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Tag Archives: Tyler Florence

Recipe – Chicken Paillard with Creamy Parmesan Dressing

June 6, 2012
American, Recipe
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Chicken Paillard with Creamy Parmesan Dressing

Recipe courtesy of Tyler Florence

Oh how I love Tyler Florence and all that he does!  I’ve made this recipe of his a couple of times now and each time my husband cleans his plate!  That’s always a good sign:)  It’s a pretty easy meal and one that doesn’t taste too heavy which is nice.  Perfect for a weekday night or for easy entertaining.  I think once you make this you’ll definitely go back to it as a trusty go-to recipe.

Ingredients

Chicken:

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs, lightly whisked
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup vegetable or peanut oil

Dressing:

  • 4 anchovy fillets
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 clove garlic, pealed and smashed
  • 2 lemons, juiced
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Salad:

  • 1 cup organic grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 bag fresh baby arugala
  • 1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, boccancini, halved
  • Shaved Parmesan, for garnish
  • Lemon wedges, for garnish
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Directions

For the chicken:

Begin by pounding out the chicken breast gently between 2 pieces of plastic wrap.

Prepare a breading station with flour, whisked eggs and milk, and panko crumbs. Season all generously with salt and pepper. Coat the breasts in flour, egg then panko. Lay the coated breasts out on a flat tray and refrigerate to let the crust dry out (about 10 minutes) this will ensure there is less moisture and less chance your coating will break when frying.

Shallow fry the paillard in hot oil for approximately 2 to 3 minutes per side depending on how thick the breasts are. Drain well, season with salt and set aside when done.

For the dressing:

Put the anchovies, egg yolks, garlic, and lemon juice into a blender and process for 30 seconds until the mixture is smooth. With the blender running, pour the olive oil in slowly for the dressing to emulsify. Add water if the sauce is too thick.  Stir in the Parmesan, season with grinds of black pepper; set aside. (Refrigerate the dressing if you will not be using it right away.)

Prepare the salad by splitting the grape tomatoes in half through the middle lengthwise, mixing all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add the dressing and toss the salad well.

To serve lay the warm, crispy chicken paillard on the base of the plate and top with the salad. Garnish with shaved parmesan cheese, a wedge of lemon and a drizzle of olive oil.

Rotisserie & Wine – Napa, CA

May 9, 2012
American, California Cuisine, Napa
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Rotisserie & Wine – Napa, CA

I’m a huge fan of Tyler Florence already but this just confirmed it even more.  Located in the heart of Napa with a patio facing the Napa River, he’s opened another fantastic restaurant that is the perfect spot for any occasion.  A thanks to his wife Tolan, his personal interior decorator, the decor couldn’t be more or a perfect marriage with the food.  Rustic yet refined, it’s a comfortable spot that has managed to still be current.  Whether it’s a casual lunch (like i enjoyed) or a birthday get together, you’ve got to try it!

The best surprise ever was the warm cornbread that came out before our meal.  I seriously could have eaten tons of it but had to remind myself of all the food coming.  My husbands R&W cheeseburger looked incredible.  With the fried egg on top it was a little hard to share so lucky him…he got it all to himself.  My salad was perfect for the middle of the day, especially since we had the deviled eggs as starters.

And don’t forget about his tempting kitchen store next door – Tyler Florence West Coast Kitchen Essentials.  I could spend all day in there:)  Here’s where you can get your hands on the pots and pans Chef Florence uses in his restaurants and at home as well as other top brands.   His spice rubs and marinades make amazing hostess and holiday gifts.  I’d be amazed if you walked out without purchasing anything:)

Complementary cornbread to start your meal with…yum!

Deviled eggs with fried capers, shallots and thyme oil

Chop salad – pulled chicken, bacon, avocado, jack cheese and a garlic vinaigrette

R&W Cheeseburger with an added fried egg

The Good Things – Favorite Cookbooks

January 31, 2012
The Good Things
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I have a little obsession with cookbooks.  Not only do I love using them to cook with but I also love reading them front to back.  I have a lot of people ask me what my go to cookbooks are.  Honestly, there isn’t just one but, below are some of my favorite and most used cookbooks and ones that I feel round out my library pretty well…

Tyler Florence Family Meal – I got this cookbook at a wedding shower and have been in love with it ever since.  I’m a huge fan of Tyler Florence’s restaurants – Wayfare Tavern, Rotisserie & Wine and El Paseo and have found that all of the recipes I’ve tried at home aren’t as complicated as one might expect.  His signature Popovers were definitely a hit at Christmas this year!

Greek Cooking In An American Kitchen – Hands down my favorite cookbook for many reasons.  First of all, I’m Greek and I grew up with this cookbook in my home.  It comes from St. Demetrios Church where I grew up going and now live a few blocks from.  You can buy it directly from them for $25 (bring a check book).  Be sure to check out the Greek Festival they throw every fall.  It’ll really make you want the cookbook even more:)

Williams-Sonoma Cooking For Friends – This cookbook is unlike any other I have.  One of the things I love most about it is that for certain ingredients, they show you 3-4 different ways to cook/prepare them.  For example: Savory Tarts Four Ways – Greek-Style Tomato & Feta Tart, Plum & Goat Cheese Tart, Pear & Gorgonzola Tart and Leek, Pancetta & Gruyére Tart.  It’s a good one I swear!

Cristina’s of Sun Valley – While I lived out my ski bum dreams in Sun Valley about 10 yrs ago my roommate and childhood friend worked at Cristina’s and I was lucky enough to have goodies brought home to me on a consistent basis.  I have been a fan of Cristina’s Italian food for a long time now and I love that I can make it in my own home for friends and family.

I’ve recently added (and have been gifted) a few new books to my collection that I’m dying to cook with.  Here are a few of them:

Good Fish – Written by a local Seattleite, this cookbook provides endless sustainable seafood recipes from the Pacific Coast.  I love seafood and am always looking for new recipes…especially ones that don’t require the BBQ since I don’t have much patience for our coal Webber:)

Kokkari: Contemporary Greek Flavors – One of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco…this used to be my stomping ground whenever I had a Greek food craving.  It’s upscale and more modern than most Greek spots but the food is memorable and so well executed.

Simply Truffles – My sweet sister-in-law (who knows me well) gave me this cookbook for Christmas.  Trouble…because I’m a truffle addict and this will just give me endless ideas and cost me a pretty penny to try them all.  I’m in!

Bottega – One of my go to spots in Yountville, CA, this oversized cookbook is full of stunning photos and recipes that define California Cuisine…something I miss.  The Parmesan Dip I blogged about is from his other book Michael Chiarello’s Casual Cooking which I love so I have no doubts that this cookbook will win me over too.

Wayfare Tavern – San Francisco, CA

November 28, 2011
California Cuisine, San Francisco
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Wayfare Tavern – San Francisco, CA

Earlier this year while my mom and I were visiting San Francisco we had dinner at Tyler Florence’s Wayfare Tavern.  The atmosphere embraces exactly what I miss about SF, the lively energy not to mention a lot of really pretty people to stare at:)  It was bustling on a week night and after eating there I know exactly why.  The food was perfectly executed and delicious!!!  Rather than just your standard bread and butter or oil, you’re treated to a warm freshly baked popover which I could have eaten a dozen of.

My favorite part of the meal was my starter, the Roasted Organic Beets served with winter citrus aioli, goose berries, avocado mousse and quinoa.  YUM!!!

If you live in SF or are going to visit this should definitely be a place you try at least once.  Be sure to get reservations!

Serious Pie – Seattle, WA

November 7, 2011
Italian, Seattle
1 Comment

Serious Pie – Seattle, WA

Who doesn’t love pizza?  And who better to make it than Seattle’s own Tom Douglas!  I first discovered Serious Pie while on a food tour in downtown Seattle.  They described the whole pizza making process, how their dough is brushed with olive oil and then sprinkled with Murray River Sea Salt (another thing I discovered on that trip that I now use all the time while cooking) making the entire pizza something you want to devour – not leaving the crusts like some do with other pizzas.  Long story short…after the tour we found ourselves back at SP eating more pizza because it was SO good.

Fast forward a couple of years and it’s one of our favorite spots.  We take out of town guests there as often as possible and while downtown shopping or running errands we’ll find any excuse to make a stop.

My favorites include the Baby Lettuces Salad…it’s plenty to share and just so simple and refreshing to start your meal with.  I also always gravitate towards the Roasted Chanterelle Mushroom and Truffle Cheese pizza…holy crap it’s good!  I’m a huge truffle lover so that might explain things…if you’re not, they you probably won’t like this pizza.  I also really appreciate their version of the Margherita Pizza…clean flavors that do enough on their own.  This last trip my friend and I ordered the Soft Egg, Spicy Coppa, and Tender Mustard Greens pizza…it’s was delicious!  I would definitely order it again.  There’s something about the fresh greens on top that really compliments the savory underneath.  Yum…if you haven’t been, you’re really missing out!  Even Chef Tyler Florence said it’s his favorite pizza on an episode of The Best Thing I Ever Ate…Pizza!

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