Chef Daniel Barron, of Blue Point Coastal Cuisine, won the "Chef of the Fest" Competition. Celebrated as one of the largest culinary showdowns in Southern California, the competition challenged seasoned and up-and-coming chefs in the San Diego culinary scene to prove their skills in the kitchen.
Crispy Laughing Bird Shrimp & Curry-Glazed Sous Vide Pork Belly, Cauliflower Polenta, Roasted Ginger Kaffir Lime Air Winner - Chef of the Fest Chef Daniel Barron, Blue Point Coastal Cuisine |
Ahi Tuna Lollipop Rancho La Puerta, Saturday at the Ranch Chef Bernard Guillas, The Marine Room, La Jolla |
Food Photography by the bay |
Smoked Fish with Butternut Squash Flan, Tomato-Thyme Marmalade, Chili Oil & Micro Greens Chef Jeff Rossman, Terra American Bistro, San Diego |
Butternut Squash Risotto with Pancetta, Rosemary and 25-year old Balsamico Tradizionale Chef Suzette Gresham, Acquerello, San Francisco |
Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi with Miso-Leek Sauce, Marcona Almond Bacon Bits, Micro Shiso Harney Sushi, Old Town, San Diego |
Veal Tongue and Cheek |
The cooking classes were very entertaining, especially Makin' Bacon with The Hearty Boys. I wasn't a Food Network aficionado back in 2005 when Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh beat out 10,000 entrants to become the original The Next Food Network Stars, and launched their own show, Party Line With the Hearty Boys. Today, they are chef/owners of Hearty, a Lakeview restaurant that has been much lauded for it’s inspired and deft twists on iconic dishes, trend setting Chicago caterers, and authors of Talk with Your Mouth Full, a cookbook full of exciting but accessible recipes for home entertaining.
At the Makin' Bacon cooking class, Dan and Steve showed us how easy it is to make your own dry and wet cured bacon, and then use it in a bourbon cocktail, salad, sandwich, and ice cream. Everything tastes better with bacon!
The Hearty Boys, with the San Diego Macy's School of Cooking Team |
Home Cured and Smoked Bacon |
Bacon-Cinnamon Sangaree, with Bacon-Infused Bourbon Frisee Salad with Lardons, Poached Egg and Dijon Vinaigrette |
Ultimate BLT, with Home-Cured Bacon, Arugula, and Sun-Dried Tomato Aioli |
Bacon Blueberry Ice Cream |
Courtesy of The Hearty Boys
Makin’ Bacon Cooking Class, San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival 2011
Ingredients:
1 cup whole milk
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream
5 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¾ pound bacon, cooked crisp, drained and crumbled
2 slices bacon, uncooked
1 pint blueberries, smashed
Preparation:
Set up an ice bath by placing ice and water into a large bowl and setting a smaller bowl on top. Pour the cream into the smaller bowl and set a strainer over the small bowl.
Whisk the egg yolks in a large bowl and set near the stove, with a whisk, ladle and rubber spatula handy.
Heat the milk, salt, sugar, and the 2 slices of bacon in a saucepan until it starts to simmer. Slowly ladle half of the milk into the eggs, whisking as you go. This will temper the eggs and keep them from scrambling.
Pour the egg mixture into the saucepan with the remaining milk and use the rubber spatula to stir, making sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the pan. Continue to cook in this manner until the mixture thickens and you see the first bubbles appear, indicating that it’s starting to boil. (Remember to never stop stirring during this step or you will wind up with scrambled eggs!)
Immediately pour the custard through the strainer into the cream and stir to combine. Add the vanilla extract and the smashed blueberries and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, and preferably overnight.
Pour the mixture into the canister of an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions, adding the crumbled bacon halfway through the process.
***
In the Hearty Boys' cookbook, Talk with Your Mouth Full, Dan and Steve share their irreverent views of food and entertaining along with recipes, anecdotes from their journey, and how-to tips for successful entertaining. Chapters include: Passed and Buffet Hors d'Oeuvres, Starters, Main Dishes, Side Dishes, Desserts, Libations, and Sample Menus with Timelines. I've already tabbed a number of recipes for cocktail and dinner parties over the holidays, like Garlicky Beef Crostini with Caramelized Onion and Sage Whipped Cream; Shaved Ham on Cheddar Shortbread with Apple Jam; and Gorgonzola, Fig, and Pecan Cheese Terrine.
The first dish I tried, for a simple and comforting Sunday dinner, was the Three-Cheese Spaghetti Pie, with Feta, Fontina and Parmesan.
Dan explains this Spaghetti Pie was created from odds and ends in the refrigerator and pantry, and turned out to be one of the best quick meals they'd ever had. We enjoyed it with friends on the patio, with a nice bottle of red from the Festival, and it was quite tasty! You can find the recipe here, on Food Network.
Leave a comment, telling me about one of your favorite holiday entertaining hors d' oeuvres, and why it's a favorite. Best answer wins. If you have a blog and have posted about the recipe, please include a link.
Yes Ma'am! Spaghetti pie is the perfect Friday night dish! Thank you!!! And - as always - amazing photos!
ReplyDeleteWow! Just stumbled here from foodgawker! I don't have a fancy recipe, good presentation or tricks to share, but my favorite (and pretty guilt free!) holiday hors d'oeuvre is pickled herring, by far. ( I know! Sounds horrible, but is so, so good. At least to this girl of Scandinavian descent.) And that book and those recipes look so good too!!!
ReplyDeleteTa!
Ingrid
Well my favorite hors d'oeuvre has to be deviled eggs. I love them and even though I have never made them (I know!), I love it when they are served in a party!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite hors d'oeuvre is when we make homemade summer sausage out of venison and eat it with crackers and cheese! SO good!
ReplyDelete