News from North Pond
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

June
2007
News from North Pond

·        Lunch season officially begins here on the pond on Wednesday June 6th.  We'll offer lunch this summer Tuesday through Friday, from 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.  The menu for lunch differs from that at dinner, as the lunch menu is a more casual and limited one, incorporating simpler preparations and main course sandwiches and salads.  We'll still use as much local seasonal product as we can, but we understand most guests have more restricted timeframes mid-day than evenings, so we compose the lunch menu accordingly. Of course, we continue to offer our special prix-fixe Sunday brunch all year, each week between 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

·        Easter: done. Mother's Day: done. Yes, the patriarch of them all, Father's Day, arrives this month, on Sunday, June 17th.  This year, why not treat your special Dad/Grandad/Stepdad/Sugardad to brunch here on the North Pond.  We're offering a souped-up three-course menu that day, and - need I say it - seats are filling fast. 

·        With the warm weather (finally) here in the Park, we've begun to open the patio doors during some meal services. Please remember that although you may feel it's preferable/essential to dine with the full unobstructed view from the front room, 97% of our other diners feel the same way.  The original older dining room - dating back to 1912 - is equally charming and comfortable. Realize that while we try to best accommodate all requests, we feel there are no "bad" seats in the entire restaurant -- and the food tastes the same regardless of where you are seated!  Perhaps in a future newsletter, I can recount some of the stories and excuses we've heard from our more desperate-for-the-frontroom diners;)

·        And in the tooting-our-own-horn department, the middle of this month should see the release of the annual Food & Wine magazine "Best New Chefs" issue (July).  As of press time, there should be a feature on "Chef's Recipes Made Easy" for your summer cooking and entertaining featuring you-know-who.  Check it out on the newsstand after the 15th. And to toot just a bit more -- we at the restaurant were all very honored for the recognition from the James Beard Foundation, when last month I was nominated in the "Best Chef: Great Lakes Region" category. It's always nice to be recognized, and it could not have happened without the tireless assistance of my staff here and the support of all of you reading this. My thanks.

·       And last but not least, I'm afraid our beloved Cubs have already begun their inevitable descent in the NL central division. Next year, maybe?

Tips from the Green Market

June's markets offer plenty of all sorts of marvelous fresh, sweet onions -cipollini, purple and white knob, tropea or torpedo-- as the weather finally warms consistently enough to assure continual growth and girth to what once were simple straight scallions or green garlic stalks.  In fact, the tender green shoots of the up-til-now soft garlic tops firm up this month and form the swirly-curly garlic scape on the way up to the seed pod, more resembling something to put in a vase than in your mouth.  But don't be fooled. These pungent garlic necks add fabulous flavor and contrast to purees and stir-frys.
 
Look, too, for the variety of shapes and colors of the new baby beets just coming in: chioggia or candy-striped, forono (cylindrical reds), white, golden, and bull's blood red. Buy a few of each and cook them up to compare flavors and textures.
 
And finally, don't leave the June markets without tasting and toting some of the richly fragrant strawberries available this month, the height of their local growing season.  A couple of my favorites are the tiny but powerful Sparkle and the intensely flavorful Cabot.  Take advantage of these fruit with characteristics as nature had intended.

Farm of the Month
Genesis Growers, St. Anne, Il.

Vicki Westerhoff has been farming for close to 10 years, currently on over 30 acres in north-central Illinois's Kankakee County. She farms with her son Jon and will offer more than 60 different farm products over the course of the market season, this year even hoping to grow a winter storage melon for sale in the cold of December. Always full of energy and enthusiasm, Vicki's a real breath of fresh air at the market and can always be counted on to provide both the inspiration and the perspiration to help make the Green City Market so special.  Come say hello and check out her great seasonal product at the Genesis Growers table next time at the market.

Drink of the Month
Cool Days

This refresher works wonders as we transition from hot to hotter during our typical Chicago June weather:

 

2        oz.      Hendrick's Gin

¾       oz.      simple syrup (½ water, ½ sugar; dissolved)

½       oz       fresh Lemon juice

2        slices  English (hothouse) cucumber

 
  • Moisten outside rim of chilled martini glass with a lime and dip rim in Kosher salt and fresh thyme leaf mix to "frost" rim.
  • Combine liquid ingredients, one cucumber slice and ice and shake well.
  • Strain into frosted glass and garnish with remaining cucumber slice. Enjoy!
Tips from the Fish & Meat Market

Another season officially begins this month, as Memorial Day weekend marks the official start of grilling season. And few things appeal more to us in the Midwest than a hearty steak on the grill - hardwood, please, no gas.  Just recently, we've changed over the striploin steak we serve in the restaurant to 100% grassfed beef. And as the cattle have been feeding on the succulent new spring growth in the pastures, the meat is eating the best it has all year. For those not familiar with the difference between traditional Midwest feedlot beef and grassfed animals, please click on the link below for some more information, or of course, step into the restaurant and experience it yourself, as this month we're offering seared steak with garlic scape-infused sweet potatoes, rainbow chard, baby beet and red wine sauce.
 
Charity of the Month
Lincoln Park Treekeepers

These volunteers help to keep the North Pond area beautiful by assisting the Chicago Park District in cultivating and caring for our urban forest. The TreeKeepers are certified by the Openlands project (www.openlands.org), which is one of the nation's oldest and most successful urban conservation organizations.

 
Watch Our Garden Grow!

Here at North Pond, we take great care with our kitchen garden. Each month, we'll update you on the progress. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
      
             
 
Recipe of the Month -- Grilled New York Strip Steak, Horseradish Crust

4          8 oz.    Grass-fed boneless strip loin steaks

           olive or vegetable oil

2          oz.       fresh breadcrumbs

1          oz        Parmesan, grated

2          oz        butter, softened

1.5       oz        horseradish, fresh grated

1          tsp       lemon Juice

                       salt

2          lbs       new or summer potatoes

1/3       c          olive oil

2          oz        butter, cubed

1/4       c          fresh chives, finely chopped

                       salt and white pepper

16        oz.       radishes, whole Easter Egg or other variety; halved top-to-bottom

½         c          water

1          Tbl       butter

1          tsp       sugar

            pinch   salt

1          Tbl       fresh Italian parsley, chopped

 2          bu       fresh Italian flat leaf parsley, leaves picked, stems discarded

2          Tbl       olive oil

1          Tbl       roasted garlic, pureed

        

Preparation:

·        Light the grill. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. 

·        Quarter potatoes lengthwise into wedges.  Put them in pot and cover with cold water.  Place on high flame and bring to boil.  When boiling, remove from heat and strain. Run cold water over to stop cooking. Strain again and reserve.

·        Place breadcrumbs, parmesan, butter, horseradish, lemon juice and pinch of salt in food processor.  Blend 3-4 minutes until homogenized.  Reserve.

·        Bring 6 quarts water to boil.  Add ¼ cup salt when boiling. Place parsley leaves in boiling salted water. Count one minute after reboil and immediately remove leaves and place in ice water bath for 3 minutes. Strain, dry and coarsely chop.

·        Place chopped leaves and ½ cup ice water in blender. Blend on high speed 3-4 minutes, adding extra water if necessary, until completely emulsified into thick bright green liquid. If lumpy, pass through fine mesh strainer. Reserve.

·        Place halved radishes in skillet just large enough to hold them in single layer. Add butter, water, salt, sugar and pepper. Bring to boil, turn down to simmer and cook til just tender. Strain out radishes. Reduce liquid down to glaze.  Add radishes back in, stir and reserve.

·        Toss reserved par-boiled potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper and place in roasting pan in pre-heated oven.  Roast 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

·        Meanwhile, lightly rub steaks with oil and season liberally with salt and pepper.  Place on grill and cook to the desired degree of doneness. When meat is done, remove and rest for 5-10 minutes.  

·        Liberally spread ¼ inch layer of horseradish crust fully atop each piece. Place in broiler until nicely browned.

·        Toss warm golden potatoes with chopped chives and butter and season to taste.

·        Warm through radishes and toss in chopped parsley.

·        Heat 1/2 cup parsley puree with olive oil and roasted garlic. Whisk well and season to taste.

·        Place roasted potatoes, a small pile of glazed radishes, and a pool of the parsley jus on each plate.  Place crusted steak atop pool of parsley and serve warm.

Another Pithy Article/Think Piece

 As the18-year trade ban restricting the importation of Indian mangoes has (finally!) been lifted, these two Madhur Jaffrey reflections seem an appropriate choice for this month. Late May - mid-June is the absolute height of mango season, and one can clearly taste it in the newly-arrived fruit.

The Fruits of Diplomacy
 

Bruce Sherman
North Pond -- Chefs Collaborative -- Green City Market
773 - 477 - 5845