hello!
Welcome to feast's September cuisine of the month newsletter.
Summer is coming to a close, but many summer crops are still going strong well into the beginning of autumn. One summer favorite, the heirloom tomato, gets its name from the fact that it's seeds have been handed down from generation to generation, unchanged, sometimes for hundreds of years. Being it later in the summer, any heirloom that is on the vine right now is undoubtedly at its irresistible ripeness, making it an ideal ingredient for a late summer celebration. For September we thought we would pair the heirloom tomato with an heirloom culture. Sicily, one of the oldest cultures in the world, is naturally a perfect partner! The chefs and event planners at feast pair these two old world culinary icons in menus and party designs for everything from simple cocktail parties to extravagant dinner parties. Mangia!
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season's best: fresh heirloom tomatoes .
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buy Tutti Frutti Farms has a beautiful selection of heirlooms right now along with many other produce. They can be found all over Los Angeles; Santa Monica on Wednesdays, Burbank and Agoura Hills on Saturday and Hollywood on Sundays. tuttifruttifarms.com
store
Heirloom tomatoes can be stored on the kitchen counter with the stems up, to avoid bruising, for two to three days. Make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight. It is best not to refrigerate a tomato, but to enjoy it fresh from the vine at room temperature.
serve Heirloom tomato, cambezola + fresh basil sandwich, in bruschetta, in a variety of pasta preparations, heirloom tomato jam, grilled with olive oil, garlic, + sea salt, heirloom tomato tart tatin, roasted on the vine with balsamic + shallots...
cook
Sicilian Tomatoes serves 6
6 medium heirloom tomatoes
1 Tbs olive oil
1 medium onion finely chopped 1 2-oz can anchovy filets in oil, plus the oil in the can 3 Tbs chopped parsley
2 Tbs chopped capers 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, chopped 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs Salt and Pepper to taste
Cut the tops off the tomatoes and scoop out the insides, reserve the insides in a bowl and cut them into pea-sized pieces. Heat the oil in a pan and add the chopped onions, fry them until soft and golden. Add all the other ingredients and tomato insides, except the tomato skins, and cook for a minute or two. Oil a baking dish. Stuff the tomato skins with the cooked mixture, put the tops back on and place the tomatoes in the oiled baking dish. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 20 minutes.
Serve as a side dish
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what's cooking .
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sicilian small bites white bean hummus on fresh grilled bruschetta braised artichoke with diced sopresata + sliced ciabatta fritto misto, arrabiata dipping sauce grilled heirloom tomato with fresh mozzarella + basil vinaigrette marinated roasted peppers with pan fried sardine wood grilled baby octopus, preserved lemon + olive oil
late summer italian feast eggplant caponata stuffed artichoke truffle bread with fresh tomato, basil + garlic **
endive + walnut salad, mixed olives, lemon verbena dressing free range chicken siciliana with wilted broccoli rabe sage sausage pasta roll, stewed tomato + poached garlic vongole with asparagus + potato saffron scented aranciata (rice balls) green beans + spinach seared in olive oil, garlic + dried chile ** ricotta cheese pie fresh fruit mezza luna, limoncello zabaglione dipping august luncheon summer panzanella (bread salad) chicken, rosemary + potato frittata spaghetti putanesca heirloom tomato caprese salad, fresh basil vinaigrette
** sicilian fig cookies tiramisu cupcakes
Our menus are created using the best, fresh seasonal ingredients. To ensure premium quality and availability, orders must be placed 24-hours in advance. Contact us for personalized menus reflecting your event theme, culinary tastes or budget. Special dietary requirements can also be creatively accommodated. |
details... .
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our favorite cocktail this month: the beatnik
1/2 oz tawny port 1 1/2 oz Averna liqueur 1 oz small batch bourbon whiskey Flamed orange peel for garnish Rinse a double highball glass with port and pour into a cocktail shaker with the remaining ingredients. Stir over ice 30 times. Pour entire contents into high ball and garnish with flamed orange peel.
great ideas
When entertaining guests, sometimes you just need to add a few key elements to an already delicious menu. We always opt for quality craftsmanship and simplicity. Sicilian locals have been creating terracotta (Italian for "baked earth") for more than 3,000 years. A Sicilian dish served on terracotta is just the touch needed to highlight the delicious food and bring a Sicilian dinner party to life. At a recent luncheon, we served fresh heirloom tomato salad on terracotta plates. It was a beautiful start to a memorable meal.
feast loves...
The Italian Pottery Outlet, located in downtown Santa Barbara; since 1982, Ben Spalluto and his wife, Carol have scoured the Italian countryside searching for the most interesting Italian ceramic designs and patterns to bring back to California. Their huge selection of traditional Italian ceramics comes from Umbria, Tuscany and Sicily, as well as new and exciting patterns from regions all over Italy. Their Italian ceramics are made in small workshops where artisans and their families produce individual works of art using techniques handed down through generations. We love the way their pottery looks on a Sicilian dinner buffet with a simple, crisp white table cloth or on a rustic wood table.
contact us We can be contacted at 310-568-8600 or by email. And as always, feel free to visit our website. We look forward to hearing from you for an upcoming event, special dinner with family or friends or for your business catering needs.
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bon appetit!
Harvey Slater + your friends at feast
View our Cuisine of the Month archives!
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