Super Bowl Nachos

If you know me you know I don't care much about football and when it comes to Super Bowl Sunday I typically want to be at a party but don't exactly focus on the game. I enjoy the highlights and commercials as well as a good touchdown or two but the food at the superbowl party is far more interesting.

This year I cruised up to Napa with a friend and made the most decadent carnitas nachos of all time. I don't know anyone who doesn't like a loaded nacho plate, and for good reason I might add; Every bite of these treats had a delicious blend of homemade goodness.

Loaded Super Bowl Nachos

Homemade carnitas meat, recipe found here
Rancho Gordo Heirloom pinto beans (yum!)
Homemade red tomatillo salsa
Chips from La Luna Taqueria in Rutherford
Sauteed poblano chiles and onions
Tillamock Extra Sharp White Cheddar Cheese
Mexican Crema
Guacamole
Cilantro
Green Onions

Napa in the winter- there's just something magical about it, even if it is in the high 70's!

Since When Do I Crave Rabbit?

Oh you know, since the other day my friend Thomas decided it was going to take center stage at our dinner party- No biggie.
We were a few blocks from Bi-Rite market brainstorming ideas when we became fixated on the idea of rabbit...and then, remarkably, Bi-Rite had whole rabbits as if they were waiting there for us in the glass case, traveling all the way from Devils Gulch Ranch. Not cheap, mind you...unique game comes at a special price. Mainly because it's special but also because it's not in high demand. (but we can change that, right?)

I did go to culinary school and was exposed to all sorts of game but I honestly only saw rabbit a few times, most notably in paella. All I remember is it being dry and reminding me of my pet rabbit growing up, Benji. Benji was smaller though, if that makes any sort of difference at all.

When Thomas suggested a roulade preparation I perked up thinking if it was stuffed and wrapped it would have less of a chance of drying out. Saveur provided us with great visuals for how to de-bone the rabbit- such an awesome magazine! They also gave us inspiration and focus for what to stuff it with.

All this to say, I'm completely sold on the idea of rabbit- I want to make a roulade again soon and then I want to take my French co-workers advice by roasting the rabbit whole, basting with Dijon mustard and using the liver to make liver stuffed mushrooms. Anyone interested??

I know this post is incomplete without a picture of our finished product. We served the roulade with a reduction sauce made from the stock and Brandy soaked cherries, next to Parmesan risotto and sauteed collard greens, topped off with an apple tart with caramel sauce for dessert. Next time, I'll try to pull myself away from the excitement of eating to take the final shot...

first proscuitto, then blanched cabbage, then the rabbit

mousse along with bits of leg meat for the center...

after poaching it in plastic wrap we trussed it and then seared it...

and then we devoured it! it fed exactly 7 of us

Ricotta Cheese

I love the stuff and at Sideboard they put a spin on bruschetta by slathering pesto spread and then ricotta on before topping it with cherry tomatoes, basil and olive oil.

Sally Loo's

Sally Loo's! Why weren't you around when I went to school in San Luis Obispo? I would have been your number one fan, there each week studying while sipping lattes and nibbling on delicious baked goods. I would know all the regulars...because I'd BE one. I would walk in and it would be like a second home.
I miss you SLO.
I miss you more knowing Sally Loo's is gracing her presence there.




Okay, so you can't exactly buy blocks of cheese at Sally Loo's but you CAN bring a block of cheese and buy some toast to eat it with. This particular gem is called Lamb Chopper and it's made by Cypress Grove Chevre where Janne works!





Hands down the most delicious orange cinnamon roll in the entire world. I took one for the road and dug into it before we hit Paso Robles.

Fun Fact: Sally Loo's is owned by two of the coolest people ever- Jen and Brandon Manuele. They actually were the photographers for Lindsay and Davids wedding! Quite the power couple, right?!

2011!

Happy New Year from Bu5 + 1!

We lived on Buchon St. There were five of us. Bu5 was a natural fit.
We rang in the new year in San Luis Obispo, our old stomping ground...what a wonderful place! What wonderful girls! (and of course, what wonderful husbands! :)

Brunch at Bar Jules

I love spending time in San Francisco. The cool air, hustle and bustle, lights and high rise buildings. And how about those bridges!? The Golden Gate is quite magical. Cypress trees, parks and museums, appreciation for forward thinking food and ideas...you almost can't go wrong.

Hayes Valley is a nice little neighborhood that I wish I knew more about. I hear people raving about the shops and quaint eateries but when I'm there I always feel a bit lost. Thomas knew of a spot we thought would be open for breakfast called Bar Jules but instead we killed time until it opened for lunch. I was really craving something breakfasty and it turned out their lunch menu completely satisfied my craving! Let's forget the label of lunch, we'll call it brunch. Bar Jules serves up a tasty, well prepared brunch and I recommend you try it out if you're in the area!

Scrambled eggs w/ scallions, parmesan, wild arugula and proscuitto toasts

Fried eggs w/ white bean puree and artichoke-piquillo relish

Welcome Home!

David and Lindsay FINALLY came home from Sierra Leone after 6 months of externship. They were ridiculously missed. I think the entire month before they got home I thought about it everyday, always hoping it would come sooner. And then it did!!

We celebrated by preparing a Pizza Feast with decadent toppings, a raw Dino Kale Caesar Salad with avocado and breadcrumbs and poached pears with mascarpone cream. Yum!