2008 July | Wrightfood

Braised Pork Belly, Dragon’s tongue and fava beans, pickled shallots, braising liquid sauce. (or Pork and Beans!)

July 27 th 2008

20 Comments

I had been wanting to do something like this dish for a while now. Danika’s Dad has always liked those crappy cans or pork and beans in tomato sauce, to the point where it is a bit of a family joke. I mentioned to Danika a while back now that I wanted to do a bit of a play on the whole pork and beans thing.

Originally I wanted to do something with a lot of the neck and face meat (including tongue) – maybe roll it together, braise and then roast it (French Laundry style). However, I know that if Danika’s parents asked what it was I was I cooking for them, there would be no way in hell they would eat it. A big shame really, because tongue, jowl and so forth is really bloody tasty.

Continue for this braised pork belly recipe

Posted in Meat Recipes | 20 Comments »

Music Meme

July 23 rd 2008

6 Comments

It seems like Brittany over at The Pie Lady has awarded me with another Meme. I should say that she runs one of my favorite food blogs out there. She is pastry chef at one of my favorite Seattle restaurants - Crow, and pastry chef at Crow’s sister, Betty. If that wasn’t enough to seal her blog into my hall of fame, he writing style is brilliant - witty and down to earth. Oh, and she has as bad a potty mouth as myself. And finally, her baking is awesome. To me, she is one of Seattle’s top pastry chefs, and very humble about it too.

So, this Meme is a little different. It has nothing to do with food. I apparently have to list 7 songs I am listening to at the moment. That is pretty interesting I thought, and it got me thinking. I have a really wide range in music tastes - I listen to a lot of old blues and jazz, modern trance (dance) music, and have a real passion for obscure lyrical indie too.

(more…)

Posted in blog | 6 Comments »

I LOVE Summer

July 22 nd 2008

16 Comments

OK, I am crazy busy right now with my day job, but just wanted to say how much I am completely in love with summer in Seattle this year. The fresh local produce available at the markets right now is outstanding… outstanding!!!!

Take this for example. It has been done a million times. Tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil – and not forgetting lashings, yes lashings of the most awesome French sea salt you can find. Oh, and topping it off with the equally most awesome olive oil.

It doesn’t get better than this. It can’t. Oh, wait, yes it can. The perfect summer pork belly post I have to write (that I cooked this weekend) when I get a free second. I love pork belly. Mmmmmm. I have always struggled to make pork belly light enough for summer though.. This little concoction that I speak of however well and truly kept the pork belly light and crisp. Yay! perfect for pork belly every week!!!

But until then, cheers to the awesome farmers and producers that make farmers markets as great as they are. And of course also to everyone that has decided they want the best produce and want to support local farmers. It’s inspirational, it really is.

Posted in vegetables | 16 Comments »

Seaweed Salad with watermelon radishes and garlic scapes, grilled mackerel

July 16 th 2008

21 Comments

For some reason I had been thinking about seaweed a bit of late. I have absolutely no idea why to be honest. I haven’t eaten any in ages, however one day sitting at work I decided I wanted to make a nice tasty and fast seaweed salad.

And that really got me thinking about flavors with seaweed. I have had some really awesome seaweed dishes at some great local Japanese restaurants, but I couldn’t remember for the life of me what also went in the salad. Which, leads me on to my next point. To me, seaweed doesn’t have a ton of flavor. It tastes of the sea, and I love that, but it is far more a textural thing than a taste – in my books anyhow. So, the really memorable flavors in a seaweed salad have to come from elsewhere.

Continue to see this seaweed salad and grilled mackerel fish recipe

Posted in Seafood Recipes, lunch | 21 Comments »

Pan Seared Scallops, Red Onion Confit, toasted pine nuts and sage oil

July 11 th 2008

13 Comments

Blimey, scallops again you say. Well, yes. I am on a bit of a scallop fix lately. When the weather is hot, they just seem like the perfect seafood bite. They also cook in a snap, and are bloody tasty. That could be closer to the truth actually….

Click to see this scallop recipe

Posted in Seafood Recipes | 13 Comments »

Dearie’s Meringues

July 6 th 2008

22 Comments

What the hell you say… Matt has done more baking?? Don’t worry, I haven’t suddenly found a love for cooking up all things sweet. A love of eating baked stuff, certainly, but certainly not making it!

The only hand I had in this one was in the photography, and I am happy to say, the eating. Dearie did the rest.

Continue to see this meringue recipe

Posted in Baking recipes | 22 Comments »

Pan Seared scallops, beans, frisée and chilli

July 3 rd 2008

13 Comments

OK – after the last post, I am going to get through this one without a single exclamation mark. Lets see how I do…..

So this dish very nearly didn’t make it. I was meant to be cooking for my parents, Danika’s parents and us, at our house. Somehow it then got all screwed up, and I was then cooking at Danika’s parents house. Bastards. I am going to seem like a real high-maintenance bloke here, but I am not. Just don’t ask Danika that though!

So, I hate Danika’s parents kitchen. Their stove is rubbish. A match gives out more heat. They also don’t cook much, so the layout of the thing is pretty rubbish too, along with lots of stuff covering the counters, which makes it hard to work. The only work space is really on the bar, which is full of people, and snacks for said people.

Continue to see this salad and scallop recipe

Posted in Seafood Recipes | 13 Comments »

Wrightfood overall winner DMBLGIT June 2008

July 2 nd 2008

7 Comments

I swear the blogging world is messed up. I entered my post on the Halibut, saffron-mussel liquor velouté, fava beans, watercress and fresh peas into this month’s “Does my blog look good in this” competition, hosted by the brilliant Tartelette.

There was some completely amazing food, and food photography, and I honestly thought I was going to get no where with it.

Turns out I was awarded Overall winner for the month!!! And I didn’t even try bribing anyone, which I am sure wouldn’t have worked anyhow, but hey.

I just wanted to say how completely stoked I am. I know everyone says this, but I honestly thought I didn’t stand a chance. I think over 100 people entered, and in my mind there was some far better food, and food photography in the competition. I am glad the judges picked me though

So what did I do to celebrate? Bought some scales (I have never owned any..), and went out to dinner at Harvest Vine in Seattle, which was sodding spectacular – more on that later…… OK, both of those things we had planned for today anyhow, but I took them over as a celebration for me I am nothing if not high maintenance! haha

Everyone should go check out the other entries – some really fantastic food, and food photography:

DMBLGIT June 2008 – hosted by Tartelette

Thanks again to everyone that entered, and the great judges this month. You have made my month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wait that isn’t enough exclamation marks, I am far happier than that.. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that’s better

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »