TOMATO GELÉE WITH SHRIMP
Ingredients
Serves 8
2 lbs (1 kg) ripe red tomatoes, halved
2 small shallots, peeled
2 garlic cloves, peeled
¼ cup (60 ml) fresh basil, julienned
1½ tbsp (22 ml) kosher salt, divided
½ tsp (2 ml) freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp (30 ml) vodka
2 x 7 g (¼ oz) packages gelatin
64 shrimp, tail on, peeled and deveined, size 31 to 40
2 cups (250 ml) vegetable oil
8 fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Seed tomatoes and place cut-side down on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet to drain for 30 minutes. In a food processor or blender, pulse tomatoes, shallots, garlic, basil, ½ tbsp (7 ml) salt and pepper until finely puréed. Pour into a shallow dish.
- To make gelée, pour vodka in a small saucepan and sprinkle gelatin over top. Let gelatin bloom for 5 to 10 minutes, then heat over low heat (or in a microwave) until completely melted. Stir into tomato purée. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until firm.
- Before serving, bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add 1 tbsp (15 ml) kosher salt and the shrimp. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until shrimp are pink and starting to curl. Remove shrimp from saucepan, drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Pat dry.
- In a small saucepan bring vegetable oil to a low simmer. Add basil leaves and fry for about 1 minute. Remove leaves and drain on paper towels.
- When ready to serve, use a cookie cutter and cut 8 rounds from gelée, about 2-in (5 cm) in diameter. Divide rounds among serving plates and arrange 8 shrimp per plate (or as desired). Garnish with basil and serve immediately.
Drink Pairings
VANILLA BEAN PANNA COTTA WITH BOURBON PEACHES
Ingredients
Serves 6
6 sheets gelatin
2 cups (500 ml) half and half cream
2 cups (500 ml) cold whipping cream
½ cup (125 ml) granulated sugar
2 tbsp (30 ml) Madagascar vanilla paste or 2 vanilla pods, seeds scraped
1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter
2 fresh peaches, peeled, stone removed and each cut into 12 thin slices
2 tbsp (30 ml) raw brown sugar
2 to 3 oz (60 to 90 ml) bourbon
1 cup (250 ml) crumbled Amaretti cookies
½ cup (125 ml) fresh raspberries
Instructions
- Place gelatin sheets in a shallow bowl of cold water. Set aside for a few minutes to soften and allow to bloom.
- In a medium-sized saucepan combine half and half cream, granulated sugar and vanilla paste or seeds. Bring to a slow simmer over medium heat. Using your hands, squeeze out excess water from gelatin sheets and add to half and half cream. Raise heat to mediumhigh and cook, stirring constantly, until gelatin is dissolved completely.
- Remove saucepan from heat and strain through a fine-meshed sieve into a large bowl. Slowly stir in ice cold whipping cream using a spoon. Then pour into 6 individual serving glasses. Refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.
- When panna cotta has set and you’re ready to serve, melt butter in large frying pan. Add sliced peaches and cook until pale golden on one side. Then flip slices and add sugar. Toss over medium heat until sugar is melted. Carefully add bourbon as it will flare up. Remove pan from heat allowing flame to burn out. Cool briefly.
- Sprinkle crumbled cookies onto panna cotta and spoon peaches in bourbon sauce over top. Garnish with a few raspberries and serve immediately.
Drink Pairings
WIENER SCHNITZEL WITH BRAISED RED CABBAGE
Ingredients
Serves 4
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
½ tsp (2 ml) freshly ground pepper
¼ tsp (1 ml) ground nutmeg
1 cup (250 ml) all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, beaten
2 tbsp (30 ml) water
2 cups (500 ml) dry bread crumbs
4 veal (or pork) cutlets, about 5 oz (140 g ) each, pounded very thin
vegetable or canola oil, for frying
lemon wedges, for garnish
BRAISED RED CABBAGE:
1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable or canola oil
½ head red cabbage, finely shredded
3 tbsp (45 ml) cider vinegar
1 tbsp (15 ml) red wine vinegar
2 tsp (10 ml) sugar
¼ tsp (1 ml) ground cloves
¼ tsp (1 ml) cinnamon
Instructions
- Mix spices with flour and place in a shallow dish. Beat eggs and water and place in a second dish. Place bread crumbs in a third shallow dish.
- Pat cutlets dry. Dredge each cutlet in flour, then egg wash and finally in bread crumbs, coating the cutlets well. Transfer coated cutlets to a platter.
- In a straight-sided skillet, heat ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Carefully transfer the coated cutlets to the hot oil to fry. Cook about 2 minutes each side, or until golden brown and puffy and crisp. Drain cutlets on a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
- Serve on warm plates with braised red cabbage and garnish with lemon wedges.
- To make BRAISED RED CABBAGE: Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add cabbage and sauté until coated. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, covered, 20 minutes or longer, stirring occasionally until tender.
Drink Pairings
SUPERIOR AMARETTO SOUR SLUSH
Ingredients
Serves 1
½ oz (15 ml) Luxardo Amaretto
1 oz (30 ml) Makers Mark Kentucky Bourbon
1 oz (30 ml) lemon juice
¾ oz (22 ml) Simple Syrup (1:1)
1 cup (250 ml) small ice cubes
orange zest, for garnish
cherry, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a blender with ice. Blend well and pour into a glass. Garnish with orange zest and cherry.
Featuring
TROPICAL FRUIT AND ROSEMARY WHITE CHOCOLATE BARS
Ingredients
Serves 42 Bars
2 lbs (1 kg) white chocolate
1 tbsp (15 ml) minced fresh rosemary
¼ tsp (1 ml) sea salt
¼ cup (60 ml) finely diced candied kiwi
¼ cup (60 ml) finely diced candied pineapple
¼ cup (60 ml) finely diced candied papaya
¼ cup (60 ml) chopped slivered almonds
Instructions
- Lightly oil a 10 x 15-in (20 x 38 cm) jelly roll pan and line with plastic wrap with edges extending over sides of pan.
- To make bars, coarsely chop white chocolate and place in a double boiler or a large bowl over simmering water. Stir gently as it begins to melt. Remove from heat just before fully melted and continue stirring until smooth.
- Stir in rosemary and salt until evenly distributed and salt has dissolved. Transfer chocolate to prepared jelly roll pan and spread out evenly, then top with candied kiwi, pineapple, papaya and almonds.
- Set bars aside for a couple of hours to slightly firm. Then score the surface into bars before refrigerating for several hours until fully firm.
- Separate into bars and store in a tightly covered container in a cool place until ready to serve.
Drink Pairings
VIETNAMESE PORK MEATBALL BANH MI
Ingredients
Serves 6 or makes about 30 meatballs
PICKLED CARROTS AND DAIKON:
2 cups (500 ml) each peeled and coarsely grated carrots and daikon radish
¼ cup (60 ml) unseasoned rice vinegar
¼ cup (60 ml) granulated sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) coarse kosher salt
PORK MEATBALLS:
1½ lbs (750 g) lean ground pork
½ cup (125 ml) finely chopped yellow onion
⅓ cup (75 ml) finely chopped water chestnuts
3 tbsp (45 ml) each finely chopped cilantro and green onion
½ tsp (2 ml) white pepper
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
2 tsp (10 ml) granulated sugar
1½ tbsp (22 ml) cornstarch
2 tsp (10 ml) toasted sesame oil
2 tbsp (30 ml) soy sauce
1½ tbsp (22 ml) Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
1 large egg
1 tbsp (15 ml) canola oil, plus extra if needed
HOT CHILI MAYO:
⅔ cup (150 ml) mayonnaise
2 green onions, finely chopped
1 tbsp (15 ml) hot chili sauce such as Sriracha
TO ASSEMBLE:
6 Vietnamese buns or substitute Portuguese, torpedo or soft baguettes
jalapeño slices and cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- To make PICKLED CARROTS AND DAIKON: Toss ingredients in a non-reactive bowl. Let sit at least 1 hour, tossing occasionally. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheatovento300F(150C). To make PORK MEATBALLS: In a large bowl combine pork, onion, water chestnuts, cilantro and green onion. In a smaller bowl whisk together pepper, salt, sugar, cornstarch, sesame oil, soy sauce, rice wine and egg. Pour over meat mixture and mix well to blend.
- With damp hands, form meatballs into Ping-Pong-sized meatballs, about 2 tbsp (30 ml) each. Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and set aside.
- To make HOT CHILI MAYO: Mix together mayonnaise, chopped green onions and hot chili sauce. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Inalargenon-stickfryingpan,heat canola oil over medium-high heat. Add half the meatballs, avoiding crowding, and sauté until brown and cooked through, 15 minutes. Turn meatballs often, reducing heat if browning too quickly. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in preheated oven. Repeat with remaining meatballs, adding more oil if necessary.
- To assemble, cut each bun in half. Pull out enough bread from each half to leave 1⁄2-in (0.5 cm) thick shell. Spread Hot Chili Mayo over each bread shell. Arrange jalapeños, then cilantro in bottom halves. Fill each with 4 to 6 meatballs. Drain pickled vegetables; place on top of meatballs. Press on baguette tops.
Drink Pairings
WHITE CHOCOLATE ALMOND MACAROONS
Ingredients
Serves 24 Macaroons
4 oz (125 g) white chocolate, broken into small pieces
2½ cups (625 ml) unsweetened shredded coconut
½ cup (125 ml) slivered almonds, finely chopped
¾ cup (175 ml) granulated sugar
¼ tsp (1 ml) sea salt
3 large egg whites
1 oz (30 g) white chocolate
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place white chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan with simmering water. Stir until chocolate is almost melted. Remove bowl with chocolate from simmering water and stir until creamy. Set aside until cooled, but still loose.
- In a large bowl, combine coconut, almonds, sugar and salt. Stir together to blend.
- Beat egg whites with an electric mixer just until foamy. Stir into coconut mixture until blended. Add cooled chocolate and stir until mixed.
- Using a large spoon, shape mixture into 1½ tbsp (22 ml) loosely shaped stacks about 1-in (2.5 cm) apart on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until macaroons are firm to touch but still a little soft in centres.
- Remove baking sheet from oven and grate remaining chocolate over top of macaroons. Cool on a rack. Store macaroons for up to 3 days in a tightly covered container at room temperature.
Drink Pairings
STIR-FRIED CHICKEN WITH PINEAPPLE AND CASHEWS
Ingredients
Serves 4
1½ lbs (750 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-in (2.5 cm) pieces
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
1½ tsp (7 ml) granulated sugar
1 tbsp (15 ml) Madras curry powder
1 tbsp (15 ml) fish sauce
3 tbsp (45 ml) canola oil
2 large shallots, finely chopped
1 to 2 Thai red chilies or Serrano chilies, seeded, finely chopped
2 stalks lemon grass, trimmed and finely chopped, about ⅓ cup (75 ml)
1 medium-sized sweet red pepper, seeded and cut into ½-in (1 cm) dice
¾ cup (175 ml) coconut milk
1 cup (250 ml) fresh pineapple, cut into 1-in (2.5 cm) chunks
½ cup (125 ml) roasted cashews
3 to 4 cilantro sprigs, chopped
Stir-fried Rice Noodles, to serve (optional)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add chicken, salt, sugar, curry powder and fish sauce. Mix well to combine. Set aside to marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes or up to ½ hour.
- In a large wok or frying pan, heat oil over high heat. Add shallots, chilies and lemon grass and stir-fry until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chicken mixture and red pepper and stir-fry to mix well. Let chicken cook, undisturbed, for about 1 minute, or until browned. Flip chicken over and cook another minute.
- Add coconut milk, lowering heat to simmer, and cook 6 to 7 minutes, stirring, reducing coconut milk until almost evaporated with a hint of sauce. Stir in pineapple chunks and cashews. Mix well to warm through.
- Can be served over Stir-fried Rice Noodles (or serve over steamed rice) garnished with cilantro. Serve immediately.
Drink Pairings
VEGETABLE NOODLES WITH ROASTED RATATOUILLE
Ingredients
Serves 6
1 medium-sized spaghetti squash
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil, divided
4 green zucchini, each 10-in (25 cm) long, divided
1 medium-sized fennel bulb, trimmed, diced
1 large sweet onion, diced
2 red bell peppers, cored and diced
1 yellow bell pepper, cored and diced
1 serrano chile pepper, cored and minced
4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
⅓ cup (75 ml) vegetable stock or tomato juice (optional)
1 cup (250 ml) fresh basil leaves, cut into thin julienne strips, divided
½ tsp (2 ml) fennel seed, crushed
2 medium-sized yellow zucchini
2 tomatoes, diced
½ cup (125 ml) shredded Parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Position oven racks in bottom and top third of oven. Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scrape out seeds. Brush flesh with 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Place cut-side up in a roasting pan just large enough to hold them side-by-side. Bake on top rack for 50 minutes or until forktender. Remove from oven and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. Scrape flesh with a fork to make long strands. Place strands in a large bowl. Set aside.
- To make ratatouille, lightly oil a large baking sheet and set aside. Dice 2 green zucchini reserving remaining 2 for noodles. In a large bowl, combine diced zucchini with fennel, onion, peppers and garlic. Drizzle with remaining 2 tbsp (30 ml) oil and sprinkle with a little sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss to evenly coat and spread out in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake on bottom rack in preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes. Stir occasionally for even roasting. Ratatouille can be made ahead and refrigerated. It is delicious hot or cold.
- When ratatouille is done, place in a heavy saucepan along with stock, if using, ½ cup (125 ml) fresh basil and all the crushed fennel. Cover and keep warm.
- When ready to serve, cut remaining 2 green zucchini and yellow zucchini into noodles with a spiralizer or julienne using a hand-held cutter. Add to spaghetti squash strands in bowl. Gently toss to blend. (Note: Noodles must be served immediately after cutting as they water out very quickly.) Add a quarter of the ratatouille to noodles, to coat.
- Spoon into serving bowls. Top with additional ladles of ratatouille and scatter with diced tomatoes, remaining basil and fresh Parmesan.
Drink Pairings
WHITE CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS
Ingredients
Serves 20
4 cups (1 L) whole milk
1 cup (250 ml) unsalted butter
1 cup (250 ml) granulated sugar
2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla extract
1 tsp (5 ml) freshly grated nutmeg
¼ tsp (1 ml) kosher salt
8 cups (2 L) sourdough bread, cut into ½ -in (1 cm) cubes
6 oz (180 g) white chocolate, roughly chopped
½ cup (125 ml) toasted almond slivers
6 large eggs
2 tbsp (30 ml) dark rum
2 tbsp (30 ml) dark brown sugar
1½ cups (375 ml) whipping cream, chilled
2 tbsp (30 ml) skim milk powder
½ cup (125 ml) turbinado sugar
2 large bananas, halved lengthwise and each half cut into 5 pieces
white chocolate curls, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 F (150 C). Grease a 9 x 13-in (23 cm x 33 cm) baking pan with butter and set aside.
- In a large saucepan, bring milk, butter, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg and salt to a simmer over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, stir together bread, chocolate, and almonds, set aside.
- Add eggs to milk mixture, and whisk until smooth. Pour custard over bread mixture and stir until evenly combined. Let sit, allowing bread to soften for 20 minutes. Pour evenly into prepared baking pan. Cover with foil, and bake until set, about 1 hour. Cool to room temperature on a wire rack before slicing into 20 squares. Bread pudding may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.
- In a small saucepan, stir together rum and brown sugar over medium heat. Once sugar has melted, remove from heat, transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until cold.
- In a chilled bowl, whip cream with skim milk powder to soft peaks. Pour in cooled sugar mixture and whip to stiff peaks. Refrigerate cream until ready to use.
- Place turbinado sugar on a plate and dip the flat, cut side of each banana piece in sugar to cover completely. Place sugar-side up on a foil-lined baking sheet. Broil for about 6 minutes until sugar is melted and caramelized. Set aside for 2 minutes to harden. Place slices of bread pudding into serving containers and garnish 2 bruléed bananas, a dollop of rum cream and a sprinkle of chocolate curls.