A Dinner with Friends

It was a real pleasure to eat with fellow foodies this weekend. It's also a lot of fun to get in the kitchen and do some proper prep and cooking over an entire day.

The last time I scored, blanched, peeled, destemed, seeded, blended, and strained tomatoes to make a pure tomato nectar was when I cooked in Italy. A labor of love to extract the purest flavor of the tomato, probably an hour worth of work and every bit worth it. The end product is simple, it's what nature brought to the table. And a rarity. We often want to manipulate ingredients, shape them into a grand creation, when the smartest thing to do is showcase the purity and simplicity of an ingredient.



My favorite dish to create was Summertime in Puglia. I was looking at pictures of some of the meals I'd eaten when I was in the south. Simple prep of peppers, cheese, bread, tomato, olive oil, and rosato were staples. Even in Michelin starred restaurants, a 'back to basics' dish was included. My family has always eagerly awaited summer for those simple peppers. Thanks to my Dad for tending the vines this year and helping raise a healthy tomato crop. We're not Certified Organic...We're Certified Backyard.

It was also a thrill to watch a friend, Chef Tommy Chavez work the wood-fired grill. We created a "Prime Tasting of Three Ranches", a carnivore's dream selection of rib-eye steaks. Magrueder Ranch, Alexandre Farms, and Painted Hills beef were chosen for this tasting. All raised differently, corn-fed 21-day wet aged, grass fed only, and grass-fed corn-finished respectively, allowed everyone at the table to make a judgement about what steak was "the best" and prepared exactly the same way. 

I've attached several pictures of the prep as well as the complete menu for your review.

We hope to continue creating evenings around the table, sharing a story, a meal, and a little drink from time to time. I'd personally like to thank John and Falina Marihart for offering their home for this wonderful evening. Additionally, it was a pleasure to have so many friends around the table, including a fellow blogger (and better photographer than me) Foie Gras and Flannel. It wouldn't have been a memorable evening without all of you.

Comments

[james]

Ham, thanks for inviting us. What an INCREDIBLE meal! One of the best I've enjoyed - and amongst such a great group of people.

I look forward to many more of these gatherings.