VANILLA TAPIOCA PUDDING WITH PEAR BARLEY ICE CREAM
Ingredients
Serves 3
TAPIOCA PUDDING:
3 cups (750 ml) milk
⅓ cup + 2 tbsp (100 ml) whipping cream
1 vanilla bean
⅔ cup (150 ml) tapioca pearls
⅓ cup (75 ml) granulated sugar
PEARL BARLEY:
6 cups (1.5 L) milk
1½ cups (375 ml) pearl barley
1 cup (250 ml) granulated sugar
⅓ cup + 3 tbsp (120 ml) Trimoline invert sugar or clear corn syrup
POACHED PEARS:
2 cups (500 ml) water
1½ cups (375 ml) granulated sugar
1 cinnamon stick
1 vanilla bean
2 bay leaves
2 star anise
3 firm but ripe pears, peeled and sliced
CHOCOLATE BATTER:
1 cup (250 ml) all-purpose flour
½ cup (125 ml) cocoa powder
½ cup (125 ml) granulated sugar
1 tbsp (15 ml) baking powder
1 tbsp (15 ml) rice flour
1 cup (250 ml) sparkling water
Instructions
- To make TAPIOCA PUDDING: Combine milk, cream and vanilla bean in a medium-sized saucepan. Cook over high heat until it begins to bubble around the edges. Reduce heat to medium.
- Rinse tapioca pearls under cold water to wash off excess starch, then add to simmering liquid. Cook until tapioca has softened and mixture is nicely thickened, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- To make PEARL BARLEY: Combine ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan. Stir over medium heat until simmering. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally over medium heat until barley is tender, about 30 to 45 minutes. Once barley is fully cooked, turn heat to low and steep for another 30 minutes.
- Strain mixture through a fine-meshed strainer and transfer to an ice cream maker. Freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- When firm, place in a container with a tight-fitting lid and store in the freezer until ready to serve. Make 6 cups (1.5 L).
- To make POACHED PEARS: Combine water, sugar and spices in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat and simmer. Reduce heat to low, add pears and simmer uncovered, until soft, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and thoroughly cool pears in syrup. Drain pears and set aside until ready to use.
- To make CHOCOLATE BATTER: Preheat deep fryer to 325 F (170 C). Place dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together to blend. Continuing to whisk, slowly add sparkling water until well combined and batter is smooth.
- Add drained, poached pears to batter and gently turn in mixture to evenly coat. Using 2 forks, remove one batter-coated pear at a time and place in preheated deep fryer. Fry for about 1½ minutes, gently turning for even browning. Then remove to a separate dish and repeat with remaining two pears.
- To serve, place a pear alongside Tapioca Pudding and top with a scoop of Barley Ice Cream.
Drink Pairings
WAYGU SHORTRIB WITH BROCCOLI, BABY POTATO, TALLOW EMULSION AND ONION JAM
Ingredients
Serves 4
WAGYU SHORT RIBS:
1 lb (500 g) boneless wagyu beef short ribs
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper
CONFIT BABY POTATO:
1 whole garlic head
1 lb (500 g) baby potatoes
1 cup (250 ml) olive oil, plus extra, if needed
ROASTED BROCCOLI:
1 head broccoli
olive oil
salt
TALLOW EMULSION:
3 egg yolks
2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon Juice
1 cup (250 ml) tallow or clarified butter
salt, to taste
ONION JAM:
2 large yellow onions, julienned
½ cup (125 ml) granulated sugar
¾ cup (175 ml) white wine vinegar
Instructions
- To make WAGYU SHORT RIBS: Using an immersion circulator (sous vide), warm a water bath to 140 F (60 C). Generously season beef with salt and pepper and tightly seal in a food saver bag such as a ziplock bag. Place meat in water bath and cook for 24 hours. Alternately, use a large Dutch oven with water and cook in the oven at 140 F (60 C) for 24 hours.
- Remove from water bath and place beef, still in bag, into an ice-water bath. Once fully cooled, remove from bath and discard bag. Place beef, uncovered, on a shallow platter. Refrigerate overnight for meat to dry.
- Preheat oven to 425 F (220 C). Preheat dry, oven-safe frying pan over high heat. When piping hot, add beef to dry pan and sear on all sides just until browned. Then place pan with beef into oven and bake long enough to warm the meat through, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from oven and place meat on a cutting board. Let rest for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
- To make CONFIT BABY POTATO: Cut whole garlic in half to expose the cloves and place in a small saucepan with baby potatoes. Pour enough olive oil over potatoes and garlic to cover potatoes completely.
- Place saucepan over medium-high heat and bring oil temperature to 194 F (90 C). Reduce heat if necessary in order to maintain oil temperature until potatoes are cooked through, about 1 hour. Remove from heat and cool potatoes in oil until they can safely be removed. Using a slotted spoon, remove potatoes from oil to a bowl and refrigerate, uncovered, until completely cooled. Once cooled, remove from fridge and cut in half.
- Preheat oven to 425 F (220 C). Place potato in a hot, dry, oven-safe frying pan and lightly sear the flat sides of the cut potatoes. Once lightly seared, place pan with potatoes in oven for a couple of minutes until warmed through.
- To make ROASTED BROCCOLI: Preheat oven to 425 F (220 C). Cut broccoli into pieces so that each stem has a couple of florets still attached. Place in a bowl and generously coat with olive oil and a little salt. Preheat dry, oven-safe frying pan over high heat. When piping hot, add broccoli and cook until lightly seared and begins to colour on one side. Place broccoli in oven for 5 to 6 minutes to roast until done as desired, but still a little crisp.
- To make TALLOW EMULSION: Place egg yolks and lemon juice in a blender and whirl just until combined, about a few seconds. Set blender with egg mixture aside. Warm tallow in a saucepan until it reaches 155 F (68 C) on a meat thermometer. Remove from heat. With blender and egg yolks whirling at low speed, slowly add tallow bit by bit, not too quickly or the eggs will separate. Season with salt to taste.
- To make ONION JAM: Sauté onions in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, continuously stirring until onions start to color. Add sugar and white wine vinegar. Stew onion until liquid is almost completely reduced, resulting in a sweet and savoury Onion Jam. Transfer to a glass jar and cool before serving. Can be refrigerated in a covered container for a few days. Makes 1 cup (250 ml).
Drink Pairings
MISO MUSSELS WITH TOGARASHI-DASHI MARINATED TURNIPS
Ingredients
Serves 2
TOGARASHI-DASHI MARINATED TURNIPS:
8 cups (2 L) water
½ tbsp (7 ml) dried Bonito flakes
½ tbsp (7 ml) Kombu, dried seaweed
4 fresh lemons, zest and juice
⅔ cup + 2 tsp (160 ml) tamari sauce
¼ cup (60 ml) each mirin ( Japanese rice wine) and liquid honey
2 cups (500 ml) baby turnips, halved
6 tbsp (90 ml) sesame oil
2 tbsp (30 ml) togarashi spice, to taste
¼ cup (60 ml) cilantro leaves
¼ cup (60 ml) sesame seeds
MISO MUSSELS:
1 lb (500 g) mussels, scrubbed and de-bearded discarding any that remain open when tapped
1¼ cups (310 ml) white wine
¾ cup + 2 tbsp (200 ml) whipping cream
¾ cup + 2 tbsp (200 ml) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¼ cup (60 ml) blonde miso paste
2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice
Instructions
- To make TOGARASHI-DASHI MARINATED TURNIPS: To make dashi, place water in a medium-sized saucepan with Bonito flakes and Kombu. Bring to boil, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool and for flavours to marinate.
- Strain dashi and return to saucepan. Whisk in lemon zest and juice, tamari, mirin and honey. Bring to a gentle boil. Add turnips and cook over medium-high heat, with lid ajar, for 20 minutes or until tender when pierced and flavour is absorbed from dashi. Cooking time will vary depending on size of turnips.
- Remove turnips from liquid and place in a large bowl. Drizzle with sesame oil and toss to coat. Season with togarishi spice according to taste. Cover and set aside.
- To make MISO MUSSELS: Preheat a large, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. When very hot, add mussels to the dry pan. Immediately pour wine over the mussels. It will boil rapidly. Cover and cook for 1 minute.
- As soon as mussels open, remove from the heat. Using tongs, remove mussels from hot liquid to a separate bowl. Save liquid. Discard any mussels that remain closed. You can leave mussels in their open shells or remove the shells and discard.
- Place saved liquid in a smaller saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until reduced to about ¼ cup (60 ml). Whisk in cream. Return to a boil and continue cooking until reduced by half. Whisk in butter and miso paste. Add lemon juice and adjust to taste.
- To serve, plate Miso Mussels with turnips, and garnish with cilantro and sesame seeds.
Drink Pairings
TAGLIATELLE BOLOGNESE SERVED WITH GRILLED GARLIC BREAD
Ingredients
Serves 6 to 8
¾ cup (175 ml) olive oil, divided
2 oz (60 g) pancetta, coarsely chopped
½ lb (250 g) lean ground beef
¼ lb (125 g) ground veal
¼ lb (125 g) ground pork or Italian sausage (casings removed)
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 large yellow onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 small carrots, peeled and finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 x 28 oz (796 ml) can crushed plum tomatoes
2 cups (500 ml) dry red wine
1 tsp (5 ml) crushed red pepper
½ tsp (2 ml) nutmeg
¼ cup (60 ml) flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
2 tsp (10 ml) dried oregano
3 tbsp (45 ml) fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped
1 piece Parmesan rind, about 3-in (7.5 cm) square (optional)
2 tsp (10 ml) brown sugar
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 lbs (1 kg) fresh tagliatelle
1 tbsp (125 ml) salt
freshly grated Parmesan, for garnish
GRILLED GARLIC BREAD:
1 cup (250 ml) unsalted butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp (15 ml) sea salt
½ cup (125 ml) flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
freshly ground black pepper
2 large crusty French loaves, halved horizontally
Instructions
- In a large frying pan, heat ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil over medium heat. Add pancetta and sauté for 1 minute. Gradually add ground meat and cook just until browned, breaking up any large pieces with a fork, about 5 minutes. Remove meat with a slotted spoon to a fine-meshed sieve to drain any excess fat.
- In a very large Dutch oven, heat remaining olive oil over medium-high. Add garlic and sauté until golden, about 3 minutes. Add onion, carrots and celery and cook until onion is translucent. Stir in drained meat, tomatoes, wine, crushed red pepper, nutmeg, parsley and half the oregano and rosemary. Stir and bring to a simmer. Add Parmesan rind and brown sugar and season to taste. Simmer slowly over low heat, uncovered, about 1½ hours, stirring occasionally to prevent bottom from sticking and burning.
- In a large saucepan, bring 24 cups (6 L) water with 1 tbsp (15 ml) salt to a boil over high heat. Add pasta and stir well. Cover until it returns to a boil. Uncover and boil just until pasta is al dente.
- Reserve ¾ cup (175 ml) cooking water and thoroughly drain pasta. Add pasta to sauce and mix well, adding a bit of the reserved water if needed to evenly coat pasta. Cover and cook 1 minute. Season with remaining spices, to taste and serve immediately with freshly grated Parmesan.
- To make GRILLED GARLIC BREAD: Preheat grill. Heat butter in a small saucepan with garlic and salt over medium heat, stirring until melted. Cool slightly and stir in chopped parsley and black pepper to taste. Brush sides of bread with half the garlic butter. Grill bread cut sides down, about 2 minutes. Flip and brush with remaining garlic butter. Grill until golden, about 2 to 3 more minutes. Slice and serve.
Drink Pairings
STUFFED EGGPLANT WITH LAMB SERVED WITH SAFFRON RICE
Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
3 medium-sized Italian eggplants
1 cup (250 ml) olive oil
2 tbsp (30 ml) butter
1 large yellow onion, peeled and finely chopped
½ tsp (2 ml) each, crushed red pepper and dried oregano
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 lb (500 g) ground lamb
3 to 4 ripe plum tomatoes, blanched, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into ½-in (1.25 cm) dice
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into ½-in (1.25 cm) dice
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
½ cup (125 ml) flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice
1 cup (250 ml) water
2 tbsp (30 ml) tomato paste
¼ cup (50 ml) grated Parmesan
SAFFRON RICE:
2 cups (500 ml) long grain or basmati rice
1 tbsp (15 ml) butter
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
1 small yellow onion, peeled and finely chopped
3 large pinches saffron threads
3¾ cups (925 ml) chicken stock
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
Instructions
- Peel eggplant lengthwise in ½-in (1.25 cm) strips “zebra-style,” leaving a ½-in (1.25 cm) strip of skin between each peel. Cut eggplant in half, lengthwise, and score the inner flat surface a few times with the tip of a paring knife
- Heat olive oil in a large deep frying pan. In batches, fry eggplant, flat-side down first, until golden and begins to soften. Turn frequently. Place eggplant on a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain, then transfer to a single layer in a large baking dish. Cut a deep slit lengthwise in each eggplant. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).
- Heat butter in frying pan and add onion, red pepper and oregano. Sauté until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 2 more minutes. Add lamb and cook for 10 minutes, breaking up meat with a fork to separate. Add tomatoes and bell peppers. Season with salt and pepper and sauté until all juices have evaporated, about 5 more minutes. Mix in parsley and lemon juice. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Stuff eggplant tightly with lamb mixture, enlarging eggplant opening with your hand. In a small bowl, mix together water and tomato paste and pour into baking dish around eggplant. Sprinkle eggplant with Parmesan. Cover and bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until tender.
- To make SAFFRON RICE: Rinse rice in cold water three to four times until water is clear. Drain and set aside.
- In a heavy saucepan, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and saffron and sauté until onion is translucent and mixture is fragrant. Add drained rice and stir well to absorb, about a minute. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil. Cover tightly with a lid, reduce heat to low and simmer, about 20 minutes. Do not lift lid until rice is cooked. Fluff rice with fork and serve immediately. Makes about 6 cups (1.5 L).
Drink Pairings
BISTECCA FLORENTINA SERVED WITH ARUGULA SALAD
Ingredients
Serves 6
ARUGULA SALAD:
8 cups (2 L) baby arugula, rinsed, drained and spun dry
1 tbsp (15 ml) balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp (45 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
coarse sea salt
freshly ground coarse black pepper
BISTECCA FLORENTINA:
4 sprigs fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped
3 tbsp (45 ml) olive oil
coarse sea salt, to taste
freshly ground coarse black pepper, to taste
2½ lb (1.25 kg) porterhouse steak, about 2-in (5 cm) thick
large Parmesan curls, for garnish
lemon wedges, for garnish
Instructions
- To make ARUGULA SALAD: In a small mixing bowl, whisk the extravirgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Toss with arugula and season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- To make BISTECCA FLORENTINA: In a small mixing bowl, combine rosemary, olive oil, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Brush or rub into steak and allow to marinate at room temperature for 1 hour.
- Preheat grill to high.
- Place steak onto grill and cook until a dark, golden brown crust forms on the underside (not burnt), 5 to 6 minutes for medium-rare, depending on thickness of steak. Flip steak and continue cooking until golden on the opposite side, about 5 to 6 more minutes.
- Or, to cook steak on the stove, preheat oven to 450 F (230 C) and heat a large, cast iron frying pan on the burner. When pan is piping hot, brush a little olive oil over the bottom. Using tongs, place steak in centre of sizzling pan. Cook until the underside of steak is seared golden brown, about 4 minutes. Turn steak over and place pan in oven. Roast about 6 more minutes, for medium-rare.
- Remove steak to a carving board and let rest 5 to 10 minutes before carving. While cooling, prepare Arugula Salad.
- Slice steak and arrange on a warmed platter and top with dressed salad. Garnish with Parmesan curls and lemon wedges.
Drink Pairings
ORCHARD FIRE
Ingredients
Serves 1
1 oz (30 ml) Los Siete Misterios Doba-Yej Mezcal
1½ oz (45 ml) Fireball
3 oz (45 ml) William’s Sir Perry Pear Cider
¼ oz (7 ml) grenadine syrup
Instructions
- Fill a tall glass with crushed ice. Pour the mescal and Fireball over crushed ice and top it off with pear cider. Add more crushed ice to completely fill the glass. Drizzle grenadine over the crushed ice to finish.
Featuring
SALTED TOFFEE BACON BARK
Ingredients
Serves 10 to 12
45 to 50 salted saltine crackers
1 cup + ¼ cup (310 ml) unsalted butter, divided
1 cup (250 ml) dark brown sugar
14 cups (3.5 L) mini marshmallows
1 tbsp (15 ml) Malden sea salt
3 oz (90 ml) bourbon
3 cups (750 ml) dark chocolate chips, divided
5 strips crispy bacon, minced
¼ cup (60 ml) raw pumpkin seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Line a jelly roll pan with aluminum foil, allowing at least ½-in (1 cm) of overhang on all sides. Grease aluminum foil with a good layer of melted butter before laying out crackers in a single layer. Break crackers as needed to fill entire bottom of pan.
- In a medium-sized saucepan, stir together 1 cup (250 ml) butter and brown sugar over medium heat. Once butter has melted and mixture is well combined, allow to come to a boil. Let boil for 2 more minutes, stirring continuously. Then, immediately pour mixture over crackers and spread to cover in an even layer. Bake until very bubbly, about 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with 1 cup (250 ml) chocolate chips. Melt chocolate chips for 4 minutes. Spreadover toffee surface in a thin layer. Set aside to cool to room temperature. Place in freezer for 30 minutes.
- In a medium-sized saucepan, stir together remaining ¼ cup (60 ml) butter, marshmallows and bourbon over mediumlow heat until marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth. Spread marshmallow sauce over frozen chocolate layer using a rubber spatula. Sprinkle with sea salt before chilling in freezer until marshmallow layer is firm, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, fill a medium-sized saucepan with 1½-in (3.5 cm) water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Place remaining chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl and set over simmering water. Stir constantly until chocolate is melted and smooth. Working quickly, pour chocolate over marshmallow layer and spread into an even layer. Before chocolate sets, sprinkle with bacon bits and pumpkin seeds. Freeze bark until top chocolate layer is firm, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- When ready to serve, remove bark from pan using foil overhang before carefully peeling foil away from hardened bark. Cut into pieces using a sharp knife. Serve while still chilled, as bark will become soft at room temperature. Bark may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Drink Pairings
MAPLE STREET FLOAT
Ingredients
Serves 1
1 oz (30 ml) Makers Mark Bourbon
1½ oz (45 ml) Sortilege Maple Liqueur
3 oz (90 ml) chilled soda water
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Stir bourbon and liqueur with ice in a shaker glass and strain into a Collins glass. Pour enough chilled soda into glass leaving 2-in (3 cm) space at the top. Garnish with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Featuring
SPICED ALE AND PRETZEL CARAMELS
Ingredients
Serves 40 large caramels
12 oz (355 ml) IPA beer, divided
2 cups (500 ml) granulated sugar
1 cup (250 ml) firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup (250 ml) unsalted butter
1 cup (250 ml) whipping cream
1 cup (250 ml) clear corn syrup
½ tsp (2 ml) cinnamon
⅓ cup (75 ml) broken pretzel sticks or about
40 mini pretzels
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup (250 ml) IPA beer to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until beer has been reduced to 1 tsp (5 ml), about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Grease a 13 x 9-in (33 cm x 23 cm) baking pan with butter and line with two sheets of crisscrossed parchment paper. Alternatively, lightly spray two silicone moulds, each with twenty 1-in (2.5 cm) square cavities, with cooking oil.
- In a 4 quart (4 L) heavy-bottomed saucepan, stir together remaining beer, granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, whipping cream and corn syrup. Place over medium heat and simmer while stirring occasionally. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Boil, stirring frequently to prevent scorching, until mixture reaches 244 F to 246 F (118 C to 119 C) on a candy thermometer, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in beer reduction and cinnamon. Immediately pour into prepared pan or moulds and top with pretzel sticks or mini pretzels. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
- Remove caramel block onto a cutting board that has been lightly greased with vegetable oil and peel off parchment paper. Position pretzel side up and, using a lightly oiled knife, cut into 1-in (2.5 cm) squares. If using silicone moulds, simply pop out caramels. Wrap individual caramels in squares of parchment or wax paper. Caramels may be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks