Monday night I had the opportunity to attend a Bombay Sapphire promotional event featuring Merlin Griffiths and Food Network Canada’s Rob Rainford from License to Grill. Merlin Griffiths mixed gin cocktails while Rob Rainford pulled out the grill on a fine spring day in Toronto and gave us grilling tips for the summer.
For me, the highlight of the evening had to be when Rob Rainford made a melon soup, spiked with gin of course, where he smoked the melon in the grill. The smoky flavour in the sweet melon soup was amazing and I am definitely going to have to try smoking some melon this summer. Who would have thought to smoke a melon in the barbecue?
I brought my camera and took some photos of the event which I have uploaded to my Flickr Photo Gallery.
jenisnape says
May 5, 2010 at 12:58 pmNice pictures! Looks like a lot fun! 😀 I can't wait to come back to Toronto now (It's almost patio season!)
Sandi says
May 5, 2010 at 1:07 pmLooks great Kevin!! I'm sure you had a fabulous time.
All Our Fingers in the Pie says
May 5, 2010 at 2:33 pmSmoky melon…very creative. Wish it was spring out here in Sask. I woke up to snow on the ground.
Ginny says
May 5, 2010 at 3:25 pmI love Bombay Sapphire… why wasn't I invited? hehe! 🙂
Bellini Valli says
May 5, 2010 at 4:17 pmSounds like a great event Kevin. I love Rob Rainford whose recipes show up on my grill quite often.
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
May 5, 2010 at 5:44 pmI'm sure you had a great time!
Cheers,
Rosa
brian_in_gib says
May 5, 2010 at 7:58 pmI'm intrigued by the soup. I wouldn't know where to start but I'd definitely like to try this as I like melon in soups. (Check out my site for a melon gazpacho recipe). Did he give you any tips on how to get a good result with the smoking? If I can figure it out, I might even have to try smoked melon gazpacho…
Greeting from Gibraltar.
Brian
Mausi says
May 5, 2010 at 10:00 pmYour pictures are so amazing! What kind of camera are you using?
. says
May 5, 2010 at 11:40 pmyes being outside for a food event, well there's nothing like it. we had a long winter, and it's been so nice outside. i know you get nasty winters too. going over to flickr now….
meeso says
May 5, 2010 at 11:49 pmCool!
Kevin says
May 6, 2010 at 3:09 ambrian_in_gib: The recipes from the event are here. It seems pretty easy; you heat up the coals, throw the wood chips on to them and let them start smoking then place the halved melon on the top rack of your grill (indirect heat) for 15-20 minutes.
Mausi: I was using a Canon 7D with the 17-55 2.8IS lens.
giz says
May 6, 2010 at 1:29 pmI've always liked Rob Rainford and even more now that he's toned down his enthusiasm a little 🙂
david says
May 13, 2010 at 2:49 amHey Kevin, we met Merlin at a similar event in Montreal last week. It's neat how Bombay Sapphire works with local chefs rather than touring with someone. Must have been a blast to see Rob Rainford live. Anyway, we love your blog! Cheers!
Brenna says
May 14, 2010 at 4:44 pmThanks for coming, Kevin! Your pictures look great.