Brined and Smoked Thanksgiving Turkey

About two months prior to Thanksgiving I was assigned the task of bringing the turkeys. Okay, I might have volunteered. Sous Chefs Sam & Jesse know that when I volunteer, it means all three of us.

I took some time pondering what would be best. Smoking the turkey was definitely a must as I had done this last summer. I heard of brining but never had done this. As I studied more about it, I was getting very excited. There are so many ways to take it, the only question was which one?

Brining is a process where you marinate the meat in a salt solution allowing it to retain more moisture. Basically, salt water and many variations of spices are used. We went with a simple brine.

Simple Turkey Brine

1 turkey, up to 16 pounds
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons kosher salt
3/4 cup sugar
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1 large onion, diced
1/4 cup celery, diced
2 large sprigs thyme
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds

Bring salt, sugar and 4 cups water to a boil in a very large pot, stirring until salt and sugar are dissolved. Turn off heat, add remaining ingredients to brine base. Refrigerate uncovered, until cold. Adds 6 quarts water cold water to pot or bucket. Add turkey. Use plate, if needed, to fully submerge turkey. Cover, chill up to 72 hours (The turkey will be more moist and flavorful if allowed to brine the full 72 hours).

Smoking the turkey. Having smoked a turkey this past summer, I had a few key points regarding the process. We mixed rosemary with unsalted butter and rubbed the turkey inside, outside and under the skin. To stuff the turkey, we added sliced apples, oranges and red onion to the cavity, tied the legs and placed in the smoker for 3 1/2 to 4 hours.

Every 30 minutes we would spray the turkeys with apple cider for a tasty glaze. Last month, I did this with a pork shoulder and it was delicious.

It was a large family gathering so there would be 31 judges of our cooking. Prior to dinner I huddled with Sous Chefs Sam & Jesse to get our story straight. If the turkey was delicious, we all participate in the glory. If it was not good, then Jesse would take the fall. He reluctantly volunteered.

The verdict was unanimous, it was wonderful. I had never experienced such moist, flavorful turkey. The hickory smoke, apple, brine and all other ingredients was a menagerie of taste.

Sous Chef Sam wasted no time gorging himself

This was quite a process. One week prior to Thanksgiving we purchased the turkeys. After 4 days, they were adequately thawed. We then placed the turkeys in the brine from 8:30pm Monday to 7:30am on Thursday. At 8:30am, they were on the smoker. It was a tiring but beautiful experience. Food is an adventure, not a routine.

Happy Eating

Thai Lotus: A Beach Resort in Salt Lake City

Located in Downtown Salt Lake, Thai Lotus has been around for about 8 years. Prior to that, this location was a Filipino restaurant that I frequented. Having lived in the Philippines for 2 years, you could say that I was addicted to the cuisine. The karaoke was also part of the Filipino experience at the restaurant. Not one that I participated in but definitely worth watching.

My friend highly recommended Thai Lotus. With a goal to try every Thai restaurant in the valley, it was time to give it a shot.

Having never been to a Thai beach resort I cannot adequately say what the experience is like. I bring this up however because the music and flashing sign inside the restaurant definitely try to recreate the event. It also is relaxing as you move your head to the music while reviewing the menu.

For $7.50 you get the lunch special: a choice of two entrees with deep fried spring roll and a salad. I learned at Siam Orchid that salad being served at Thai restaurants is something uniquely American. They have added their own flare with peanut dressing. In this case, the peanut dressing had quite a spicy bite. It was really good and went well with the apples in the salad.

My two entrees were the Tom Yum Soup and the Green Curry. The Tom Yum is Thailand's most famous sour and spicy soup with chicken breast and mushrooms mixed with fresh herbs, lemongrass, fresh lime juice and tomato. The Green Curry is hot green curry with coconut milk with chicken, bell peppers, zucchini, and Thai basil. I fell in love with Green Curry at Thai Basil.

Tom Yum Soup

It sure is wonderful to experience the uniqueness between dishes at different Thai restaurants. They often are not following recipes but going on pure knowledge and passion. I love it. Tasty Thai, Siam Orchid and Pawit's Royale sure do have a perfect Tom Yum Soup. The mixture of vinegar and spices leaves you craving it nightly. I fell in love with green curry at Thai Basi and tried Red Curry for the first time at Chanon Thai Cafe. Often I find my car virtually drive itself to a restaurant based on my craving. I have learned to embrace it rather than run & hide.

All of the ingredients in the soup were good but the broth didn't have the kick that I crave. Maybe my spice o' meter is set too high. I still enjoyed it but kept waiting for the WOW factor. The green curry however did have that kick. It was delicious, creamy and spicy. Whoever was first to add bamboo shoots to curry is a genius. The texture and taste of the shoots are perfect. It adds such a unique factor to the dish.

Next time I will try the Tom Kha-Chicken & Coconut Milk Soup. After all, it has kafir.

Thai Lotus

212 East 500 South

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111

Happy Eating

Village Inn: An exlusive Salt Lake City Diner!

There is a little known restaurant close to downtown Salt Lake and the University of Utah. It's called Village Inn but currently goes by the acronym, VI.

Okay, would I really write a post on Village Inn? Finn's-yes, Blue Plate Diner-yes, Penny Ann's-yes, IHOP-no.

I did eat at a fabulous breakfast restaurant that might be a little less known nationally than VI but a popular place in Salt Lake. It's called The Original Pancake House and even on weekday mornings, the place is crowded. Now that's the sign of good food. If you go on weekends, plan on a wait.

Not having been to this place in years, it had not crossed my mind to go there. My sister loves this place and got us together there for a family breakfast last week.

I ordered the American Breakfast: your choice of Bacon or Sausage (patty or link), 2 Eggs any style, Hashbrowns and a Short Stack of Pancakes. Their traditional buttermilk pancakes are fluffy and delicious but you can choose any style of pancakes. Let me give you an idea of that decision process: Buttermilk, Buckwheat, Potato, Sourdough, 49'er, Swedish, Blueberry, Bacon, Banana, Hawaiian, Georgia Pecan, Coconut, Dollar and Wheat Germ. If you are an indecisive soul, you could be there for a while.

The Greek Omelette

My Parent's agonized over the Omelette selection before splitting a Greek Omelette with a side of Bacon. Those Omelettes are huge. The Eggs Benedict was calling to my Sister. Tasting it, she made a great choice. The Hollandaise was perfect. Hollandaise is one of the five mother sauces. You can make anything taste good with that sauce.

The American Breakfast was delicious. It's not an obese amount of food; just right and for the price of $7.50, you can't complain. I had the eggs cooked over medium. Something about cutting into the egg and having the yolk run over the plate and mix with the other food is delicious. When my wife reads this, she will want to beat me as my food mixing disgusts her. Better to do what you love and tolerate abuse than repress it.

Eggs Benedict

The eggs were delicious but the best part of the meal were the hashbrowns and pancakes. The hashbrowns are thick cut and perfectly browned. They don't even need ketchup as they are very flavorful. The pancakes must be whipped with a little butter in the batter. They are delicious. Probably not as unhealthy as Penny Ann's pancakes, but delicious nonetheless.

It wasn't until I was writing this post that I found out that The Original Pancake House is actually a chain. There is only one location in Utah. Each location can alter the menu accordingly. Typically I don't find myself going to chain restaurants, but anytime I see this while traveling, I will glady stop by.

The Original Pancake House

790 East 2100 South

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84106

Happy Eating

 

Carbonara alla Roma: alla heart attack maybe; but alla delicious!

This recipe is likely not one that you would make if you were a health nut. Even if you are very healthy, your heart will feel heavy after eating and you will need to do a little more exercise that day. However, it's a delicious dish and your palate will be very happy.

Thanks to the fabulous Penny Phillips for sharing this recipe. She is a wonderful cook and has taught me much. One evening we cooked up five Indian dishes. It was truly a party. Most recipes I will alter slightly as needed. Not Penny's recipes; she has perfected them already.

Carbonara alla Roma

2 tablespoons butter
1/4 lb. pancetta
4 large eggs
1/2 cup pecorino cheese, grated
Salt & pepper to taste
1 lb. penne

Coordination of frying and boiling is important in this recipe; so while boiling the pasta in 3 quarts of water, gently fry the finely sliced (almost a julienne cut) pancetta in butter. Whisk the eggs in a separate bowl and add a ladle full of hot pasta water. Drain the pasta and pour the eggs into the hot pasta pot. Immediately place the steaming penne back in the pasta pot (if it's not completely drained, that's all right) and pour the pancetta/butter combination on top. Sprinkle the pecorino, salt & pepper and toss vigorously.

The immediacy of the above steps is important because the eggs need to be cooked by the time you're ready to serve. Sprinkle with additional pecorino.


Happy Eating

Chanon Thai Cafe: What, no Tom Yum?

Lately I feel like I am in a constant state of Eater's block. Anytime I am asked to pick a restaurant I go blank. Maybe that's a sign of eating out too much or a hint that some therapy is needed; or both. I find myself scanning google maps or deliberately hunting for restaurants.

While driving east on 900 S. earlier this week I looked to the right and saw "Chanon Thai Cafe." I was in awe. It definitely called to me and I knew that it had to be patronized soon. The very next day was my definition of "soon." I pulled up at 11:27am and it looked quiet. No need to panic, stay calm. Many restaurants open at 11:30am for lunch. While looking for some anti-depressants, the owner walked to the door and turned on the "OPEN" sign. Immediate relief was felt.

Chanon Thai Cafe is housed in a old building which adds to the character of the establishment. It's a unique set up inside with tables tucked quietly into corners, in front of fish tanks, in front of the serving area and anywhere else where there appears to be room. It's a very warm and cozy atmosphere. It reminded me of Oh Mai. Now that I have taken that in, let's look at the menu.

Glass Noodle Soup

While quickly reviewing the menu I found myself looking for anti-depressants again. There was no Tom Kha (Thai Coconut Soup) or Tom Yum (Thai Hot & Spicy Soup) on the menu. Certainly this is okay since they have the soup and it's just so common that they don't need to list it right-at least those were my thoughts. What is a Thai meal without one of those soups? Was there still time to drive to Tasty Thai or Siam Orchid?

My hopes were totally dashed when the waitress told me that they have neither of those soups but that the soup of the day was Glass Noodle. I ordered the Panang Curry with chicken and a cup of Glass Noodle Soup, all while wondering if I was too distraught to eat.

Medium Spicy Panang Curry with Chicken

They brought out the cup of soup. It really wasn't impressive. There were no noodles; just chicken, carrots and onions in a broth. Pretty much a mire poix soup. Very bland, very flavorless and simply not worth ordering. The Panang Curry however was really good. It was creamy, the chicken was moist, tender and the kafir lime leaves added an extraordinary fresh flavor.

I learned a valuable lesson with the curry however; medium spicy might as well be extremely spicy. I went through three cups of ice water. Be cautious when ordering.

Chanon Thai Cafe

278 East 900 South

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111

Happy Eating

PANZANELLA: A Tuscan Bread Salad

As mentioned in my post about Chicken Valdostana, the class also made Panzanella that evening. This is a Tuscan bread salad. I had never thought of a salad without lettuce. Chef Tim Belarde is a fantastic cook. I recreated this dish for a dinner with friends. I was a little nervous but all tasters said that it came out very nice.

Panzanella

1 loaf fresh sourdough bread
2 bunches fresh basil
4 Roma tomatoes
1 medium red onion
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Cube bread into 1" pieces and lay out on a sheet pan. Drizzle 1/4 cup of olive oil over cubes, season with salt and pepper. Bake in 400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Outside should be toasted. Set aside to cool.

Dice tomatoes in 1/2" pieces, coarsely chop basil, and sliver slice the red onion.

Add all ingredients in a large salad bowl, season to taste, toss and serve.

As I write this, I can taste the panzanella. The ingredients make a perfect party in your mouth. The trick is the bread. If you bake it too long, it's tough like croutons; if not long enough, the bread cubes get soggy quickly. It's the perfect "salad" compliment to a meal.


Happy Eating

Bohemian Brewery: What is Gypsy Food?

Often I am drawn to a restaurant simply by it's name; Old Bridge Cafe, Red Ginger Bistro, Curry Fried Chicken. There is definitely a branding and marketing appeal in having a great name. While discussing where to eat with my friend Pete last week, I had Eater's block. I couldn't come up with a place. Initially I mentioned an Indian restaurant (which is great food by the way) but that really wasn't calling me from within. I was scanning google maps in order to find a place for lunch. It worked as I came across the Bohemian Brewery. A while back my parents had gone here. They said that it was good but never mentioned much about the food.

You feel like you are in a Bavarian Chalet during Oktoberfest; beer, beer everywhere. I am a Teetotaler and wondered if my experience at Red Rock Brewery would be repeated. The many people entering the restaurant right at noon did speak highly of the popularity of the place.

Shortly after we were seated,the waitress brought out some bread with a side of butter. The butter looked odd at first and I wondered if it may have been dropped on the floor-there were lots of food bits in it. I tasted it just to be safe and was delighted. The food bits were pimento, green olive, Parmesan and garlic. It was delicious. So much for limiting my carbs.

You really become awestruck as you read the menu. Everything from Summer Salad with Goat Cheese to a Brew Master's Basket and Bohemian Goulash. One of those moments where I was really glad that I came.

Ultimately, the Pastrami Philly on the Lunch Specials part of the menu called my name. It's pastrami, caramelized onions, sweet peppers, Swiss cheese on a Parmesan hoagie with chipotle aioli and served with garlic fries. I upgraded to sweet potato fries for $1.00. Maybe not as glamorous as other foods on the menu but it looked delicious.

My sandwich was done to perfection. It's easy to see that they use quality ingredients and take great care in preparing the dishes. The pastrami was not left over from days prior, it was very fresh and moist. The peppers and onions were very delicious and full of flavor. And how can you not love sweet potato fries? They had a little extra batter which adds to the crunch. I was incredibly full as it's a heavy sandwich.

What a wonderful place. Get there early as it was full by shortly after noon. They were a little short on wait staff so I felt bad for our server. She seemed to be taking care of half the restaurant. She was wonderful however and the food was definitely worth the wait. If you want pub food, I would pick this ten to one over Hopper's.

As my friend and I were wrapping up our conversation. He stated that when traveling for work, he tries to stay unemotional about food. This goes against everything that I stand for.

Bohemian Brewery

94 East 7200 South

Midvale, Utah, 84047

Happy Eating