When I found out that I was going to get to go to New York and meet Tyler Florence, I was floored. Not only was I going to meet him but I was going to learn how to make some great salads. I have to admit for a foodie like me who lives here in Utah, it was a once in a lifetime chance! It was a quick trip. I just took a plane to New York, arrived about 1 1/2 hours before the event, went to the event, went back to the hotel, went to bed, woke up, and hopped on a plane back home. For me it was well worth it.
The tables that had set up for us to eat at. Photo by Patrick Butler
Can you see me? Photo by Patrick Butler
This is the Wish-Bone ad you have probably seen in magazines. Photo by Patrick Butler
The event was held at the Rustico Cooking School and was hosted by Wish-Bone Dressing. The event had a fun title. They called it “Live from New York It’s Salad Night.” The whole even was so fun. The best part had to be when Tyler taught us how to make 3 fantastic salads.
Photo by Patrick Butler
It felt like we were all just hanging out with Tyler in his home watching him cook. He gave us a lot of fun tips too. My favorite tip was with the first salad – Arugula, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, & Bocconcini Salad. I have never tasted or made roasted tomatoes before, but let me tell you it’s the way to go. I never would have thought to roast tomatoes and put them in a salad. I will be now. The flavor that the tomato gets is fabulous. I have some video of it. Check it out. There is another tip in the video about fresh herbs!
Next, he showed us a Grilled Tuna, Arugula, Fennel, Black-Eyed Peas and Tomato Salad. Now you can use canned tuna in place of the tuna steaks, but the tuna steak was awesome. I also never would have thought to put black-eyed peas and tuna in a salad but it worked.
The last salad – Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers – was my favorite. So much fun stuff with this one plus it tasted fabulous. First fun tip with this one was, you marinate the chicken in Italian dressing and grill it. Then after it is grilled, you douse it with some more dressing which gives you a very flavorful and moist chicken. Another great tip was grilling lemons for this salad. The grilled lemon flavor is even better than regular fresh lemon juice. YUM! Then you top this salad with bread crumbs. Now these aren’t your regular bread crumbs. They are GREEN bread crumbs. They turn green when you put them in the food processor with parsley and lemon juice. Then you toast them in the oven before putting them on the salad! YUM, YUM!!!!! Then this salad also had roasted red pepper which is a fav of mine.
Photo by Patrick Butler
As you can see, it was just an awesome thing to attend. Tomorrow I will share the other dishes that we ate that night – a yummy pasta dish and tasty dessert! So make sure to stop back tomorrow. I also got a great gift back at the event and the people from Wish-Bone have been nice enough to give me one to give to one of you lucky people! The gift bag includes a signed Tyler Florence cookbook, a great salad container, salad tongs, two bottles of dressing and an apron. The retail value is around $45. I had to leave my dressing in New York. Since I only took a carry on the salad dressing wouldn’t pass the 3 oz. TSA requirement! 
Oh well, but you will get yours at your door. So you have until Friday May 7 at 10 pm (MST) to enter and all you have to do is leave a comment on this post as to which salad sounds the best to you.
I also learn that Wish-Bone dressings not only add delicious flavor, but oils like those in Wish-Bone help the body better absorb Vitamins A & E from salads, as compared to salad without dressing. So these salads are even better for you!
Arugula, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, & Bocconcini Salad
- 32 cherry tomatoes, on vine
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme leaves
- 6 cups lightly packed baby arugula or baby spinach leaves
- 3/4 cup Wish-Bone® Italian Dressing
- 24 bocconcini (fresh mozzarella cheese balls)
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
- Preheat oven 350°.
- Arrange tomatoes in roasting pan, then drizzle with olive oil. Add garlic and thyme. Season, if desired, with salt and pepper. Roast 15 minutes or until tomatoes are tender and start to burst.
- Toss arugula with Wish-Bone® Italian Dressing in large bowl. Arrange arugula on serving platter, then top with tomatoes and bocconcini. Garnish with basil leaves. Season, if desired, with sea salt and pepper. Serves 4
Grilled Tuna, Arugula, Fennel, Black-Eyed Peas and Tomato Salad
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 thick cut tuna steaks (about 8 oz. ea.)
- 3/4 cup Wish-Bone® Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing, divided
- 4 to 6 heirloom tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
- 3 cups canned black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
- 1 small fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced
- 4 cups baby arugula
- 4 to 6 sprigs chives, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 Tbsp. tarragon leaves
- Drizzle olive oil on tuna and season, if desired, with salt and pepper. Heat 12-inch skillet over high heat and cook tuna, turning once, 6 minutes or until seared on the outside and rare in the center. When tuna is almost done, brush with 1/4 cup Wish-Bone® Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing. Remove tuna from skillet and set aside.
- Arrange tomatoes on large platter in single layer. Combine black-eyed peas, fennel, arugula and remaining 1/2 cup Dressing in large bowl.
- Arrange tuna on tomatoes, then top with salad mixture and drizzle, if desired, with additional Dressing. Garnish with chives and tarragon. Serves 4.
Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers
- 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1-1/2 lbs.)
- 1-1/2 cups Wish-Bone® Italian Dressing, divided
- 4 lemons, cut in half
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thick strips
- 2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper
- 3 heads romaine lettuce hearts, quartered lengthwise
- Preheat oven 350°.
- Add chicken and 1 cup Wish-Bone® Italian Dressing in large resealable plastic bag; turn to coat. Close bag and marinate in refrigerator 1 hour.
- Remove chicken from marinade, discarding marinade. Heat large nonstick grill pan over medium heat and cook chicken, turning once, 15 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Grill lemons and red pepper, turning once, 5 minutes; set aside.
- Pulse bread crumbs, garlic, parsley, olive oil and salt and pepper in food processor several times until crumbs turn bright green. Spread crumbs on baking sheet, then bake 7 minutes or until crispy.
- Arrange lettuce on large platter, then top with grilled chicken and peppers. Drizzle with remaining Dressing. Sprinkle with some of the toasted bread crumbs, reserve remaining crumbs to use another day. Then squeeze grilled lemons over salad. Garnish, if desired, with parsley.
They all sound good, but the chicken sounds the best. I love red peppers.
these all sound great, but I think I’m with you on the grilled chicken/red pepper one. I love your blog!!
All of the salads sound fabulous!! I love Tyler – he just seems like such a nice guy!
I am thinking the Arugula, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, & Bocconcini Salad will be on the dinner table this weekend
I love Tyler Florence’s recipes and I think the Grilled Chicken Salad sounds great. In fact, I think that is the one I will make for my niece’s bridal shower next month. Thanks for the tips.
I think your favorite,Grilled Italian Chicken Salad, will be my favorite too! Thanks for the great salad recipes!
I’d like to try the Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers.
I think that the Chicken Salad recipe sounds divine.
You are a lucky dog. I hear Tyler is very personable. What a great opportunity you had. Yay for you!
The 3rd one the chicken, it sounds so fresh and springish!! With the Red Peppers, Garlic, and Romaine Lettuce it just sound so light and spring/summertimeish yummy yummy !!!!
What a unique experience. I can’t imagine going on such a trip. Thanks for sharing the recipes. I think they all sound fantastic, but I really want to try the Romaine Tomato with the stem in the oven. I hadn’t thought about the stem giving more rich tomato flavor. AND, I’m totally going to roast my lemons. I’m curious about that flavor.
They all sound good, but the chicken sounds the best. I love red peppers.
The Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers sounds good to me!!!! However…..it was hard to pick. Can’t wait to try them all~
How amazing for you!!! What an honor to meet Tyler Florence! Those salads all sound delish! I can’t wait to try them out!
the grilled chicken salad looks really yummy
The grilled chicken salad sounds delicious!
the chicken and peppers… ummm….
Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers sounds the best to me!
The Grilled Italian Chicken Salad sounds best to me, but I’d love to sample them all! Thanks so much for the chance!
The grilled Italian chicken one sounds delicious. My mouth was watering while I was reading everything that went into it.
The grilled chicken sounds great. I’m so glad you were able to have that experience!
The Grilled Tuna, Arugula, Fennel, Black-Eyed Peas and Tomato Salad sounds awesome!! I love to watch Tyler on TV. How fun for you to meet him!
the grilled italian chicken sounds YUMMY
Wow!!!I am soo jealous! ha…I would love to go to a cooking class with Tyler Florence!!!!Thanks for sharing your trip with us…my favorite salad to try would be the Chicken Salad with romaine and roasted peppers….Yummy!!!
Oh- I wish I was having those yummy roasted potatos for dinner tonight!!! Maybe tomorrow night!
Roasted tomatoes = YUMMY!
The grilled chicken salad with romaine sounds wonderful. Congratulations on the NY trip.
The Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers sounds the best to me!
The grilled Italian Chicken salad sounds amazing! What a fun trip! I love NYC!
Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers. I think I will be making it soon
How fun! I think the Grilled Italian Chicken salad sounds the best to me. Thanks for sharing.
Love Tyler Florence and roasted tomatoes – what a combo!
What a fun trip! Wow! I love the sound of the grilled Italian chicken salad.
I love Tyler Florence, you are so lucky!!! Can’t wait to try those roasted tomatoes in the first salad!
Anything with red peppers in it is fabulous. A must try salad. Thanks!
I want to try the chicken salad. My favorite flavors.
Teresa
I love Tyler Florence! They all look good, but the tuna salad looks amazing!!!
The Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers sounds wonderful!! TFS!!
I am a HUGE fan of tuna steaks and black eyed peas but have never thought of putting them together – can’t wait to try this!
They all sound great! I am going to have to give wishbone a try! I am also surprised about the roasted tomatoes. i am going to be trying that for sure!
Thanks!!
The grilled chicken salad with peppers and romaine sounds fantastic! Tyler Florence is a great cook, what a great opportunity!
The grilled chicken salad sounds absolutely delicious. We may have to make it this week! Sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing that experience with us.
The grilled chicken salad sounds delicious.
I bet your trip to New York was fabulous! On my first trip to New York I ate at Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill and that was the highlight of the whole trip. I can wait to try Tyler’s Grilled Italian Salad. I’m buying the ingredients on the way home from work tonight.
The grilled chicken salad with romaine spears sounds absolutly heavenly! I am going to try it tonight.
The Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers sounds really good.
The tuna salad sounds wonderful. I am sure you really enjoyed yourself on this trip!
The arugula roasted cherry tomatos salad sounds yummy.
defnitely the arugula salad with the roasted tomatoes and mozzarella balls–sounds delish!
Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers sounds like a salad I would love…can’t wait to try it!
Grilled chicken salad sounds great!!
The first salad sounds so delicious! That would be awesome to learn tips from Tyler Florence! What a great trip!
The Grilled Italian Chicken salad… but they all sounds YUM delicious!
Definitely grilled tuna. Yum.
The black eye pea salad, I love those. That is so cool that you got to go. I hope you had a wonderful time. Arent bloggy field trips so fun.
Oh! You lucky girl!! Love Tyler Florence! Sounds like you had a wonderfully fun time!!
I’d probably start with the grilled Italian chicken salad – only because that sounds the most familiar to me. I think I’m gonna have to come out of my comfort zone & try the others, too – you made them sound so good!! Thanks for sharing!
I would love to try them all! But if I had to choose I love Wishbone’s Italian Dressing so the 1st salad it is!
The black eyed peas salad
I think the one with cherry tomatoes sounds best. Cherry tomatoes are one of my favorite things to eat and now I really want to try them roasted.
I have to say the Arugula, Roasted Cherry Tomato, and Bocconcini Salad sounds the best! It reminds me of a glorified, jazzed up Caprese Salad (which my family loves and is a summer favoite in our house).
I would love to try the Arugula, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, & Bocconcini Salad. I love cherry tomatoes and roasting them makes them seem even more delicious. Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience.
The arugula salad sounds very yummy!!
I’d like the italian chicken one. Sounds like you had a blast. I’m jealous, I would so LOVE to do something like that.
The grilled italian chicken, but I would add the roasted tomato.
All of the salads sound great but the one that I would like the most is the Italian Chicken. I am so jealous that you got a chance to meet Tyler.
Lucky girl! I lovelovelove Tyler!
I think the Roasted Tomato one sounds super summer-yummy.
The same one you liked #3! Grilled chicken, romaine spears and red peppers.
Anything with roasted tomatoes sounds great. I roasted them one time and was amazed at the flavor.
Yum! Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers!
I would have to agree with you and go with the Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers Salad – sounds srumptious! But I think all three would be contenders for “Make it a Salad Night” :O)
How totally cool is that! He’s an amazing artist and kinda’ cute too!
Lucky you!!!
xoxo
The chicken salad sounds yummy!!
They all sound delicious, but I really want to try the grilled chicken salad!
Lucky you! The Italian salad sounds the best!
I’d like the roasted tomato salad and also the chicken one. I’ve never had grilled tuna…so not sure about that one. Sounds like you had a great time!
The arugula with roasted tomatoes sounds great. The roasted tomatoes will be a nice change once my garden starts producing. I love summer time and salads with all the fresh produce.
The arugula salad sounds best to me. I love arugula, it’s in my blood!!
My favorite was the chicken with red pepper!
I think the Grilled Italian Salad sounds fabulous. I love everything in it. The trips sounds like so much fun.
Yum! I’d like to try all three, but the italian chicken sounds delish! Thanks.
I think the grilled chicken and romaine spears sounds very good!
I think the chicken salad sounds the best. What fun you must have had.
Always the one with chicken. Chicken + peppers is always good. Thanks for sharing!
I think the Italian Chicken salad sounds very good. It must have been a fun and amazing experience. Thanks for posting all your great recipes! I am trying several of them this week.
Definitely the grilled italian chicken salad sounds the best. What a fun trip, that must have been great.
How fun!!! I am jealous! I LOVE Tyler Florence. The salad that sounds the best is the grilled chicken with romaine and red peppers. I love everything about it!
The grilled italian chicken sounds sooo good!
Holey moley! They all sound delish! I think I would have to vote for the 1st one so I could try out the roasted tomatoes!
I think I would pick the grilled Italian Chicken first but they all sound yummy!
Grilled Italian Chicken salad – it has the most stocked ingredients at my house and sounds delicious.
I think the Grilled Italian Chicken salad looks DIVINE! Cant wait to try it!!
Thanks
They all sound yummy, but Grilled Tuna, Arugula, Fennel, Black-Eyed Peas and Tomato Salad sounds the tastiest to me right now.
Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers sounds fabulous!
I’m going to have to go with the Tuna Salad. My husband is a huge seafood fan and I’m always looking for new ways to prepare his favorites!
the Arugula, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, & Bocconcini Salad sounds incredible. i love anything with basil! i’ll be giving that one a try!
The third one sounds amazing – and so do the others as well! I love grilled chicken, Italian things, Romaine, and red peppers, so it would be an excellent choice. Plus nothing beats salads that can be the main course!! Yum!
I think the roasted tomatoes and bocconcini sounds like dinner tonight!
The Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers sounds awesome. Sounds like a fun trip!
Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers sounds delicious!
The Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers sounds SO good! I’m going to have to try out that recipe!
The grilled tuna salad sounds wonderful!!
What a fabulous trip!!! I would def. choose #3. I love everything in it. Romaine has always been my favorite lettuce. This post is going to get bookmarked for sure!!
What a fun event! The third salad sounds the best, but I probably wouldn’t use red peppers! Thanks!
The Italian chicken one sounds delish! But I do love roasted tomatoes, too. Sounds like a great time!
Italian Chicken…something my whole family would eat!
Mmmm…the Grilled Italian Chicken Salad is making me drool. Yum. Can’t wait to try it.
The Itallian Chicken Salad sounds the best to me.
I think the Italian chicken salad sounds way yummy!
The Italian chicken w/romaine spears. YUM!
the roasted cherry tomatoes sound delish!
I want to try the Grilled Italian Chicken Salad, but they all look so good.
Grilled Italian Chicken!
Arugula, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, & Bocconcini Salad sounds delish. I enjoy reading your blog and glad that you were able to make a quick trip to NYC. Way to go! P.S. Happy upcoming mother’s day.
They all sound amazing, but since I am a chicken person. I’d have to say the Italian Chicken one.
The Aruguly, roasted tomato and mozzerella sounds delicious to me but thats because im playing it safe. In the last few years Ive been trying lots of new foods that before we were not even able to get in my rural farming area. We now have the opportunity to buy lots and lots of foods that before would be considered exotic and I love it. My husband and I envite my parents (who are retired farmers in their 70′s) for supper and always serve something new to them (and us sometimes). I really like Tyler and would love to read his book! Im going to try the other two salad recipes and broaden my horizens. Wouldnt these be a great to serve for Mothers Day?
Karla
WOW! They all sound yummy! Hope you had a great time (I am not far from NY) I LOVE Tyler Florence! Thanks for sharing!!!!!!
That grilled chicken salad sounds amazing! I am so glad you got to go — what a fun adventure!
Grilled Italian chicken! Yum! You can’t go wrong with that! Drool….
Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers sounds yummy!
I love salads in the summer. I will be trying them all! The chicken & red pepper sounds fabulous!
Can I first just say.. I love Tyler Florence,and I know all three salads will be delicious ! The salad that I would make first, would be the Arugula and Roasted Tomatoes& Bocconcini Balls. You had me at roasted tomatoes, and bocconcini balls.The pretty arugala, and baby spinach leaves, toped with roasted tomaties and Bocconcini balls,with a the yummy Italian wishbone dressing, what a pretty salad! This salad would compliment any meal.
Grilled Italian Chicken!!!!
Mmmmm. The Grilled Tuna, Arugula, Fennel, Black-Eyed Peas and Tomato Salad sounds wonderful. Once you have real Tuna steaks, it’s hard to go back to the packaged stuff.
I think the salad with the roasted tomatoes sounds fantastic. Sounds like a fun trip!
Laura, How awesome of an experiance! I love watching Tyler on the Food Network! I think the Arugula Roasted Cherry Tomato sounds wonderful. I will be making that soon!
Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers – sounds fabulous!!
The grilled italian chicken salad sounds so yummy!!
I am a NUT for Bocconcini and roasted tomato. What a perfect combination. Can’t wait to try this recipe.
I think that the Arugula, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, & Bocconcini Salad looks yummy….I will have to get some Bocconcini to try it out….what a perfect spring combo!
The Grilled Italian Chicken with Romaine Spears sounds incredible. I can’t wait to try it!!! I love the thought of everything you need for a meal in a salad. Thanks for sharing the recipes and the fun time you had!
I’d love to try the tuna salad. It sounds different and delicious. They all sound yummy.
Oh wow the grilled chicken and roasted peppers sounds fabulous to me! Any time a vegetable is roasted I’m in heaven. I have never tried roasting tomatoes myself either. I think I will try it this weekend. Thanks for sharing!
They all look delicious, but the Italian Chicken looks best. I can’t wait to try it out!
The grilled chicken salad, because I LOVE red peppers!
The Grilled Italian Chicken sounds so yummy. I love chicken and peppers!
Those salads sound yummy…I would probably like the chicken the most.
They all look fantastic, but I think my favorite would be the Grilled Italian Chicken Salad.
Do we have to pick just one favorite? I’m pregnant so even at 7 am they all sound delicious! The one with the tomatoes & motzerella balls sounds YUMMY!
mmmm … now I’m craving a salad!
You are so lucky ,I have a crush on Tyler! I think all of the salads look great, but I would pick the Grilled Italian Chicken Salad.
They all look yummy but i’d have to go w/ the grilled Italian chicken. Sounds like you had a great time.
They all sound so good since I love salads. But I would have to say the Arugula, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, & Bocconcini Salad sounds the best to me!
Thanks for all the great give a ways that you do!
They all look great, but I think I’d like the Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with red peppers. The use of panko breadcrumbs sounds interesting.
What a neat opportunity you had! I would try the grilled chicken salad, but it seems like a lot of work for a salad!!! For me salad is like a fall back when I can’t think of anything else to eat – but I could see how it would come in handy when entertaining.
They all sound great, but the only one that I would most likely make myself would be the Grilled Italian Chicken Salad with Romaine Spears and Red Peppers. Thanks!
They all sound great, but the third would probably be my favorite!! Glad you had a great time!!
Wow! Your time in NY sounded like a lot of fun! I’m going to go with the Arugula, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, & Bocconcini Salad. Thanks for a great giveaway!
The tuna salad (with fresh tuna steaks ) sounds wonderful to me!
I think the Tuna one sounds really good…and since I live in the south, I eat a lot of black eyed peas… thanks for sharing your experience with us!!
The Grilled Italian Chicken Salad sounds delicious. And I’ll bet that double dose of marinade would give it the tang and flavor I love in a salad!
Definitely the 3rd salad. The grilled chicken and roasted peppers sound wonderful!
Oh goodness… how do you choose just one salad. I’m definently going to try all three but the first one sounds great!! Roasted tomatos!! yum!!