Bonjour Gourmand
February 2008
Kathy and I recently made a trip to South India starting in
Bangalore where we visited a dear friend and her husband for 3 days
and followed with a visit to Mysore Palace, an architectural
delight, a three days stay in a coffee plantation in the Coorg
mountain, where I saw peppercorn growing on vines, Arabica and
Robusta coffee beans, cardamom plants and vanilla bean vines. Then
we spent a two days stay in Hampi the famous temple city, which I
called a blend of Chichen-Itza and an old Roman city on steroids (I
would love to see more of it). We finished with another two days in
Bangalore where we ate Indian food 3 to 4 times a day in many
different styles of restaurants and we were taught two culinary
demonstrations by two different ladies while in Bangalore. The
first, Pauline showed us the southern India style with coconut, rice
and chicken (a bit sweeter with some heat) and how to make Raita
(yogurt, cucumber and cilantro). The other class with Meena,
learning Moghlai dishes (Northern Indian) such as chicken Biryani,
fish korma and murg (chicken) Mussalam. The biggest difference with
the two regions is made by the heat from the spices, the tomatoes
and the breads from the North and the sweetness from the coconut,
the rice and the richer food from the South. We also learned about
the different breads; paratha, daal, Punjabi naan, roti and tandori
chapatti. A very interesting selection and I loved the daal alu,
thin rolled giant crispy crepe like with potato stew inside,
excellent. In whole our trip was really fast and I can say it was a
feat for the senses the whole time we were there. This only
touches on some of the highlights of the trip and I cannot wait to
go back and learn more about this fascinating country. I am sure
some of the spices and touches of Indian cooking will make it into
Rover’s dishes with a personal touch added. Bon Appétit!
Thierry
March is
Washington Wine Month!
In March Rover’s and Chateau St. Michelle winery will be hosting
a one-month long showcase of local flavors in a four-course menu, a
Washington winery wine pairing and a one page listing of private
cellar vintages as well as library wines from Chateau St. Michelle
at the front of our wine book. A great chance for all
oenophiles out there to try vintages from one of Washington's oldest
wineries.
Rover’s &
Chateau Ste. Michelle, 4-courses $45
Available Tuesday thru Friday, March 4th – March 28th Menu -
45.00 Wine Pairing –40.00 (not including tax and gratuity)
Amuse-Bouche ~~~ Smoked Sturgeon and Salmon with Parsnip
Salad and Caper-Mustard Dressing ~~~ Roasted Cod with
Braised Collard Greens Farro, Bacon and Moroccan Spice
Salt ~~~ Venison Medallions with Celery Root Gratin and Potato
Anna Sauce Choron and Cabernet Sauce ~~~ with Seared Foie
Gras ~add $ 20 ~ ~~~ Preserved Organic Nectarine Bavarian
Mousse Or Bittersweet Chocolate Soufflé with English Cream
Wines
Domaine Ste. Michelle, Luxe, 2000, Columbia Valley, WA
Viognier, Chateau Ste. Michelle, 2006, Columbia Valley WA
Merlot, North Star, 2003, Columbia Valley WA
Spring Valley Vineyard, Uriah, 2005, Walla Walla Valley,
WA
Riesling, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Eroica, 2006, Columbia Valley
WA
Dine with Chef
Thierry and Ted Baseler
In celebration of Washington Wine Month, Chef Thierry and Chateau
St. Michelle CEO Ted Baseler will be hosting an exclusive dinner on
Wednesday, March 26th at Rover's. This evening is an excellent
opportunity to taste some fantastic wines from Chateau St.
Michelle’s Library. We are very excited to feature an industry
friend who like us, has experienced and matured in Washington State
in the last twenty some years. We are looking forward to
welcoming Ted with his great sense of humor and vast wine knowledge
for this fantastic evening.
Dinner will be priced at $195 per person exclusive of tax and
gratuity. More information and menu to come soon!
Recipe of the
Month
Pauline’s Chicken Curry
1 cup coconut meat 3 Fennel seeds 1 inch cinnamon
bark Coriander powder 2 cloves 2 cups fresh coriander
leaves 6 tomatoes 3 cloves of Garlic ¼ grated Ginger 3
tablespoons Yogurt ground black pepper to taste ½ chicken cut
into pieces 2 diced onions 1 tablespoon coriander powder 1
tablespoon turmeric 1 tablespoon chili powder ½ tablespoon
salt 1 tablespoon (to taste) chicken masala powder
1. Blend 1 cup coconut (1/2 a coconut), 3 fennel seeds, 1 inch
cinnamon bark, 3 teaspoons coriander powder, and 2 cloves. Blend
until smooth then add 2 cups fresh coriander leaves. Keep aside.
2. Blend 6 tomatoes until smooth. Set aside.
3. Blend garlic and ginger into a paste, then add 3 tablespoons
of yogurt and mix. Add a pinch of pepper, and mix this with the cut
chicken pieces. Let rest ½ and hour.
4. Put a ½ cup of oil into a large pan and fry 2 diced onions
until brown. Add 1 tablespoon each of coriander powder, turmeric,
chili powder and salt.
5. Add marinated chicken to pan, and cook until browned
6. Add ½ cup water to chicken mixture
7. Add chicken Masala powder to mixture (to taste), the blended
tomato, and 1 cup water and the coconut blend (1). Add chili powder
to taste.
8. Let cook and boil on medium heat, stirring frequently until
chicken is cooked. Season to taste at end and serve hot.
Scot’s Wine of
the Month
Domaine Bouchard Pére & Fils, Beaune du Chateau, 1er Cru,
2005 has been a favorite amongst our guests. Granted the 2005
vintage is young. However, in it’s youth I find it inviting. The
nose touches upon hints of earth, and reminds me of cool mornings,
and flats of peat. Strawberries and Marion berries cut through mist
and envelope the senses. The berries allow for the wine to reveal
itself, as the earth and smoke create mystery. The mouth feel is
engaging, as tannins form the backbone and berries dance in unison.
Chateau du Beaune pairs wonderfully with richly smoked bacon, wild
salmon and poultry.
Scot Smith Wine Director
In the Kitchen
with Adam
It is winter and it is getting colder, now is the time to tap
into our reserves. All of the hours we spent canning and preserving
during the summer months are paying off. Our new pastry chef Scott
Clancy is having fun with all the preserved peaches, nectarines,
apricots and Bing cherries, creating dishes like Bing cherry and
frangipane tartlet, Bing cherry clafouti, peach mousse and
refreshing apricot coulis. We also experimented with a variety of
plum chutneys. A perfect garnish for cheese plate and charcuterie
assortment.
Around 6 months ago we started our wild boar prosciutto and
longer aging charcuterie items: the black pepper and fennel salami,
country style garlic and bay leaf salami, Moulard duck leg
prosciutto and goose and duck confit. It’s time to enjoy the rewards
of the long waiting period. We started the season for wild Scottish
game meats such as woodpigeon, hare and pheasant; make sure to watch
out for bird shot and anticipant the gamey flavor we don’t get to
see much locally.
Our local farmers are supplying us with great winter produce like
celeriac, Brussels sprouts, root vegetables and dried beans like
Arikara and Cranberry beans (saved for us from last summer). Roasted
chestnut, walnuts, hazelnuts and pecan are working their way into
the menu. Chestnut puree with foie gras soup is a perfect
match.
We started using the local fluke, skate wing, cod and sturgeon,
curing the cod and experimenting with different fruit woods and
local alder woods to cold smoke them in our new all cedar wood smoke
house.
See you soon. Adam Hoffman Chef de Cuisine
Private Events
& Catering
Host your next private event at Rover’s. From intimate social
occasions for 8 guests to corporate functions for 60 guests, we
would love to make your event a success. The Chef in the Hat will
travel, so remember Rover’s when planning a catered event, a private
culinary demonstration in your home, or a team-building event at
your office. For more information call 206.325.7442 or visit
rovers-seattle.com/privateevents/index.html
Rover’s
Cookbook
Rover’s: Recipes from Seattle’s Chef in the Hat by Thierry
Rautureau and Cynthia Nims. The cookbook is hardbound with over 100
recipes accompanied by stunning photographs. The book is available
for purchase at Rover’s and all major bookstores.
Gift
Certificates
Rover’s gift certificates are a welcome gift for Birthdays,
Anniversaries, Holiday Celebrations or any other special
occasion.
On the
Radio
The Tom Douglas' Seattle Kitchen Show, with co-host Thierry
Rautureau, can be heard every Saturday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm on 710
AM KIRO. Please tune in! We love all of your great
comments and questions. Call the show at 877-710-KIRO (5476)
and speak to us live! Or email us at tdouglas@710kiro.com.
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