Sriracha - a kind of mouth wash and my first veggie offspring!

Smoked Miso Chicken Spring Rolls, Organic Peanut Sauce

Sriracha! (and Asian inspired mat beneath to enhance authenticity)

VEG GARDEN UPDATE!

June 5th, 2010. 37gr.

I shall call them "Caprese!"

These baby toms just came up recently. They are "Forth of July" Tomatoes which mature really early, hence the name. I enjoy their sweet acidic taste a lot.

Sriracha is in the air! Also affectionately known as "Scratchy" to adoring cooks the world over, I wanted to showcase my favorite condiment in at least one blog. This should be seen as an understatement to just how much I go through the stuff.

I have at any giving time 3 giant bottles in storage at home. It's a personal seasoning for myself. It's also a crutch. I am a little nervous about using too much because now "hot" food is not so "hot" as it once was. Kinda like someone who over salts everything and now everything taste bland. ...but it tastes so awesome... I'll just ignore the consequences, similar to my addiction to good chocolate.

My last day off I did not feel like spending money on food; something I tend to do when I am bored and have free time. So, I used leftovers and did the spring rolls. Super easy, no real talent involved. Just slow cook a Miso marinated Organic Chicken over Pear Wood, make the Peanut Sauce with the ingredients you got from Kensington Market (Peanuts, Thai Basil, Curry, Chili, Stock), and garnish with a healthy splurt of Sriracha!

-Jerek

Cool plates and my veg garden - a beginning.

Chef Ryan and the team from Epic are honing in some new dishes as of recent. Above is a sample of the tastings. Speck and Medjool Dates, Brian Fanning Smoked Salmon and B.C. Spot Prawns, Quebec Fois Mousse with Brioche

Summer Strawberry Soup
Coconut Panna Cotta
(The Soup gets poured in a la minute)


Daniel D'Amore prepping the Strawberry Soup

Seared Lake Huron Perch
Nasturtium, Fennel Pollen Butter
Cauliflower Puree, Sweet Pea Emulsion
Heirloom Carrots, Rooftop Herbs

MY VERY OWN VEG GARDEN!!

(Note, how all my sweat and tears has been absorbed into the soil)

We bought our house last year when the market conditions were perfect. Nobody was buying and we had a huge selection to choose from. In the end we settled on a corner home with a huge yard. 2010 was going to be the year I made my garden. I have always really REALLY wanted a garden. Actually, if I had it my way, I would grow and raise everything I cooked. However, in our Leave It To Beaver existence, a Veg Garden makes due.

2010 will also be the year I get a back brace, because it's a lot of work.
I started by cutting the sod at 7ftXft. I went to work one night and my elder Italian Father In-Law made my garden 24ftX7ft. He was right. He is also freakishly strong. It took 5 yards of organic triple mix fertilizer to get enough top soil down (15 inches deep).

So, here is what I am growing my first year, and I will update the progress at BOHK to see what will stay on for 2011.

Herbs:
Thyme
Basil
Parsley
Tarragon

Veg:
Tomatoes -Forth of July
-Romas
Bell Pepper -Red, Green
Jalapenos
Cayenne
Heirloom Carrots
English Cucumber
Spanish Onions
Leeks

-Jerek