Get Hooked

Farmer's Market Bounty

2008-06-21T13:26:00.003-04:00

Today Chef Ken visited the Camden Farmer's Market. Just picked lettuces, the first summer strawberries, artisan cheeses & locally foraged mushrooms were among his purchases. Summer herbs from the Atlantica herb garden grace the plates of many dishes. Visit soon and and celebrate the bounty of Maine!

Artichokes Are Her Thing

2008-05-10T11:20:00.002-04:00

You can't read a food column these days without seeing some of the following words; fresh, organic, natural, sustainability, etc.

Since opeing in April, I have been receiving a super fresh artichoke product from my good friend, Jane. Jane, a former chef, owns and operates Monterey Farms & artichokes are her thing!

Monterey Farms is located in Sand City, CA which is located in the fertile Salinas Valley. The artichokes are grown and packaged right on the farm. Jane gets the just picked chokes and breaks them down into bottoms, hearts and a variety of pastes, and cryovacs them. No oils, no preservatives! Just fresh chokes, the product can't be beat!

No old or canned chokes coming into this kitchen.

Work Hard

Think Local

Eat Well

The Chef

Opening Weekend!

2008-04-25T14:36:00.002-04:00

Atlantica opened last Friday the 18th to begin the 9th season of operation! The spring weather even had people inquiring about sitting on the deck! We enjoyed renewing contact with many regular customers and meeting visitors to the area.

The customers really liked the menu. Some of the standouts included the Lobster Spring Saute, Halibut with Crab Risotto, American Kobe Burger and a Grilled Scallop appetizer with Vietnamese Coconut sauce! Of course we still have our tasty house-made foccacia bread and refreshing desserts!

Come soon and enjoy a meal with us!

Reservations are helpful, 236-6011.

Cooking Class

2008-04-16T14:07:00.007-04:00

On Sunday afternoon April 13 Chef Ken and Sous Chef Joshua Clark demonstrated two dishes which contained various ingredients and unusual cooking techniques.

Chef Josh presented 'Hot-N-Sour' Lobster. This dish begins with a bundle of thinly sliced bok choy, daikon radish & scallion, all of which is wrapped in lobster 'noodles'. The hot cooking broth was made from orange & lemon juice with honey, vinegar & sezchuan peppercorn. The bundle is placed in a bowl raw and the hot broth is poured over the bundle, the cooking happened right in the bowl!

Chef Ken prepared Stuffed Monfish Tail. He prepared a fragrant apple-banana curry emulsion.
The second component, the stuffing, was a combination of sweet Maine shrimp, preserved lemon, paprika and other spices & herbs. Thin slices of proscuitto formed the wrap. The monkfish was butterflied and pounded thin. The stuffing was spooned onto the monkfish. The whole thing was rolled and tied with twine. After a quick browning in butter, the fish went into the oven. The monkfish & shrimp were moist while the fruit component in the curry tamed the heat. The finished product was delicious!

Here's the Stuffed Monkfish Recipie.

For the Curry
1 each granny smith apple diced
1 each or 3 tablespon shallot minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger minced
3 tablespoon curry (madres brand)
1 each fresh ripe banana sliced
1 tsp orange zest
1 tsp garlic minced
2 - 3 cups chicken stock
tablespoon unsalted butter (cabot 83)

Method

In a 1 quart sauce pot melt butter. Add shallot, ginger & apple, cook gently for 3 minutes. Add curry, garlic and cook another 3 minutes on low heat being careful not to brown. Add banana, orange zest and two cups stock. Bring to a gentle simmer and continue cooking for 8 minutes. Puree mixture and pass through a fine mesh sieve. Season with s&p and adjust consistancy with remaining stock as you wish.

For the Suffing
1 cup Maine shrimp
1 shallot
2 T butter
2 tsp spanish smoked paprika
1 T basil chiffonade
1 T cream
2 tsp preserved lemon minced or fresh lemon zest
2 cups fresh bread cut in small
2 tsp orange zest
Salt & pepper to taste

In a saute pan melt the butter and sweat the shallot. Add cleaned peeled shrimp and gently saute with paprika. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl.
In another bowl add bread cubes and 3 tablespoons of cream. Mix.
Add to shrimp with remaining ingredients and mix well. In a food processor add 1/3 of mixture and process just a few seconds. Add back to remaining mixture. Stir and adjust seasoning.

To Assemble & Cook
place thinly sliced proscuitto on seuface overlaping edges slightly
take monkfish which has been butterflied and pounded to 1/4" and place on top of proscuitto
spoon shrimp mixture evenly onto fish
lift edge of proscuitto and roll, tied with twine
brown in butter and then go into oven at 400 for 10-12 minutes

To Serve
Remove twine from fish and slices into two inch long wheels and serve with curry.
Work hard, have fun, be fare and eat local.

On The Road Again!

2008-04-12T13:03:00.004-04:00

On Monday April 7th Chef Ken & myself along with Josh Clark, Chef du Cuisine made the trip to Boston for the New England Food Show. We traveled to Boston by train. The Downeaster is a great way to go. After a couple of subway connections we were at the EXPO Center located on the Boston waterfront.

The physical setting was beautiful. The floor exciting and noisy as every vendor imaginable is hawking their stuff. Here is where you can see the latest equipment, small wares, and food products. There is also on-going chef demos and instructional seminars pertaining to the food industry.

Chefs Ken & Josh tasted a wide variety of artisinal cheeses, salts & peppers from around the world and small production olive oils. Every year we go to the show, we come away with at least one new product item or idea that we incorporate into Atlantica. This way we can stay on the forefront of the hospitality industry!

Visit when you can as I post often. Get Hooked!

Am I a Wino?....You Betcha!

2008-04-08T19:37:00.002-04:00

So much wine...and so little time. On Sunday, March 30, Chef Ken (also my husband) and I tasted several selections of wines from National and Pine State Distributors. A floral Falanghina and a dry Prosecco were among our favorites.

The following Monday, March 31, we enjoed another fine tasting with Central Distributors; including a spectacular Chianti from Nozzole, and an interesting Cotes du Rhone Blanc.

I have also tasted several fine selctions from National Distributors.

In particular a beautiful single vineyard chardonnay from J Lohr which finished with rich creamy caramel and a well-balanced single vineyard cabernet, also from J Lohr.

Why taste all this wine? I want to bring to you hidden gems, the kind of stuff you have to dig for.

The kind of juice you won't find at Hannaford's! Don't forget, we open April 18th!

Stay informed. Get Hoooked!

Wines From Brown-Forman

2008-03-30T15:18:00.003-04:00

On Wednesday, March 26th, I met with Bob Kelley who represents Brown-Forman. Unlike the Kobrand Corporation, Brown-Forman's portfolio also includes many well-known spirits; such as Jack Daniels, Finlandia & Chambord. However, this visit was all about the wine, so along with Pete Robison of Central Distributors we tasted several Califonia selections from the Brown-Forman portfolio. A Bonterra Sauvingon Blanc was crisp and light while the Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay was buttered oak. Jekel makes a fine Pinot Noir which was smoky and rich. Will any make the Atlantica List? Stay informed. Get Hooked!

More Fine Wines

2008-03-30T14:50:00.002-04:00

On Thursday March 20th I met with my local wine rep, Pete Robison of Central Distributors and Ken Scupp of Kobrand Corporation at Atlantica to discuss and tatste some of his Kobrand's vast portofolio.
We discussed in great length the Louis Jadot wines of France, the great burgundies and rhones whose 2005 vintage is ranked as one of the best. Kobrand also represents some very familiar California names like Cakebread, Sequoia, St Francis, Benziger Family and Foley. From Italy Kobrand imports one of the best 'super tuscans', Sassicaia, to the U.S. Great ports including Taylor Fladgate and Croft are also included in the portfolio.
I tasted Benziger, Sequoia Grove and St Francis. Stay tuned to see what made the Atlantica List.
Drink wine. Get Hooked!

Del Goes to Boston

2008-03-27T19:05:00.004-04:00

It's only fitting that wine tastings begin in the Spring. Warmer weather makes us thirsty for good juice. My first tasting of the spring was on March 19th in Boston. It was a Spring Portfolio Tasting featuring Eric Solomon Selections & Jon-David Headrick Selections presented by M.S. Walker. Even though the outside was gray & rainy, the inside was alive with great wines.
The Headrick selection included small -production, artisinal wines primarily from the Loire Valley of France. Many of the winemakers were present to discuss their wines making for a very intimate event.
The Eric Solomon Portfolio represents eighty producers representing classic and emerging wines. The Boston tasting featured a variety of French white and red varietals There was also a good showing of Spanish white wines. In addition, there was another 75 Spanish & Portuguese
red wines to taste.
Of course, one cannot taste from every bottle, but I did my best. Several of the wines I tasted will make their appearance on the Atlantica wine list once they make it into the country.
Stay Informed. Get Hooked.