New stuff

Let me just say, the Menthol Crystals are intense!

The bubble gum is yet to happen.

Beet sheets

So, Gary Lambert brings me a lot of Beet Tops with my usual lettuce and Tomato order. Over at www.ideasinfood.com they recently cryovaced some beet leaves. So I thought, why not use the freezer poach method in addition to rolling them out with some goat cheese. Beets and Goat cheese go so well together.

And the control on the shape is my favorite part.

Cherry Bombe

Some dessert items got a little messed up. In my kitchen we're always looking for some sort of eating competition, all it takes is a little money and some challengers.

It helps to add the stipulation that all food, or food like products, must remain down for at least 30 minutes.

Gas Out!

"Um....is it possible we're running out of gas?"

"Well...., actually...yes it is. We ran out of gas during a busy brunch last summer. Why do you ask?"

This turned into an interesting Saturday night.

We have a gas delivery system that is based on what any other company is based on I guess, employees. Let's say you have a bad employee that's given a job, he or she may or may not perform that job as well or as often as they should. Supposedly, the employee with the gas company that was supposed to deliver our gas last week....well, he wasn't a good employee.

Luckily we only had about 20 covers left hanging on the window. At our restaurant every entree must be out by 7:30 at the latest so the theatre can start on time. The bad news was that the 7:20 wedding for 120 some people was still in the process of being cooked.

Out come the creative ideas.

40 Filets on the neighbors grill.

15 Filets on an electric Panini press

another 20 or so on a sheet pan with 8 sternos directly underneath it.

Pan seared everything to finish up the restaurant orders., thanks to ONE butane burner.

The gas showed up later that night. But, these type of hurdles are no fun.

Although, I couldn't help but laugh. When things are completely out of my control and shouldn't happen, what else can you do?

And yet still, one person in particular thinks that this should be on the list of things to keep an eye on.

Wine Distributors Tasting

The Piggy came out pretty damn good and well received to my surprise. I wasn't sure how our guest would feel about a whole pig.
But, the day marinade took, the meat was full of flavor moist and juicy, and the skin was super crispy.

Some baked salmon and some really great cheeses from NY where some other items available.

We don't do to many buffets of this type, I wish we would. We really have a beautiful lawn to spread out on, although we do need more appropriate tools to provide a more sophisticated experience. But, we're working on that. Sourcing is still a major issue.

Bison Ribs

Brown sugar rubbed.

Going to finish the sauce today.

Pigtastic!

Previously I've written about whole pigs. There's just something disturbingly honest and humanly realistic about them.

We all know that they are used in ballistic testing as a way to gauge bullets on humans.

There's an Erie feeling about when working on a whole pig. Although it's educational for the most part. It puts everything in perspective. You can see where everything comes from. More then a diagram, more then me explaining it to the best of my knowledge. There it is. In its flesh and bone, there it is.
Seeing what we all ingest on a regular basis sprawled out on a table in its entirety can and should bring a sense of respect to every consumer.
I've had whole roasted pigs in the past. And maybe it's just me, but I thought there could be so much more love given to them.
I spent some time with the marinading process with this guy and making sure that every part was used properly.

Sure, I realized later on that he wouldn't fit in the oven, but I'm not throwing away the head.

Seafood

It's been a challenge finding the freshest seafood this far in from the coast and this far away from any big cities. Luckily Paragon Monteverde delivers this far out. Bay of Fundy Salmon
North Carolina Wreck Grouper

Philly Mac N Cheese Steak

It's like a mishearing mixed with a mixspeaking.

Of course it led to Chimis
Thanks to this man.