A Night Out With Jesse McCartney - A Ham, With Cheese

A Night Out With | Jesse McCartney
A Ham, With Cheese

By JOANNE KAUFMAN
Published: March 20, 2009

IT was cheese-making night — Mozzarella 101 — a monthly hands-on course at the Artisanal Premium Cheese Center in Hell’s Kitchen, and Jesse McCartney, the pop singer and heartthrob, was as attentive as an overachieving sophomore at an SAT prep class.

Mr. McCartney was all polite curiosity about the ingredients used in making cheese. He listened closely during the PowerPoint presentation by Waldemar Albrecht, a maître fromager (loose translation: cheese whiz).

“We supply cheese to restaurants like Picholine,” Mr. Albrecht said, and Mr. McCartney, 21, who was winding up a tour tied to the release of his fourth solo album, “Departure: Recharged,” and who has a six-episode stint on the new season of the series “Greek,” beamed in recognition. “I love Picholine,” he said.

Mr. McCartney’s pubescent fans know him as a cast member of the short-lived WB series “Summerland” and as the star behind hits like “Leavin’ ” and “Beautiful Soul.” They are probably unaware that he knows his way around Camembert.

“I’ve always been into cooking,” said Mr. McCartney, who had heard about the class from the programming director at the radio station Z100 and who came with his backup singers, Phil Holland and Aaron Bereal, and his bodyguard, Bill Bausman. “My mother was not the cook in the family. My dad was. I’d watch him behind the grill, and I said if I ever make it and have enough money, I’m going to make sure I dine in the best restaurants.”

Heading to the front of the classroom, the 30 students — some, like Mr. McCartney, toting glasses of red wine — began spooning curds into hot salted water, shaping them into rounds and kneading them.

“You have to be patient and treat the cheese very gently, or it will be tough,” cautioned Mr. Albrecht, who charges $125 a head.

“Is this good?” asked Mr. McCartney, holding up a small ball he’d been earnestly working with his thumb. “I need approval. I need validation.”

“That’s perfect,” said Mr. Albrecht’s associate, Candela M. Prol.

“Teacher’s pet,” Mr. Holland jeered.

“Show-off,” Mr. Bereal said.

“Are you jealous of my form?” Mr. McCartney said, tossing the ball into a cold-water bath, the last step in the process.

The singer, who just moved to a new house in Hollywood Hills with a well-equipped kitchen, said that his cooking philosophy — take chances — had been shaped by Anthony Bourdain. “I’ve read all his books. I thought ‘Kitchen Confidential’ was awesome,” Mr. McCartney said. “I make this really nice garlic bread with a garlic and shallot paste. Then I take really thinly sliced tomatoes and fresh Parmesan cheese over the top and bake it. It’s so good.”

Plastic tubs were available for students to take home samples of their work. “I know I made this one,” Mr. McCartney said, looking into the cloudy depths of the receptacle Mr. Bausman, his bodyguard, brought him. “But not these others. They’re a little sloppy.”

So, is this lunch tomorrow?

“No,” he said, heading out with his posse. “It’s dinner tonight.”

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/fashion/22night.html?ref=fashion

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jessemccartney
• jesse
• mccartney
• leavin
• its
• over
• how
• do
• you
• sleep
• ludacris
• cooking
• cheese

[nosimilar]

what is the song?

[JMcCartneyPromotion]

Not Your Enemy by Jesse McCartney.

[cutyhil]

JESSE IS THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE

[jesseIsMyOxygen4987]

i want him to cook for me!

[amina12372]

this song is awsome and jesse looks soo cute holding a ham with cheese lolx :D

[BritRox1199]

are you jealous of my form? classic haha

[A301b]

Oh SO CUTE

[omgrus]

whoa!! that first picture popped up and i thought it was Sterling Knight! ....well at first glance...haa..its amazing at how similar those 2 look

[jessh2008]

The side bar is absolutely hilarious! It took my ages to get through it 'cause i was laughing so much haha! I love him so much! <3 :-) , x

[laurah2ofan1]

i love this song!!!!!!!i love you,Jesse Mccarteny

[princesspink1234]

hawt! luv jesse!

[crylovejesse]

lol