Author: Lori Lynn

Palos Verdes Pastoral Featuring Basque Cuisine

Palos Verdes Pastoral, A Garden to Table Dining Experience

Palos Verdes Pastoral
A Garden to Table Dining Experience
Featuring Basque Cuisine

The art of good eating and culinary style are at the heart of Basque culture. Basque cookery is influenced by the landscape featuring both cuisine from the coast and cuisine from the mountains and fertile valleys.

Terranea Resort’s Executive Chef Bernard Ibarra prepared dishes inspired by the land of his childhood at a dinner where the hills and coastline of Palos Verdes, California mirror the terrain of his beloved Basque Country.

The Chef brought a true garden-to-table concept to the event introducing diners to the flourishing textures, colors, flavors and aromas of the charmed Basque region with predominantly French and Spanish influence.

Palos Verdes Pastoral is a fundraising event that brings people together amidst nature for an exclusive al fresco dining experience with magnificent views of Catalina Island on a warm Autumn evening. The enchanting meal created by Chef Bernard, showcased the best of California-grown, hand-crafted, organic, and sustainable food and wine.

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Pumpkin Ricotta Wontons, Maple, Pomegranate, Lime

Pumpkin Ricotta Wontons, Maple, Pomegranate, Lime

Spiced Pumpkin Ricotta Wontons
Maple Syrup, Pomegranate, Lime Zest, Powdered Sugar

Sweet creamy ricotta is mixed with pumpkin puree, a bit of sugar and salt, plus a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves. Wonton wrappers are filled with this heavenly mixture and fried to a puffy golden brown.

The warm wontons are drizzled with two syrups – maple and pomegranate, dusted with powdered sugar, and sprinkled with pomegranate arils and lime zest for a delightful autumnal dessert. ‘Tis the season for pomegranates and pumpkins!

Pumpkin Ricotta Wonton Recipe

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Roasted Sablefish, Butternut Squash and Bok Choy Curry

Roasted Sablefish, Butternut and Bok Choy Curry

Sustainable Roasted Sablefish
Butternut Squash and Bok Choy in Green Curry
Red Chili, Lime

Roasted simply with olive oil, salt and pepper – the flavor is rich, sweet, and buttery due to its high oil content. It’s texture is velvety smooth with large delicate flakes. Silky sablefish pairs very well with bold Thai flavors, nutty butternut squash, and slightly crisp bok choy stalks and slightly bitter bok choy leaves.

Last weekend I joined chefs, fishermen, local experts and educators at The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s Sustainable Seafood Expo 2016 to share sustainable seafood recipes and samples; talk about fisheries, habitats, and species management; and to promote and sustain wild, diverse, and healthy ocean ecosystems that will last long into the future.

Caught of the California coast with bottom longline method, sablefish is rated a “Best Choice” for sustainability by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch.

Roasted Sablefish & Curry Recipe

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Olive Harvest Celebration and Palos Verdes Pastoral

Olive Harvest Celebration and Palos Verdes Pastoral

Olive Harvest Celebration and Palos Verdes Pastoral

It just doesn’t get more local than this! At the upcoming Palos Verdes Pastoral to be held on October 9th at Terranea Resort, Executive Chef Bernard Ibarra will be serving an enchanting dinner inspired by the dishes of his childhood. “The mountains were my backyard and the sea was my front yard,” reminisces Chef Bernard about growing up in France’s Basque Country.

The menu will awaken diners to the flourishing textures, colors, and aromas of the charmed Basque region. The Chef brings a true garden-to-table concept to the event – not because it is fashionable, but because it is natural, the way cooking should be, he says.

In France, they relied on local products and let the season dictate what is on the table. Menus would follow the rhythm of Mother Nature.  The Palos Verdes Pastoral dinner will be flavored with uber-local ingredients from the Palos Verdes Peninsula including estate-grown olive oil, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, lemonade berries, rosemary, sea salt, and honey.

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Not Your Average Crudités Platter

Crudités Platter with Lemony Cauliflower Dip

Crudités Platter with Lemony Cauliflower Dip
Three Oils, Three Seasonings

There are literally hundreds of flavor combinations waiting to be discovered on this one platter. Try a crisp slice of cucumber with lemony cauliflower dip, dunk a sweet cherry tomato into chili oil then crust with sesame seeds, dip a peppery radish into olive oil then coat with za’atar…

Cauliflower makes its appearance as a lemony dip. Three oils (fruity olive oil, fiery chili oil, and toasted sesame oil) plus three seasonings (Maldon sea salt flakes, za’atar, and toasted sesame seeds) complement a vibrant array of fresh vegetables. Castelvetrano olives, basil, and edible flowers add another layer of flavor and interest to this appealing platter where guests can enjoy discussing their favorite combinations over cocktails.

Crudités Platter with Lemony Cauliflower Dip, Three Oils, Three Seasonings

Not Your Average Crudités Platter

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