Beachwood High School > The Ohio State University > California Bay Area. Longtime friends with intersecting life journeys shared laughter and tears at ChezHelvetica’s Champagne Tea as very private stories were revealed. Scottish Smoked Salmon with Green Onion Cream Cheese on Everything Bagels, drizzled with Honey and Truffle Oil, brought both comfort and delight. The juxtaposing flavors of Deviled Eggs, Blue Stilton, Brie, Blueberries and Tangerines delivered even more happiness, as did those sips of bubbly, golden Champagne and Darjeeling Tea. Special friends reset your compass to New Horizons!
Tag: Trader Joe’s
Strata
For some Strata defines a level or class, at ChezHelvetica this means a delicious breakfast. Behold Apple French Toast Strata. The evening before serving, preparation for this French toast bake was almost done with the exception of the Sliced Almonds added just before going into the oven. Sautéed Trader Joe’s Organic Honey Crisp Apples and
Safeway’s 15-Grain Whole Wheat Bread soaked in Eggs, Milk and Half & Half, then scented by fragrant Spice Ace Organic Ground Nutmeg, Vietnamese Cinnamon and Sonoma Syrup Co’s Madagascar Bourbon Organic Vanilla Extract. Imagine the aroma when baking in the morning along with freshly brewed coffee. Juicy Strawberries and Blackberries from the VA Farmers Market and Dark Amber Maple Syrup from Quebec’s Beauce-Appalache region sent this down-to-earth meal straight into the Stratosphere . . .
From the Land of Don Quixote
Miguel de Cervantes beloved literary tale “Man from La Mancha” revealed new significance, and romance, on this summer evening at ChezHelvetica. With Spain as the exciting accent of this anniversary celebration, we toasted with Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs along with Green and Manzanillo Olives, Almonds and Salmon Ahumado con Queso Fresco Montaditos (Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese) and Honey Truffle bites. Tyler Florence’s warm Roasted Tomato Soup opened the meal with rich, savory flavors – Early Girl and Cherry Tomatoes, Garlic, Onion and Basil. The soup was accompanied by delicious Manchego, so named for Spain’s famed cheese made from the milk of sheep grazing the country’s La Mancha region. Pearl white corn kernels had fallen weightlessly into a bundt pan when making the featured entrée, a Salad of Grilled Chicken and Corn, Avocado and Baby Spinach, dressed with a Garlic and 
Rosemary-infused Vinaigrette (from Real Simple), paired with velvety Etude Pinot Noir. Like windmills spinning bliss, Neiman Marcus Delicate Lemon Squares, made with Meyer Lemons and crowned with Yellow Raspberries, created the perfect conclusion for “Life Happily Ever After, not an Impossible Dream!” (Muchas Gracias to the Fillmore and VA Farmers Markets, Trader Joe’s and Safeway as the food and beverage sources for this meal.)
Cavolo Nero
With the usual Italian sex appeal, this name for Tuscan Kale enticed ChezHelvetica to finally succumb to temptation. This leafy cabbage doesn’t form heads, but rather resembles palm fronds with deep greenish black leaves that can be up to a yard long with pronounced ribs. Its surfaces have a distinctive bubbly appearance. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, the earthy taste transforms when roasted or sautéed. The primo pasto paired roasted Kale, Garbanzo Beans, Spices (Coriander, just because) and Garlic in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with delicious Rana Mushroom Ravioli. The secondo featured Kale sautéed in Garlic Oil and Balsamic Vinegar with Vicolo’s legendary Cornmeal Crust Pepperoni Pizza – the perfect complement. Grazie mille to Trader Joe’s, Costco and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market for these adventures to Italia!
Yearning for a dry rub? Spice with heat? Sweetness?
Enter the world of ChezHelvetica food fantasies. A San Francisco Chronicle recipe for Dry-Rubbed Flank Steak with Spicy BBQ Sauce truly defines sensational, wowing taste buds with the heat of Smoked Paprika and Cayenne Pepper and the sweetness of Brown Sugar and Maple Syrup. Rubbed and grilled, the Flank Steak later swims in BBQ Sauce along with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Broccoli with Garlic. Organic Pain de Pascal from Trader Joe’s and scarlet Zinfandel from deLorimier Winery in Alexander Valley completed this course. Another summer dream appeared with a luscious Blueberry, Raspberry and Peach Dulce De Leche Crisp, thanks to Tory Farms, the VAMC Farmers’ Market and the magic of making Dulce De Leche from a can of sweetened, condensed milk. Fantasies fulfilled!
A Cobb To Covet
Brown Derby, Hollywood of the ‘ 30s meets ChezHelvetica more than 80 years later in the creation of Cobb Salad. While this classic American salad was first pulled together on a whim by Robert Cobb, the one on this table was a focused study on the finest ingredients available. 
Hunting and gathering ensued with the juiciest Rotisserie Chicken and sweetest Campari Tomatoes found at Costco and Organic Romaine at the VAMC Farmers’ Market. Blue Stilton jumped the pond from England, imparting its sophisticated Blue Cheese taste to the salad. Hot from the frying pan Applewood Smoked Bacon, creamy Avocados and hard-boiled Eggs completed the entree, accompanied by a warm Sunflower Seed Mini Loaf (all aforementioned from Trader Joe’s). The final flourish: a dressing of Balsamic Vinegar, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Dijon Mustard and touch of Sugar. A dessert of hand-picked Blackberries from the Florin Gardens, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Carob Honey from Cyprus and Mint from the ChezHelvetica Garden evoked the ultimate pleasure!
ChezHelvetica Marquee: Rockfish Redux
The final performance of the Rockfish Roll Out (read: the last of the three pounds of fish) took the form of a show-stopping summer salad. A refreshing Celery Salad – also starring in an encore performance – topped the Rockfish and Red Lettuce, with both stalk and leaves in play. Organic Radishes, Parsley, Capers and Artichoke Hearts completed the cast, all drizzled in Lemon and Key Lime Juices. In the supporting role, warm Whole Grain Sunflower Seed Bread from Trader Joe’s simply dazzled with its topping of Affi’s Aubergine (Fire Roasted Eggplant and Garlic) spread. A final nod goes to Kunde Family Estate Wines. Like the award for Best Choreography, their Chardonnay made the whole show move. Final credits: Saveur Magazine, Costco, Nunez Farm, Gump’s (for the $5 platter from the employee sale) and to Mom for the Denby Dinnerware!
Parmigiano-Reggiano
For over seven centuries, Parmigiano-Reggiano has been delighting the world; celebrating the individual with its own unique inconsistencies. At the Fancy Food Show, ChezHelvetica acquired The Seasons of Parmigiano-Reggiano and selected two recipes from “Summer” for this weekend’s sumptuous repast. Like the painstaking, hand made process of the cheese (made in the controlled district of the Conzorzio del Formaggio), these dishes required a similar effort. Melanzane in tortiera (Baked Layered Eggplant) consists of three layers of sliced, broiled Eggplant, Tomato Sauce (made from Italian Plum Tomatoes that have been seeded and grated to pulp with Garlic, Red Onion and Marjoram), Bechamel Sauce, and Fontina and Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheeses. Panino ai funghi (Portabello Mushroom Sandwich), smeared with a Savory Parmigiano-Reggiano Spread made with Artichoke Hearts, accompanied the Baked Eggplant. Trader Joes’s wonderful Tomato-Olive Focaccia sandwiched the Grilled Portabellos from the Richmond Produce Market. A Hess Select Chardonnay paired perfectly with the rich, velvety dishes and Tory Farm Peaches (offered naked or with Butter Pecan Ice Cream) made the ideal dessert. A surprise, anniversary visit by “Just Joey” sealed the occasion!
Amaranthaceae – with Warm Bacon Dressing
From the edible flowering plant family Amaranthaceae (first grown in 14th century Persia), behold Spinach! Catherine de’ Medici, Queen of France, so loved Spinach, she insisted it be served at every meal. The name “Florentine” evolved for dishes using this leafy green in reference to Florence, her place of birth. From Catherine’s table in 1533 to ChezHelvetica’s in 2013, we dined on Spinach Salad With Warm Bacon Dressing. Sweet Red Onion and White Mushrooms from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and Baby Spinach from Trader Joe’s received their savory crown of thick sliced Bacon, Balsamic Vinegar and Dijon Mustard dressing. Homemade Chicken Soup and Acme Bread’s wonderful Pan de Mie completed this course of the feast, paired with lush Geyser Peak Sonoma County Chardonnay. Tory Farm’s first of the season Peaches, sauteed in butter and served a la Mode with roasted Walnuts, royally concluded this Saturday soiree!
The ‘Shrooms at Chez
Mushroom foraging for ChezHelvetica commenced at the foot of Mt. Hamilton last year and migrated to SOMA this year. Treasure was found at Trader Joe’s in large, meaty Cremini Mushrooms, the perfect ingredient for Leek, Mushroom and Lemon Risotto or for a rustic Mushroom Tart – two Saturday night dinners. For the Risotto, Leeks from the VAMC Farmers Market and the Mushrooms were sauteed in Truffle Oil (my addition) and added to Arborio Rice along with Lemon Juice and Zest, Herbs, Butter and Parmesan Cheese for a symphony of flavors. An Asparagus and Arugula salad completed the meal, with Unruly Red Zinfandel in the role of conductor. Layering the phyllo crust for the Tart was a new adventure, oiling and sprinkling bread crumbs on each of the ten delicate layers. Ricotta, Goat Cheese and Thyme from our garden filled the crust, with Mushrooms and Chicken-Apple Aidell’s Sausage crowning the rich, flaky Tart. An Artichoke Heart and Arugula salad joined the stage with a Bogle Zinfandel in the commanding role. Encore, Encore!