From Lunch Box Monday July 26: Homage to Jacques Pepin

Ingredients

• 1/3 C Lucero Mission Extra Virgin Olive oil*
• 3 T fresh lemon juice
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp Les Moulins Mahjoub Harissa*
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
• One 5-# seedless watermelon, scooped into balls with a melon baller or cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks (10 cups), chilled
• 1/2 # feta cheese, crumbled (2 cups)
• 1 1/4 C pitted kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
• 1 small red onion, cut into slivers
• 1 C mint, coarsely chopped

Method

• In a large bowl, whisk the oil, lemon juice, salt, harissa and pepper.
• Add the watermelon, feta, olives and onion and toss gently. Garnish with the mint and serve.

* These products are available at Datz

Cook’s Note: For a fun serving suggestion, reserve the scooped out watermelon rind and use as a bowl for the salad. Great for picnics!

Be sure to sign up for one of our weekday Lunch Box lessons. You can find more information and register on www.datzdeli.com.

by Chef Nikki Bowen

Basic Crepes

Ingredients

· 1 cup all-purpose flour

· Pinch kosher salt

· 2 eggs

· 1/2 cup milk

· 1/2 cup club soda

· 3 tablespoons melted butter, plus 3 tablespoons for cooking the crepes

Batter:

· In a mixing bowl, add the flour and salt and make a well in the center. Add the remaining ingredients, except the melted butter, into the center of the well and whisk together until just combined. The mixture should be like VERY loose pancake batter. If the mixture is a little thick, whisk in a little more milk. Let the batter sit for at least 30 minutes before using.

*Tip: Crepe batter can be made up to 2 days in advance, covered and refrigerated.

Crepes:

· Melt about a 1/2 teaspoon of butter in a small nonstick saute pan. The butter should coat the bottom of the pan.

· Put the pan over medium heat. Fill a 2-ounce ladle, almost to the top, with batter and pour it into the preheated pan, tipping and rolling the pan, as you ladle the batter, to evenly cover the bottom. This will take a little practice, even when you are an experienced crepe maker the first couple always get wasted. Accept it and move on.

· When the edges of the crepe begin to pull away from the edges of the pan and the bottom begins to brown a little, turn the crepe over and cook it for about 1 minute on the other side. Remove the crepe from the pan to a plate and let cool. Stack the crepes as they are cooked between parchment paper squares. Repeat this process, until all the batter is used, wiping the pan with your paper towel or melting a little more butter to the pan, as needed.

Semolina Crepes

Ingredients

· 3 cups warm water

· 2 teaspoons baking powder

· 1 3/4 cups fine semolina (sometimes called extra-fancy durum flour)

· 1/3 cup AP flour

· 2 teaspoons active dry yeast

· 1 teaspoon sugar

· 1 teaspoon salt

· Vegetable oil, for cooking

· 1/3 cup honey, warmed

· 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Method

· In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup warm water with baking powder. In food processor, combine semolina with flour, yeast, sugar, and remaining warm water. Process for 30 seconds, until smooth. Add the salt and baking powder mixture and process for 30 seconds longer. Pour the batter into a large bowl, cover with a kitchen towel and let rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

· Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet and coat it with a thin layer of vegetable oil. In a small bowl, blend the honey with the butter. Whisk the batter until creamy. Ladle 1/3 cup of the batter into the skillet, tilting the skillet to distribute it evenly. Cook the crepe over moderate heat until bubbles appear all over the surface and the bottom is pale golden, about 2 minutes. Shake the skillet to loosen the creoe, then slide the crepe onto a plate.

· Drizzle with the honey butter and serve right away. Repeat with more oil and remaining batter and honey butter.

by Chef Nikki Bowen

Crepes Suzette (Sweet Crepes)

Ingredients

· 2 large eggs

· 3/4 cup milk

· 1/2 cup water

· 1 cup flour

· 3 tablespoons melted butter

· 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar

· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

· 2 tablespoons of your favorite liqueur

· Butter, for coating the pan

Method

· In a blender, combine all of the ingredients and pulse for 10 seconds. Place the crepe batter in the refrigerator for 1 hour. This allows the bubbles to subside so the crepes will be less likely to tear during cooking. The batter will keep for up to 48 hours.

· Heat a small non-stick pan. Add butter to coat. Pour 1 ounce of batter into the center of the pan and swirl to spread evenly. Cook for 30 seconds and flip. Cook for another 10 seconds and remove to the cutting board. Lay them out flat so they can cool. Continue until all batter is gone. After they have cooled you can stack them and store in sealable plastic bags in the refrigerator for several days or in the freezer for up to two months. When using frozen crepes, thaw on a rack before gently peeling apart.

Sauce

Ingredients

· 1/2 pound butter, softened

· 4 tablespoons sugar

· 4 ounces of your favorite liquor

· 4 scoops of vanilla ice cream

Method

· Fold your crepes in half twice, so they are in the shape of a triangle. In a non-stick pan over medium heat, melt half of the butter. When it begins to foam remove from heat and add 2 ounces of the liquor and 2 tablespoons of the sugar. Always add alcohol off of the heat to avoid a jumping flame. Use tongs to gently lay crepes into the pan. Turn the crepes to coat. Lay the crepes out on a plate and top with ice cream. Pour remaining sauce over the ice cream. Serve immediately.

Manicotti Crepes

Ingredients

· Extra-virgin olive oil

· 1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice

· Kosher salt

· Pinch crushed red pepper flakes

· 3 cloves garlic, smashed and finely chopped

· 1 pound bulk fennel pork sausage

· 1 pound baby spinach, washed and cut into 1-inch lengths

· 2 cups ricotta cheese

· 1 1/2 cups grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus extra for serving

· 2 eggs

· Bechamel Sauce, recipe follows

· 1/2 recipe Basic Tomato Sauce, recipe follows

· 1 recipe Basic Crepes, recipe follows

Directions
Filling:

· Coat a large saute pan with olive oil, add the onions and put the pan over medium heat. Season the onions with salt, to taste, and add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. Saute until the onions are translucent and very aromatic, about 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and saute for 3 to 4 more minutes. Add the pork sausage and cook until nicely browned. Stir in the spinach, season with salt, to taste, and saute until the spinach is wilted, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. In a large bowl, add the ricotta, 1 cup of grated Parmigiano, the eggs and 1 cup of bechamel and stir to incorporate. Mix in the cooled sausage mixture into the ricotta mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning, if needed.

To assemble the manicotti:

· Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

· Prepare the baking dish by evenly schmearing 1 cup of bechamel sauce in the bottom of a 9 by 13-inch baking dish.

· Put 2 heaping tablespoons of the filling on a crepe just below the halfway mark. Form the filling into an even log and then roll up the crepe to enclose the filling. Repeat with the remaining filling and crepes. Arrange the crepes in the baking dish, snuggling the crepes together until the dish is filled. Spoon the tomato sauce over the top of the crepes and spread the bechamel in a wide swath down the middle. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmigiano and cover with foil. Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, about 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the top starts to brown a little, about 5 to 10 minutes.

· Remove from the oven and serve topped with a little extra cheese.

Bechamel Sauce:

Ingredients

· 3 tablespoons butter

· 1/2 small white onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice

· Kosher salt

· 3 heaping tablespoons all-purpose flour

· 1 quart milk

· Pinch grated nutmeg

· 1 bay leaf

· 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Method

· Add the butter and onion to a large saucepan over medium heat. Season the onions with salt, to taste, and cook until they become translucent and very aromatic. Add the flour and cook until the flour and butter resemble wet sand, about 3 to 4 minutes. Gradually, whisk in the milk until incorporated. Add the bay leaf and nutmeg and season with salt, to taste. Slowly bring the milk/flour mixture to a boil, stirring frequently to prevent scorching on the bottom. Be sure that the milk comes to a boil or the flour will not cook out and you will be left with a very objectionable starchy feeling on your tongue.

· Once the sauce has come to a boil and has thickened, remove it from the heat. Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the grated Parmigiano, taste and adjust seasoning, if needed.

· Use right away or refrigerate, covered, until ready to assemble dish.

Marinara Sauce:

Ingredients

· 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

· 1/4 pound diced pancetta

· 2 large Spanish onions, cut into 1/4-inch dice

· Kosher salt

· 4 large garlic cloves, smashed and chopped

· 4 (28-ounce cans) Italian plum San Marzano tomatoes, crushed

Method

· Coat a large sauce pot with olive oil and add the pancetta. Put the pot over medium-high heat and cook the pancetta for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the onions, season generously with salt, to taste, and stir to coat with the olive oil. Cook the onions for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently. The onions should become very soft and aromatic but have no color. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently.

· Add tomatoes to pot.  Season generously with salt and TASTE IT!!!! Tomatoes take a lot of salt. Season in baby steps and taste every step of the way. Cook the sauce for 1 to 3 hours (to your desired consistency and taste) stirring occasionally and tasting frequently.  

· Use the sauce right away on pasta or for any other tomato sauce need. This sauce can also be cooled and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or it can be frozen.

Updated: Thursday, 10 Jun 2010, 9:15 AM EDT
Published : Thursday, 10 Jun 2010, 9:15 AM EDT

Endless food, live music, and craft beers from around the world … served amid the dazzling aquatic exhibits at the Florida Aquarium. SudsFest 2010 promises to be quite an event, with all proceeds benefiting marine science education and marine animals affected by the Gulf oil spill. Tom Wagner from the Aquarium and Chef Paul Norton from Datz joined Good Day to discuss the fundraiser and offer a sample of the cuisine.

The Florida Aquarium’s SudsFest 2010 will be held Saturday, June 12, from 8 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $50 in advance ($45 for members) or $60 at the door. For more information and to purchase tickets, (813) 273-4030 or go to www.sudsfest.com

by Chef Nikki Bowen

Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe

Ingredients

· 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
· 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano cheese
· 1/4 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
· 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
· 1/3 cup pine nuts
· 3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
· Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method

· Combine the basil in with the pine nuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. Add the garlic, pulse a few times more.
· Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Makes 1 cup.

Asparagus Pesto with Pasta

Ingredients

· 1 bunch asparagus spears (about 1 lb), trimmed of tough ends and halved crosswise
· 3 handfuls baby spinach leaves
· 2 cloves garlic, peeled
· 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
· 1 cup pine nuts
· 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for topping
· Juice of 1/2 lemon
· 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
· 8 ounces of dried pasta

Method

· 1 Bring 2 pots of water to a rolling boil, one large for the pasta and one medium sized for the asparagus.
· While the water is heating, place the pine nuts, in a single layer, on a sheet tray. Roast at 325 degrees until goldend brown – don’t burn them (when you smell them, they’re done)! Remove pine nuts from sheet tray and set aside. You will use 3/4 cup of the pine nuts for the pesto paste and 1/4 cup to mix in whole.
· Salt the asparagus water and drop the spears into the pan. Cook for only 2 or 3 minutes, until the spears are bright green and barely tender. Drain under cool water to stop the cooking. Cut the tips off, and set aside, several of the asparagus (diagonal cut about an inch from the end) to use for garnish.
· Add the asparagus, spinach, garlic, Parmesan, and 3/4 cup of the pine nuts to a food processor. Purée and, with the motor running, drizzle in the 1/4 cup of olive oil until a paste forms. If too thick, thin it with a bit of the pasta water. Add the lemon juice and salt, taste and adjust seasoning.
· Salt the pasta water well and cook the pasta until just before al dente. Drain most of the water, reserving about 1/4 cup pasta water in pot. Add pesto to the pot and allow to come to heat and “carry-over” cook to al dente.
· Serve sprinkled with the remaining 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts, a dusting of Parmesan, asparagus tips reserved for garnish, and a light drizzle of olive oil.

Serves 4 to 6.

Spinach Pesto

Ingredients

· 2 cups lightly packed baby spinach leaves (about 2 ounces)
· 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
· 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
· 1 to 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
· 1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons olive oil
· Salt and freshly ground black pepper
· 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Method

· Combine the spinach, pine nuts, lemon juice, and lemon peel in a processor. Lightly pulse. With the machine running, gradually add 1/3 cup of the oil, blending until the mixture is creamy. Stir in the Parmesan. Season the pesto with salt and pepper, to taste.

by Chef Nikki Bowen

I love produce. For as long as I can remember, I have. As a kid, my parents would take me to the farmer’s market and the smell of fresh corn, basil, tomatoes, and even string beans would intrigue me.

My mom (who never considered herself a foodie or even a good cook) would carry home summer-ripe cucumbers, slicing them and dressing them in a light, and slightly creamy, vinaigrette. The firm flesh of the cucumbers mixed with the acidity of the vinaigrette created the most amazingly refreshing salad, the perfect complement to any summer meal.

I was brought back to my childhood summers today while preparing to teach a cheese-making class at Datz. To complement the mozzarella the class was making, I prepared panzanella. For those not familiar, panzanella is Italy’s gift to the world. Don’t misunderstand… I love a good marinara, and there is no substitute for fresh pizza, but in the summer months, there is no comparison. Ripe, sweet tomatoes, refreshing cucumbers, and peppery basil are tossed with hot, toasty bread squares and then drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and white wine vinegar. I saved this incredibly aromatic mixture for the class and added their fresh mozzarella. I never tire of seeing the reaction of first-time fresh mozzarella consumers, and this experience was particularly rewarding. The taste of their mozzarella mixed with the freshness of these summer treats was an overwhelming onslaught of taste sensations.

Produce, bought in season and locally, is awe-inspiring. How many hours until the farmer’s market opens?

For the third time this week, I am pouring a glass of wine while my curds gently soak in their water bath. Already sliced on the plate are some green zebra tomatoes I stumbled upon, champagne mangos (where have these been hiding my whole life?), flaked pink salt from the Murray River in Australia, tender treviso and a basil vinaigrette made with white balsamic vinegar. In less than five minutes, I¹m going to have fresh mozzarella. In ten minutes, dinner.

Not just any grocery store mozzarella. No. No. No. We’re talking fresh mozzarella. The creamy, slightly salty tang and gentle toothiness of hand-pulled mozzarella. Mozzarella that I’m making myself.

Sometimes a few simple ingredients come together to create something spectacular. The individual elements compliment each other so well that, when combined, the results are so delicious they border on magical. Think bacon and eggs; chocolate and strawberries; brats and beer; mango and mozzarella.

Moist, sweet and soft, with a springy yielding texture unlike any other cheese, the process of making fresh mozz is very simple, and the results are blissful. Indeed, the fresh cheese classes at Datz are among the most requested.

Start with a pound of fresh mozzarella curd and three quarts of 150° water.
In a bowl, crumble, cut or shave the curd to about the size of a marble, and then pour the water over it. Make sure the water covers the curd. Let the mixture sit for three minutes, gently stirring with a spoon or your hands (if you can handle the heat!). When the curd is melted and lump-free, start pulling it gently. When the color becomes pearlescent and gentle ribbons appears in the texture, shape it into balls and drop it into a cool, salted water bath. A gentle dunk is all it needs to set, really.

Don¹t believe me? Take the class on Sunday May 16 ($25, 6 pm) and find out.
But between now and then, you can find fresh mozzarella at The Fresh Market and better Publix Supermarkets to quench the urge for this delicious twist on the classic caprese.

Mango Caprese with Basil Vinaigrette

• 1/2 C chopped fresh basil leaves, plus whole leaves for layering
• 3 T extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 T white balsamic vinegar
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 8 radicchio leaves, thick ends trimmed
• 2 large mangos, peeled, halved, and thinly sliced
• 8 slices fresh mozzarella

Blend the chopped basil, oil, and vinegar in a food processor or blender until basil is mostly pureed. Season with salt and pepper.
Overlap radicchio, mango, mozzarella, and basil leaves on plates.
Drizzle with vinaigrette and serve, passing additional vinaigrette on the side.

Dear Datz:

I received the Big Brew Day flyer in my email inbox this week, and it looks great, but I¹m a little confused. Can you tell me more about Brew Day and Special Hoperations?

Mark

Mark!

I was glad to learn of your interest in our Brew Day and I’d love to yell you more about it.

Brew Day is being held and run by the newly formed South Tampa homebrew club Special Hoperations.  Datz has been great and supports us whole heartedly, and they don’t hesitate to host our club meetings or events. So Datz is really our de facto headquarters.

The May 1st Brew Day will be Special Hoperations first event.  As its also National Homebrew Day, we are centering the day on the three beer recipes that the American Homebrewers Association encourages brewers to make.   However, don’t feel locked on to this.  If you want to come out and brew something of your own choosing, please do!  Our goal is really just to get together in the fellowship of craft brewmaking.

You do not have to RSVP for Brew Day, but I encourage you to come to our next Special Hoperations meeting. We hold meetings the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Datz, so our next meeting will be Monday the 26.  As an experienced brewer we would absolutely love to get you involved with us!

Dues for membership are a whopping $15 a year.  With membership, Southern Brewing Supply offers 10% off their grains and hops.  Oh, and make sure to bring some of your beer to our meetings!  We all try to bring in something for everybody to sample/critique.

As for brew day, bring whatever equipment you need to make a batch of beer, including ingredients.  Datz will supply us with a water source, but otherwise its on the individual to bring their own equipment.  One great thing about a brew day is to inspect what other brewers use and see how they do things.  We are starting the day officially at 11 a.m., but most of us will probably get there by 10 a.m. to start setting up.

For more information about the AHA Big Brew Day and for a copy of the recipes, log onto the American Homebrewers Association website.

Special Hoperations also has a fledgling website: www.specialhoperations.com.  It’s only about a week old, so there is not a lot there right now, but go back often.

Again, Mark it was great to hear of your interest and we look forward to meeting you. Please don’t hestiate to contact me with any other questions or comments.

Cheers!

Danny Reid

President, Special Hoperations

danny@specialhoperations.com

When I was small, maybe 7 or 8, my mother instituted the rule that every Friday night was New Vegetable Night. The childhood burden of new and strange vegetables did not fare well in our household.

Unfairly blamed on my mother’s cooking, my brother and I took to pouting and temper tantrums to avoid eating anything green. It wasn’t long before New Vegetable Night became Pizza Night instead, and peace was restored in the Lee household.

Twenty years later, no longer so closed-minded, a new vegetable appeared on my plate on Friday night. And strangely, I ate it with wonder and abandon. Well… perhaps not so strangely. This was culinary school, and the lesson at hand was fiddleheads.

Fiddleheads, the tightly furled shoot of the Ostrich Fern first discovered by the Maliseet and Mi’kMaq tribes in Eastern Canada, are a springtime delicacy all the way up the East Coast. Until that night, I don’t recall ever having seen them, but they tasted like I imagined they would – like asparagus. (They smell and taste of the earth in the same way that fresh scallops taste of the ocean.) They were crunchy and earthy and green tasting and paired well with the pappardelle, crispy prosciutto and salty Parmigiano-Reggiano also on my plate.

It’s one of the few things I miss about living in the northeast – these succulent signs of spring. Asparagus. Ramps. Fiddleheads. <sigh> Desperate for a harbinger, Chef Jason Dame and I ordered them from Sid Wainer, but just the other day, I found them at The Fresh Market. (You’ll have to wait for a new shipment because I bought them all.) Jason and I served them alongside wild mushrooms in a ragout topped with a mammoth diver scallops. Oh! And finger limes. Today, I’m using up what’s left in a spring risotto – asparagus, fiddleheads, meyer lemon and creamy cana de cabra (because that’s what in the fridge). And I’m thinking that maybe my mother was on to something after all.

FIDDLEHEAD FAQ

Want to know more about fiddleheads? Here are the basics on stalking, preparation and storage:

What do they taste like? They taste like asparagus.

How can I tell if a fiddlehead is ready to eat? In the field, you can tell the fiddlehead is still young by how tightly it is furled. If the furl is loosening into a fern, it’s gone by.

How long will a fiddlehead stay fresh? Most chefs like to use them the same day, but you can blanch or steam them for less than a minute, lay them on a cookie sheet and freeze them solid. Then you can keep them in a bag in your freezer.

What’s a simple way to eat a fiddlehead? Steam or blanche the fiddlehead for three minutes, douse them with butter and lemon, and serve as a side dish.

How long is fiddlehead season? Fiddlehead season lasts about three weeks. Since the timing varies from Virginia to Canada, you can usually order them for about six weeks from somewhere.

NOTE: Not all ferns are edible, so stalkers should arm themselves with information or get a knowledgeable partner to go out with. Also, don’t be too greedy. Stalkers ask that people take no more than a third of an outcropping so the crop can be sustained

Calling all beer geeks and Datz foodies! It’s time to hop to it and vote for the name of our new beer created exclusively for us by Cigar City Brewing.

We received nearly 400 entries to name the Datz pumpernickel rye beer, but after making some tough decisions we narrowed it down to the top three.

• Datz Goblin Breeze Pumpernickel Porter by Jen Ryan
• Soggy Loaf Pumpernickel Porter by Logan Rusnak
• Pumper in the Rye Porter by Patti Miller

So vote for your favorite in our web poll. Fifty percent of the vote will come from you and the other 50 percent will be judged by a panel of Datz judges.

The 1st place winner receives:
• Your name on the beer, sketch of you on Datz t-shirts and two free for shirts for you
• Free new beer for one year
• VIP status at cask launch party
• Private beer tasting event for 8
• 20% off all other beer for a year
• Dinner for 4 at a Monday Fun Day Beer dinner
• $100 Datz gift card

The 2nd place winner receives:
• Free new beer for one month
• VIP status at cask launch party
• New beer t-shirt when it arrives
• Private Beer tasting event for 8
• 10% all beer for a year
• Dinner for 2 at Monday Fun Day beer dinner
• $50 Datz gift card

The 3rd place winner receives:
• Free new beer for a week
• VIP status at cask launch party
• New beer t-shirt on arrival
• Private beer tasting for 8
• 10% off all beer for a year
• Dinner for 2 at Monday fun Day beer dinner
• $25 Datz gift card