chicken confit

Confit preparations originated as a means of preserving meats without refrigeration.  This recipe works as well with duck or goose. 6 free range chicken legs and or wings 1 liter rendered duck fat 1/4 cup coarse sea salt 3 cloves garlic fresh thyme sprigs 2 bay leaves Rub the legs with the salt mixture, and [...]

barley risotto

Barley Risotto with Chicken Confit and Turnip serves 4-6 1 small turnip small dice 1.5 cups pearled barley 1 small onion finely diced 1 clove garlic, chopped fine 2 Tablespoons butter 1 cup dry white wine 6 cups good chicken stock 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Regiano 1 cup shredded chicken confit 4 Tablespoons butter, [...]

island chef cooks a canada goose

I was recently invited to cater a dinner for seventy-five people in a country house near a small farming community called Picton in Prince Edward County, Ontario. I’ve had the good fortune to cook for this family many times in the past and it was the oldest son’s fortieth birthday.  They requested a family style [...]

roasted tomato sauce

5 lbs ripest possible tomatoes salt to taste olive oil fresh basil, a small handful Score tomatoes with a knife opposite to the stem end. Place in hottest possible oven until they start to char and skins are visibly peeling away. Cool tomatoes till you can handle them and then peel them and remove stem [...]

perfect pizza dough

First Day 1 litre water (left to stand at room temperature for several hours to allow chlorine to evaporate) 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1.55 kg 00 milled flour (or enough to make a soft somewhat sticky dough) 50 grams sea salt
1 teaspoon olive oil Dissolve salt in water. Add olive oil
. Combine 1/4 cup of [...]

wood fired chef party

I was one of about thirty chefs, restaurant owners, farmers, fish activists and food writers who spent over a year collaborating to organize the biannual gathering of the Canadian Chef Congress. Every year the event takes place in a different province and this year it was BC’s turn, so last September over five hundred chefs [...]