Louisiana Jambalaya Creole’

LOUISIANA JAMBALAYA CREOLE’ One of my favourite jobs back in the early eighties was chef for a turn of the century musical called One Mo Time. I took on this position because it gave me a chance to be in New York and it was something I wanted to add to my repertoire. While there I was to be mentored by Sara Waxman and introduced to Chef Paul Prudhomme well known for his avant-garde approach to Creole Cuisine and the art of blackened grilling Louisiana style. The producers of this musical wanted to have an authentic Creole style menu that would compliment this dinner...

Zucchini Carrot Veggie Fritters

These Zucchini Carrot Veggie Fritters are a version of Latke Potato pancakes. Known by different name like Ukrainian deruny or Irish boxties are shallow-fried pancakes of grated or ground potato mixture, matzo meal or flour and a binding ingredient such as egg. They may be topped with a variety of condiments, ranging from the savory (such as sour cream or cottage cheese), to the sweet (such as mango chutney curry coconut yogurt), or they may be served plain. Some variations may be made with sweet potatoes or plantain. here I used cold smoked tuna with fried capers as an...

Mexican Tortilla Soup

Mexican Tortilla Soup This is one of my favourite of all the authentic Sopa de Tortilla or Mexican tortilla soup. It’s best if you make it with a rich home-made chicken stock made from scratch. I was shown different versions by great Mexican cooks in Monterey and Seattle on how to make this an authentic soup. Using chicken feet and tripe to give the broth more of a gelatinous consommé taste along with adding a small amount of good tequila made each trial a better batch. Cut up a chicken into a big pot of boiling water along with a couple stalks of celery, some carrots,...

Rubs and Marinades

My first attempt to use rubs on meats and seafood back in the sixties came from eating some filets of rock cod that were seasoned and blackened in a hot cast iron skillet. The filets were flash fried and had a real hit of flavors. I found the origins of this eastern Spicy Rub had a great Canadian History brought there by the Acadians from Nova Scotia. Because of the early arrivals of the Spanish, Portuguese followed by the British, different ethnic cultures that remained as east coast residents began the use and trading of herbs and spices that were both native and...

Ramp Up Your Salads

Ramp up your salad. This culinary wild leek is making good dishes taste better. It’s what all the top chefs are twittering about. Because of its short supply and high demand, this flavourful ingredient has sky rocketed in price. It’s hard to forage here in BC because the original strains are more common on the east coast. I have found it here from the west coast but very limited supply. I will check out some sources as I travel to the northern regions of Vancouver island. I just talked to friend grower who is going through the stages of a long wet winter....

All Day Lover of a Bacon Ceasar Salad

All Day Lover of a Bacon Caesar Salad. As a chef making a Caesar Salad  the restaurants signature dish was one of the first staff training priority’s. Picking some good romaine lettuce requires several steps before plating. Making sure it’s free of rusty leaves, pesticides and grit. Washing and spin drying is absolutely necessary. Storage in a nice clean towel to ready to be chopped and tossed with your favourite caser dressing. Crisp Bacon Crunchy Croutons and Real Parmesan is a must. Olive Oil, Lemon, Garlic, Anchovy, Kosher Salt, Ground Pepper Fresh Egg...