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We Want a Copy of “The Gastown Foodie” Cookbook (Available October 17)

SMOKED SALMON TARTARE | POURHOUSE | RECIPE BELOW

We are a covetous bunch. CTWW is a running archive of our earthly wants.


“The Gastown Foodie” cookbook is published tomorrow (October 17th) and we want a copy. Produced by Brad Hill with words by Chris Dagenais (and a foreword by Scout’s own Andrew Morrison), the new tome includes sought after recipes from almost every mentionable restaurant in Gastown. This is the third in Hill’s “Foodie” book series (see also The North Shore Foodie, The East Van Foodie). We dig them because they’re so much more than just a collection of recipes; they’re also culinary storybooks. It’s the personal circumstances surrounding the food we consume and share that add special dimensions beyond flavour. What’s extra cool is that a portion of the book sales go to three DTES charities that enrich the community (Hives For Humanity, East Van Roasters and A Better Life Foundation).

The Gastown Foodie includes over 100 recipes for varying skill levels from a collective 37 Gastown restaurants, bars, cafes and breweries. We suggest making your next visit to Gastown that much more memorable by grabbing a copy after dining or imbibing at one of the participating establishments. You can also go online to order your copy or find a bookseller in your ‘hood here.

Check out the full list of restaurants involved and get a taste of what to expect with Pourhouse’s contribution below…

Guilt & Co, Wildebeest, The Diamond, The Flying Pig, Kofta, Nicli Antica Pizzeria, Cuchillo, La Mezcaleria, The Irish Heather, Shebeen Whiskey House, Salt Tasting Room, Cook Culture, Calabash, Alibi Room, Purebread, Revel Room, East Van Roasters, Hives for Humanity., Save On Meats / Greasy Spoon, Braise and Butcher, Tuc Craft Kitchen, Soft Peaks Ice Creamm, The Birds & The Beets, Vegan Pudding & Co., Mosquito Desserts, Nuba in Gastown, Steamworks Brewing Co., Jules Bistro, Brioche Urban Eatery, Bauhaus Restaurant, Pidgin Restaurant, Nelson the Seagull, Pourhouse Restaurant, Haru Korean Kitchen, Chill Winston

Smoked Salmon Tartare | POURHOUSE

Serves 4-6 as a starter

Ingredients


Smoked Salmon
1 filet salmon
2.5L water
425g salt
50g maple syrup
Smoking wood chips

Roasted & Marinated Peppers
2 red peppers
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp sherry vinegar
Salt & pepper

Confit Tomatoes
4 roma tomatoes
1 Cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, smashed
2 sprigs thyme
2 bay leaves

Guacamole
4 avocados
2 limes
Salt & pepper

Salsa Verde
2 bunches basil
1 bunch parsley
1 bunch mint
1 clove garlic
Salt & pepper
1/2 Cup olive oil

To Serve
Smoked Salmon*
Marinated Peppers*
Confit Tomatoes*
Guacamole*
Chives
Olive oil
Salt & pepper
Micro greens
Crostini

Method


Smoked Salmon (brining & smoking 1-2 days before)

1. In a large container with a lid, stir together the salt, water and maple syrup into a brine. Place the salmon into the brine skin side down.

2. Place the lid on the container and put the container in the fridge and allow to brine for 12 hours. Flip the salmon so it is skin side up and brine for another 12 hours.

3. Remove the salmon from the brine and rinse under cold water.

4. Follow the instructions for your smoker to cold smoke the salmon for 2 hours using your favourite wood. Placing a tray full of ice in the smoker and replenishing the ice regularly is a good trick to keep the temperature low.

5. Place the salmon on a tray and refrigerate uncovered in the fridge for 6 hours so it dries out a bit.

* If you don’t have a smoker you could also use a smoking gun, an oven dish large enough to comfortably hold the salmon, plastic wrap and masking tape. Place the salmon skin side down in the dish. Cover the dish securely with the plastic wrap. Cut a small hole in the wrap for the smoking gun’s hose and another small hole on the other side of the dish to let air escape. Fill the dish with smoke and then cover the holes with masking tape. Refresh the smoke 3 or 4 times in the 2 hours of smoking time.

Roasted & Marinated Peppers

1. Split the peppers lengthwise and remove the seeds and core. Place on an oven tray and blacken the skins under the broiler.

2. Place the burnt peppers in a container with a lid for at least 10 minutes so the steam loosens the skin. Remove the skin and cut the flesh into a small dice.

3. Season with the olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.

Confit Tomatoes

1. Cut a small x into the bottom of the tomatoes, blanch for 20 seconds in boiling water then transfer to an ice bath.

2. Peel the skin off the tomatoes, the small x cut should make this easy, and place in a small ovenproof dish with the remaining ingredients.

3. Cover and place in the oven set to 200°C (400°F) for 1 hour.

4. Remove from oven, drain the oil and allow to cool.

5. Chop tomatoes into a fine dice and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Guacamole

1. Dice avocados and place in a bowl.

2. Zest and juice the limes and stir through the avocado.

3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Salsa Verde

1. Rinse all the herbs in water and pat dry.

2. Add half of the olive oil and all the remaining ingredients to a blender.

3. Blitz and slowly add the remaining olive oil until the purée becomes smooth. Do not over blitz; it’s best to use the pulse function.

4. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cool in the fridge.

To Serve

1. For each portion of tartare being served, you will need around 80g of salmon, 1 Tbsp of the marinated peppers and 1 Tbsp of the confit tomatoes.

2. Dice the salmon and mix with the measured quantities of tomatoes and peppers in a bowl.

3. Add a sprinkle of chopped chives, a squirt of good olive oil and a little salt and pepper if necessary.

4. Layer and smooth out 1 1/2 Tbsp of the guacamole into a ring mold on a serving plate.

5. Layer the salmon mixture into ring mold on top of the guacamole and smooth it out evenly.

6. Spoon 1/2 Tbsp of the salsa verde around the tartare on the plate. If it is too dense, stir in a little more olive oil first.

7. Top with some micro greens as a garnish and serve with crostini on the side.

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