Mixed Grain, Radish & Pecan Salad
Ingredients
Serves 6
½ cup (125 ml) farro
½ cup (125 ml) wild rice
½ cup (125 ml) red quinoa
½ cup (125 ml) pearl barley
1 cup (250 ml) thinly sliced radishes
¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup (60 ml) sherry vinegar
1 tbsp (15 ml) Dijon mustard
1½ cups (375 ml) baby arugula leaves
1 cup (250 ml) flat leaf parsley leaves
½ cup (125 ml) fresh mint leaves
½ cup (125 ml) toasted pecans
kosher salt, to taste
½ cup (125 ml) raw or toasted pumpkin seeds
½ cup (125 ml) dried mulberries or yellow raisins
Instructions
- Cook grains individually according to package directions. Drain and set aside, allowing grains to cool to room temperature.
- Meanwhile, place radish and red onion in separate bowls of ice water and set aside. Allow both sit for at least 10 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar and mustard. Set dressing aside.
- Drain radish and red onion and place in a large bowl. Add cooked grains, arugula, parsley, mint and pecans. Toss to combine, then drizzle with dressing. Toss well and season to taste with salt. Add pumpkin seeds and mulberries. Toss well and serve.
Drink Pairings
Whisky Sour
Ingredients
Serves 1
2 oz (60 ml) Knob Creek Bourbon
¾ oz (22 ml) lemon juice
¾ oz (22 ml) simple syrup*
1 egg white (optional)
all-natural maraschino cherry and orange wheel, for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white (if using). If using egg white, first shake “dry” (without ice) to mix. Then add cubed ice and shake vigorously. Fine strain neat into a cocktail glass, or strain over cubed ice into a rocks glass. Top with a “flag” garnish (cherry and half an orange wheel skewered onto a cocktail pick).
- * 1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in boiling water. Allow to cool before using.
Featuring
Martini
Ingredients
Serves 1
2 oz (60 ml) Bombay Sapphire Gin* (Can substitute with vodka.)
½ oz (15 ml) Noilly Prat Extra Dry Vermouth
1 dash orange bitters (optional, but recommended)
pimento-stuffed olive and/or lemon twist, for garnish
Instructions
- Place a martini glass in the freezer. In a mixing glass, combine gin, vermouth and bitters with cubed ice. Stir until well chilled and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with either a pimento-stuffed olive or a lemon twist…or both.
Featuring
Onigiri
Ingredients
Serves 6 onigiri
½ oz (15 g) dried kombu seaweed
1 tsp (5 ml) bonito flakes
2 cups (500 ml) water, divided
1 handful (about 3½ oz/100 g) fresh shiitake mushrooms, roughly chopped
1 tbsp (15 ml) sake
1 tbsp (15 ml) mirin
1 tsp (5 ml) rice vinegar
2 tbsp (30 ml) soy sauce
1 tsp (5 ml) sugar
½ tsp (2.5 ml) kosher salt
3 cups (750 ml) freshly cooked sushi rice or Japanese short grain rice*
¼ cup (60 ml) furikake ( Japanese rice seasoning)
6 pieces roasted seaweed snacks
Instructions
- In a small, covered saucepan over low heat, simmer kombu and bonito flakes in 1 cup (250 ml) water until kombu is tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove kombu and set aside. Skim off bonito flakes and discard. Reserve simmering water for next step.
- Julienne prepared kombu and return to water. Add mushrooms, sake, mirin, rice vinegar, soy sauce and sugar. Simmer for another 20 to 30 minutes over low heat, until liquid has reduced by about ⅔, then allow to cool. (Or, allow to marinate in refrigerator overnight for even more flavour.)
- In a small bowl, dissolve salt in remaining 1 cup (250 ml) water.
- To assemble, wet hands with prepared salted water, scoop ½ cup (125 ml) rice into one hand and make an indent in middle of rice. Place 2 tsp (10 ml) kombu and mushroom filling in indent, then mould rice around filling. Squeeze it gently into a triangle shape.
- Sprinkle furikake onto a plate. Roll 2 sides of the triangle in furikake. Wrap a piece of seaweed around remaining side. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- * Cook 1½ cups (375 ml) rice according to package directions, then allow to cool enough to handle, but still warm.
Drink Pairings
Egg Sandos
Ingredients
Serves 6 sandwiches
7 eggs, room temperature (we recommend free-range eggs for their vibrant colour)
¼ cup (60 ml) Kewpie (Japanese) mayonnaise
1 tbsp (15 ml) whipping cream
salt and pepper, to taste
12 slices Asian milk bread, crusts removed (can also substitute white sandwich loaf)
Instructions
- Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Gently add eggs, then bring water back to a boil. Turn heat down to a simmer and cook for 6½ minutes. Meanwhile, prepare two ice bath bowls. Remove 3 eggs after the 6½ minutes and place in one ice bath. Cook remaining 4 eggs for 2 more minutes (8½ minutes total), then remove and place in other ice bath.
- Once cooled, peel eggs.
- In a bowl, mash the four 8½ minute eggs, then mix with mayonnaise, cream, salt and pepper.
- Lay out 6 slices of bread. Cut the three 6½ minute eggs in half lengthwise, and lay each half cut-side down in middle of a slice of bread.
- Evenly divide egg salad between slices of bread with egg halves, and spread it out to the edges. Top with remaining slices of bread. Cut each sandwich in half and serve.
Drink Pairings
Miso Tuna Salad
Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
2 x 5-oz (140 g) cans tuna in water, drained
1 tsp (5 ml) miso
¼ cup (60 ml) Kewpie (Japanese) mayonnaise
½ tsp (2.5 ml) mirin
salt and pepper, to taste
2 mini cucumbers, cut into 2-in (5 cm) sticks
1 green onion, thinly sliced
½ tsp (2.5 ml) sesame seeds
1 avocado, sliced, to serve
12 pieces roasted seaweed snacks, to serve
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine tuna, miso, mayonnaise, mirin, salt and pepper.
- Transfer tuna salad to a serving plate. Top with cucumber, green onion and sesame seeds and serve with avocado and roasted seaweed. To eat, wrap some tuna salad and avocado in a piece of seaweed.
Drink Pairings
Chicken Karaage
Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
1 lb (454 g) skin-on, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 2-in (5 cm) pieces
2 tbsp (30 ml) tamari
½ tsp (2.5 ml) sesame oil
1 tbsp (15 ml) sake
1 tbsp (15 ml) mirin
½-in (1.25 cm) piece ginger, peeled and finely grated
vegetable oil, for frying
½ cup (125 ml) potato starch
3 tbsp (45 ml) mochiko (sweet rice) flour
1 tbsp (15 ml) shichimi togarashi spice mix
julienned green onion, for garnish
¼ cup (60 ml) Kewpie ( Japanese) mayonnaise, to serve
½ lemon, cut into wedges, to serve
Japanese takuan pickles, to serve (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix chicken together with tamari, sesame oil, sake, mirin and ginger. Allow to marinate in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, ideally 1 to 2 hours.
- In a wok or high-sided, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat 2-in (5 cm) vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 375 F (190 C). Meanwhile, prepare a wire cooling rack with a sheet pan underneath.
- Drain chicken in a colander and discard marinade. In a small bowl, combine potato starch and mochiko flour. Coat chicken in starch mix, shaking off excess, then set aside on a plate.
- Fry chicken in small batches, turning halfway through, until golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 165 F (74 C), about 5 to 7 minutes per batch.
- Sprinkle with shichimi togarashi, then garnish with green onion and serve with mayonnaise, lemon wedges and pickles (if using).
Drink Pairings
Mai Tai
Ingredients
Serves 1
2 oz (60 ml) Appleton Estate Signature Rum
½ oz (15 ml) Cointreau
¾ oz (22 ml) lime juice
1 oz (30 ml) orgeat (Almond syrup with orange blossom water or rose water, available at specialty stores or online)
mint sprig, for garnish
“spent” lime shell or seasonal fruit, for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with cubed ice, combine rum, Cointreau, lime juice and orgeat. Shake well and strain over crushed ice into a double old-fashioned or tall glass. Garnish with mint and a “spent” lime shell or seasonal fruit.
Featuring
NEGRONI
Ingredients
Serves 1
1 oz (30 ml) Gordon's London Dry Gin
1 oz (30 ml) Cinzano Rosso Vermouth
1 oz (30 ml) Campari
orange twist, for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass with cubed ice, combine gin, vermouth and Campari. Stir for approximately 30 seconds to chill and dilute. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with an orange twist.
Featuring
BLOODY MARY
Ingredients
Serves 1
1½ oz (45 ml) Grey Goose Vodka
4 oz (120 ml) tomato juice
½ oz (15 ml) lemon juice
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
2 dashes Tabasco sauce
1 pinch each salt and pepper
celery stick, for garnish
lemon wedge, for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine all ingredients and gently rotate shaker to mix. Do not shake, as the aeration and extra dilution will change the consistency. Strain over new ice into a chilled hurricane or Collins glass and garnish with a celery stick and lemon wedge.