Tomato Butter Recipe and Local Restaurant news
At 13 my real food experiences truly began when my parents had an offer to move the whole family from Toronto to the Laurentians (north of Montreal) to run a hotel for one of my dad’s business partners. Once in Quebec, the deal fell through but we had all fallen in love with the Laurentians and decided as a family to stay and make a go of it there. We toured around looking for the town that felt right and found it rather quickly on a beautiful summer day in July. We drove into the small town and ski resort of Mont Tremblant and can honestly say it is the first time that a “place” affected me with a physical feeling. We were home.
We settled into the community and before long my parents purchased a small 8 room Swiss style Auberge with a dining room that sat 30 people. We moved in and began a family business that left an impression on all of us and changed the course of all our lives forever. It was here that we all really began to learn about and fall in love with food. My parents, who were both wonderful cooks, began to study Gourmet Magazines and cookbooks like they were textbooks, then gathered and perfected all their tried and true recipes acquired over the years. In the summer of our second year in Quebec we opened the doors to our quaint little hotel and French restaurant.
At 16, 11 and 14 my brother, sister and I were trained by mom and dad to be the servers and were flambéing peppercorn steak and crepes Suzettes at the mise en place in front of the guests in the dining room. We would prepare Caesar salad the same way – in front of the guests while they watched in awe as we also opened fine bottles of wine for them to taste before serving the whole table. Before long the restaurant was packed every night and we were turning people away on the weekends. There were reviews in the Montreal papers and articles in Ski Canada about the exceptional food and service offered at the small family run Inn - Auberge Sauvignon in Mont Tremblant, Quebec.
After a few years of serving I became interested in working in the kitchen and was trained as a sous chef working beside my dad. My duties included making desserts, homemade salad dressings, soups and appetizers. It was in that small kitchen with the huge picture window overlooking Mont Tremblant that I fell in love with creating wonderful food. Every Sunday night we served Prime Rib with all the fixings including Tomato Butter. This sweet tomato relish recipe came from an aunt on my dad’s side who shared it with my mom years earlier. Tomato Butter is an absolutely delicious addition to any beef dish and recently my mother told me she has friends who love it on fish and hotdogs too! We all still make this every summer – to have on hand year round.
Tomato Butter
Peel 8 quarts of tomatoes - Cut - Core - Chop into pieces
Pour 2 cups white vinegar over and let stand overnight in very heavy bottom large canning pot. In the morning - Retain 2 cups strained juice
Make syrup of: 2 cups vinegar
2 cups strained juice
2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp salt
6 cups brown sugar
Heat vinegar, strained juice, seasoning and sugar for 10 minutes.
In a small bag place:
10 Allspice berries
l Clove
5 Cinnamon sticks
Place bag in syrup, add tomatoes and slowly simmer for 3 hours + until caramelized and very sweet.
Bottle
Note: Be very careful not to burn, it will scorch very easily – as it thickens, reduce temperature several times.
Local Food News
El Guapo ~ El Guapo is now offering a Monday night special ~ Mexican fighting fish and chips - Corona battered Tilapia, Chipotle coleslaw, jalapeno lime tartar, served with spicy fries- one piece-$9.95, two piece-$11.95.
Yamagoya ~ Is pleased to be launching their new menu on Canada Day. Some of the items to get excited about are: Salmon Tataki sliders, Hiyashi Udon, an amazing Sashimi Carpaccio, a medley of donburi dishes and by request - Chirashi sushi just to name a few. What does all this mean? Well for starters some of the old favourites are temporarily gone and retraining of taste buds is in the cards. Join them on their great patio this summer and try the exciting new dishes!
Remember, for that really special event or for something different, Alpine Lodge is open for group dining all summer long.
Loaf Bakery, Café & Pizzeria ~Loaf is extending their fully licensed pizza nights for the summer season. Now you can enjoy Italian-style 12" pizza with a cold beer or Pimms in the café, or for take-out, from 5pm-9pm every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer. Loaf's all-natural, hand-made artisan bread will also be available at the Baynes Lake Farmers Market and Fernie Mountain Market every weekend July through September.
Max Restaurant and The Pub Bar & Grill ~ Frogs for Breakfast? A great breakfast should always start with a great cup of coffee. Max Restaurant is proud to serve Frog Friendly Wild Coffee, a delicious organic blend from Mexico where its slogan is “Humane Beans 4 Human Beings”. Check out http://www.frogfriendlywildcoffee.com.
Enjoy the sunshine and check out the local flavor on the Pub’s patio this summer. Every Wednesday is local’s night featuring Loaf Bakery Buns, Back Country Meats Smokies and Fernie Brewing Company beer on tap.
The Cottonwood Tree ~ More alternative food choices are available every month at the Cottonwood Tree. This month they are ~Maggies gluten free kitchen including breads, quinoa crisp, peanut butter cookies and banana chocolate chip muffins. Glutino gluten free pizza, Lundberg Wild Rice Blend, Village Harvest organic brown basmati and jasmine rice. Udo’s 369 Oil is on sale this month and the next coop order is June 20th. They also sell Spirits of the Creek –gorgeous and locally made pottery including plates, bowls, sushi kits, tea pots and coffee mugs at amazing prices!
Bulldogs ~ In July Bulldog's is showcasing their new summer menu. With the favourites staying put, the warm weather brings on some lighter additions. Check out the new appetizers, salads and sandwiches. They have hooked up with Backcountry Meats for our proteins, guaranteeing quality and supporting local business. Weekly specials, start with Tuesdays Burger and Beer for $9.95, and Friday and Saturday focusing on chef specials and menu entree's.
The Curry Bowl ~ Now that summer has arrived, the 20 seat roof top patio above the kitchen is open with 360 degree views of the Elk Valley. Enjoy a cold one from their huge beer menu and their summertime favourites such as Vietnamese Noodles, Ja Ja Men and Asian Mango Roll.
The Old Elevator Restaurant ~ Introducing their new summer menu! It has a wider variety of menu options and is also more affordable than ever. Some of these new summer creations include the Elevator’s version of fish & chips, rack of ribs, tofu & noodle salad, 10 oz. pork chop, AAA burger and of course a steak sandwich which is on special Sundays! The new dessert menu features a creative dish of dessert sushi as well as a chocolate brownie with vanilla bean ice cream.
The Club House Restaurant ~ You can now enjoy a full menu at breakfast, lunch and dinner – anything from sharing platters, to appetizers, classics, mains and desserts at the Clubhouse Restaurant. Great Weekly Specials include–$12 Burger Monday, $10.75 Mussel & Fries Tuesday, $7.50 Wings Wednesday, 1/2 lbs Shrimp Thursday and $14.75 Prime Rib Friday. Think of us for any event, small or large, at one of our two locations, Clubhouse Restaurant or Corner Pocket Brasserie or at your own location.
Mezzaluna~ Come refresh yourself at Mezzaluna with our 100% homemade Panna Cotta. The most easily found and best-known Italian dessert worldwide is at the same time among the most delicate. So delicate that if you have angels coming for dinner, Panna Cotta is the dolce to serve.
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