National Conference Center Executive Chef Offers Grilling Tips and Grilling Contest

LEESBURG, Va. - July 3, 2013 - PRLog -- The National Conference Center’s Executive Chef Craig Mason has launched a summer online video grilling series with tips and recipes.   The “Thrill of the Grill” series can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mmvFj5-3N0.  A new video is posted every Friday.  Episodes to date focus on grilling safety, marinades, and dry rubs.

In addition to providing grilling tips and sharing recipes, The National Conference Center has launched a Summer Grilling Contest.  Submissions can be posted on The National Conference Center’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/nccmeet.  Participants must first “like” NCC on Facebook and then post a photo tutorial or video with their favorite grilling recipe which can include steaks or any grilled food. Posting should include the hashtag #nccthrillofthegrill. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, August 7 on Facebook and will receive a private (grilled) dinner at The National Conference Center for 10 people—can be an office gathering or group of work colleagues.  For additional information on the contest, go to www.conferencecenterblog.com.

Chef Mason offers these grilling tips for steaks:

1.      Buy quality meats.  Avoid pre-packaged steaks as plastic wrap traps moisture.  Spend the extra money on USDA prime or Choice meats—it makes a difference.

2.      Pick marbled steaks.  Look for thin white lines of fat streaks in the meat.  This marbling keeps the meat nice and juicy.  Fat is flavor.

3.      Allow your steaks to come to room temperature before grilling.  Cold steaks don’t cook evenly.

4.      Season your steaks just prior to putting them on the grill. Unless, of course, you’re marinating.

5.      Put the forks down. Use a pair of tongs which offer better control and won’t pierce the meat and allow the juices to escape.

6.      Preheat your grill.  Allow extra time so that your grill is at the correct temperature.

7.      Leave it alone.  Once you place the meat on the grill, don’t touch it.  Let it cook and develop a seared crust before you flip it.

8.      Check for doneness with your finger. A rare steak feels soft and spongy.  Medium springs back when pressed and well-done feels firm.

9.      Better to err on the side of caution.  If it’s undercooked, you can always put it back on the grill for another minute.

10.  Allow meat to rest.  Let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking.  This gives the juices a chance to get back into the meat.

NCC supports local area farms and uses locally grown ingredients wherever possible.   This is not an easy feat for a property that serves up to 2,000 meals per day.  “When I first contacted a local farmer and asked for 500 pounds of spinach, he questioned me several times,” stated Chef Mason.  “He thought I was asking for 50 pounds.”   The same farmer now has additional acres in production to be able to provide lettuces, spinach, tomatoes and other produce to NCC.   In return, The National Conference Center gives the farmer their used cooking oil which the farmer recycles to run his tractors and greenhouses.

This year, NCC has branched out to other local farms that are providing patty pans, squash and zucchini.  “We want to ensure that our customers enjoy the freshest ingredients in our meals,” explained Mason, “and we want to support local farms.”

For more information on The National Conference Center, visit www.conferencecenter.com.

More about The National Conference Center

Located in Northern Virginia 12 miles from Dulles International Airport and 35 miles from Washington, D.C., the National Conference Center (NCC) is one of the largest and most comprehensive conference centers in the nation. With 917 guest rooms and over 250,000 square feet of meeting space, NCC has become a hub for productive meetings.  West Belmont Place was named 2013 Best Venue by the International Special Events Society.   NCC is also on the GSA schedule.   For information call 800-640-2684 or visit www.conferencecenter.com.  

The National Conference Center is managed by ARAMARK Conference Centers.  ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. In FORTUNE magazine's 2009 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," ARAMARK was ranked number one in its industry, consistently ranking since 1998 as one of the top three most admired companies in its industry as evaluated by peers and analysts. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 260,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at the company's Web site, www.aramark.com.