CHEF’S TIP: Corn off the cob

Marc Murphy

According to New York City chef, Marc Murphy a Bundt tin is not just for cakes. So if you’re someone who has avoided buying one because you think it’s a gimmick- you can think again. No longer will you find sweetcorn kernels on the floor a week after you sliced them off the cob.

Place the tip of the sweetcorn in the hole in your Bundt tin and holding onto the stem slice away the kernels, which will fall neatly into one contained place. What could make me happier? A similar invention for grating carrots.

landmarc [at the time warner center]
10 columbus circle [3rd floor]
new york city 10019
p. 212.823.6123
f. 212.823.6122

landmarc [tribeca]
179 west broadway [between leonard & worth]
new york city 10013
p. 212.343.3883
f. 212.343.3890

ditch plains
29 bedford street [at downing]
new york city 10014
p. 212.633.0202
f. 212.633.0255

A RECIPE: Strawberry summer salad

I was on the phone to my good old friend Courtney the other day when she suddenly asked me:

“Got any good salad recipes going?”

And it struck me at that instant that although I eat a salad of some description at least once a day I rarely post about them. I LOVE salads- why the heck wasn’t I writing about them? Perhaps because they are my go-to meal of choice and I inevitably throw them together, using up the contents of my fridge. There are of course the old favourite add-ins- crispy chorizo, roasted butternut squash, crumbled feta cheese, grilled halloumi….but really there is no one combination that I seek to recreate. I just love the concept of throwing things together- a little of this, a handful of this, a really big handful of that, ooh that would be good too and viola! Dinner is ready- a meal in a bowl, what could be better?

Getting out the scales and the measuring cups is just not something I think to do when I make a salad. Even the dressings tend to be thrown together or sometimes I just drizzle the individual dressing elements over my plate. However, (because there is obviously a recipe for a salad about to come) there was this occasion, oh, only last week when I was rummaging through the contents of my newly cleaned fridge wondering what salad I could throw together that would be sophisticated enough to present to company. I had recently visited the smitten kitchen who had opened my eyes up to the novel idea of raw courgette and then there were those beautiful glistening strawberries perched close by, which I had just seen Jamie Oliver throwing in a salad (so it couldn’t be wrong). Well, that was it. I had my soft and crisp elements- now all I needed was, a bit of crunch (walnuts), a little chew (edamame), a creamy touch (blue cheese) and some peppery greens (rocket). Viola! A salad easy enough to throw together and sophisticated enough for company. Now, wasn’t that easy?

Got any salad favourites? Send them my way!

QUICK FIXES: Five cooling drink ideas

When I’m standing on the sweaty platform of the New York subway all I can think about is the cooling drink that awaits me at home. Here are five quick ideas to help you survive the rest of the summer, when water just isn’t enough.

All drinks serve 4

Sparkling Grapefruit

Divide 750ml of grapefruit juice between glasses filled with ice. Top with sparkling water and and a few mint leaves.

Refreshing elderflower & ginger

Dilute 200ml of elderflower cordial in 750ml sparkling water. Stir in a few slices of peeled fresh ginger, a few wedges of lime and a handful of mint. Gently stir and pour over ice filled glasses.

Just right mojito

Make a quick sugar syrup by melting together 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup water on the stove. Bring up to the boil turn off the heat and stir in a handful of mint stems. Allow to cool. Put a shot of rum, 3 tbsp of cooled mint syrup, 3 tbsp lime juice into each each of your ice filled glasses. Top with fresh mint leaves and soda water, stir and serve.

Sinful iced coffee

Brew 1 litre of your favourite coffee and allow to cool. Stir in 8 tbsp of condensed milk and pour over ice filled glasses.

Cranberry Sangria

Stir together 500ml cranberry juice with 500ml red wine (or just 1 litre cranberry) with the juice of 1 lemon and sparkling water to taste. Serve over ice filled glasses with slices of peach, orange and lemon.

CHEF’S TIP: For better cheeseburgers

Richard Blais

This weeks chef’s tip comes from none other than this years runner-up on Top Chef season 4. Currently developing a modern burger restaurant in Atlanta called ‘Flip’; which will feature liquid nitrogen milkshakes it seemed appropriate that Richard offered us his little tip for making a better cheeseburger.

Richard’s tip is to put a small bowl over your cooking burger once it has been flipped and topped with the cheese. This allows it to steam as the cheese melts and helps to meld together the flavours and keep all the juices in tacked. Nothing beats a juicy burger, so I’m willing to give this one a try.

This week, Richard has teamed up with Garrett popcorn in midtown Manhattan, where you can see him making his frozen popcornsicles with liquid nitrogen. Just watch out for the scary guy next to Richard above.

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