Culinary Smackdown: Cabbage with Sausages and Grapes

Herewith my usual last-minute entry for the Culinary Smackdown, hosted this month by Grumpy Granny. I'm delighted by what my long-time Smackdown peeps contributed this month for Battle Cabbage. And to welcome some fabulous newcomers to this friendly foodie fray! Click on over to GG's host post here to find links to everyone's entries in the comments. Stay tuned for her announcement of this month's winner, who will win bragging rights, the opportunity to post a Culinary Smackdown winner badge on their sidebar/wall, and in turn become next month's host, judge, and "theme-picker."

This month I borrowed from a Mario Batali recipe that had me at the thought of cooking grapes for the first time. I substituted ingredients all over the place, failed to measure anything, and still managed to whip up something I'm not disappointed to call supper.

I had a sweet white onion on hand, so didn't go out of my way to buy a red onion.

I found seedless red grapes, which I suspect are different than Batali's recommended "wine or purple grapes."

I went foraging in the freezer for sausages and came up with some Roasted Red Pepper Italian Sausages from Carfagna's – a wonderful market and butcher shop that is as much of a must whenever I visit Columbus as, apparently, are stops at Jungle Jim's and Ikea whenever KY food bloggers come to Cincinnati.

I had the last little bit left in a bottle of red wine vinegar, and didn't worry whether it measured 4 tablespoons or not.

And then there was the cabbage. Foolish me, I picked up bok choy, thinking the delicate little head sitting next to it was Savoy cabbage when (I learned after googling images after my shopping trip) it was the called-for Napa cabbage after all. Oh, well. My honkin' big bok choy would not go to waste.

Although the recommendation of grilling the sausages sounds like a fine one, I browned mine in a Dutch oven while I sliced my onion and cabbage and plucked the stems from my grapes.

After removing the sausages, I wilted the onion, then added the sliced bok choy gradually (thickest to thinnest) to compensate for what I guessed would be its cooking time variance from Napa cabbage. Impatient and on the clock, I put the lid on the Dutch oven to hurry the cabbage cooking time along. Then added the grapes, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper, and bok choy greens. Topped with the sausages, here's dinner tonight.

Warning: Cooked grapes are hot! But I really liked my quick taste of this combination. Now I'm off to taste it for reals, with a glass of red wine, and settle in for the finale of Top Chef. I would be a happier camper if I could be rooting for Chef Ed Lee tonight. But after eating at his restaurant, 610 Magnolia in Louisville a couple of weeks ago, I can't complain.

I'll be around to check out the rest of the Smackdown entries later. And you can betcha a big post about 610 Magnolia is in the works. Plus more from other great KY restaurants I've visited in the past 1+ month.

Happy Smackdown, happy Leap Day, and thanks to all my talented and marvelous bloggy friends!

xoxo, eggy

Megan Ketover: Top Chef, Class Act

Megan Ketover’s Malted Chocolate Bavarian with Roasted Bananas, Peanut Streusel and Dolce de Leche

I’ve been rooting for my hometown pastry chef, Megan Ketover, all season on Top Chef: Just Desserts and was saddened to see her eliminated in this week’s episode. The good news, however, is that (contractually speaking) she can now speak more openly about her experience on the show. Check out the terrific exit interview podcast she did with my blogging partner on All Top Chef, Laura Kluvo, if you’re craving more Megan.

I had the opportunity to meet Chef Ketover and taste her creations before the show premiered (my report here). The proof is on the fork, or spoon, and there’s no question in mind her skills are impressive. But I think there’s more to Megan than that. She's a genuine team player, and a professional through and through. She exhibits poise under pressure, has a profound passion for her work, loves to tackle new challenges, and maintains an even keel, reasoned perspective, sense of humor, and infectious enthusiasm no matter what comes her way.

In other words, she’s not just a fine baker, she’s an inspiration. During her turn on Top Chef: Just Desserts – where she made it to the 7th of 10 episodes, no small accomplishment! – I’ve come to realize how much respect and admiration she’s earned from many of her colleagues in the Cincinnati culinary world, including her former teachers and students at the Midwest Culinary Academy. She also clearly earned the respect of her competitors on the show. How great was it when they stood up for her at Judges Table in the Willy Wonka episode!

Although she’s off the show, I think Megan is just getting started on a remarkable career. I can’t wait to see where it goes – and I can’t wait to taste more of her food!

There Is No “Ooooh” in “Macaron”: An Opinionated Top Chef: Just Desserts Recap

Those of you following along know I’m a die-hard Top Chef fan and that I am unabashedly rooting for local pastry chef Megan Ketover, a contestant on this season of TC: Just Desserts. I was delighted to see Megan on the winning team for the second week in a row, although I’m itching for individual rather than team Elimination Challenges already.

I am somewhat surprised at my overall reactions to Wednesday night’s episode. Despite the egregious (but of course not uncommon) product placement component to the Quickfire Challenge – contestants were tasked with creating a dessert that might grow up to be a chewing gum flavor – I was impressed by the pastry chefs’ efforts. Sure, the prospect of winning the $25K ponied up by the chewing gum sponsor might have been a motivator. But, at least as the show was edited, I didn’t see any of the contestants rolling their eyes at the silliness of the exercise. When this show is at its best, the contestants rise above the goofball twists and constraints they're up against to produce innovative and well thought-out results. And I saw a lot of that in this Quickfire.

While for the most part the contestants came off well, the sponsor, not so much. The winner was to have his/her dessert “voted on by consumers” as a potential new gum flavor. However, it seems the sponsor has dumbed down [unexpected] winner Craig’s Lemon Mascarpone Pancakes with Cream and Strawberries and is offering it in gum form as "Lemon Square" alongside Root Beer Float and Bananas Foster flavor options. Vote if you care to. I won't bother. Nor will this episode convert me into a chewing-gum consumer, whatever the flavor.

Other than that, I’m wondering if I'm looking at this season through rose-colored glasses as I root for my local, Megan. Somehow I didn’t find the Real Housewives on this JD episode as annoying as I expected to. Nor did my usual allergy to the color pink send me into hives at this week’s dishes for the Elimination Challenge.

Hugh Acheson's appearance as a judge may have helped keep this episode from becoming too saccharine for me. I loved his dry sense of humor as a contestant on Top Chef Masters last season and am looking forward to his appearance as a judge alongside Emeril on Top Chef 9: Texas.

But the one thing that drove me crazy this episode was that everyone – even that chick at the end of the table who was Housewife Lisa Vanderpink’s colleague who I assumed was French – pronounced this dessert as “macaroon.”

What a missed opportunity! Macaroons are shredded coconut American concoctions, while macarons are delicate cream-filled sandwich cookies of French origin. Serious Eats has a solid 101 on the topic here. And you can listen to something resembling the correct pronunciation of macaron here. OK, stepping down from my soapbox now.

Next week Just Desserts meets Willy Wonka in an episode TC producers The Magical Elves selected as one of the all-time top 10 favorite episodes they’ve ever produced, telling Entertainment Weekly it “may be the ultimate episode of Just Desserts. . . The contestants cry when the challenge is announced, and it's one of the most creative and dramatic episodes of any show we've ever done.” So, as for that preview that shows Megan Ketover in tears? I’m hoping it was filmed at the beginning of the challenge, not after. The Elves love misdirection . . .

Meanwhile, if you’d like a taste of Top Chef before next Wednesday rolls around, Season 6’s Kevin Gillespie, one of my all-time favorite TC contestants, appears in cartoon form at 11:45 Sunday night in Squidbillies on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. Sounds like Kevin had a hoot playing himself. You can read more here, and here's a video that's giving me fits trying to upload.

It's Restaurant Week 'round these parts and I'll be back with more later in the week. Enjoyed a fine dinner at Bouquet Restaurant and Wine Bar with local food blogger Stephie of Small Girl Adventures, who is hosting this month's Culinary Smackdown: Battle Oktoberfest. What a delight to meet her in person!

Cincinnati Pastry Chef Megan Ketover Premieres on Top Chef Wednesday Night

It’s been a crazy few days in my little bloggy world. First, I lucked into attending the filming of Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food Nation at Tom+Chee on Saturday, a very cool experience by itself. Then my post about host Adam Richman’s shoot at Tom+Chee (which turned out to be an “exclusive”) was linked by Cincinnati Enquirer TV columnist John Kieswetter, resulting in an astonishing 500+ hits for my little local blog, Eggplant To Go.

But that’s nothing compared to the media attention Cincinnati’s own Megan Ketover, pastry chef at Orchids at the Palm Court in the Hilton Netherland Plaza, is about to receive when she appears on Top Chef: Just Desserts, premiering at 10:00 p.m. on Bravo Wednesday night.

I had the opportunity to meet Megan and taste her amazing desserts a couple of weeks ago. If you missed it, you can find my post about her here. I’m part of the blogging team at AllTopChef.com, and we'll have have lots more Top Chef coverage to offer in the weeks to come.

Megan is a hometown talent any Cincinnati fan of Top Chef can be proud to root for. The Enquirer ran this article about Megan last weekend. and I hear Kieswetter has another planned for Wednesday. Meanwhile, here’s a  Q+A with Megan from Cincinnati Voices, another media source I’m happy to discover. If you're rooting for Megan Ketover or have more news, coverage, or just plain fan love for Megan Ketover, please let me know. I'm proud to be a home-town fan, and I'm confident that however she fares on Top Chef: Just Desserts, Megan has a bright future ahead of her!

AN AMUSE BOUCHE FROM MY CA TRIP, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

My vacation was everything a vacation should be. Perfect weather. All week long. New sights, tastes, and experiences. Easy-going traveling companions. And I got to to cook - for other people! While I continue to cull through my some 600 photos, and split things into more readable posts, here's a taste.

I even managed to finally try my hand at stuffed squash blossoms, thanks to those in my Aunt Marilyn's garden! As well as a few other dishes I've been longing to make before this summer is over.

Meanwhile, I discovered a few surprise opportunities when I managed to snag some internet time.My shrimp and street corn sandwich won me another gift certificate to the CSN stores over at Sandwich365!

I am also honored to have been invited to join the blogging team at All Top Chef. Some of you may know I have a history of dwelling in that dank, dark TC crack monkey googling basement. I hope to put my obsession with Top Chef and newsy bits about it to useful purposes as I join forces with these great folks.

As fate would have it, when I retired to my room to catch the Top Chef 7 finale, followed by the Top Chef Desserts premiere (which I tried really hard to take good notes on in order to get up to speed on my new ATC gig), I heard a knock at the bedroom door. Here's what Marilyn brought me. What a perfect entree to Top Chef: Just Desserts!

Speaking of desserts, results are up for the September Culinary Smackdown: Battle Chocolate at Karkilette's. Be sure to check out Rebecka's winning dish, Chocolate Tamales with Ancho Chile Fudge Sauce.

Jet lag and multi-tasking are catching up with me, so must sign off. Lots more good stuff to share soon.

WHERE DID SUMMER GO?

So much going on as the summer draws to a close! But I wanted to take a minute to thank just a few of the fine folks who've fed me - literally, inspirationally, even monetarily :) - in ways that have made this a great summer I will be sorry to see end.

First up, Cooking With Caitlin, whose Fried Green Tomato Burger with Remoulade at the top of this post last Tuesday was, sadly, my last opportunity to taste their food this summer. I've been eating Caitlin's inventive little burgers every Tuesday this summer when they've participated in Market on Fountain Square, including this awesome burger with asparagus slaw I blogged about here.

Tuesday Market on the Square continues through September, although last week, alas, was CWC's last outing at this season's market - my first jolt, other than all that back-to-school morning traffic, that summer has about run its course. Thanks, gals, for your big smiles and delicious food all summer long!

Next, for those of you who've been following the Culinary Smackdown cooking/blogging competitions I've participated in a few times now - Battle Lobster, Battle Picnic (which I won), and Battle Summertime Veggies (which I hosted) - a big thanks to Doggy Bloggy of ChezWhat? for his ongoing culinary inspiration, as well as doing a fine job hosting this month's Culinary Smackdown. Check out Doggy's wrap-up of the Battle Sandwich entries for some wide-ranging and delicious sandwich inspirations. I believe he drew in a record number of participants, including Anette of Krakilette, from Norway, who was this month's winner! Here are Anette's details for the September Culinary Smackdown: Battle Chocolate.

Dog upped the stakes for the August Smackdown by offering a $100 CSN Stores gift certificate. Imagine my surprise when the same day I learned I did NOT win one from him I also learned I DID WIN one for $60 from All Top Chef. If you're a Top Chef fan and don't already know about this blog, you'll find lots of newsy tidbits about chefs from all the seasons, plus terrific podcast interviews with each week's auf'd contestant by the fabulous Laura Kluvo, founder of Blogging Project Runway, which I discovered in its infancy and which inspired me into the blogosphere in the first place.You'll also find linkage to Top Chef recaps, including the hysterically funny ones from hard-working ATC team member, cartoonizer, and dialectician Minx Eats.

I also want to give a shout-out to Findlay Market and the team of stellar Cincinnati chefs (including Jean-Robert de Cavel, Julie Francis, Joanne Drilling, and Summer Genetti) who will be bringing their talents to bear at the Lunch on the Land benefit for Findlay Market September 19 at organically certified Turner Farm.

For more details, and a video from last year's fundraiser, click here.

Photo courtesy of J. Greg Henry of SippitySup.com.

Finally, if you're looking for corn recipes, you will find a spectacular array of them over at Sippity-Sup, who has just finished a week-long "Sweet on Corn" blogathon that includes:
Grilled Corn with Feta and Lime

Grilled Chicken with Raw Corn and Grilled Bread Salad

Seared Scallops with Succotash

Corn and Zucchini Fritter Stacks with Bacon and Avocado

Old Fashioned Corn Chowder

Fresh Corn & Sun Dried Tomato Angel Hair Pasta

and his final, knock-out installment, a savory Corn Brulee and Tomato Sorbet - hint, bacon is also involved! Go check these out. You will find gorgeous photos and outstanding dishes that just may convince you there's a whole 'nother world of things you can do with corn besides dousing it in butter.

Meanwhile, I'll leave you with this roasted corn shot I took myself. What are you eating as Labor Day approaches?