Fava Bean Quinoa Salad with Feta and Herbs

There is nothing on this planet that I love more than a pasta salad with an obnoxious amount of garlic. But as good as pasta is, and it is good, sometimes it’s just not the right choice for the job. When you’re looking for something semi-refreshing, for instance, pasta is not your man. Yes, pasta is my love language and yes, it is soul satisfying but it isn’t exactly light even in its chilled format. Enter quinoa, the perfect pasta stand-in for any and all would-be pasta salads. Take today’s Fava Bean Quinoa Salad for instance. You could replace the quinoa with pasta but doesn’t it feel that much more BBQ-side-appropriate with quinoa? Am I crazy? Wait! Don’t answer that.

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Thai Basil Chicken Spring Rolls with Mango Sweet Chili Sauce

Thai Basil Chicken Spring Rolls with Mango Sweet Chili Sauce

Spring rolls are one of those delights of life that most of us encounter at a very early age. They are included on almost every Chinese food menu and combo. In fact, around these parts, I’d say the spring roll is far more ubiquitous than the egg roll. Perhaps it is because the spring roll, or some variation of it, has a place in countless Asian cuisines most of which are well represented in Toronto. But in spite of their ubiquity, they are left relatively untouched. The fillings remain largely cabbage and ground pork affairs. I find this strange because the spring roll is a near perfect, crispy vessel for just about anything. So, with this in mind, I bring you these Thai Basil Chicken Spring Rolls with Mango Sweet Chili Sauce. While the concept isn’t exactly groundbreaking, the spring rolls themselves are delicious.

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Baked Potato with Roast Brussels Sprouts & Goat Cheese Cream Sauce

Baked Potato with Roast Brussels Sprouts & Goat Cheese Sauce

I’m back with the second installment of Rhubarb & Cod’s Steakhouse Series and this time I brought along a baked potato… Bet you saw that coming. The baked potato with sour cream and chives is a classic form of comfort food and it enjoys a moderate amount of popularity outside the steakhouse oeuvre. I mean, even Wendy’s sells them. But when they’re placed alongside a prime cut of dry-aged beef, the baked potato tends to have a lot more going on. Pancetta, caramelized veggies, sometimes even truffles find a place on a steakhouse bake potato. So, to suit the steakhouse vibe, I adorned my baked potato with roast Brussels sprouts, a velvety goat cheese sauce, and shards of prosciutto fried crispy.

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