Seared Scallops with Butternut Celeriac Mash

Seared Scallops with Butternut Celeriac Mash
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We’ve arrived at the main event of my 2021 Holiday Menu. After a round of Fried Oyster Sliders, a bowl of Miso Mussel Parsnip Bisque, and a side salad that thinks it’s a whole dang meal, you’ve got this plate of heaven. Yeah, all I can say is don’t wear restrictive pants. So what are you looking at? This beauty of meal features seared scallops and a velvety butternut celeriac mash, topped with crispy kale, and preserved lemon butter. It has all the makings of a fancy meal but luckily it’s quick and easy to pull off. I’ve already asked you to make three courses for this feast, I simply cannot ask anything too taxing of you. There is one potential timing dilemma with this recipe, but it’s also a fantastic opportunity to add a dash of culinary theatrics to your evening. So let’s dive in.

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Shaved Fennel Salad with Maple Smoked Salmon

Shaved Fennel Salad with Maple Smoked Salmon
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Welcome to the salad course of my 2021 Holiday Menu. Admittedly not my favorite course but a necessary course. As I’ve mentioned before, I am no great fan of salads. I do enjoy veggies but I find a bowlful of greens to be a daunting prospect. So generally, I like to distract myself with cheese, nuts, and hunks of bread. This approach works exceptionally well when you’re making a meal out of your salad. It’s not as successful when you’re putting together a salad for a multi-course experience. Consequently, today’s Shaved Fennel Salad is a little overwhelming. It could easily be a meal on its own. But hey, it’s Christmas, so going all out is kind of the name of the game even when it comes to salad.

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Miso Mussel Parsnip Bisque

Miso Mussel Parsnip Bisque
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We’ve arrived at the soup course of my 2021 holiday menu, and I’m going to be honest, this is my favorite dish. It may seem anti-climatic to serve a scene-stealer as a second course but that’s just how it goes sometimes. It’s not the bisque’s fault it’s flawless. So what kind of bisque are we talking about here? This is a Miso Mussel Parsnip Bisque and it is exactly what it sounds like. This is definitely one of my more descriptive recipe titles. The dish is mussels and parsnips pureed into a creamy bisque finished with heavy cream. The surface of the bisque is accented with sesame oil, black sesame seeds, daikon microgreens, a mussel on a half shell, and yet more cream. And yes, it is as good as it sounds, so let’s get started.

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Pasta Alle Vongole – Overthinking Classics

Pasta Alle Vongole - Overthinking Classics
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People often ask me about my favorite foods and restaurants. The moment they find out what I do, I am immediately asked what my favorite pie, Italian restaurant, and/or cocktail is. And my answers are always halting, vague, and laced with caveats. I can’t help it. For me, my favorite anything has so much to do with context. Are we talking lunch or dinner? Upscale or guilty pleasure? What neighborhood am I in? How tired am I? Who am I with? All of these are factors when I decide what I want to eat and drink and where I want to do it. But when it comes to the inevitable pasta question, I always have my answer at the ready because that answer never changes. My favorite pasta is Pasta Alle Vongole. So naturally, it’s the subject of the latest installment of my ongoing series Overthinking Classics.

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