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Recipe: Summer Peach & Mascarpone Risotto by Chef Angelo Romano of Paradiso Ristorante in Lake Worth, FL!

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Fred Bollaci

This dish is perfect for a flavorful lunch or dinner or a unique new item for your summer entertaining menu.

The summer ingredients we are using are peaches; combined with mascarpone and parmesan to create a fresh, light summer risotto.

4 tbsp mascarpone

2 cups rice

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp parmesan cheese

2 fresh peaches, ripe but firm

shallot

1 gallon of vegetable broth

To prepare the broth:

– bring the broth to boil and keep hot

To prepare the risotto:

thinly chop the shallot
braise until golden brown with 1 tbsp of butter in a risotto pan
add 2 cups of rice
stir into braised onions
slowly add broth, keeping broth just covering the rice
as the rice absorbs the broth, slowly add more
repeat and continue until the rice has cooked for 20 minutes
To perpare the peaches

dice into cubs slightly larger than the cooked rice grains
To incorpate the mascarpone and peaches

stir in the mascarpone and peaches while rice is still over the heat
the flavors are slowly released during 5 additional minutes of cooking
Remove from the heat add remaining butter and parmesan cheese in what we call mantecare.

Mantecare: Italian word to describe the last process of making risotto. It is the binding of the butter and parmesan, done while rice is removed from the heat to avoid breaking the butter. This is what creates the creamy texture of risotto.

You have now created a classic Chef Angelo risotto recipe using one of his favorite summer fruits.

Note: to make it lighter, simply cut the amount of butter and mascarpone in half.

Posted in Florida Golden Palate Partners | Tagged angelo romano, lake worth, mascarpone, paradiso, peaches, risotto, summer | Comments Off

Raspberry Rose Macarons from Chef Jose Martinez (Maison Blanche, Longboat Key- Sarasota, Florida)

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Fred Bollaci

Believe it or not, a sweet tooth is not something I can claim. I do enjoy an occasional dessert as a treat from time to time, preferably something small, delicate, and delicious, such as these from Golden Palate Chef Jose Martinez.

RASPBERRY ROSE MACARON
Ingredients:
2 egg whites
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
¾ cup almond flour
5 ounces pastry cream
1 teaspoon rose extract
3 ounces whipped cream
1 ounce raspberry coulis
6 ounces fresh raspberries

Method:
Whisk egg whites with a mixer to soft peaks, and combine them with almond flour and confectioners’ sugar. Transfer the batter in a pastry bag with a round tip, and make circles (four inches in diameter) on a parchment paper placed on top of a baking sheet. Cook for 10 minutes at 325 degrees. To prepare the rose cream, mix the rose extract with the pastry cream, and add the raspberry coulis and whipped cream. After the macarons reach room temperature, turn them upside down, fill them with rose cream, insert the fresh raspberries, and sandwich the two parts.

Make these delicate, delicious French treats, and your guests will be in Heaven!

Posted in Florida Golden Palate Partners | Tagged dessert, framboise, french, jose martinez, longboat key, macaron, pastry, patisserie, raspberry, sarasota | Comments Off

Recipe: Blistered Shishito Peppers with Anna Maria Island Bottarga by Golden Palate Jack Dusty at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, FL

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Fred Bollaci

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Photo by Fred Bollaci (pictured with lemon zest and grilled lemon as another option)

Recipe courtesy of Jack Dusty

Blistered Shishito Peppers with Anna Maria Island Bottarga

Ingredients:
4 ounces local shishito peppers
½ cup canola oil
Half lemon, freshly squeezed
Maldon salt, to taste
Anna Maria Island bottarga, left in dehydrator overnight

Method:
Heat the canola oil until it is translucent and beginning to lightly smoke. Add shishito peppers and stir often. Remove the peppers after the skin has blistered and lightly split. Season with freshly squeezed lemon juice and Maldon sea salt. Use a microplane to shave the dehydrated bottarga over the blistered peppers.

Note: my good friends at Gulf Coast Caviar and Bottarga sell locally-sourced Bottarga from Red Mullet roe caught in Cortez Bay (Anna Maria Island), some 20 minutes north of Sarasota.

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Posted in Fred Bollaci on Dining | Tagged bottarga, caleb taylor, florida, gulf coast caviar and bottarga, jack dusty, Ritz Carlton, sarasota, shishito peppers | Comments Off

The Homestead Resort: A Sensational, Golden Palate® Family-Friendly Getaway in the Beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes on Lake Michigan, Glen Arbor, Michigan

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Fred Bollaci

The Homestead, overlooking Lake Michigan in beautiful Glen Arbor, MI (30 minutes west of Traverse City) is the perfect destination for vacations, weddings, reunions and meetings, spa and salon services and year-round recreation. It is located within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the area chosen by viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America as Most Beautiful Place in America. The 500 acre resort features the only Dave Pelz Scoring School in the Midwest, several miles of unspoiled shoreline, several pools, gourmet dining, and activities fit for the entire family, and has been awarded the Fred Bollaci Enterprises Golden Palate® Certificate of Excellence! Make this your new favorite getaway!

Leelanau County, Michigan is a premier travel destination for those seeking unmatched natural beauty in a tranquil setting. It is a peninsula blessed with sandy beaches, massive dunes, timbered ridges, pastoral farms, and wineries surrounded by Lake Michigan’s clear waters.

These unique natural resources and breathtaking views led to the creation of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the National Park that now surrounds The Homestead.

In addition to its natural beauty, Leelanau has a long history of agriculture. For generations, its cherry orchards have produced the nation’s largest crops of sweet and tart cherries. The annual National Cherry Festival takes place the first week of July in nearby Traverse City, a great family-friendly event! This year, fans were treated to a show by the Blue Angels, numerous concerts, races, tastings, and more! Today the orchards have been joined by wineries that grow many varieties of grapes. Together they make Leelanau County the largest producer of wines in the state and an emerging viticulture area for the nation. The character of the county hasn’t changed. It is much as it was when the Ojibway named it Leelanau, meaning “Land of Delight.” Enjoy exploring the area from this very scenic base, situated on 500 prime acres of rolling woodlands and lakeshore. There is a 9-hole par-3 golf course with stunning lake views on site, as well as numerous roads and trails to walk, hike, run, and bike! There is an 18-hole championship golf course minutes away as well.

Aerial of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.

The Homestead offers year-round recreation and family fun, a favorite spot for family reunions, the impressive resort is completely surrounded by the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Accommodations consist of four unique hotels, condominiums, and homes spread throughout the resort, offering lake and river front, or lake, river and forest views in five distinct neighborhoods.

Amenities include two pools with hot tubs (one at the Beach Club, one in the Village) open to all registered guests; one pool for the exclusive use of guests at Stony Brook Lodge; and one pool for Spa Amira guests.

Golfers of all skill levels are sure to enjoy Mountain Flowers, a Par-3 9-hole course with stunning views of Lake Michigan’s Manitou Passage, Glen Lake and the Sleeping Bear Dunes. The Homestead is the only resort in the Midwest to offer Dave Pelz Scoring Game Schools (One, two and three-day schools are available). An Arnold Palmer Signature 18-hole course, Manitou Passage Golf Club, is located at a nearby sister property.

Tennis enthusiasts can enjoy four clay-surface courts and a stadium court are located at the Beach Club on the shores of Lake Michigan. The Pro Shop offers classes, clinics and exhibitions.

On site is Cavanaugh’s, a country store offering gifts, crafts, groceries and beer, a great selection of fine wine and liquor, and deli items. Rocky’s and Flip Flops are specialty stores offering seasonal clothing and gifts. Spa Amira is an intimate spa with water features, a labyrinth and an outdoor pool offering massage, body treatments, and facial, hand and foot care services amidst stunning views of the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Lake Michigan. Lillyjade is a recently-opened salon that uses earth-friendly products in its hand, foot and hair care services. Nestled in the heart of the Village, it overlooks a series of creeks, waterfalls and ponds.

Dining options include Nonna’s, featuring a classically-inspired contemporary Italian cuisine year-round. Even this connoisseur loved the food at Nonna’s. Cafe’ Manitou provides stunning seasonal Lake Michigan views along with its casual fine dining in summer. Beppi’s is a weekend casual sports bar in the Village. CQ’s Cabin offers a hearty start to the day with a hot breakfast buffet.

Fitness enthusiasts will enjoy the New Leaf Health & Fitness Center, a state-of-the-art workout facility that offers guests Life Fitness elipticals, treadmills and stationary bikes, a strength training area, and circuit training machines, as well as variety of fitness classes and personal training sessions.

In winter months, enjoy family-oriented skiing and snowboarding with a Magic Carpet, Pony Tow, two triple chairs, one double chair, 100% snowmaking and 15 runs with a mix of green, blue and black levels of difficulty, with stunning views of Lake Michigan.

The resort is also favorite for meetings and weddings!

The lakeshore in Sleeping Bear Dunes is breathtakingly beautiful!

One of several pools at the resort.

With golf, skiing, swimming, water sports, hiking, biking, kayaking, wine tasting, fitness, spa, concerts, and great food, The Homestead is truly a year-round, family friendly resort with something for everyone!

The family-friendly Nonna’s in the village in the center of the resort features excellent authentic Italian cuisine with local and regional influences by Chef John Piombo. The motto of Nonna’s is “Simple. Unpretentious. Good,” and it delivers. Nonna’s is a rustic, yet romantic environment. Enjoy dining in the cozy dining room, or al fresco under the towering trees in nice weather. Nonna’s succeeds in highlighting the area’s spectacular local produce and the artisanal products made by local vendors.

The heated pool at the Beach Club is a favorite for kids of all ages! With the summer sunset around 9:30, and daylight until 10pm, the beach at Homestead Resort is a favorite for family reunions and all-day, multi-generational fun, well into the evening!

Sunset over Lake Michigan.

Enjoying a casual dinner at Cafe Manitou at the Beach Club at Homestead Resort. Once you come here, you will be back to experience more of #PureMichigan!

The Homestead Resort
1 Woodbridge Rd.
Glen Arbor, MI 49636
231.334.5000

Posted in Destinations | Tagged glen arbor, homestead resort, michigan, sleeping bear dunes | Comments Off

Recipe: Quiche Lorraine from Golden Palate Partner® C’est La Vie in Sarasota!

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Fred Bollaci

Recipe courtesy of C’est La Vie.

C’est La Vie’s Quiche Lorraine

Serves 6

• 11 ounces flour
• 1 egg
• 6 ounces butter, softened
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup water
Place flour in a mixer bowl and using a dough hook, beat the flour with the egg, butter, and salt. Add water gradually until dough comes together to form a ball. Wrap in plastic and chill for 1 hour.
• 10 ounces bacon, coarsely chopped
• 5 ounces Swiss cheese, chopped or grated
• 4 eggs
• 1 and 1/3 cups heavy whipped cream
• ¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
• Pinch grated nutmeg

Instructions:
Fry the bacon on high until almost crispy. Drain the fat and set aside. In a bowl, beat the eggs with the cream, adding salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste.
Preheat oven to 350 °F and butter a 9-inch round tart pan.
Roll out dough on a floured surface to 1/8 inch and lay in the tart pan, fluting the edges if you wish. Sprinkle ½ of the cheese on the dough and also sprinkle in the bacon, mixing the two together with your fingers, then sprinkle the rest of the cheese over top.
Beat eggs lightly with cream until combined and slowly pour over the cheese mixture to within1/8 inch of the top edge.
Bake in the preheated oven for around 35 minutes until the top has a nice golden color. Serve warm

Bon Appetit.

C’est La Vie is Sarasota’s much beloved authentic French patisserie, cafe, and restaurant. A local’s favorite for breakfast, lunch, coffee, and pastries, with al fresco dining overlooking Main Street, the Quiche Lorraine is one of the most popular items on the menu! Be sure to visit C’est La Vie, and tell Christophe and Geraldine that I sent you, and Bon Appetit!

C’est la Vie
1553 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
941.906.9575