Taste With The Eyes

bulgogi panino ~ kimchi, cheddar, ssamjang mayo

bulgogi panino ~ kimchi, cheddar, scallion, ssamjang mayo

Now this is a sandwich. A Korean-Italian sandwich, Bulgogi Panino. Bulgogi (literally “fire-meat”) is grilled marinated beef which is piled on a roll with kimchi, cheddar, scallions, and ssamjang mayo – then pressed and grilled on a panini maker.

The thinly sliced beef is marinated in a soy sauce-brown sugar-sesame-garlic marinade then cooked over fire. Napa cabbage kimchi and sharp cheddar cheese is one of my favorite food combinations. It simply rocks – kimchi’s zingy fermented flavors are balanced by the rich cheese. And ssamjang mayo, nothing like the ubiquitous chipotle mayonnaise, is a bit spicy but has an incredible depth of flavor. Ssamjang is a thick, spicy paste made from combining gochujang (red chili paste) with doenjang (fermented soybean paste) with sesame oil, onion, and garlic.

There is obviously no shortage of flavor going on here…

the bulgogi panino recipe

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Precious Potato Bites ~ Truffle Oil, Sour Cream, Chive Blossoms

Precious Potato Bites ~ Truffle Oil, Sour Cream, Chive Blossoms

I may have made a nice green salad or a simple pasta for dinner, but I what I like to share on Taste With The Eyes is not “last night’s dinner” but dishes that titillate and inspire. With ingredients that I find interesting.

Well, here’s a side dish (or appetizer) that is both simple and interesting…

The classic combination of potato with sour cream and chives ~ with a twist. Charming petite smashed potatoes adorned with both high quality white truffle oil and chive blossoms from the garden, instead of the ubiquitous green chives.

Precious Potato Bites ~ The Recipe

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Korean Fusion: Lettuce Wraps with Burrata, Shishito, Anchovy

Korean Fusion:

Lettuce Wraps with Burrata, Shishito Pepper, Stir-Fried Anchovy

Sangchu Ssam with Burrata, Kkwarigochu, Myulchi Bokkeum

상추쌈과 부라타 치즈, 꽈리고추, 멸치 볶음

Enamored with the Korean side dish, myulchi bokkeum, I set out to create a hand-held appetizer for our next dinner party.

Myulchi bokkeum (stir-fried anchovy) is positively addicting. Tiny crisp anchovies are tossed in a sweet, sticky, garlicky sauce. Kkwarigochu (shishito peppers) are blistered in a hot pan with a bit of oil. Kkwarigochu are thin-walled mild peppers with a fresh green vegetal flavor and just a whisper of heat. Every once in a while, though, you’ll come across a hot one! Beware…

Anchovies with peppers is a classic Korean banchan (side-dish). Burrata, a heavenly fresh mozzarella that is stuffed with a mixture of shreds of cheese and heavy cream. Pair them together in a lettuce wrap for a bite of fusion paradise. The textures of butter lettuce and soft cheese are contrasted by the crunchy anchovies. Savory salty flavors are balanced by sweet and creamy notes in a delightful little package. It’s sure to be a hit!

Lettuce Wraps with Burrata, Shishito Pepper, Stir-Fried Anchovy Recipe

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Puff au Chocolat avec Fraises, Basilic, Fleur de Sel

Puff au Chocolat avec Fraises, Basilic, Fleur de Sel

Celebrate Cupid’s holiday with Puff au Chocolat! Heart-shaped, check. Chocolate, check. Strawberries, check. Plus somethings a bit unexpected on Valentine’s Day – basil and salt. But the combination really is stellar. And you’ll have plenty of time to spend with your sweetheart, as this recipe uses store-bought puff pastry and takes only about 20 minutes (active time) to compose.

You might serve some creme fraiche on the side or pair with a glass of sherry. We like Bodega Dios Baco NV Oloroso Sherry from Jerez, Spain which has wonderful aromas of nuts, vanilla and caramel with rich semi-sweet creamy flavors. Oloroso sherries offer a terrific balance between sweet and dry.

xoxo

Puff au Chocolat Recipe

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Chef’s Cooking Series at Terranea Resort

Last week, Executive Chef Bernard Ibarra led an exceptionally talented team to kick off the “Chef’s Cooking Series” at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The farm-to-table dinner series features an interactive evening with Terranea’s chefs. It was my honor and pleasure to be invited as food photographer for the night. The chefs were awesome, the staff couldn’t have been more gracious, and the food was remarkable in flavor, variety, and creativity.

It began with a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception followed by the chef cooking demonstrations where we learned how to prepare items on the evening’s menu. After the demonstrations, diners were seated at a beautiful long table on a patio for an alfresco three-course meal with wine pairing. Guests received recipe cards and special gift items to recreate the experience at home.

For each event in the series, Terranea is partnering with a different non-profit organization, this first dinner – a Coastal Harvest menu theme – benefitted Los Angeles No Kid Hungry. The next event will showcase a Spring Bounty menu theme on March 20, 2014 – featuring wines by Grgich Hills and benefitting the American Red Cross.

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