Rhubarb and Cod

Seared Scallops with Butternut Celeriac Mash

December 20, 2021 No Comments

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.

Fish & Seafood, Holiday, Salads

Shaved Fennel Salad with Maple Smoked Salmon

December 16, 2021 No Comments

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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.

Fish & Seafood, Holiday, Soups & Stews

Miso Mussel Parsnip Bisque

December 11, 2021 No Comments

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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.

Holiday, Sandwiches & Wraps, Snacks, Starters

Fried Oyster Sliders with Saffron Aioli

December 8, 2021 No Comments

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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.