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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Fried Oyster Sliders with Saffron Aioli

Fried Oyster Sliders with Saffron Aioli
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Every year I put together a multi-course Christmas menu centered around a specific theme. Last year it was Chinese takeout meets traditional festive feast and it featured dishes like Char Sui Squash and Brussels Sprout Egg Rolls. This year I’m going back to my roots…well sort of. This year’s theme is seafood. In particular seafood from the East Coast of Canada. Every dish features jewels from the Atlantic with the exception of dessert because well, that sounds gross. I will be expanding the menu this year to include a couple of dishes that are ideal for ringing in 2022 as well, so if you’re not a seafood fan, this isn’t going to be a great month for you here. But if you’re a salty dog, like me, welcome to heaven. First up, Fried Oyster Sliders.

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Sticky Toffee Pudding – Overthinking Classics

Sticky Toffee Pudding - Overthinking Classics
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With Hanukkah in the rearview mirror, this dual holiday household is ready to turn its attention to the Christmas of it all. And what better place to start than on a sweet note? And it’s an Overthinking Classics episode, which is too perfect for a season full of food-related traditions. Although today’s subject, Sticky Toffee Pudding, pledges no allegiance to any particular holiday, to me it tastes like Christmas. Sure, I’ve had it at other times of the year. It’s particularly consoling in mid-February. But there’s something about this delightful sponge that just seems festive. Perhaps it’s the dates or the toffee or that fact that it pairs well with scotch, but Sticky Toffee Pudding is excellent at staving off the cold and cultivating an atmosphere of warmth and general coziness. What could be more Christmassy than that? So let’s dive right in.

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Latke Platter with Gin-Cured Salmon and Spreads

Latke Platter with Gin-Cured Salmon
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I really struggled to arrive at a title for this particular recipe. Mostly because this isn’t really a single recipe. It’s actually five, which admittedly is a little over-the-top. But I am nothing if I am not that, so really this Latke Platter is very on-brand for me. This platter features a lot more than just latkes. There is Beet Horseradish Hummus, Dill Labneh, Gin-Cured Salmon, and Vanilla Bean Applesauce. Yes, there was absolutely no way in any universe that I was going to pack all of that into a clean title. But hey, grazing boards are by nature difficult to cleanly explain or sum up. The format is all about variety after all. Clearly, there’s a lot to cover here, so let’s get to it.

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