Watermelon Gazpacho with Crab and Cucumber

The latest menu in the dining room featured this appetizer, which was previously very successful as an evening special.  It features watermelon gazpacho, which is poured table side, over a garnish of compressed watermelon, cucumber, snipped chives, edible flowers, jumbo lump crab meat and sliced cucumber.   Gazpacho is a very old Spanish preparation, dating back to the days of the Roman empire.  Traditionally, it … Continue reading Watermelon Gazpacho with Crab and Cucumber

Tuna Crudo with Hummus, Baby Greens, Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette

  Recently a guest requested “Tuna Crudo” as part of their multi-course tasting menu.  The use of the term “Crudo” versus “Carpaccio” or “Sashimi” made me curious as to whether there was a fundamental difference between the preparations. Crudo, which means “raw” in Italian, can encompass minced, diced, or sliced proteins.  Carpaccio, which means “skin”, generally means that items have been sliced to the thinness … Continue reading Tuna Crudo with Hummus, Baby Greens, Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette

Brussels Sprouts and Candied Pecans

                         The holiday season is upon us and with it comes many opportunities for entertaining.  This time of the year, however, we tend to have fewer choices of fresh vegetables to use for side dishes.  One of my favorites is the often-maligned Brussels sprout.   Brussels sprouts can be a very polarizing vegetable, usually … Continue reading Brussels Sprouts and Candied Pecans

Wild Mushroom and Asparagus Quiche, Baby Greens with Caramelized Onion Vinaigrette, Crispy Prosciutto, Spun Potato

The word “quiche” refers to an open-faced tartlet that is filled with a custard that is typically garnished with vegetables, meat or fish.  Although “quiche” is typically identified with classical French cuisine, the dish originated in Germany and the word is a derivative of the German “Kuchen”, which means cake. When preparing quiche, I use a flaky pie dough that is molded in a pie … Continue reading Wild Mushroom and Asparagus Quiche, Baby Greens with Caramelized Onion Vinaigrette, Crispy Prosciutto, Spun Potato

Black Bean and Chipotle Terrine, Roasted Corn Salad, Crispy Peppadew Pepper, Petit Greens, Jalapeno-Lime Aioli

This was a dish created for the Chef’s Table in the kitchen and is a rough draft of a dish that will be prepared for the International Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany in October. The corn salad consisted of fresh corn, blanched then blistered quickly on the grill before being shaved off the cob.  A small dice of  red and green peppers and red onion  … Continue reading Black Bean and Chipotle Terrine, Roasted Corn Salad, Crispy Peppadew Pepper, Petit Greens, Jalapeno-Lime Aioli

Summer Vegetable Salad, Petit Greens, Potato Crisp

Some great local products come together for this salad, which included haricot verts, heirloom carrots prepared sous vide, pickled radish, golden beets, pea tendrils and petit greens from Lucky Leaf Garden tossed with a honey-thyme vinaigrette and served in a potato basket for added texture. The potato basket can be a bit tedious but is a great way to bring a salad off the plate … Continue reading Summer Vegetable Salad, Petit Greens, Potato Crisp

Caramelized Onion Croquette, Steak Tartare with Quail Egg, Wild Mushroom Terrine, Ramp Puree

This dish paired a warm caramelized onion croquette with a puree of Spring ramp, Prime Angus tartare, sunny side-up quail egg, wild mushroom and beef consomme terrine and pea tendrils from Lucky Leaf Gardens. The croquette was prepared by making a caramelized onion risotto and then chilling it down before shaping small two ounce portions into cylinders.  The chilled risotto can be piped with a … Continue reading Caramelized Onion Croquette, Steak Tartare with Quail Egg, Wild Mushroom Terrine, Ramp Puree