rolling with lobster, California style (and a little French influence)

September 24th, 2012

  

 

rolling with lobster, California style
(and a litle French influence):

lobster “roll” California style

Lobster season. In America, lobster is generally enjoyed two ways: steamed and served with a bath of melted butter; or, if you are on the East Coast, in a “lobster roll”(lobster meat combined with melted butter and mayonnaise served in a roll). However, we cannot forget that it is also the season for apples and Asian pears (and in California, heirloom tomatoes and avocados are delicious right now). 

seasonal fruit 

It is in the nineties in southern California (and will be for some time).  In this heat, hot, heavy food does not sound appealing. Sliced, Asian pears, apples, tomatoes and cucumbers all look like wheels and it seems to me that with these seasonal fruit wheels we can create our own “roll” that uses the West Coast bounty and is compatible with this summer weather. These thoughts inspired this week’s simple pleasure: lobster “roll” California style (mille-feuille de homard à la Californie).

apple wheels sliced 

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harmony on your plate

August 13th, 2012

heirloom tomatoes  chef morgan

dischord on the farm; harmony on your plate: 
melange of garden heirloom tomatoes with burrata and whipped tomato purée

Mean girls in the coop and a surprise male in the hutch. This is how we arrived to my home in Los Angeles. Despite the dischord amongst the animals, we also arrived to a hillside of sun-ripened tomatoes in all shapes, sizes and varieties. So while the animals were in a “time-out,” our harmonious plates inspired this week’s simple pleasure: melange of garden heirloom tomatoes with burrata and whipped tomato purée.

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fresh stuffed heirloom tomatoes with tuna, Cannellini beans and tarragon

August 30th, 2011

fresh stuffed heirloom tomatoes with tuna, Cannellini beans and tarragon

fresh stuffed heirloom tomatoes with tuna, Cannellini beans and tarragon

stats:

serves 4

what you need:

4 beautiful heirloom tomatoes, hollowed
1 cup Cannellini Beans
water (as needed)
2 cloves of garlic, smashed and minced Read the rest of this entry »

lazy days of summer: watermelon and heirloom tomato salad

August 11th, 2011

 

watermelon and heirloom tomato salad

lazy days of summer: watermelon and heirloom tomato salad

Nothing says summer more than juicy ripe watermelon and vine-ripened tomatoes. We enjoy them separately and find ways to include them in various meals. Together these two fruits are devine (as well as good for you and keep you looking young) and for these reasons a watermelon and heirloom tomato salad is this week’s simple pleasure Read the rest of this entry »

summer provençal tian: more than a dish

August 3rd, 2011

Eggplant, zucchini and squash

summer provençal tian: more than a dish

In Provence there is a regional speciality simply known as “tian.” The name actually refers to the dish the food is cooked in rather than the food itself  (a “tian” is a shallow baking dish). This week we are modifying the classic tian but staying true to the flavors of provence and a provençal tian is this week’s simple pleasureRead the rest of this entry »