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What I’ve enjoyed recently …
In Bloom, Saint Paul sports
the largest open hearth in North
America. Everything is cooked
in the hearth or wood-fired oven.
Order the venison tartar and
pheasant boudin blanc. Cocktails
are amazing.
928 7th St W
Saint Paul MN 55102Favorite Places, Barcelona
Favorite Places, Bourgogne
Favorite Places, California
Favorite Places, New York
Favorite Places, Paris
- 142 Crêperie Contemporaine
- Ambassade d'Auvergne
- Aux Merveilleux de Fred
- Benoit
- Bread and Roses
- Breizh Café
- Café Constant
- Chez Janou
- Chez Loulou
- Chocolate Directory, Paris
- Christian Constant
- Du Pain et Des Idées
- Jean-Charles Rochoux
- Jean-Paul Hevin
- La La Pâisserie by Cyril Lignac
- La Maison du Chocolat
- La Tuile a Loup
- Le Chardenoux
- Le MaZenay
- Paris Flea Markets
- Patrick Roger
- Popelini
- Pozzetto
- Stohrer
- Thiercelin
Favorite Places, Provence
Favorite Places, Twin Cities
Favorite Links
- Alice Medrich
- Andrew Zimmern
- Artisan Bread in Fine Minutes a Day
- B.T. McElrath Chocolatier
- Baking Obsession
- Cannelle et Vanille
- Chocolate & Zucchini
- Cookography
- Curious Cook
- David Lebovitz
- David Schmit Photography
- Dorie Greenspan
- Eat the Love, Sweets for the Mouth and Mind
- Eat Well Guide
- eatwild
- Far North Spirits
- Farmette
- French Food and Cook
- French Word-A-Day
- Gale Gand
- HiP Paris Blog
- Hiroko's Kitchen
- Hunter Angler Gardener Cook
- Julia Usher
- Le Pétrin
- Nick Malgieri
- Not Without Salt
- Olli Salumeria
- On Rue Tatin
- Paris Breakfasts
- Purple Pitchfork
- Raghaven Iyer
- Robin Asbell
- Sake Story
- Slow Food
- Smitten Kitchen
- Steamy Kitchen Modern Asia
- Suvir Saran
- Taste Spotting
- The Daily Meal
- The Paris Kitchen
- The Perennial Plate
- These Peas are Hollow
- Wedge Community Co-op
- White on Rice Couple
- Zoë Bakes
Add Some Spice!
Chef Wadi has created a line of spice blends from his restaurant kitchen, including mixes influenced by North African, Middle Eastern, and Indian cuisines. Don’t get me wrong and don’t think I’ve gone soft, as I still fully embrace cooking from scratch. However, when one needs to prepare a quick dinner and doesn’t have time to toast, grind, and mix spices, these are a great alternative.
Not long ago, I was in that very predicament. I had a couple of chicken breasts in the fridge that needed to be cooked. By the time it took my indoor grill pan from Le Creuset to heat, I had rubbed the chicken with a little olive oil, salt, and some Ras El Hanout blend. While the chicken was cooking low and slow, I quickly prepared some couscous and sautéed some vegetables. Within half an hour, a delicious weeknight dinner was on the table and deserving of a glass of Riesling to enjoy with it.
I was in the same boat yet again not too long ago and knew that I had a couple dozen large shrimp in the freezer. Here’s the recipe.
24 Shrimp, 13-15 count
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1½ teaspoons Dry Harissa blend
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Heat a grill pan over medium flame. Using a paper towel, pat the shrimp dry. Toss them in a bowl with the oil, spices, and salt. Cook the shrimp about 3 minutes per side or just until no longer pink.
A green salad with grapes and avocado shared the plate with the shrimp, as did a small bowl of spicy cocktail sauce. Having a bottle of Hou Hou Shou sake in the refrigerator, I thought, “Hey, I wonder how sake would pair with the shrimp?” It was quite nice, actually, with its clean, sparkling character against the spices of the Dry Harissa.
If you don’t have time to make your own spice blend, be sure to check out the wonderful combinations from Iron Chef Contestant and restaurateur Sameh Wadi.