Spring testing

"Gyro Plate"

Braised Lamb Shoulder
Cucumber Yogurt
Dried Olive
Tomato Confit
Arugula
Zataar Crisp
Sumac
Chili Threads
Lamb Jus
Pickled Ramps (When they come in)

Got the thumbs up from the guys on the street

Today was a good day

Lamb Meatball Sandwhich for lunch.
Harissa
Dried Olive
Pickled Fennel
Cucumber Yogurt

Belly Good

Braised Nueskie's bacon
Sweet potato Puree
Glazed Sweet Potato
Sweet Potato Chip
Smoked pork Jus
Celery branch and Leaves
Pickled grapes
Candied hazelnuts
Red Ribbon Sorrel

Neck and Neck

Marinated and grilled Striped Bass Neck. Bueno

Wrap it up B...

How do I make clear fumet (fish stock) with balanced flavor while screaming BIODOME?
Problem solved.
Next step is smoked veg stock.

Fish Fry?

I was asked to do a fish fry. We don't have a fryer. This is what I came up with.
Seared Wild Striped Bass
Hen of the Woods Mushrooms
Potato Confit
Braised Artichokes
Preserved Lemon
Citrus Vin
Parsley
lemon Mint
Green Garlic Pesto
Espelette

Who needs Heinz?

50# onion
Cooked down with nothing but salt.
When caramelized, add bourbon and rosemary. Sniff the air. Smile.
When dry, add maple syrup and sherry vinegar. You now have less than 8# of onion jam.

Spring is coming

First of the season spring garlic. made into pesto, confit. More to come...

We do liquids too....

aperol
lemoncello
mint simple
lemon juice
prosecco
meyer lemon foam
green and red rhubarb bitters

Edler came up with this for the opening of a new restaurant. Very refreshing.

Green Apple

Bourbon Custard
Green apple
-raw
-poached
-frozen
-chip
-liquid
Salted walnut
Whipped maple
Red ribbon sorrel
Beam jelly

Bar food, redefined

Charred Chicken Wings
Harissa Glaze
Mint/Cucumber Yogurt
Shaved Vegetable


The wings are cured, poached in duck fat, charred in a pan, then glazed. We make harissa in house from ancho and new mexican chilis. Cumin, coriander, caraway, roasted garlic, preserved tomatoes, and evoo round out the mix. The yogurt is the "ranch" cooling and soothing. The salad cleans the palate. I don't think many people eat the salad...

Last summer

Foie Brulee
Cornbread Crumble
Bourbon Onion Jam
Freez Dried Corn
Thyme Leaves
Whipped Maple
Smoked Salt


This dish didn't make it. The balance wasn't there. Sometimes you need to take a break from an idea and revisit at a later time. I look forward to what this can be in the summer.

Where we live

Before Distil opened...
Notice the stove has two burners, your home stove has more.
The flat top is not the best.
The dishwasher is no good.
Dry storage.
We have lots of great high tech toys, Cryovac, circulator, pacojet, Vita prep, Robocoupe, Hobart slicer...
Sometimes service can be a high wire act.

Recent Dishes

Pinn Oaks Farm Lamb Meatballs
Cauliflower puree, roasted, dehydrated
Caper/current puree
smoked marcona almonds
parsley oil
chicken jus

Maple/Sherry Marinated Beet Salad
Pistachio crumble
Pistachio Pesto
Roqufort foam
Beet Chips
Apple Chips
Endive
Whipped Maple

"Surf and Turf"
Roasted Sea Scallop
Braised Shortrib
Rutabega Puree
Roasted Root Vegetables
Pickled and Candied Orange Rind
Fried Turnip Greens

Homebuilt

Duck Ham
Bresola
Lomo

Lardo takes a trip down south

BBQ Spiced Lardo.
Smart

Plan B

Six months ago we had a Mangalista Pig. I cured the fatback in a few different ways. This was smoked paprika,  cumin, coriander, ginger, sugar, salt, and herbs. The lardo was hung in a nearby undisclosed location. Today I tasted. It was just OK. The lardo needed more salt. I could melt it onto or into things. No. I should whip it and treat it like butter. Yes. This takes 30 min to break down while whipping. The result? Good. Dipping a pork rind into the whipped lard? Yeah it happened.

Rogelio

The"fryer"
Dehydrated Pork Skin
White Cheddar Pork Rinds
The Man That Makes It Possible

Making pork rinds from scratch is a big process. First boil the skin in salty water. Scrape excess fat from skin. (the more you scrape the lighter the rind. we scrape a lot) Dehydrate. When ready they feel like credit cards. (you want 12% moisture) Fry in very hot oil (425) Season, enjoy

Plated dessert face-lift

We updated two plates tonight.  The exotic fruit mousseline with toasted coconut streusel, mango sorbet and roasted pineapple....
And our take on tea service.
Matcha financier with roasted apricot preserves, milk gel, and orange blossom honey ice cream

In the beginning...

Bresola Dry Cure
needs one month

lardo
Six Months