Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Five and Ten Prix Fixe: September 1st through September 7th


Menu A


1.
smoked trout salad with Woodland Gardens lettuces, cucumber, marinated field peas, pickled red onion, crisp capers, and horseradish dressing           
Gruner Veltliner, Ecker, Austria, 2009


2.
crisp pork shoulder crepinette braised with makrut lime and cane vinegar, crisp broccoli, spicy carrot jalapeno puree, and preserved lemon-avocado salsa             
Pinot Noir, Montinore Estate, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2009


3.
Peach cobbler with mascarpone cream and spiced plum sorbet           


Menu B
 

1.
sautéed chanterelles on toast with smoked ham hock broth, sherry vinegar, and fried sage
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Valle Reale, Italy, 2010


2.
Georgia shrimp in a spicy guajillo chile broth with marinated nappa cabbage, housemade chorizo, Red Mule hominy, oregano, avocado, and crisp tortilla
Riesling, Von Hövel, Oberemmeler Hütte Spätlese, Saar, Germany, 2007



3.
Muscadine curd and hazelnut cake with vanilla diplomat and cantaloupe sorbet           




$25 food
$15 booze

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Five and Ten Prix Fixe: August 25th to August 31st

Menu A

1.
Ryan’s rabbit pate with grain mustard, pickled okra, shaved radish, and maldon sea salt
Riesling, von Buhl, ‘Armand’ Kabinett, Pfalz, Germany, 2010

2.
smothered rabbit legs in sauce piquant with sautéed mustard greens and dirty rice
Pinot Noir, Montinore Estate, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2009

3.
Chocolate Malva cake with cocoa nibs, cinnamon poached pear and whipped cream


Menu B

1.
fried smelts with shishito peppers and citrus ponzu
Bordeaux Blanc, Jean Médeville, France, 2010

2.
crisp Texas redfish with fennel marmalade, seared sugar snap peas, whipped butterbeans, and lemon emulsion
Bourgogne Blanc, Verget, ‘Terroirs de Cote d’Or’, Burgundy, France, 2008

3.
Greendale farms gruyere with housemade baguette, fig preserves, and fresh apple



$25 food
$15 booze

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

‘LEARN FROM A MASTER’ WINE DINNER AT FIVE & TEN

We are really excited about this one.  It takes a rare amount of dedication (and a lot of talent) to become a Master Sommelier.  Not many people understand wine the way these people do.  In fact, only 170 people have ever pulled it off (that's worldwide, all-time).  We are very lucky to be hosting one of those people, Laura Williamson, for a dinner featuring the wines of Rudi Wiest Selections.  Rudi has been bringing in some of Germany’s finest wines for over 30 years, and these days that doesn’t just mean Riesling, either.  The Germans are now making very fine wines from a wide variety of grapes, both white and red (the Pinot Noirs have recently become especially delicious).  Come and learn about the growing landscape of German fine wine with someone who knows it better than almost anybody.

‘Learn From a Master’ Dinner
Featuring the wines of Germany and Master Sommelier Laura Williamson of Rudi Wiest Selections
Monday, September 19th, 6:30 pm


1.
chilled butter bean soup with chopped pea shoots, lobster and lemon oil
Pinot Blanc, Schloss Hallburg, Franken, Germany, 2010

2.
scallop crudo with shaved Hakurei turnip salad,
lime-soy vinaigrette & toasted benne
Pinot Gris, Heger, Baden, Germany, 2009

3.
roasted cod with crisp rice cake, radish, melon and chile-ham hock broth
Riesling, Dr. F Weins-Prüm, Ürziger Würzgarten Kabinett, Mosel, Germany, 2009

4.
Squab, mustard spaetzle, lacinato kale, pinot noir jus
Pinot Noir, Rebholz, Spätlese Trocken ‘Tradition’, Pfalz, Germany, 2007

5.
Chapel Hill Creamery, Carolina New Moon with apple gelee, pecan bread
Riesling, Karthäuserhof, Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Auslese, Mosel, Germany, 2005

6. Bienenstich Cake with Local Apple, Riesling Compote, Candied Almonds and Honey


Call 706-546-7300 for reservations.  $100 per person (tax & gratuity not included)

The Great Values of Bordeaux with Eric Fourault

When we think of Bordeaux we often think of great wines but we rarely think of great deals.  Over the last 30 years the prices of many Classified Growth wines have exploded, shooting up by an incredible 2000% or 3000% in some cases.  Every once in while, however, we run across solid Bordeaux at prices that are still perfectly reasonable.  Last year, I met Eric Fourault.  Eric is a Bordelais broker who also works for Baron Edmond de Rothschild’s parent company, and he showed me some fantastic wines at easy prices.  Later, I was lucky enough to sit down to dinner with him and an assemblage of bottles from all over Bordeaux.  Eric knows his country as well as anyone and is a walking history-book of the area, so the meal was a real thrill.  Come meet Eric on September 7th at ESS and get an education on one of the world’s most important wine regions.  At $60, it’ll be a very rare thing:  a great deal on great Bordeaux.  As a bonus, we’ll also be featuring a wine from one of Baron Edmond de Rothschild’s ventures in Argentina, Flechas de los Andes.   

Check it out:


THE GREAT VALUES OF BORDEAUX WITH ERIC FOURAULT
Wednesday, September 7th, 7:00 PM
EMPIRE STATE SOUTH

 
1. Marinated clams with arugula, pickled nardellos, garlic chips, and olive oil
Bordeaux blanc, Chateau La Freynelle, 2009

 
2. Grilled Hanger Steak with sweet potato puree and roasted baby onions with sweet potato greens
Moulis-en-Medoc, Chateau Malmaison, 2006
Listrac-Medoc, Chateau Clarke, 2004

 
3. Mimolette cheese with accompaniments
Malbec blend, Flechas de los Andes, 'Gran Corte', Mendoza, Argentina, 2007

 
4.  Tarte tatin with Crème Fraiche

 
$60 dollars per person plus tax and gratuity. Call ESS at 404-541-1105 for Reservations. Space is limited.


- Steven Grubbs, 
Wine Director, ESS

Monday, August 22, 2011

Red Mule Grits

I have known Tim and Alice Mills for a very long time and I never tire of chatting with them at their in-town farm on the Northeast side of Athens. They are salt-of-the-earth people who understand the community of food. Luke is their 18 year old mule who, as Tim will tell you, is a "helper", not a "motor". That mule weighs 1200 pounds. Big helper.



Table 27/ 5&10 featured in Southern Living!

we love Southern Living...


Thursday, August 18, 2011

5&10 prix fixe

Five and Ten
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Five and Ten Prix Fixe

August 18 through August 24
5:30 to 6pm
$25 food
$15 booze

Five and Ten Prix Fixe
August 18 to August 24
Menu A

1.
rabbit saltimbocca with country ham, sage, lemon brown butter, shaved parmesan, and arugula
Bonarda, Il Vino dei Padri, Piedmont, Italy , 2008

2.
veal braciole:  braised veal breast stuffed with pine nuts, currants, garlic, pecorino, and thyme with mushroom ragu, mascarpone polenta and sautéed chard
Nebbiolo d’Alba, Demarie, Piedmont, Italy, 2007

3.
Passion fruit-chocolate tart with coconut sable crust, cashews and banana sorbet

Menu B:

1.
marinated white anchovies, pickled okra, Elberton apples, jalapeno, micro greens, and tiny croutons
Dry Riesling, Schloss Schönborn, Rheingau, Italy, 2010

2.
crisp trout stuffed with lemon and fennel with salmoriglio, charred asparagus, red mule grits cake, and fennel slaw
Vermentino, Terenzuola, Colli di Luni, Italy, 2009

3.
spiced plum sorbet with compressed peaches, housemade puff pastry and hazelnut cream
 

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Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Whatcha Got in Your Box? August 16th, 2011

Muscadines
If they last beyond snacking, which in itself takes some dental dexterity to get around the pips, you should make some jelly. Your toast will thank you later.
This is a variation from John Egerton’s recipe. You should get his book Southern Food.
2 cups peeled and seeded muscadine pulp (this is an arduous task)
1 ¼ cups white granulated sugar
½ cup water
1 piece star anise
½ cinnamon stick
Place all in a stainless sauce pot  and cook down for about 25 minutes over medium heat until it looks like a thick syrup. Stir all the while so it doesn’t burn. Remove from heat and jar into small jars. Process according to jar manufacturer’s instructions.
Pea shoots
Toss with lemon, shaved parmesan and olive oil. Season with a pinch of salt. Tastes like a 80F sunny day!
Tomatoes
I made a great Cornbread and tomato salad the other day to serve with some roasted chicken. Lovely.  
1 tablespoon bacon grease
2 cups cornbread, cubed into large cubes
2 cups sliced tomatoes
½ teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2  tablespoons red wine vinegar
6 large basil leaves, torn into small pieces by hand
Place the bacon grease in a medium sized cast iron pan and place on medium heat. When the grease is hot add the cornbread pieces and toast until crisp. While the cornbread is toasting place the tomatoes in a bowl and season with the salt and then drizzle over the olive oil, the vinegar and add the basil. Add the hot cornbread, toss well and finish with a generous amount of black pepper.
(great)Okra
The (great) description comes from Celia but she’s a very honest person. It is great. It is small and narrow and not woody at all. I have just been cutting them lengthwise and cooking them in about 2 tablespoons very hot olive oil for about three minutes. Out of the pan and onto a platter with a sprinkle of sea salt and a squeeze of lemon.
Potatoes
Buy a potato ricer and you’ll make restaurant-like, silky smooth mashed potatoes. When making mashed potatoes please do not skimp on the butter. And I will walk right out that door if you suggest margarine… and I may never come back.
Cilantro
Not just cilantro but the nicest cilantro I have ever seen. Lovely. Make a little cilantro and carrot salad with lime vinaigrette and toasted pine nuts!
Sweet Pepper
Roast them up and store with some olive oil and herbs! They’ll stay good in the fridge as a lovely burger topper for weeks.

Eggplant ideas

Though we didn't get any eggplant in the box this week, I have a premonition that we will see it again soon. Eggplant is one of those hurdle vegetables... it's hard to figure out how to get through it beyond the basics of grilling, stacking with cheese and tomatoes, maybe frying it up. Here are three recipes that show you a different world for the those orbs, before they go all soft on you.



Smoky Eggplant Puree

Think hummus. Think smooth baba ghanoush. Think wonderful with toasted pita or as a base for roasted lamb.

1 medium sized eggplant or two small (about baseball sized if the small ones)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 clove minced garlic (fresh garlic, not pre-minced)
1 teaspoon Espelette or Aleppo chile flake
½ teaspoon kosher salt

I have always made a similar spread by hand with a knife but this one is simply burred in a food processor making it perhaps the easiest eggplant recipe ever. If you have a gas stove its even easier.

Pierce the eggplants with a fork all over. If you have a gas stove, turn the gas to medium heat on a burner and place the eggplant directly over the flame. Roast for about fifteen minutes until very soft. Remove from heat, cool and set aside. If you don’t have a gas stove you can pierce them and roast the eggplant in a 400f oven for about 15 minutes, or until very tender when pierced with a fork.

Peel away charred skin and lightly shop the eggplant flesh. Place in the food processor with the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, chile flake and kosher salt. Puree until smooth and serve whenever. Yummy.


Marinated Eggplant with Boiled Peanut Sauce
preheat oven to 425F

The sauce is kind of like a tahini sauce for a falafel but so Southern in its roots. The Lebanese know their way around an eggplant so when you are looking for more eggplant ideas think about cookbooks showcasing the Middle East. This would make a great side next to lamb or roasted fish. Some hot sauce, some cold beers, those would be nice too.

Peanut Sauce:

1/4 cup shelled boiled peanuts (canned will work if need be)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
¼ cup water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
½ teaspoon smoked paprika

Combine the boiled peanuts, garlic, water and lemon juice in a blender and puree until smooth. With the motor still running, slowly pour in the olive oil and then turn off blender and add the parsley and the smoked paprika. Stir to combine and set aside.

Eggplant:

1 medium globe eggplant (about 1 pound)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons minced parsley
2 tablespoons minced oregano
2 tablespoons minced mint
2 tablespoons minced hot pepper
½ teaspoon chile flake
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon kosher salt
freshly ground pepper to taste

Cut the eggplant in half, removing the calyx (the leafy green part where the eggplant was attached to the plant). Cut ½ inch thick slices from each half, resulting in about 24 half moon shapes.

Take a big roasted pan and pour ¼ cup of the olive oil in the pan. Arrange the eggplant slices on the roasting pan and then drizzle with a little more olive oil. Season the eggplant with ½ teaspoon of salt and some freshly ground pepper.
Roast in the oven for 15 minutes until soft in the center but not hammered (restaurant speak for really over-cooked).
Remove from oven but keep in the roasting pan.
In a bowl combine the remaining olive oil, parsley, oregano, mint, sweet pepper, chile flake, lemon juice, the remaining salt and a couple of grinds from the pepper mill. Stir to combine and then spoon evenly over all of the eggplant.

Transfer the eggplant to a serving platter and then drizzle with the peanut sauce.  Serve.

Eggplant Imam Baaldi (Bayildi)

Named for a fainting Imam of Turkish food lore who passed out every time the chefs made him this dish. The aromas just did him in. I guess thus is kind of like eggplant narcolepsy.

Preheat oven to 325F

1 pound Japanese eggplants
1 cup olive oil
1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 large heirloom tomatoes, peeled and diced
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon minced rosemary
2 tablespoons minced parsley
¼ cup dried currants, or cranberries
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon granulated sugar
½ teaspoon kosher salt

Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise and then carefully slit them with three parallel slits on the flesh side. The slits should not cut through the skin, just incise into the flesh by about half and inch or so.
Take a large fry pan and place it over medium high heat. Add ¼ cup of the olive oil and when the oil is hot brown off the eggplants on the flesh side for about three minutes, and then turn and brown off the skin side for two minutes. You may have to do this in batches depending on your pan size. Remove the eggplants to a baking dish where they can easily fit in a single layer.
Clean out the pan and place back on the heat. Add another ¼ cup of olive oil to the pan and add the onions. Cook for five minutes until beginning to caramelize. Add the garlic, the tomatoes, cumin, rosemary, parsley, and currants. Cook for five minutes and then pour the onion/ tomato mix into a bowl. Add the lemon juice and sugar to the onion/ tomato mix and then season with the salt.

With the eggplants flesh side up, mound the onion/ tomato mix into the eggplants, making them look quite overflowing. Drizzle with remaining olive oil and then pour ½ cup of water in the bottom of the baking dish. Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes to one hour and then remove and cool. Better room temperature than hot but you can eat it either way.









Thursday, August 11, 2011

Five and Ten Prix Fixe : August 11th to August 17th



Menu A

1. tomato cucumber gazpacho with pickled shrimp and chive oil
Pinot Grigio, Borgo M, Veneto, Italy, 2010

2. roasted wild striped bass with sherry emulsion, tarragon creamed corn, sautéed spinach, orange and shaved fennel salad
Verdejo, Altaplata, Rueda, Spain, 2009

3. vanilla bean crumb cake with compressed plums and hazelnut cream



Menu B:

1. woodland gardens arugula with balsamic vinaigrette, figs, pickled scallion, and shaved parmesan
Gruner Veltliner, Ecker, Austria, 2009

2. grilled lamb leg with pickled red onion, red wine jus, braised white beans, and peperonata
Bobal, Pasion de Bobal, Valencia, Spain, 2009

3.  Sweet Grass Dairy Asher blue cheese with housemade baguette and accompaniments



$25 food
$15 booze

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

WHATCHA GOT IN YOUR BOX? August 9, 2011

Those melons smell ridiculously good. They permeate the air. Lovely. Brief notes on those later in this missive.

Let's use some figs + arugula, two things that have an altar affinity.
I roasted a pork butt last night and we ate half of it so the rest is lunches for a couple of days. It was just a simple boneless shoulder from Earthfare with a good amount of fat cap on it. I rubbed it with herbs and olive oil, salt and pepper and garlic. Tied it well and roasted it in a 350 oven, basting every ten minutes,  until it reached about 145F, and then moistened it with 1/2 cup of Valpolicella red wine. Then I finished it under the broiler to char and crisp the fat.  It was awesome. Served it with quinoa and tomatoes, and corn on the cob. Clementine lost a tooth on the corn but that was going to happen regardless, and the tooth fairy (named Petunia) was generous. But alas I have this pork leftover.

Fig, Roasted Pork, Parmagiano, and Arugula with balsamic vinaigrette

you will have extra vinaigrette but that's okay. Use it another day. 

serves 4
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon grain mustard
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon real balsamic, I like Villa Manodori
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 bunch of arugula, excess stem removed
1 cup halved figs
1/4 cup shaved parmagiano reggiano
1/2 pound shaved roasted pork (You could use cooked chicken or ham if you wanted)

Make the vinaigrette by combining the olive oil, mustard, lime juice, red wine vinegar, balsamic and
a 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Cap and shake vigorously.
Place the arugula, figs and parmagiano in a large salad bowl. Add two tablespoons of the vinaigrette and the remaining salt. Toss lightly. Arrange the pork on four plates, top evenly with the salad and then drizzle a bit more vinaigrette around each plate. Eat.




Corn: 
Plunge that corn into boiling water for 2 minutes and then eat with really nice fleur de sel and some way too expensive butter. Leave the Land o Lakes out of this equation.
Shishito Pepper:
Fry them in two tablespoons of olive oil in a really hot pan for about three minutes. Sprinkle with salt and sesame. Snack on them. Snaggle tooth Clementine eats them like candy.
Garlic:
It's great garlic. Use as garlic.
Tomatoes: 
It's late in the season so eat them with reverence. They will be gone before you know it.
Melons:
Lovely melons. Make a granite or a mimosa, or do a country ham and prosciutto plate.
Eggplant:
Make caponata. I recently tasted a pureed caponata. That was weird. Don't do that.


Friday, August 5, 2011

WHATCHA GOT IN YOUR BOX?? August 5th

 


Edamame
These little soybeans are a healthy snack just lightly steamed and tossed in sea salt. The furry pods can be discarded after retrieving the edamame beans. The firmness is a wonderful and unique distinction that is a nice textural element in a salad or for snacking. 




 




Brown Turkey Figs
Brown Turkey Figs are sweet, and work well with salty flavors. Wrap them with shaved prosciutto, a few micro greens and good balsamic vinegar. 


 




Mixed Micro Greens
These delicate little sprouts have a fresh green flavor and are great for adding to a salad or garnishing any main. When dressing these try and dress as lightly as possible to avoid wilting. 


 



Sweet peppers
Let’s make a Sweet Pepper Sofrito! A Sofrito summed up is a sweet pepper, tomato, onion, garlic, spice and herb relish that adds huge flavor to so many things. Once you’ve assembled it, it can stay in your refrigerator for a week and be used to top eggs, mix with potato hash, add to stewed legumes (whatever your favorite bean may be), anywhere you see fit. The simple idea to keep in mind when making this recipe is to cook down the ingredients slowly, which allows the liquid to slowly cook out of the peppers, onions, and tomatoes and gently stew.   



Sofrito
3 sweet medium peppers diced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 medium onion diced
¼ teaspoon toasted ground cumin
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon lime juice
1teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
1 teaspoon chopped cilantro



In a nonreactive medium saucepot slowly heat the olive oil.  Add the peppers, the garlic, and the onions and slowly sauté. Cook this down over low heat until just before browning. Add the ground cumin and toast for two additional minutes. Add the tomatoes and a small pinch of salt (this will help break down the tomatoes). Once these ingredients have reach a thick and non-watery consistency, add the lime, oregano, and the cilantro. Season. Serve cold or warm. 


 




Heirloom Tomatoes
Try these sliced with a sharp knife and served with a dill pickle vinaigrette and bacon bits.



Dill Pickle Vinaigrette
3 tablespoons minced dill pickles
3 tablespoons dill pickle juice
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon chopped thyme
½ cup olive oil
Mix all ingredients and stir well before using. 


 




Mountain Rose Potatoes
Smooth in consistency with red skins and a pink interior I love to simply blanch these until soft through and lightly press them into a medium-hit cast-iron skillet with clarified butter. When browned off slowly, these potatoes become delicious and crisp and work well next to a grilled steak. Cut and blanch these and toss with the Dill Pickle Vinaigrette and add bacon crumbles for an easy summer potato salad.


 




Italian Eggplant
Light char the whole eggplant on a medium-heat grill, removing the stalk, pureeing with olive oil and salt. This very basic technique creates a smooth consistency of wonderful smoky spread or dip that is fantastic and simple. Try it on a crusty baguette with roasted tomatoes, good mozzarella, and arugula.


 




Sweet Red Onions
Quickly pickling these red onions after julienning gives you a versatile condiment/ingredient that keeps for a couple of weeks stored in the refrigerator.



Basic Pickling Brine
2 cups cider vinegar
1/8 cup kosher salt
1 Quarts water
2 cloves of garlic
Small bunch of thyme



Bring these ingredients to a boil (making sure all salt has dissolved) and strain out the garlic and thyme. Add one teaspoon of Basic Pickling Spice.



Basic Pickling Spice
5 Tablespoons Mustard Seeds (whole)
5 whole allspice berries
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
3 bay leaves
 2 Teaspoons whole black peppercorns


Pour the hot brine solution over the cut red onions to cover and allow to cool before covering and refrigerating.  Pickling these onions gives you a nice way to balance rich flavors with a well-rounded acidic one.   


 




Ruffled Lettuce
Beautiful and crisp with a good balance of leafy-green and water.  This lettuce is often best used as the base of a great summer salad. These box ingredients are so perfect because they are grown and picked at just the right time. Summer salads rely mostly on the freshness of the product and therefore can be wonderful with minimal prep time or technique. It may sound like an overused chef comment, but great ingredients really do make good food easy.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Five and Ten Prix Fixe: August 4 to August 11

Menu A



1.
stir fried shishito peppers with sesame and citrus ponzu
Alvarinho/Loureiro, Aveleda, ‘Follies’, Portugal, 2010


2.

roasted swordfish with chow chow, vermouth emulsion, and a succotash of field peas, corn, okra, and tomato
Sauvignon Blanc, Peter Dipoli, ‘Voglar’, Alto-Adige, Italy, 2007


3.  Fig upside cake with tarragon diplomat cream 


Menu B 




1.
WG crisp head lettuces with blue cheese, buttermilk dressing, bacon, avocado, and citrus
Gruner Veltliner, Ecker, Austria, 2009



2.
grilled bistro steak with roasted jalapeno cornbread, sautéed greens, and cherry tomato salsa
Malbec, Thierry Puzelat, ‘KO: In Cot We Trust’, Loire, France, 2008



3.  Pecan pie with clabber cream and brûleéd peaches




$25 food
$15 booze
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