Keep Your Passion...

So very important to remember and keep focused on when life takes a turn that is viewed as an unsavory direction. It is easy to become jaded...distraught...distracted and off track. Your foundation gets rocked. Your thoughts and visions no longer clear and the goals you strive to achieve seem to be slipping away. Obstacles are merely that. They can be overcome. Work on your shit each day and conquer them. Your passion in your life and what you do is what inspires you and others around you. It is what keeps that glowing light in your eyes and steadies the course for that happiness that your friends, family and loved ones have come to enjoy and know that to be who you are. Without your passion for life and in your work, you lose that edge, that spark, that light that sets you apart. I have always stressed that one needs balance in your life between home and work. God knows I have not always walked the walk. It is hard as a chef or anyone with strong passions for their craft. Someone special in my life has reminded me to keep my passion. To my angel...I dedicate this small piece of my passion and of myself to you...

white asparagus & morel salad, green asparagus bread, white asparagus gelato, crispy lomo
chive blossom vinaigrette

dungeness crab spring pea "cobbler"
honshimejii mushrooms, tarragon, savory bacon streusel, peas, lobster essence
chilled english pea "boisson", creme fraiche, meyer lemon oil

almond crusted local albacore tuna, fava bean tapenade, fennel-radish salad,
chorizo-tomato-green garbanzo sauce

grilled oregon lamb tenderloin, king trumpet mushrooms, truffle yogurt
garlic-eggplant-tripe "tartine", ramp pesto, garlic shortdough, lamb jus

cinnamon-caramel milkshake, chocolate pearls, vanilla bean

part two of dessert symphony...
lehua honey pot de creme, kumquats, kumquat sorbet, macadamia cookies
chocolate-pralione silk, smoked cherry wood ice cream, langue du chat wafer
strawberry-rhubarb crisp, tapioca, muscovado streusel, spruce tip ice cream
chocolate-peanut butter bar, blueberries, mint, chocolate sauce
buttermilk beignets, pecans, banana pudding, espresso ice cream

All That Remains...

A reference to a current metal bands name...a proclamation about the end of a circumstance or event...or perhaps...the substance which is left after something is finished, such as a magnificent meal. In this case of a tasting menu, it is the photos, memories and visions left behind by the crue and I. We plan and procure, we create and we craft, we execute and we cook, we converse and we clean. In the end, it doesn't even matter what we have done in the past, the successes of our history or what we intend to do in the future. It is about what we have just accomplished and what our guests thought about the experience. We are merely and only as good as our last meal. Sure it matters what we think about ourselves as we tend to be much more critical about our work than perhaps those of our guests. Hell, even on my best dishes or meals that have garnered the highest of accolades have I found my many flaws and been unsatisfied of what I had done. That is what is called a perfectionist. Always seeking, never achieving. Another story. Here are some of the dishes recently crafted. They were tasty, flavorful, exciting, and inspiring. All that remains...the quest and search for that next nirvana.

poached shigoku oyster, rhubarb gelee, cara cara orange, fennel
radishes, lemon oil, american sturgeon caviar

asparagus-lobster salad, truffles, asparagus bread, white asparagus gelato
farmer arugula, maple-bourbon vinaigrette

seared almond crusted foie gras, apple-duck-celery salad, viognier gel
grains of paradise laced rhubarb, olive oil-chocolate caramel, nibs

plancha grilled copper river sockeye salmon belly, kumquats
chive blossom-chive-yuzu aioli

sous vide wild boar loin, garbanzo-olive-almond tapenade, saba potatoes
garlic nettles, morels, fava bean pancake, green apple mustard sauce, brown butter

pre-dessert
coconut gel, blueberries, roasted pineapple, toasted coconut, lemon balm ice

seared fluke, quinoa, ramps, morels, peas, pea jus, meyer lemon olive oil

foie gras, alternate presentation

pistachio & saba crusted lamb loin, romesco potatoes
mushroom nettles, baby scarlet turnips, king trumpet mushrooms
garbanzo-parsley-lemon salad, spruce jus

Breakfast in Bed?...

Envision something silky, rich, seductive, tantalizing, sexy, luscious, sensuous, unctuous and soooo tasty. Enter Foie Gras! Here we have prepared this wonderful beauty with a crusting of chopped honey bunches of oats cereal, cacao nibs and marcona almonds, then paired it with gently pickled rhubarb tossed with lemon balm and grains of paradise, a smooth complimentary rhubarb puree, muscovado jelly, 30 year balsamic and mandarin olive oil...In a word...sublime! Now that your minds are all in the gutter..get cooking and save that thought for the boudoir!

Food Porn 5.27...

As I look at the dishes below and the all the shots on my phone, camera and computer, I realize that I almost need a full time publicist, photograph editor and composition compiler to get this posted in a timely fashion. Yea, and I need an office assistant, a personal helper, a this and a that etc..blah blah blah! I must say it is difficult to stay ahead on blog posting, writing and photo downloading while working my schedule. Nonetheless, when I look at the photos and read the menus that I write for these meals, I can see growth as well as repetition...inspiration and tradition...creativity at the same time as foundation. All in all, I feel the need to keep pushing forward as I keep trying to break out of routine and feed the team with new blood and revitalize our spirits. Hoping that I am keeping them stoked, excited and always learning. That has and will be, a forever and never ending goal of mine to keep our team inspired and feeling great about what they do, where they do it and what they can take with them when they decide to move on.


kona kampachi salad, green apple-fennel jelly, radishes, whipped citrus
wood sorrel, heart of palm, pickled peppered strawberries, meyer lemon oil

seared foie gras, whipped foie gras silk, rhubarb, celery hearts, rhubarb gelee, hazelnuts

grilled scallop, asparagus, pea tendrils, pea-smoked duck pancake
chilled pea boisson, truffle oil

pan roasted striped bass, morels, fiddlehead ferns, braised ramps, purple potatoes
green garbanzo-olive composure, citrus poultry jus

dessert tastes...
strawberry-rhubarb "tart", olive oil gelato, chocolate-peanut butter bar, banana,
beignets, banana pudding, honey pot de creme

seared foie gras and lots of fun flavors
blackberry, hazelnut, kumquats, pears, balsamic, caramel, cacao nibs
mmmmmm!

poached shigoku oysters, rhubarb gelee, apples, micro radishes, chia yogurt
grapefruit confit, manadarin oil, rhubarb vinegar

pan roasted branzino, fava tapenade, ramps, pea pancake
pea tendrils, chive blossoms, pea jus

Food Porn 5.26...

More dishes...these handful were during a run of cool ingredients that we had that we were having fun with in various ways...Taste...Flavor...Texture...Composition...Evolution...
Creation...Renditions...Revisitations...Recollections... all in a days work.

maine lobster, local asparagus, asparagus bread, wood sorrel, yogurt creme fraiche
truffles



marcona almond crusted wild boar loin
carrot nettles, morels, glazed carrots, celery root pudding, tripe-truffle-onion ragout
banyuls-blackberry essence



honey bunches of oats crusted chicken bites, spicy buttermilk drizzle

grilled kona kampachi, peas, heart of palm, honshimejii mushrooms
ramps, purple potatoes, ramp oil-carrot juice-pineapple "vinaigrette"

seared foie gras, rhubarb gelee, chocolate, poached rhubarb, apricot conserve
celery-hazelnut salad, fig infused balsamic

wild boar sous vide, green garbanzo beans, olives, nettle pesto,
oxtail-tripe stew, fava risotto, green apple mustard sauce 

Food Porn 5.25...

riesling poached shigoku oyster

ugli, rhubarb gelee, celery, sturgeon caviar, lime creme fraiche, yopol

 

lobster & asparagus salad



yuzu sabayon, asparagus-truffle salad, wood sorrel, truffle vinaigrette

 



seared foie gras, poached rhubarb, fennel, kumquats, rhubarb puree
chocolate dots, hazelnut-cacao dusting

seared kampachi, ramps, peas, bacon, citrus braised heart of palm,
pea tendrils, blood orange-spring onion puree, jus de poisson

scallops 'two ways"
seared with fava bean tapenade, green garbanzo-olive composure, king trumpet mushrooms, black garlic aioli
ceviche stuffed nasturtium blossom, chives, lemon, sesame, golden caviar, bergamot oil

tangelo-ginger soda with chia seeds

white asparagus gelato, meyer lemon confit, lemon balm oil

 

wild boar sous vide, carrot creamed nettles, morels, celery root puree
marcona almond, tripe-apple-onion ragout, banyuls sauce

 

Random shots of the moments as they unfolded in front of the team and the guests. Cool when everything falls into place. Not saying it did or was exactly what I was looking to achieve, but it was tasty! The truth be told and awaits us as we search deep for new ideas and thoughts. Several of these dishes are twists and spins on the same handful of ingredients.

A Tribute to Someone Special...

So much of what I cook, write, say, do, feel, react to, and listen to in terms of music is a reflection of what is happening to me at any given time in my life. Some incredibly great...some good...some just so-so and in some cases...some very shitty! That is probably true and the case for most anyone. All do have and take their place in many forms and fashions. Last night, I had a great privilege to cook for some folks that are very special. This was at the chefs table. It was even more special to me because it(they) reminded me of someone else in my life that is truly very special to me. Cooking for them, was like cooking for the amazing woman currently in my life. It hit deep inside of me and in doing so, I pulled out some very personal creations.

warm porcini crusted halibut & asparagus salad
morels, asparagus bread, white asparagus gelato, black garlic aioli, bourbon-maple vinaigrette

honey bunches of oats crusted foie gras
rhubarb puree, rhubarb-grains of paradise salad, muscovado gel, marcona almonds
30 yr balsamic condiment

pecan-smoked paprika-cornmeal crusted soft shell crab
soft, sexy grits, nettles, pepper-onion compote, cuttlefish "noodles"
carrot-vadouvan jus

grilled copper river sockeye salmon
quinoa, king trumpet mushrooms, peas, ramps, pea jus, radish-lemon salad

roasted beet salad intermezzo
beet sorbet, citrus, fennel pollen yogurt, banyuls vinegar, "pop rocks"

spice crusted duck breast & porcini mushrooms
green garbanzo bean-olive-truffle "tapenade", fava bean pancake, gold beets, kumquats
huckleberry-dark chocolate essence

licorice-syrah braised beef short rib sous vide
fennel, pears, celery root puree, lentils, cherry-black pepper sauce

strawberry-rhubarb-tapioca crisp, muscovado streusel, spruce tip ice cream
pineapple-coconut salad, kumquats, coconut sorbet, pineapple upside down cake
"banana bread pudding"...caramel, banana-chocolate, bananas, peanuts, brioche, cobbler topping
chocolate dove bar, vanilla-buttermilk beignets, chocolate chip-mint ice cream, chilled chocolate soup

I feel very blessed to be able to be a part of something so wonderful on either side of the coin. The dishes crafted and created are but an extension of my heart and soul. Whether burning with desire or bleeding with pain, it all comes out in the wash so-to-speak. I am only too fortunate to have had this privilege on this earth. Wondering what is next???

A Reflection of Oneself...

That "oneself" is me. A glimpse of myself through the vision of my sons. I see it daily, all-to-clearly, not only when I watch my oldest cooking, but in the actions and movements of both in everything that they do, say and react to. Some for the good, some not so much. It's all a part of life. What I have instilled in them and what I hope for them in the future, I pray that I have done some good with their upbringing. I can not take all the credit mind you, for their mother has had an equal hand in that. In the cooking side of things for me personally..it is an amazing sight to see your child, grow up to be a young adult and follow (if only somewhat) in your footsteps as you nurture, guide and coach them along, only to see them carry out the things you have asked with intent, pride and commitment. It makes you proud as a parent. In life, as I witness that same follow through, commitment and energy taking place in other tasks and duties with my youngest son as he works hard at being a good person, shows care in the work that he does, aims to please the people he works for and strives to be the best he can at whatever he does. He gives 150% effort each and every single time. Whether he is playing basketball or running track, sharing his heart through fellowship, working on some landscaping with me or whatever...i know he is giving it his all. With my oldest, I see much determination, ambition, strength, confidence and desire...mostly to play basketball professionally. I am proud of them both, more than I can even begin to expound upon. As I look into this mirror of life...with happiness and excitement I see myself, and at the same time, I see something far better and greater than that. A reflection of a dream. Every parent wants to see something better for their kids...I am no different, and although they may not follow in my footsteps as a chef, I know they will know how to cook, enjoy good food and enjoy life.

Beyond The Clouds...

Is your future clear or unclear? Can you see beyond the haziness in front of you at times?

Is your vision one of clarity and are you able to set your sights on the sun shining through the dark clouds? In life, there are many uncertainties and obstacles that can and will cloud your vision. Obstruction is a fact of life and nature. How we navigate through these hurdles and roadblocks determine our successes in our future. In the realm of cooking...this is every bit of a reality in the professional cuisiniers kitchen. Some of the things a chef is subjected to each day can be overwhelming and very frustrating...Did the cook or dishwasher show up today and even bother to call in to let you know? Did the ingredients arrive properly and was it even the correct amount and of proper stellar quality? Did the guest show up on time for the large banquet event while you have six more following it and getting ready to start? Did you get pulled into a meeting that you weren't planing on and wonder what the hell is happening in the kitchen? Is something happening in your personal life that is totally throwing you off kilter and causing stress while you know you have the utmost need to keep it all together? Did the cook not pay attention to what he or she was doing and torch the only freakin pork shoulder in the house? The list goes on and on. It doesn't stop. As a person, a chef, a leader...it is your job to deal with this shit, stuff it down deep, maneuver around it, anticipate it, adapt and manage the shortcomings, plan accordingly and develop a contingency to overcome the most stressful of situations. Make it work. Make it happen. Get it done. Turn a negative into a positive and be great at it. Sometimes it is hard to do and gets very frustrating and almost seemingly hopeless to some. Perseverance, positivity, hard work, foresight, desire, passion, determination, commitment, professionalism and strong will are all but a small handful of things that can and do help to get one through it. I know, because this has helped me constantly in many a situation that I have found myself buried in throughout my career. A fight till the death is sometimes what it takes. Not settling for less than the best. Failure is not and can not be an option. Set your sights high and keep looking forward. Look beyond the clouds, the rain, the haze, the fog, the darkness in life and only seek the glory, the beauty, the brightness, the sunlight of hope and success in life and your work. You will make it. You will succeed. You will win.