Please install Adobe's free
Reader to view our Menus.
CHEF'S BLOG - SEATTLE
by Jeremy McLachlan,
Executive Chef for Salty's on Alki Beach [ Email
]
December 2008
Happy Hollandaise Everyone!
Crab Taster
This month we are excited to feature crab from around the world. We
will be using the best crab on the planet. Too bad we have the best
crab on the planet – Dungeness Crab. So it will be the highlight
of the dish in my opinion. We will also feature King crab from the Bering
sea, snow from the icy waters of Alaska and Jonah rock crab from the
northern Atlantic coast.
Dungeness Crab: This crab is the best out of all of them. The meat
is sweet and succulent. We serve thousands of pounds a month of this
delectable treat. We will be serving the crab with an herb aioli. Aioli
is an egg yolk mayonnaise that is heavily hit with garlic. Bam! as Emeril
would say. The sauce is very subtle so it doesn’t overpower the
taste of the crab.
King Crab: King crab has to be my second favorite crab. The crabs are
caught in the Bering Sea and then they are held in huge tanks underneath
the boat. When the boat gets back to the dock, the crabs are cooked
in salted water and frozen. The salt holds in the moisture of the crab
and also keeps it safe from freezer burn. These crabs are very famous
throughout the world for their stringy texture and sweet salty flavor.
The crabs are so big that when they migrate they get in a huge group
and form a big ball. Then they roll across the ocean floor. We will
be serving this one with a chipotle sauce. The saltiness of the crab
will hold up to the spicy sauce.
The Jonah: This crab is mostly used for its claws. The crabs can regenerate
their claws so you can pull them out of the water when fishing, pull
one of their arms off and throw them back and they’ll survive!
Their claws have a black tip on the end and for having such big claws
they are actually not too aggressive. When I was crabbing for Dungeness
crab on the Oregon coast in October we caught some rock crabs and they
were very angry. I had to pull the crab’s arm off to get him off
the net. Same family, just a different attitude. We will be serving
this crab with a romesco sauce. Romesco is a thick sauce made with almonds,
peppers, anchovies, capers, and mayonnaise. It is a classic sauce used
for stone crab in Florida. The stone crab and the Jonah crab have the
same flavor.
The Snow: Snows remind me of smaller king crabs. They have a salty
flavor and are not as sweet as the king or Dungeness. The shells are
thinner on the crab so the meat is easier to get to. We will be pairing
this crab with cocktail sauce.
Nutcrackers
The nutcrackers are here. Come try and find my favorite one. It is
the game piece nutcracker. It is decorated with different game pieces.
In support of the nutcrackers, I will feature nuts on my upcoming market
sheets. So look out for them!
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is a great time for us at Salty’s. It is the prequel
to our one guaranteed day off. We will be featuring our full menu with
some fun festival dishes.
Blue Plate Specials
Blue plates are fun for all my chefs. We make daily specials every
day. That is why we call them “Daily” specials. Now we also
have a blue plate special that we do every day. Lunch is $9.95 and dinner
is $19.95. We offer this so that if you wanted to come in and have an
inexpensive meal and the best view and service in Seattle, you can!
November 2008
This is one of my favorite times of the year. You are probably wondering
why, huh? I can see why you are so skeptical with the rain and the elevated
heating bills. Well the number one reason I like November is because
I celebrate my birthday in this month. I also love how it turns our
culinary world upside down. And there is something about getting prepared
for winter that tells us to dust off the crock-pot and roasting pans.
A lot of preserving is done in September and October, but November is
the time when you store all those preserves away and think about what
you are going to make with them.
Squash is practically synonymous with this time of year! My favorite
is spaghetti squash. You can find spaghetti squash on my Thanksgiving
menu here at Alki in Seattle and also on my current market sheet paired
with a Columbia River sturgeon. I also love butternut squash. It has
the most starch of all squash and it also has very few seeds. CHEF’S
TIP: Wear latex gloves when working with butternut squash because the
starch will stay on your hands for hours and drive you crazy. Or you
can use it for a wrinkle cream, ha!
There is plenty of great seafood in the month of November here in the
Pacific Northwest. I have a soft spot for black cod and, of course,
local oysters. Oysters are best in the months that end in R. This is
because when water heats up, oysters are susceptible to bacteria, yuck!
At Salty’s restaurant we make sure we have the freshest oysters
year round. In warmer months we use a deep-water oyster so it doesn’t
spend time in warm waters. Good thinkin’, HUH? And then there’s
black cod, which is also called butterfish or sable fish. This fish
can be found in many restaurants around Seattle, the black cod we serve
is out of Alaska. It has a high fat content but a mild flavor so I like
to smoke it or smother it in a sauce when I prepare it.
We have done wonders with our Thanksgiving menu at Alki in Seattle.
We receive many great compliments on our Thanksgiving buffet each year,
but I always try to increase the number of offerings and take it a step
further. The philosophy is kind of like, “The only way to stay
the best is to keep improving.” So this year in 2008 we are taking
it over the top again. Check out the menu at http://www.saltys.com/seattle/menus.asp
- and note that we have over 20 new items we are adding to our Thanksgiving
buffet line. Some of the offerings that I am most excited about are:
Tamale casserole, garlic bread, cornbread stuffing, southern-style gravy,
jello salad with celery and cranberries, and our famous Dutch apple
stuffing with giblet gravy (my mom’s recipe). We have also added
Oompa-Loompas to roll you out of the restaurant when you are done. So
please come in and find me. I will be in the kitchen making sure your
Thanksgiving is as delicious as possible! If you haven’t made
reservations, call us as soon as possible at 206-937-1600.
October 2008
October is blogalicious!*
*Definition: so many good-tasting things to blog about!
Here at Alki, we’re trying our hardest to get the most out of
fresh Alaskan halibut before the season ends. Since it’s fall,
we’ve decided to feature it with a bacon beurre rouge, a classic
French red wine butter sauce. Butter gives it a rich flavor and red
wine balances it with an acid component. An important part of the dish
will be crispy fried shallots which are part of the garlic family but
more closely resemble a sweet onion. Not only does this add a flavor
you’ll love, it adds an interesting texture (crunch) for great
mouthfeel.
Our “3 Courses for
$30 Dinner” is back! Since 2005, we’ve taken the opportunity
to showcase our great food from starters to dessert. It gives our guests
a chance to enjoy a full meal for a very reasonable price. Mix and match
items like our famous chowder or Caesar salad, asiago ling cod or blackened
salmon, right through to Pastry Chef Jane’s white chocolate mousse
cake or housemade ice cream! Our “3
Courses for $30 Dinner” menu will be offered throughout the
month of October, Monday through Thursday from 5-7 p.m.
We’re also very pleased to tell you that we took advantage of
Copper River coho salmon season in late August by capturing much of
the highest-quality fish so we can offer it throughout the winter months.
All of our salmon this winter will be from the Copper River!
On top of all this great seafood news, we have also started a new steak
program. We have great steaks and great preparations: marinated in steak
sauce, covered in Madagascar peppercorns, mushrooms or bleu cheese.
Not only do we have great quality steaks, I’ve made sure to pair
the right preparation with the right steak. For instance, the 12 ounce
New York steak is paired with the peppercorns because it’s thick
enough to handle the strength of the peppercorns. A smaller steak would
be overwhelmed. Having said that, we’ll still top your favorite
steak with whatever you want – you’re the boss!
It is the first of the month and I have chosen a winner for the Wild
Salmon Recipe Contest. I really appreciate all the feedback and the
lovely recipes submitted by everyone. It is so fun for me to see how
many different preparations there are for salmon. I have been creating
different dishes for salmon on a daily basis for 10-plus years and there
are still creative and fun dishes I found with this contest.
Picking the winner wasn’t easy! I narrowed it down between three
recipes and thought about it every day. Which one? I decided on choosing
the winner because it struck close to my heart strings. I do a lot of
preserving at the restaurant and I decided to use this one because I
loved the use of local fruit paired with salmon. Salmon goes great with
fruit. The fattiness holds up to the sweetness wonderfully.
The winner of the Wild Salmon Recipe Contest for Salty’s on Alki
is Jon Miller’s Spectacular Salmon
with Apricot Glaze. I liked this preparation so much I decided to
put it on my core menu for the fall season. Congratulations, Jon, and
I look forward to meeting you on your excursion to Salty’s (Jon
hails from Salem, Oregon) for your cooking class with me here in Seattle.
Jon’s Spectacular Salmon with Apricot Glaze
I make the glaze depending on how much salmon I am cooking but here’s
a base to start with. It is good for about two good size salmon fillets.
2 each 6-ounce salmon fillets
1 cup Apricot Jam
1 cup Soy Sauce
3 cloves Garlic
¼ Onion - minced (I use a cheese grater so it gets pulpy and
helps to
coagulate the mix)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste
You may either spread this on the salmon (both sides) and marinade
it for an hour before cooking or immediately before grilling.
Grill with an indirect heat (or bake) and turn over the salmon
after 12 minutes and cook on other side until the salmon is flaky,
approximately 25 minutes
Warm up the extra sauce and serve it on the side.
This salmon preparation goes great with a wild rice pilaf and fresh
string beans!
August 1, 2008
Lavender is in full bloom. Salmon is wild. What’s not to like
about August? Here’s another dish you’ll find on the Seattle
Salty’s market sheet and all Salty’s market sheets in
August.
Lavender
Honey-Caramelized Wild Salmon Served on a Bed of Arugula with Strawberry
Vinaigrette, Local Fresh Berries, Chèvre Cheese, and Honey Cornbread
Croutons The Dish: A summer favorite is back! This dish was
originally featured on Northwest Afternoon on July 19, 2008. We’ll
run it for the month of August. It’s a light dish for hot summer
months. The Vinaigrette: The vinaigrette starts with strawberries
that have been soaked in rice wine vinegar for two months. Then we blend
the vinegar with a touch of champagne vinegar (for tartness), shallot,
honey, strawberries, and canola oil. The vinaigrette is finished with
salt and white pepper then tossed with fresh arugula just before serving.
The Croutons: We take twice-baked cornbread and toss
it in honey, butter and salt. Then we bake it until golden brown. The
croutons are very brittle and taste great with the salad. The Finish: We toss the arugula with the vinaigrette
then sprinkle chèvre, fresh berries and the croutons over it.
We top the whole thing with perfectly glazed wild salmon and garnish
with a few edible flowers. It’s almost too beautiful to eat! Just
kidding, grab a fork!
July 23, 2008
Hello, everybody! As usual we’ve been busy in the kitchen and
outside the kitchen, participating in the annual FareStart chefs on
the Waterfront event and we were invited back to “The Alley”
hosted by Tom Douglas at The Bite of Seattle. Go to http://www.biteofseattle.com/docs/McLachlan.pdf
to view my recipes. You can also watch me cooking these dishes in a
TV spot I did for The Bite. It’s
on Comcast On Demand. I had a great time doing the show with local Chef
Thierry Rautureau of Rovers restaurant. Go to http://www.rovers-seattle.com
to see his web site.
In the kitchen at Salty’s in Seattle, we just started canning.
We started with Rainier cherries and 200 pounds of local apricots –
we can them so we can use them all winter long! I’ll also can
peaches and maybe some local heirloom tomatoes once they finally start
coming in. I don’t have a single tomato on my plants at home yet!
We’ve even planted our own herb garden on Alki Beach. Under the
watchful eye of Celeste Stubner, our in-house master gardener, these
herbs have taken off. What a great time of year and what a fun feeling
knowing a part of your meal came from your own backyard garden.
What’s on the menu? I have taken the journey into squash blossoms.
If you haven’t come in to try them, it’s a must! Check out
this dish:
Crispy Fried Squash Blossoms Stuffed with Crab and Served with
an Arugula Salad, Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette, Heirloom Tomato Coulis
The Dish: I kept wondering, What should we use to
stuff the squash blossoms? Crab? Halibut? Shrimp? Well, crab it is!
The sweetness of crab really comes through in this dish. It balances
nicely with the sweet blossoms. We’re trying to get the ones that
have a little baby squash attached. We are stuffing them with Dungeness
crab, garlic, shallots, herbs, chèvre cheese, and a touch of
egg to bind it together. The reason why I use chèvre so much
is because it has a delicate but intense flavor (kind of like Paolo,
my executive sous chef). Then we coat the blossoms in flour, egg whites
and panko breadcrumbs. They are then fried crispy. The Salad: We lightly toss the arugula in a Meyer lemon
vinaigrette. The Coulis: We are doing 3 different types of coulis.
They look really cool on the plate. We get 3 major colors of heirloom
tomatoes, green, yellow, and red and we make coulis with all three.
The yellow one has saffron, oil, garlic, shallot, rice wine vinegar,
salt, and xanthan gum. The green has parsley, herb oil, garlic, shallot,
lemon juice, salt and xanthan gum. Lastly, the red one has tomato paste,
garlic, shallot, smoked paprika, oil, white balsamic vinegar, salt and
xanthan gum. The xanthan gum adds viscosity to liquids and helps the
coulis stand up on the plate – which makes for a great plate presentation.
Here’s another fun dish I put on our market sheet. It was obviously
inspired by a recent trip I took to Hawaii:
Grilled Hawaiian Mahi Mahi with Coconut Rice Purses, Marinated
Fresh Hearts of Palm, Pickled Mango Salsa and Macadamia Nut Vinaigrette
The Dish: ALOHA!!! This is a great dish for the heat
and a great blend of flavors to pick you up Ya!! Mahalo. The Mahi: Mahi is a meaty fish with a delicate texture.
We will simply grill it with Hawaiian salt and pepper. The Rice Purses: We will take sticky rice and mix it
with fresh grated coconut, coconut milk, sesame seeds, and chopped ginger.
The rice will be wrapped in a ti leaf and then tied and steamed. Marinated Hearts of Palm: These are palm hearts flown
here from Puna Gardens in Hawaii. They are thinly sliced and marinated
in our wasabi vinaigrette. Pickled Mango Salsa: This is a side of the road staple
in Hawaii. They take unripe mango and pickle it with vinegar, brown
sugar, and Hawaiian sea salt. We then mix it with Maui sweet onions,
banana peppers, green onions, chili flake, lemon juice, and salt. The Vinaigrette: This is chopped macadamia nuts, cilantro,
green onions, red peppers, rice wine vinegar, macadamia nut oil, canola
oil, and salt.
Ok, this dish won’t be on the menu until dinner on 7/31/08 but
it’s going to be great! It’s the perfect dish to have while
sitting on the deck, sipping on a glass of cool Riesling.
Dungeness Crab and Avocado Salad Cilantro Lime Ice, Chili Oil,
Hand Made Tortillas
The Dish: Viva la Mexico. This will be a great appetizer
and a great seller. We will be using a large avocado with half of it
cored out. Then we stuff the other half with Dungeness crab salad. The
crab salad will be made with shallot, garlic, lemon thyme aioli, salt
and white pepper. We will fold these ingredients in with the crab so
the legs don’t break up. The Cilantro Ice: We will blend water, salt, cilantro,
lime juice and lime zest and then freeze it. It will be broken into
shards and then placed on the plate right before it goes out. The Chili Oil: We will heat up the oil with ancho chilies,
new Mexican chilies, chili flakes and salt. Hand Made Tortilla: We will make the tortillas every
day from lard & mesa. We will heat the tortillas to warm for service.
Make reservations at SALTY'S ON ALKI BEACH Call for parties of 11 or more.
OR you may call Alki at (206) 937-1600
June 12, 2008
I will be using a lot of summer ingredients in our updated summer menu
that starts June 12th for dinner and June 13th for lunch. The best thing
about this new menu is that we will feature fresh veggies from local
gardens in Snohomish County – practically our backyard! I will
also get peaches and cherries from Yakima and feature them on the Market
Sheets. Here are our new and/or changed menu items:
Crispy Fried Calamari
Yakima Peach Glaze, House-Pickled Peppers
The Flour: The flour for this has panko, wondra flour,
seasoning salt, shredded phyllo dough. This will make the calamari extra
crispy. We will also be dredging the calamari in egg whites that are
slightly beaten. The Peppers: These will be like the old peppers we
had only cut differently. We will be cutting jalapeno and mini sweet
peppers into strips and then pickling them with champagne vinegar and
salt. The Peach Glaze: The peaches are the ones we canned
ourselves last August. The glaze will be made with peaches, syrup, rice
wine vinegar, and chili flake. Menus: Lunch and Dinner
Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho
Avocado Crème, Herbed Crab
The Dish: This new soup will replace our halibut and
corn chowder. It will be served chilled. It tastes GUUUUUD. We feature
this dish in all events we do during the summer. It is a big hit and
great for summer. I will be getting most of the heirloom tomatoes from
local gardens. The Gazpacho: Gazpacho is a chilled soup, which originally
contained bread, garlic, vinegar and oil. I make a more conventional
gazpacho. We start by marinating heirloom tomatoes, celery, green onions,
red and yellow bell peppers, cucumber, sweet onion, jalapeno peppers,
and cilantro in balsamic vinegar. The vegetables are marinated overnight
and then puréed with olive oil, salt, and tomato juice. The Avocado Crème: This is puréed avocado
with lemon juice, sour cream and salt. The Herbed Crab: This will be a small bit on top of
the gazpacho. Half ounce for a bowl and one-quarter ounce for a cup.
We will mix Dungeness crab with king crab. We will bind it together
with a lemon thyme aioli, shallot, lemon juice, fresh herbs, salt and
pepper. Menus: Lunch and Dinner
The Dish: This was a big hit when we had it on the
menu. The lobster salad is not selling so I decided to make a new one.
The salad will start with sautéed halibut, salmon, prawns and
mussels. Then we will add chopped garlic, shallot, artichokes, black
olives, roasted peppers, and tomatoes. The Mix is then tossed with our
cumin vinaigrette and poured over romaine lettuce. We will then finish
it with Parmesan cheese and crumbled feta. Menus: Lunch only.
Open-Faced Crab Melt
Heirloom Tomato, White Cheddar, Cumin-Tossed Field Greens
The Dish: We will change this dish slightly. We will
serve it on sliced rustic potato bread. The bread will be slathered
with mayonnaise and then topped with the crab salad, heirloom tomato
and white cheddar cheese. We will cook it in the wood oven. There will
be two pieces per order. The Crab Salad: The salad will consist of the herb
crab that is on the Gazpacho. The Salad: We will make cumin-tossed salad to serve
on the side. It will be topped with the grape tomatoes. Menu: Lunch and Café
The Dish: This dish is ever changing. It is our number-one
seller so I like to change it often. I feel that our number-one seller
should get the same treatment as all our other dishes. The Corn Relish: We will be making a relish with roasted
corn, red peppers, red onions, jalapeno peppers, green onions, cilantro,
champagne vinegar, garlic, and olive oil. The relish will be the vegetable
on the plate. The Beurre Blanc: This will be our house beurre blanc.
We will take all the pieces off the heirloom tomatoes and smoke them.
We will start the beurre blanc with oil, shallot, and tomato paste.
The tomato paste will be caramelized and then deglazed with the wine
and then we will add bay leaf, peppercorns, and thyme. This is where
we will add our smoked heirloom tomatoes and then reduce to au sec
(almost dry). We will then mount the sauce with butter, strain it, and
then season it with salt. Menu: Lunch and Dinner
The Dish: This is a slight change with the risotto
replaced with the garlic-mashed potatoes. This dish will still have
the smokiness and fattiness of the bacon. Bacon and scallops go together
like Harold and Maud, red beans and rice, ying and yang, AC and DC,
Tim and wine, Paolo and Black Pin-Striped Aprons. The Bacon: This is our house-cured bacon that we will
cook and then finish with fennel, onion, cider vinegar and chopped fresh
thyme. Menu: Dinner Only Garnish: Tobiko Orange
Yakima Peach Bourbon Barbecue Chicken
Steamed Red Potatoes, Snohomish County Vegetables, Charred Sweet Corn
Relish
The Dish: Who doesn’t like barbecue in the summer?
We will use an airline breast for this it will be basted and roasted
in the oven. We will garnish the plate with the barbecue sauce and herb
oil. The Barbecue Sauce: We will start the sauce with sweated
onions. Then we will add tomato paste, and garlic. The pan will then
be deglazed with bourbon and then we will add canned Yakima peaches
(we canned them last fall!), ketchup, chili sauce, bay leaf and salt.
It will then simmer for hours to bring out the sweetness. Menus: Lunch and Dinner Garnish: Herb Oil
Here are some other small changes we’re making:
Crab Cakes: We will take the East Crab cakes off the
menu. We will just do the west style with the fennel and Arugula salad,
and lemon thyme aioli. Crab Mac and Cheese: This will get tomato and arugula
salad on the top, not tomato and pea vine. Vegetables: All veggies will be replaced with Snohomish
County Local Vegetables.
A la Carte Menu:
The Grilled Halibut: will get smoked heirloom tomato
beurre blanc and crispy leeks. The Catfish: It will be topped with pickled peppers. The Scallops: They will get the smoked heirloom tomato
beurre blanc and tobiko. The Prawn Skewers: They will get smoked heirloom tomato
beurre blanc and crispy leeks. Wild Salmon: will get smoked heirloom tomato beurre
blanc and crispy leeks. The Stuffed Halibut or Salmon: They will get smoked
heirloom tomato beurre blanc and crispy leeks. The Sides: We will feature the Snohomish County local
vegetables, the side of rice, the side of mash, the portobello mushrooms.
The Risotto and the sautéed pea vines are coming off and we’re
adding a side of fries. Steaks: We are changing up the accoutrements of the
steak. It will get local Snohomish County vegetables, mashed potatoes
and caramelized Walla Walla onions. Steak Your Way: We will keep the blackening, pepper
crusted and smoke salt crusted. We will change the stuffed to add Oscar,
and the Gorgonzola to add melted Gorgonzola.
April 3, 2008
On this week’s Market Sheet at Salty’s on Alki in Seattle
we will be replacing the Harissa Salmon dish with a new salmon dish
we’re doing for Tazo Tea. I was asked to create a dish that uses
Tazo tea in the recipe or is inspired by their tea. Part of the promotion
is that we will be handing out samples of Tazo tea to our guests at
Alki. It comes in a cool package that contains three different Tazo
tea bags. This is the dish I came up with:
We decided to infuse two teas into this dish. The wild sweet orange
tea and the lemon maté which has a great subtle lemon flavor.
We will be making the brine by steeping the wild sweet orange tea in
hot water with ginger, sugar, oranges and salt. The brine is then cooled
and poured over the salmon in the morning. This process opens the pores
of the salmon so the flavors are in every bite. For service the salmon
will be removed from the brine and grilled. The purple potato salad
will be fingerling potatoes cut into coins, steamed and cooled. Then
we mix the potato coins with grain mustard, sliced shallot, mayo, sour
cream, celery seed, apple cider vinegar, fresh thyme, chives and Italian
parsley. The salad is served at room temperature.
Next is the asparagus cream, we make the cream by reducing white wine
with bay leaf, peppercorns, and thyme. We add heavy cream and reduce
it by half, then add chopped asparagus and the tea bags. Once the mixture
is cooked we pull the teabags out and purée it with parsley.
It gets cooled right away so it keeps that fresh asparagus flavor. This
will also be served at room temperature. This dish is garnished with
lemon-tomato relish. This is simply made by dicing preserved Meyer lemons
and tomatoes and tossing them with garlic, shallot, thyme, capers, salt
and olive oil. Voila! Come and try this dish for lunch or dinner.
I'll be at a Tazo Tea event in the University Village on Friday, April
25, from 1-4 p.m. Please join me and you'll get a copy of my recipe.
See Go
to Zagat.com for more on the promotion. Tazo Tea’s web site
is http://www.tazo.com
where you should be sure to spin the “wheel-o-tazo” tea
selector.
We have been pretty busy around here. In addition to working on this
Tazo promotion, I had the pleasure of participating in the Fare Start
Guest Chef night last week. It’s for a great cause, and the night
went really well. If you’re unfamiliar with the FareStart program
you should check out their web site www.farestart.org
and, oh, Salty’s is taking part in the Seasoned Seattle dining
event for the month of April. It’s two courses for $25. See who
else is participating - see www.nwsource.com/seasonedseattle
for the list. Lastly, we are prepping for the Taste Washington event
that takes place this weekend. It is another cool event worth checking
out if you aren’t familiar with it see www.tastewashington.org/sea_index.php
and maybe I’ll see you there…..
March 25, 2008
I made some slight changes to the menu to get more spring in our
step. Get it? Ha! Ha! Sorry, I can’t resist a good corny
joke every now and again. Anyway, my first motivation for making these
changes was so we’d have fresh Alaskan halibut on the menu right
away. I’m also adding Spring specific items to be more seasonal.
Here’s a glimpse at a few of the changes:
*I’m adding Belgian endive to the crab dip.
It’s such a great vessel for eating the dip and I’m a big
fan of its velvety texture.
*The pound of shrimp on ice appetizer will be served
with a romesco sauce as well as cocktail sauce and lemon. I will also
be serving our crispy fried calamari with romesco sauce. The sauce is
made with aioli, red peppers, vinegar, ground toasted almonds, capers,
thyme, parsley, anchovies, garlic, smoked paprika, lemon juice, and
salt.
*Dungeness Crab and Halibut Chowder with Sweet Corn, Pablano
Pepper Relish
The Dish: I am changing the bisque to Dungeness Crab and Halibut Chowder.
We will always have our famous seafood chowder on the menu but the second
soup will change with the season. This Summer it will probably be the
gazpacho I love so much but for spring it’s crab and halibut chowder.
For this soup we start with a stock of crab sections, halibut bones,
tomato paste, mirepoix, peppercorns, bay leaf, thyme, white wine and
water. Then we strain the stock and chill it. The soup is started with
potatoes, onion and bacon, and then we add the stock, a touch of crab
base, a little cream and then thicken it with a roux. To finish we add
corn, halibut and picked crab. The soup will be topped with tortilla
strips and the pablano relish. The pablano relish will be made with
roasted pablano peppers, Roma tomatoes, garlic, shallot, cilantro, oil,
toasted coriander, toasted cumin, and limejuice.
*Mixed Spring Greens with Cumin Vinaigrette, Grape Tomato Tapenade,
Feta Cheese and Toasted Sunflower Seeds
The Dish: This salad has a fresh light feel to it. The vinaigrette is
made with garlic, shallot, rice wine vinegar, toasted cumin and canola
oil. The tomato tapenade will be grape yellow and red tomatoes, garlic,
shallot, thyme, basil, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Then topped with
Feta and toasted sunflower seeds, it’s a big hit with our managers!
*Cedar Smoked Salmon with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Bacon
Tossed Spring Pea Vines and Radicchio, Granny Smith Apple Salad and
Lavender Honey
The Dish: This is further evolution of one of our best sellers. This
version will look a little cleaner on the plate. We will be taking some
of our house-cured bacon and cutting it into chunks. Then we will render
it and finish it with fresh herbs, garlic, onion, and cider vinegar.
The Granny Smith apple salad was one of Sous Chef Paolo’s favorites
so we are bringing sexy back (Paolo’s sexy for clarification).
The salad is made with julienne granny smith apples, lime vinaigrette,
pickled horseradish, and chopped Italian parsley. For the pea vines
we’ll toss them with shredded radicchio and bacon relish. It will
go on top of the mash before being served. The lavender honey is simply
honey that is infused with lavender flowers.
*Alaskan Halibut Oscar with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes,
Asparagus, Dungeness Crab, Sauce Béarnaise
Now that fresh Halibut is back I had to put this dish on the menu full
time. I have a description of it on my last blog entry (see below).
I fellow blogger recently gave us a nod for this and add a link to our
dish on their “foodista blog”. Check it out http://blog.foodista.com/2008/03/21/halibut-cheeks/
and a big thanks to Foodista!
*Wood Oven-Roasted, Crab-Stuffed Salmon or Halibut with Roasted
Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Spring Vegetables, Beurre Blanc, Crispy Leeks
The Dish: We currently have this dish on the menu but I wanted to offer
it with the choice of salmon or halibut. The stuffing will be made up
of crab, shallot, garlic, chevre cheese, pecorino cheese, thyme, tarragon,
parsley, a touch of cream and salt. The spring vegetables will change
daily, as different veg comes in season and whatever is freshest at
the time. We will have an assortment of asparagus, baby squash, baby
peppers, green beans, different colored baby carrots, baby corn, etc.
*“A Taste of Hawaii” Ahi Tuna Sesame Crusted, Green
Tea Scented Rice, Fresh Hearts of Palm and Radish Salad, Passion Vinaigrette,
Tobikos
The Dish: I wanted this dish to be Hawaii specific. I have added the
fresh hearts of palm, which are flown in from Hawaii regularly. Also
we will serve the tuna with wasabi and pickled ginger on the side. I
really like the Passion fruit vinaigrette; it’s made with rice
wine vinegar, ginger, garlic, Passion fruit puree, aji mirin, honey,
and canola oil. With its light, fruity tartness, it’s one of those
things I could eat every day. The salad is made up of grated fresh hearts
of palm and red radish tossed in a little bit of lemon vinaigrette.
*Ala Carte Grilled Alaskan Halibut with Beurre Blanc
The Dish: An 8-ounce cut of halibut simply served with a classic beurre
blanc, preserved lemon relish and herbs. This is my only addition to
the a la carte menu. We will of course still have prawn skewers, scallops,
stuffed salmon, blackened catfish, etc….
My sides will have some seasonal changes too. These can be served as
an accompaniment to an a la carte protein or and appetizer for the whole
table to share, whatever suits you.
*Spring Vegetables with Preserved Lemon Relish
*Green Tea Scented Rice with Fresh Hearts of Palm Radish Salad
*Sweet Corn and Asparagus Risotto
*Sautéed Spring Peas Vines with Corn and House Bacon
*Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
*Sautéed Portobello Mushrooms with Herbs
The Steak, Chicken, and Shellfish program will stay the same –
delicious!
Check out the “fish tacos” on the lunch menu! I switched
the fish to fresh halibut and we serve the tacos with lime-marinated
cabbage, queso fresco and chipotle aioli. Sour cream, house-made roasted
tomato salsa and house tortilla chips served on the side. It’s
a guest favorite.
One
last thing before I get back in the kitchen, our Pastry Chef Jane made
something special for Easter – Chocolate Easter Eggs. The eggs
were decoratively made in house with a fun individual flare. Jane filled
the chocolate eggs with her famous rochers and some of the eggs had
a special surprise, a $100 gift card inside. We affectionately referred
to those as “golden ticket eggs”. They were such a hit this
year, Chef Jane promises to make them again next year!
February 28, 2008
Hello all! I’m coming to you as a one-handed blogger today. I
went snowboarding last week and came home with a broken arm - at least
it’s the left. And it’s a good thing I was wearing my helmet.
Anyway, I’m kicking off a new Market Sheet on Thursday 2/28. We
will be taking some things off and adding some fun stuff too. March
is the start of our Just for the Halibut festival. Beginning with Halibut
cheeks and then moving to fresh halibut the moment the first one is
caught! Here’s some info on the two new halibut cheek dishes I
will be adding:
*Pan-Seared Halibut Cheeks Oscar with Celeriac Mashed Potatoes,
Asparagus, Dungeness Crab, Sauce Béarnaise
A lot of Chef’s play with an “Oscar”. I have seen
it topped with romesco sauce, orange hollandaise, aioli, and even light
vinaigrette. For this dish we are going to stick to the traditional
style and bring something I know you’ll enjoy. The Cheeks: Cheeks come from the back part of the halibut’s
head. The texture is similar to a scallop but a little sweeter flavor.
We will be using halibut cheeks for the first two weeks of the month.
Then we will switch to halibut when it is fresh. I have put this dish
on last year’s summer menu and it was Numero Uno. That means number
one in Spanish. The Mash: Celeriac is celery root. It has an earthy
acidic quality to it that will go great with the fatty sauce. We will
be making the mash with 10% turnips, 20% Celeriac, and 70 % Yukon potatoes.
We will also add roasted garlic, cream, butter and salt. The Asparagus: We will use sliced asparagus that will
be marinated in lemon juice with oil. This is my unique twist on the
classic dish and it will help the guest cut into the dish easier. The Sauce: The béarnaise I make is also slightly
unique. A traditional béarnaise is a hollandaise with a shallot,
dried tarragon, and red wine vinegar reduction added to it. We will
be taking red wine vinegar and infusing it with bay leaf, peppercorns,
thyme and tarragon. Then we will make the béarnaise with egg
yolks and salt that is slowly brought up to a ribbon state. Ribboning
is basically when you pull the whisk up and the sauce clings to it.
Then we add drawn butter slowly while whisking fast. Slowly drizzle
with right hand, whisk fast with left hand. Then pat belly and rub head.
We will then thin down the béarnaise, because it gets thick,
with the tarragon-infused red wine vinegar. The béarnaise will
be finished with fresh tarragon.
*Coriander-Crusted Halibut Cheeks with Sweet Pea Risotto, Artichoke
Lemon Salad and Saffron Tomato Broth
Another halibut cheek dish here. I really like the flavor combination
on this one. The sweetness of the cheeks goes great with this sweet
pea risotto and the spiciness of the crust. The Crust: We will make a salt with roughly ground
toasted coriander and sea salt. This salt crust is applied to the cheeks
before searing them. The Risotto: We will be using our high quality carnaroli
risotto that I’ve talked about before with a similar preparation.
Then we add a pea purée and sweet early harvest peas. The Salad: We are preserving our own artichokes in
olive oil and lemon juice. We will quarter the chokes and then toss
it with lemon thyme, celery root, Italian parsley, celery leaves, salt,
white pepper and sliced shallot. We will use the inner celery leaves
because they are not as bitter. The Broth: The broth will be made with a stock of celery,
fennel, halibut cheeks, black cod, halibut, button mushrooms, thyme,
fennel seed, bay leaf, peppercorns and cold water. The reason why you
start with cold water is you want the stock to be clear. We will then
strain the stock and add vine-ripened tomatoes, chopped fennel, white
onion and celery seed. The
sauce will be cooked until the vegetables are cooked and then puréed
and strained thin. The broth will be served on the side in a tea pot.
We will also add a tea bag to this broth that is stuffed with a pinch
of saffron. Upon presenting the dish to the guest, our servers will
pour the broth around the dish, being careful not to pour it directly
on top of the fish. The aroma of the broth will be a treat for the whole
table!
January 30, 2008
Hi everyone, wow what a week! We’re getting ready for our catering
open house on Thursday the 31st. We’re rolling out our new catering
menu for 2008 and it’s time to kick it off. But a few days ago
was the SSCC Gifts from the Earth event I’ve mentioned before.
It was a great success! Here’s the menu I served along with some
photographs from the event.
A Menu Celebrating American Culinary Trends
Through the Decades
Concept by Sommelier Tim O’Brien
Menu by Chef Jeremy McLachlan
1920s
“Bathtub” Cocktail with Fruit Jellies
This dish is inspired by prohibition, which started January 16th 1920.
For this dish I took Aviation gin and infused it with kumquats. The
gin was served in a martini shaker on the side and the housemade fruit
jellies were served in a stemless martini glass that sits on ice in
sort of a “fish bowl”. I also added blue LED lights in the
bowl of ice for a cool presentation.
1930s
“Bankruptcy” Oxtail Stew with Rustic Bread Stock
Market Crash Late 1929 evolved into the great depression of the ’30s
and soup kitchens soon followed.
We spent about three days cooking the ox tails for this dish. The stew
was served in a blue enamel mug; you know the ones with the white speckles
that you take camping, except a smaller size. We put the mug on top
of a crumpled piece of the West Seattle Herald newspaper. A slice of
West Seattle’s Bakery Nouveau baguette and a spoon full of lemon
yogurt accompanied this dish.
1940s
Mini Burgers, Fries and Malt Shake
The first Dairy Queen stand opens in Joilet, Illinois.
I stuffed these mini burger patties with foie gras before cooking them,
yum! We added Beecher’s cheese, caramelized shallots and “burger
sauce” and served them on mini buns that our pastry chef Jane
Gibson made. I actually just added a version of these mini burgers to
our catering menu; book an event and try them! Seattle
Catering Menu
1950s
Backyard Barbecued Prawns After
WWII many returning GI’s settled in the suburbs making backyard
barbecuing popular.
Check this out; I served two shell on whole fresh water prawns on top
of this “grill”. We took a square cast iron skillet, added
charcoal-colored rocks and a mesh screen to give the illusion of a grill.
Next to the prawns we served grilled baby corn on the cob with the husk
on, a fun way to present corn. The pepper is a red jalapeño stuffed
with crab, herbs and chèvre. On the side are baby red potato
salad, herb pistou and a smoky BBQ sauce.
1960s
Breadcrumb-Crusted Berkshire Pork Loin Shake
and Bake was introduced.
We took the breadcrumb-crusted pork, sliced it thin and presented it
to look like it was spilling out of its “shake and bake”
bag. The salad on the side is shaved fennel and granny smith apples.
Balsamic glaze and peach coulis were served on the side next to some
crumbles I made to resemble shake and bake.
1970s
Build-Your-Own Salad R.J.
Grunts in Chicago, Illinois, introduces an all-you-can-eat salad bar.
What can I say; this is a pretty straightforward dish. In the middle
is a baby head of iceberg lettuce accompanied by julienne radishes,
croutons, house-cured bacon bits, diced tomato and egg and sliced baby
chiogga beets. We served three dressings in spoons on the side of the
plate, bleu cheese, 1000 island (of course) and aged balsamic vinaigrette.
1980s
Creole Blackened Redfish Paul
Prudhomme opened K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen and started a Cajun
blackened food fad.
Here we have a piece of seared blackened redfish served on a sizzling
cast iron dish. The redfish was joined by two red bean and rice cakes
and a mini cornbread muffin, made by pastry chef Jane.
1990s
The Chocolate Pianist Structure
desserts were all the craze.
For Jane’s dessert she starts with hazelnut cake and layers it
with chocolate ganache. The ganache is made from single plantation,
single bean species chocolate from Peru! It is then cut it into a piano
shape, finished with a chocolate glaze and piano keys and lid.
Chef Jane also made “take away” chocolate Pianos filled
with her hand-made truffles and rocher, which are available to purchase
here at the restaurant in Seattle.
2000s
A Tasting of Starbucks
In recognition of the fastest growing chain in America, which started
in Seattle.
The first drink is shaken Starbucks coffee liqueur, Bailey’s and
a little cream. The second is a traditional shot of espresso with a
twist of lemon and a demitasse sugar stick. Number three is our version
of frapuccino, yummy.
We
really had a great time doing this event! It’s a great creative
outlet for my team and me. Many thanks go to Jane Gibson, Mary Davis,
Paolo Carey-DiGregorio (pictured here on the left smiling big), James
Gibson (also pictured here on the right), Levi Palli, Scott McDowell,
Tahnee Deeds, Kurt Argys, and everybody else who contributed and supported
in anyway.
January 24, 2008
I’m changing up our market sheet today, taking a few things off
and adding a few new things. Check out my two new dishes:
*Red Snapper Crispy Fried with Rosemary Potatoes, Root Vegetable
Hay and a Chili Orange Glaze
This dish will be coming out of the wood oven. We will be using the
new cast iron serving dishes we just got in. The cast iron will be heated
and then we will finish the dish on the cast iron so it sizzles when
it goes to the table. I tried to get whole black bass in but had a hard
time finding it so went with the whole red snapper instead. The whole
fish (head and tail on) will be dredged in flour and then into tempura
batter and deep-fried. The tempura batter will be thinner then the one
we have right now. Then we will be taking red potatoes, cutting them
into chunks and tossing them with cream, garlic, shallot, and rosemary
before cooking. The idea of these potatoes is that they will finish
cooking on the cast iron griddle while the plate is going to the table.
The glaze will be spritzed over the top of the fish just before it goes
out. It is made with tomato paste, brown sugar, chili sauce, garlic,
orange rind, and vinegar. Lastly I will garnish the dish with root vegetable
“hay”. The “hay” is a mixture of finely shredded
root vegetables, carrot, beet, onion, turnip, and fennel, which will
be tossed in lemon vinaigrette right before service.
* Chili-Rubbed Freshwater Prawns with Charred Root Vegetable
Hay, Tea Pot of Tomato Broth, Olive Tapenade
I’m excited about the cool presentation of this dish. Again I
didn’t find exactly what I wanted. I was looking to do this dish
with Langoustines but they weren’t going to be here on time so
I got my hands on these awesome freshwater prawns. They will be served
whole with their head on. We will be rubbing them with chili, lemon,
garlic, shallot, and cilantro and grilling them per order. They will
be served on top of the root vegetable hay and topped with the olive
tapenade. The tapenade is a mixture of black oil cured olives, green
olives, capers, anchovies, and tomatoes. The fun part comes next. We
will be taking tomatoes and puréeing them and straining them
multiple times to yield a semi-clear broth. The broth will have nothing
added to it except a little salt. It will be served on the side in a
Tea Pot. We will have a tea bag in the pot, filled with bay leaf, thyme,
and peppercorns. When this dish is served to the guest we will pour
the hot broth from the teapot into the bowl with the prawns. There will
be a wonderful aroma that rises up as the server is pouring the broth.
A great table-side presentation.
Stay tuned for a sampling of my Giftsfrom the Earth menu. The Gift
from the Earth event is coming up at South Seattle community college
this weekend. Here’s a link to their web site if you want a little
more info: http://www.southseattle.edu/foundation/giftsfromtheearth/index.html
January 17, 2008
Well our “under the Alki Moon” dinner event here at Alki
was on Tuesday, January 15th and what an event it was! It was fantastic
to have so many chefs running around the kitchen, creative energy was
abundant. See a slide show and photos at http://www.teamphotogenic.com/ph/doShow.asp?eid=7212%5E454164727
We did plenty of prep ahead of time, I actually started my blood orange
flavored duck on Saturday night. On Monday Sous Chef Josh Gibler came
up from Salty’s on the Columbia since Executive Chef Dana Cress
just became a daddy, Congrats! Josh and I really had fun together, we’ve
been friends since grade school. Also Gabe Cabrera, Salty’s at
Redondo’s Executive Chef was here; we always work so well together
we just don’t get the opportunity often enough.
Chef Roberto Russo was the honored guest chef from Italy. He’s
such a character, full of life and passion for food, it’s awesome!
My Fiancée Maggie and I were able to stay with him at his villa
in Italy about a year ago. He puts passion into everything he does.
I remember one day he walked over to his neighbor’s house with
some olive oil and I think some chickens in exchange for some porcini
mushrooms that grow on his neighbor’s property. He proceeded to
cook the porcinis for dinner that night, needless to say, they were
amazing! It was a cool experience. You should check out his website,
I recommend staying with him if you’re headed to Italy anytime
soon! http://www.parcofiorito.com
Chef Roberto is just releasing his new cookbook Good Ciao
that he wrote with Salty’s co-owner, Kathryn Hilger Kingen. I
also have a few recipes in the cookbook so it’s pretty exciting.
You can check it out online at
https://www.saltys.com/good_ciao which lists sample pages.
Anyway, back to the dinner, actually here’s a quick glance at
the dishes we prepared:
Passed Appetizers Upon Arrival:
Pancetta Wrapped Dates and Bananas Prepared by Roberto Russo
Salmon Carpaccio with Arugula By Dana Cress (and Sous Chef Josh Gibler)
Seafood Crudo Prepared by Gabriel Cabrerra
1st Course - Tagliatelle with Chickpeas and Shrimp Prepared by Roberto
Russo
2nd Course - Tuscan Soup Prepared by Roberto Russo
3rd Course - Orange Flavored Duck Prepared by Jeremy McLachlan
4th Course - Sea Bass 3 ways - In the 3 styles of the Salty’s
Chef’s Prepared by Gabe, Jeremy, and Dana
5th Course - Chocolate and Port Paring Dessert by Jane Gibson and Port
Selections by Tim O’Brien
It really was a lot of fun.
My next event is January 26th, the Gifts of the Earth event held every
year at South Seattle Community College. I’ve been working on
my menu for this event for many weeks. It’s going to be a good
one. I’ll give you a sneak peak once we get a little to the date,
I don’t want to reveal too many secrets……
January 9, 2008
I’m changing up the market sheet a little bit. It’s just
a few things because of the new core menu. I’m adding 2 dishes
that are featured in the new Cookbook Good Ciao. These are recipes to
give our guests a taste of the great items in this cookbook.
*Shrimp and Chickpea Tagliatelle Pasta Tossed with Olive Oil,
Lemon, and Fresh Herbs
This is Roberto Russo’s Creation. The 15th will be our 3rd annual
Under the Alki Moon dinner where we will be celebrating the publishing
of their cookbook. This dish is very simple. Tagliatelle pasta will
be tossed with olive oil, garlic, chickpeas, and shrimp and then finished
with fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese.
*Clam and Mussel Risotto with Arugula, Tomato and Fresh Herbs
This is our co-owner Kathy Kingen’s recipe. We will be using our
high quality organic carnaroli risotto (you can find this outstanding
brand of risotto at Metropolitan Market or online
http://www.ritrovo.com/i-10001ten-carnaroli-risotto-rice-1-1lbs.php
and topping it with sautéed clams and mussels. We will then add
fresh Arugula and top it with Parmesan cheese and tomatoes.
Come in and have a sample of the cookbook before you buy it!
Chef’s Words for the New Menu Starting January 11th
I have worked for this company for 11 years and “served”
a tour at all three Salty’s locations. I started with Columbia,
and then went to Redondo, then Alki, then back to Columbia and obviously
I am back at Alki now. The reason why I mention this is because this
is the most unique menu format I have put together yet. I spend much
time with Gerry making sure we were looking at the same vision of the
menu. You will find with these changes that we are trying to give the
guest options. We don’t want to be an overpriced restaurant; we
want to provide a little something for everyone. The reality of a tight
economy is something we need to address and that is what we are trying
to do by providing some clever options. I don’t just want to think
about the now; I also want to think about the future. A happy guest
is our success and by providing inexpensive options as well as some
over the top options, I think we can increase guest frequency. So I
unveil this new menu with full confidence that you enjoy the different
dynamic of it. As usual I am open to any feedback. The following is
a taste of some of the changes and some of the classics on our new dinner
menu: (you can also view the full menu at http://www.saltys.com/seattle/menus.asp
)
Appetizers:
*Fresh shucked Puget Sound Oysters on the Half Shell* with
an Oyster Caddy of all sauces imaginable
This dish will be served the same way we always serve our oysters, plucked
straight out of the Puget Sound and shucked moments before slurping
them down. The sauce caddy has cocktail, mango pepper jam, raspberry
mignonette, shallot mignonette, green Tabasco, red Tabasco, chipotle
Tabasco, fleur de sel, and pepper vodka.
Price: ½ Doz 13.95 Doz. 24.95
*East VS. West Crab Cakes with dueling Sauces light and heavy
or have just the Dungeness crab Cake (west) or just the Blue Crab Cake
(east)
This dish will be changing, not in presentation but in offerings. The
option of ordering a single crab cake is now available.
The East crab cake is with blue crab meat. The mix will have mayo, Dijon
mustard, Tabasco, Worcestershire, shallot, egg yolk, panko, thyme, and
parsley. This dish will be served with lemon Greek yogurt and pickled
cucumbers and chili oil. We use Greek yogurt that is thicker then the
regular yogurt that you buy in the store. We mix it with lemon juice,
lemon zest, white pepper and salt. The cucumbers will be sliced and
pickled with white wine vinegar, sugar, and salt. The Chili oil will
be made with an array of chili pods from New Mexican to Ancho and grape
seed oil.
The West crab cake is of course made with Dungeness crab meat we start
the crab cake mix by sautéing celery, onion and red pepper. The
mixture is then cooled. Once the mixture is cooled we add sour cream,
heavy cream, eggs, Worcestershire, Tabasco, Dijon mustard, parsley,
chives and Dungeness crab. We will then form the cakes and bread them
in flour, egg whites, and Panko breadcrumbs. The west cake is served
with aioli and is made with egg yolks, garlic, oil, lemon juice, and
thyme. It will also come with a fennel salad. The fennel will be thinly
sliced and seared in oil and then deglazed with red wine vinegar, salt
and then tossed with fennel fronds afterwards.
Price: 16.95 single cake 7.95
*1 Pound of Shrimp on Ice with Cocktail Sauce and Remoulade
and Lemon. ½ Pound also available
For this dish we will be using shelled and deveined 31-40 prawns. We
will poach them in a liquid of water, pickling spice, chili flake, lemon
juice and salt. We poach the prawns and then lay them out on sheet pans
to let them cool in the walk-in. Most people put them in an ice bath
out of the hot water but I prefer not to because it washes some of the
flavor away. This will be served with lemon, cocktail sauce, remoulade
and parsley.
*Big Spender Crab Cocktail with Mixed Greens, House Cocktail
Sauce and Lemon
The Dish: This is a BIG version of our crab cocktail. I blame my Sous
chef Paolo for this one. Gerry came in and asked for a big crab cocktail
and Paolo made a joke and put it into a cracker keg. Now we are putting
it on the menu. It will be 1 pound or 16 oz of Dungeness crab with cocktail
sauce, mixed greens and lemon.
Price: 59.95 or regular size 3 oz for 14.95
*Grand Seafood Platter* (Serves 4-6)
Salmon Lox, Chilled Prawns, Raw Oysters on the Half Shell, Dungeness
Crab, Alaskan King Crab Legs, Green Lip Mussels, Marinated Manila Clams,
Baby Octopus Salad, and
Hawaiian Ahi Tuna. This dish is a great seller. We are changing up a
few things but it will certainly be GRAND!
Price: $69.95
*Crab and Shrimp Bisque with Camembert Croutons, Herbed Crème
Fraiche
I have decided to put a second soup on the core menu. This soup will
be made in a classic bisque style. We will start with crab sections,
shrimp shells and caramelize them. Then we will add tomato paste and
caramelize more. Next we will add celery, carrot, onion, parsley stems,
fennel, bay leaf, peppercorns, and thyme. We will then deglaze with
brandy and cook out all the alcohol. Next we will add white wine and
again cook out all the alcohol. Water is then added and reduced by half.
We will put a little crab and shrimp base in the soup. Next cream gets
added and reduces by 1/3rd. The soup will then be thickened with rice
and strained. We will then finish the soup with crabmeat and chopped
shrimp meat. The Camembert croutons are of course made with Camembert
which is a creamy cow’s milk cheese. We will be making croutons
with melted Camembert, butter, garlic, shallots, and fresh herbs. Lastly,
it gets topped with crème fraiche. The cream is cultured with
buttermilk in house. This yields a thick cream that is like sour cream
but has a nutty flavor to it. The crème fraiche will be finished
with fresh herbs, salt and white pepper.
Price: Cup 6.95 Bowl 9.95
Seafood Entrees:
I have a page of entrees that are fully constructed with protein, starch,
vegetables and properly paired accoutrements.
*Cedar-Smoked Salmon with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Wilted
Arugula and Radicchio, House Bacon Apple Relish, Fig Balsamic Glaze
Price: 29.95 ½ portion 19.95 $10 upgrade for wild salmon
Lunch 19.95 with a $6 upgrade for wild salmon
*Pan-Seared Eastern Sea Scallops with Yukon Potato Gratin,
Eggplant “Parmesan” Salad, House Bacon, Smoked Tomato Jam
Price $31.95
*Sweet Soy Glazed Black Cod with Green Tea Scented Rice, Cucumber
“Noodle” Salad, Lemon Tossed Tri-Radish slaw, Scallion Coulis
Price: Dinner 29.95 Lunch 23.95
*Wood Oven Roasted Crab Stuffed Salmon with Roasted Garlic
Mashed Potatoes, House Vegetables, Beurre Blanc and Crispy Leeks
Price: 31.95 and $10 up-charge for wild salmon
*Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna with Green Tea Scented Rice, Wasabi
Dressing, Yuzu Vinaigrette, Radish Salad
Price: 29.95
*Fried Seafood Served in a Metal Martini Glass with Salmon,
Halibut, Scallops, Prawns, Clam Strips, House-Made Cocktail and Tartar
Sauce
Price: D- 27.95 L-17.95
*Northwest Seafood Risotto in a Tomato Broth with Shucked Clams
and Mussels, Salmon, Tuna, Scallops, Prawns Dungeness crab, Pecorino
Cheese
This is a fun dish for me. I had something similar to it in Italy last
year and every time I make it I find my self dreaming of Venice or Vernazza.
We will be shucking the clams and mussels and we will surround the outside
of the risotto with a tomato jus. The jus is made with pureed San Marzano
tomatoes that are strained and mixed with fresh thyme, salt, and chicken
stock, it’s simple and delicious. The reason our risotto is so
good is because we use organic carnaroli rice from Italy. Yes it is
expensive but it doesn’t gum up like Arborio rice. The art of
making risotto is starting with oil and onions, we sweat the onions
until translucent then we add the rice and toast it. After the rice
has toasted, garlic is added and toasted. Next, the wine is added and
the alcohol cooked out of it. Then you add hot chicken stock a cup at
a time and stir until cooked. For the seafood, we will start by sautéing
the salmon, scallops, tuna, and prawns in olive oil. Then we toast garlic
and shallot. Next we will add the shucked clams and mussels and chicken
stock. Then we will add the rice and finish with pecorino cheese and
tiny bit of butter. Price: Dinner-29.95 Lunch-19.95
*Dungeness Crab Macaroni And Cheese Cooked With Four Cheeses
And Topped Tomato And Arugula Salad
Price: 28.95 ½ portion 19.95 Lunch 19.95
The Simply Fresh Section:
Chef’s Word’s: This is where the menu
gets a little funky. We are implementing an a la carte section. We will
have different sorts of seafood simply prepared and then a list of sides
that the guest can choose to add or not.
*Grilled Salmon Steak with Herb Beurre Blanc
This will be a steak cut of salmon served by itself, simply with Beurre
blanc and herbs. Price: 14.95 for 8 oz
*Salty’s Blackened Catfish with Kumquat Butter
We will be blackening the catfish with our blackening spice and then
throwing it on a cast iron pan so it is sizzling when it gets to the
table. The catfish will be topped with kumquat butter and green onions.
The kumquat butter is made with sliced kumquats, butter, garlic, shallot,
and fresh herbs. Price: 10.95 for 8 oz
*3 Eastern Sea Scallops with House Bacon
This will be three scallops seared and served on bacon planks with Beurre
blanc. Price: 17.95 or 6.00 Each
*Soy Glazed Black Cod with Radish Salad
This will be a scaled down version of our entrée with no rice
or sauce. Price: 15.95 for 6 oz
*Prawn Skewers with Preserved Lemon Relish
We will have 6 prawns with lemon relish on top. 3 prawns per skewer
and 2 skewers per order. Price: 14.95
*Wild Alaskan Salmon with Beurre Blanc
This will be a dinner cut of wild salmon with Beurre blanc and fresh
herbs. Price: 19.95
*Dungeness Crab Stuffed Salmon with Preserved Lemon Relish
A dinner cut of the wood oven roasted crab stuffed salmon. Price: 25.95
Sides:
Here’s a list of the sides that we serve with an ala carte plate
or with an appetizer, whatever the guest wants. Yukon Potato Gratin,
Bacon Braised Winter Greens, Asparagus with Preserved Lemon, Roasted
Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Mushrooms with Herbs, Green Tea
Scented Rice with Wasabi Dressing, Creamy Risotto with Tomato Jus
As usual we’ll have a nice offering of shellfish, like I always
say, “go ahead, be shellfish”.
Steamed Alaskan King Crab Legs
8-Ounce Oven-Roasted Australian Lobster tail
Live Maine Lobster
2 # Live Dungeness Crab
Steaks and Chicken:
Chef’s Words: This will be another overhaul
to the menu. We will be broadening our menu with offering Prime and
Angus Selections. Each Steak will come with roasted garlic mashed potatoes,
bacon braised greens, pickled horseradish and chef McLachlan’s
Steak Sauce. The pickled horseradish is made with fresh shredded horseradish
and pickled in rice wine vinegar, sugar and salt. It will be served
on top of the steak. As for the steak sauce, I have made my own version
of sauce that will be served on the side. Not everyone is a purest when
it comes to steaks so I thought it would be a fun accompaniment. The
sauce has onions, garlic, currants, tomato paste, sherry vinegar, Worcestershire,
chili powder, garlic powder, celery seed, onion powder, brown sugar,
red wine vinegar, chipotle Tabasco, black pepper, dry mustard, and salt.
It’s great, taste it for yourself.
*The Perfect 8 oz Prime Filet
Wrapped in House Cured Bacon
Price: 49.95
*10-Ounce USDA Prime Top Sirloin*
Price: 29.95
*Big Guy 16oz Angus New York
Price: 39.95
*6 oz Angus Filet
Price: 24.95
Here’s where some fun comes in, we will be adding a have-it-your-way
section to this part of the menu.
*Blackened
*Peppered
*Smoked Salt Crusted
*Stuffed with Dungeness crab 3.00
*Stuffed with Gorgonzola 2.00
*Add Sautéed Mushrooms 3.50
*Add ½ Northwest Dungeness Crab 17.95
*Add Half-Pound King Crab Legs 19.95
*Bacon and Sausage Stuffed Chicken with Roasted Garlic Mashed
Potatoes, House Vegetables, Giblet Veloute, Cranberry Chutney
This will be a nice fall chicken dish that offers an option to the non
seafood eater. We will use an Airline breast for this dish which is
exactly like the one we have only it has the drum attached. The chickens
will be stuffed and marinated in some herbs and olive oil. This will
be made of focaccia, apples, bacon, sausage, celery, thyme, sage, Parmesan
cheese, egg, and chicken stock. The veloute is a reduction of chicken
stock with bay leaf, peppercorns, and thyme and finished with cooked
giblets. Last but not least it the chutney, this is a reduction of orange
juice with ginger, orange peel, sugar, cranberries, cinnamon, clove,
allspice, and thickened with pectin.
Price: 19.95