more reassuring to know the people behind where your food is coming from. From where I stand, I am very curious to learn more. 

Besides the obvious French fries almost everyone enjoys, where else can we experience this popular tuber? Thanks to USPB, I have five new reasons to think of.

Homemade Potato bread by Chef Myrna Segismundo for the 2011 US Potato Board Thanksgiving Dinner

Seared Scallops with Straight Cut Potatoes, Apple Waldorf Salad Basic oil  by Chef Myrna Segismundo for the 2011 US Potato Board Thanksgiving Dinner

Truffled Mashed Potatoes soup with Porcini Mushroom Froth by Chef Myrna Segismundo for the 2011 US Potato Board Thanksgiving Dinner

Roast U.S. Tom Turkey with bread and nut stuffing, minted orange-cranberry relish, creamed spinach, candied crinkle-cut potatoes and giblet gravy by Chef Myrna Segismundo for the 2011 US Potato Board Thanksgiving Dinner

 Poached Pears & Grapes Mashed Potato Crepes and Vodka Sabayon by Chef Myrna Segismundo for the 2011 US Potato Board Thanksgiving Dinner

As a consumer, it is important for me to know where my food comes from. It also helps establish a good reputation when somebody like Chef Myrna Segismundo puts her signature to make these off-the-menu dishes for USPB. The potato dishes she created using the US frozen potato products from USPB made me realize there are so many things I didn’t know a potato can be used for. I, therefore, encourage my readers that the next time you enjoy a potato dish in a restaurant; ask the chef where the potatoes came from. You might be surprised to know it is from USPB. Then we can both say that we have a shared USPB experience even if we are apart.

 Happy Thanksgiving! 

Feel free to tell me about your favorite potato dishes or what you want to create with potatoes by commenting below.