Have you stopped into our gourmet market recently? Since opening, we’re having a hard time keeping items on the shelves! We’re absolutely thrilled to see that the wonderful people around us
are as excited about sharing in our vision of great food, wine, and life as we are.
If you follow our Facebook page, you’ll notice that we post weekly specials that are guaranteed to please. This week is mushroom risotto & Manhattan clam chowder, and exciting duo that speaks of the upcoming fall season. Earthy, mild risotto pairs exceptionally well with our briney, sumptuously tomato based clam chowder. As far as wine pairings go, you’d do well to heed the advice of Bill Daley from the Chicago Times: chose a wine with an earthier tone alongside a crisp minerality. Our wine shop is the perfect place to look for the right kind of wine to work with these dishes, and for those yearning to try new and exciting varietals and blends, coming to one of our wine tasting events is a necessity.
Want to try your hand at replicating our dishes at home? Try these recipes:
Food Network’s Manhattan Clam Chowder
Ingredients
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large Spanish onion, chopped
1 1/2 celery stalks, chopped
7 cloves garlic, minced
Pinch crushed red pepper
1/4 cup tomato paste
3 sprigs parsley
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1 large waxy-style potato (about 3/4 pound), diced
5 cups clam juice (five 8-ounce bottles clam juice)
One 28-ounce can whole, peeled tomatoes (with liquid), roughly chopped
1 -1/2 cups minced clams, drained (about four 6-1/2 ounce cans)
1 tablespoon kosher salt or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped parsley for garnish
Directions
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, garlic, and crushed red pepper and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute more.
Tie the parsley sprigs, fresh thyme, and bay leaf together with a piece of kitchen twine and add to the pot with the potatoes. Pour in the clam juice and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
Stir in the tomatoes and clams. Cover and bring to a low simmer. Season with pepper to taste. Divide among warm soup bowls and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve immediately.
Read more at: Food Network Kitchen
Giada De Laurentiis Mushroom Risotto with Peas
Ingredients
8 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
1/2 -ounce dried porcini mushrooms
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups finely chopped onions
10 ounces white mushrooms, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice or short-grain white rice
2/3 cup dry white wine
3/4 cup frozen peas, thawed
2/3 cup grated Parmesan
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, optional
Directions
Bring the broth to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan. Add the porcini mushrooms. Set aside until the mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Keep the broth warm over very low heat.
Melt the butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the white mushrooms and garlic. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the porcini mushrooms to a cutting board. Finely chop the mushrooms and add to the saucepan. Saute until the mushrooms are tender and the juices evaporate, about 5 minutes. Stir in the rice and let it toast for a few minutes. Add the wine; cook until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of hot broth; simmer over medium-low heat until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook until the rice is just tender and the mixture is creamy, adding more broth by cupfuls and stirring often, about 28 minutes (the rice will absorb 6 to 8 cups of broth). Stir in the peas. Mix in the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis
Read more at: Food Network Kitchen
