after 6 weeks of being away from my kitchen, i finally got to throw a dinner together. something simple and quick – something light and fresh. scallops are a favorite and a red pepper sauce pairing makes an effortless and classic dish.
into the vita-mix went:
a roasted red pepper – blackened, peeled, seeded
small clove of garlic
smoked salt
cayenne pepper
balsamic syrup
lemon infused extra virgin olive oil
searing scallops is a favorite culinary task of mine. i fought with them for awhile, trying to achieve the perfect caramelization on both sides while still having a rare center. i use cast iron, getting the pan super hot, adding the oil and/or butter and then placing the very dry scallops into the hot pan without overcrowding. it’s all about moisture avoidance. also, i choose to not season my scallops as they always seem to have the right amount of salt just as they are.
they were served over a plate of fresh baby spinach leaves with halved grape tomatoes and some pea shoot tendrils scattered about, just because. the sauce acted as the dressing and really, it was satisfying as could be on a hot summer night.
tonight i made broiled halibut, lightly salted and peppered with some olive oil. i took no photos and just enjoyed the simplicity of the fish over the same spinach leaves and tomatoes – along with some of ‘karen’s hot giardiniera’, given to me by a friend who had discovered it in vermont, quite by accident. you need to buy the 4 jars. so just do it and then thank me. these jars of spicy olivey goodness make amazing gifts and will be much better received than yet another bottle of oaky $14 chardonnay. not that you’d ever show up with that…
i bring up my humble dinner tonight to not only let you in on the secret of this amazing olive spread that absolutely blew me away – but to also tell you that i am a fan of eric ripert, and because of his new blog ‘avec eric’ (thank you michael ruhlman – again) where the cuisinart brick convection toaster oven (brk-200) is flaunted as the one essential you must never ever live without… i slapped down my credit card quicksmart paying (a discounted) $200 (in turn receiving a whole 220 frequent flying miles) and i must say, not only is it a handsome devil, not unlike both eric and michael, but it’s going to be extremely handy to have around. for one frozen bagel. grilled tomatoes. fish for 2, roasted chicken, a tin of 6 muffins, a small homemade pizza – the endless possibilities boggle the mind… and eric’s blog keeps showing me the simplest, freshest, healthiest ideas – all while leaving a slightly smaller carbon footprint. i own double convection gaggenau ovens, which are totally sexy looking (kind of like both eric and michael) and wonderful around the holidays (if you’re a woman, i’m thinking what you’re thinking), but 9/10 of the time, it’s small quantities around here. and my new cuisinart mini-oven is working like a dream…
a week from tonight i’ll be dining at alinea and 3 nights from that at charlie trotter’s. in nyc i ate at jean georges, babbo, blaue gans, bar americain and felidia. this time around i’d have to say my favorite was felidia – ‘jg’ losing out only due to the fact that it’s high french and i am so partial to italian. and really, felidia was just very good. i had pear and fresh pecorino ravioli and calves liver over farro and polenta. joe (thank you joe, again and again) sent over a wonderful bottle of wine along with octopus done 2 ways. i was very, very happy with this food.
and as much as i both hate and hesitate to say this, babbo was somehow a huge let down. the lambs brain ’francobolli’ was plain bad. the goose liver ravioli was just wrong. the rabbit and duck were just ‘ok’ – nothing to remember. the branzino, lambs tongue and sausage plate were all excellent as was a saffron panna cotta with rhubarb. but ‘osteria mozza’ in LA kicked ’babbo’s’ culinary ass. again i will say, our dinner at mozza was a full fledge knock-out. but this is why you don’t review on one meal. i know babbo is a great restaurant. my dinner there 9 years ago still rolls around in the food archive section of my brain. but this time, the chef de cuisine was off and it was a long holiday weekend… so next time i’m in ny – this autumn, i hope to go back.
i had the pleasure of meeting the brilliant, warm and witty michelle from ‘thursday night smackdown’. she dined with me and my mother at babbo. you need to read her take on my mom. as one might expect from michelle, it is classic and spot on and if you have to ask, you could never understand…
my ‘jg’ dining partner was my friend amy from minimally invasive. she is now forced to dine with me every time i come to nyc. we agonize over where to go. it took us about 20 emails to get both a date and a restaurant in ink. we were excited about jg and ordered with abandon. nothing like a little $300 lunch… and then, believe it or not – afterwards, we took a quick trip across the street to time-warner for a macaron at bouchon bakery.
so it’s been a stream of superior food and wonderful wine… and people. it’s all about the people. and there’s so much more to come. i am truly grateful beyond measure and so incredibly fortunate. yay.
oh and thanks for reading…
35 responses so far ↓
1 The Italian Dish // Jul 12, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Oh my God, you’re just killing me. My son goes to school in Chicago and I still haven’t eaten at Alinea’s or Charlie Trotter’s. And then eating at Babbo and Fildea – you name dropper, you. I am wildly jealous. Isn’t it nice to be back in your own kitchen, though? I’m going to have to check out the Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven and see what all the fuss is about. . .
2 Robert // Jul 12, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Fret,
A large crater in the Blogshere has been smoothed over. Great to see you again. Yay?
Yes, Yay.
3 Mary Coleman // Jul 12, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Missed you!! Glad you’re back in the blogging world!
4 NOBLE PIG // Jul 12, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Glad you are back, it all sounds so wonderful!
5 evil chef mom // Jul 13, 2008 at 12:05 am
moisture avoidance?! hmm… sounds like a personal problem that needs to be taken care of in the feminine products aisle at your local Target.
6 ntsc // Jul 13, 2008 at 7:48 am
Glad to see you back in the blog.
7 Lauren // Jul 13, 2008 at 8:59 am
i really want to use the Y word, but i shall refrain. scallops are awesome. looks like a great dinner.
…and welcome back!
8 lucy // Jul 13, 2008 at 9:00 am
you had me at “scallops”
glad you’re baaaaaack!
9 Mal Carne // Jul 13, 2008 at 10:50 am
The scallops look perfect. I’ve been stuck in suburban hell eating wannabe chain bar food (only thing open besides Taco Bell at 11pm) for the last 10 days. The simple, pure flavors are making me drool.
All that Italian name dropping while I’ve been trying to teach a staff of 18 year olds to make the best of the worst food that Italy has to offer. Not fair. Really, really, not fair.
Glad to see you back.
10 Chris Wage // Jul 13, 2008 at 12:41 pm
This looks tasty.. where do you get your scallops?
11 melissa // Jul 13, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I’m glad you said that about Felidia. That family is serving as my education in Italian cooking. Love.
Glad to see you again.
Happy to hear you’ve been having, and will be having, such wonderful food and company. Good for you!
12 Diana // Jul 13, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Great dish – belongs on a restaurant menu. I’m with you on enjoying scallops au naturale. Maybe it’s their salty environment?
Welcome back! As always, I appreciate your frankness. SO refreshing.
13 Peter // Jul 13, 2008 at 9:16 pm
It’s nice to see others are meeting fellow bloggers of late…neat experience, eh?
These scallops sound divine…smoked salt? Red pepper sauce…where’s the line-up?
14 Donald // Jul 14, 2008 at 6:13 am
Welcome back…your dreams were your ticket out!
Love the scallops. I know about the trial and error with the carmelization. It definitely takes some doing AND doing to get them right. Oh but when you do!
So the next restaurant is?
I like have to put these restaurants on my bucket list!
15 Kim // Jul 14, 2008 at 6:56 am
Welcome back, Claudia. That is one great list of places you dined at! I would have been disappointed if you did not go to Bouchons after your big lunch. Allergic to scallops, but your dish looks fabulous.
16 Becky And The Beanstock // Jul 14, 2008 at 9:12 am
Oaky chardonnay….
Has it really been six weeks? I’ve been in a cast with a broken foot for the last six weeks — I thought it was the crutches that made it seem so long, but maybe it was the lack of inspiring posts.
Just got out of the cast and am hobbling along — glad to have some gorgeous inspiration for when I want to hobble around the kitchen, hands-free once more.
Really did miss your posts – you have such a lovely voice.
17 michelle @ TNS // Jul 14, 2008 at 11:12 am
i wish i’d known you were going to bar americain, i would have gotten my BIL to make your reservations.
18 Lesley // Jul 14, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Shoulda ordered vegetarian at Babbo…
It’s been forever since I’ve been to Chicago; there are so many great restaurants there, I’m sure it’s been hard to choose.
And I love the oven!
19 lifeinrecipes // Jul 14, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Missed you. Glad you’re back. Great eating. Let me know when you’re ready for a go ’round in Cleveburg.
20 Vincent // Jul 14, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Michelle’s post on your Mom was flipping hilarious…
I remixed your recipe for a plate up tasting today – a first course app (tiny) and they loved it. Thanks for the sale! TTYS
21 Vincent // Jul 14, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Man, i just realized I stole your recipe for profit. Don’t turn me in!! I’ll get some sort of release or we can work out profit sharing.
22 White On Rice Couple // Jul 14, 2008 at 5:44 pm
We’ve been on a scallop fix too and searching for some new recipes. Your’s here just answered the question for our search, especially with the red pepper sauce!
So sorry to hear that Babo was a let down. Thanks for the critique.
But am glad that you liked Osteria. I just can’t seem to make it inside, they are always packed. i’m hoping to make it there next week for a late dinner at the bar!
23 Heather // Jul 14, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Happy belated birthday! I love red pepper rouille.
24 Meg // Jul 14, 2008 at 11:39 pm
So it’s been said, but Michelle’s post on your mom was hysterical, particularly because it was clear she liked your mom a lot. You are on the MOVE this summer- it must be nice to have a short stint in your own kitchen.
25 Laura @ Hungry and Frozen // Jul 15, 2008 at 6:24 am
Sounds like an amazing time. The red pepper sauce for the scallops sounds v delicious…
26 Mari // Jul 15, 2008 at 7:34 am
All done with your detox, eh?!
Good to have you back!
27 Kevin // Jul 15, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Seared scallops are always welcome and that red pepper sauce sounds really good!
28 S for Kitchen Confit // Jul 15, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Welcome back. Your dining out is making me hungry and jealous.
29 democommie // Jul 15, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Claudia:
The scallops look fabulous, I never got the carmelization thing down, but I never let it be a problem. As long as they’re not overcooked scallops are in the category of perfect food; sweet, elemental and honest.
After spending two weeks eating decent but not very adventurous food with my brother and his family in CO (and drinking more than I really enjoy) I’m ready to get back to eating the stuff I like.
Of course that will have to wait until I get back from the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill, NY. But maybe I can sneak a good meal in on the way back.
30 holidy grinch // Jul 15, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Welcome back, you were missed ! Babbo is ok, overrated IMO and uncomfortably crowded. Did you grab a lobster roll at Mary’s Fish Camp? That’s my kind of heaven. That and Tamarind.
31 The Urban Eater // Jul 17, 2008 at 9:07 am
YUM! This looks great. I think you gave me a good idea for my shrimp po’ boys.
BTW, read TNS Michelle’s take on your Mom. So sweet and so funny!
32 Cathy C // Jul 18, 2008 at 9:44 am
These scallops look so great. This is my first visit to your site as you were suggested in a comment that was left on our site by Aloshas Kitchen and I am glad she told me about you.
You were mentioned in the post – Cook Book Publishers will be pissed off.
I will be back –
Cheers
Cathy
http://www.wheresmydamnanswer.com
33 Amy at Minimally Invasive // Jul 21, 2008 at 5:09 am
It was really great seeing you again, Claudia, even if it was over some not-completely-outstanding food. (I’ve learned my lesson — Italian from now on.) Still, I’m scouring the internet for any hint of how to make that fabulous broth from the red snapper dish.
Hope you’re having a great time in Chicago!
34 Peter // Jul 22, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Welcome back. I’m so far behind on the internets and everything else that I’ll leave it at that for now…
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