Category: Dining Out

International Chef Bo Bech at The Granary

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Chef Bo Bech from Copenhagen will be the guest chef for the final dinner in the Guest Chef Dinner Series this Thursday September 6. Photo: Pearl, used with permission. 

The finale of The Granary’s 2018 Guest Chef Dinner Series is this Thursday, September 6. The Granary ‘Cue & Brew is hosting world renowned Chef Bo Bech from Copenhagen for an exclusive one-night only event. The dinner will be guided by a “Fire and Ice” theme, and Chef Bo Bech will collaborate with Chef Tim Rattray on a 6-course menu for this special evening. All-inclusive tickets are available online for $225 and includes meal, wine pairing, tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and extremely limited. (The Granary ‘Cue & Brew, 2018)

Bo Bech, of Geist restaurant in Copenhagen, is an award-winning chef. Well-known in his home country as the fiery TV host of Denmark’s answer to Kitchen Nightmares, Chef Bech is a trailblazer of the Copenhagen food scene, offering his own take on new Nordic cuisine. After working in the kitchens of Alain Passard (restaurant l’Arpege), Michel Roux (Le Gavaroche) and Marco Pierre White, he first made his name in Copenhagen at Restaurant Paustian, where he was awarded a coveted Michelin star. Bech then opened the acclaimed restaurant, Geist, in 2011. Chef Bech also released his first book in 2017, ‘What Does Memory Taste Like?’, a tribute that chronicles the evolution of his personal cuisine.

Fire & Ice Dinner Menu:
Eggs & Oysters
– black pepper

Avocado & Caviar
– almond oil

Lobster & Figs
– piment d’espelette

Hen of the woods & Cocoa beans
– mushroom broth

Beef cheeks & Ricotta gnocchi
– coarse mustard
– fennel pollen

Zucchini flowers & Pistachio
– lime

The Granary ‘Cue & Brew
602 Avenue A
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 228-0124

Buddy V’s Italian Birthday Cake

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Buddy V’s Italian Birthday Cake. Photo: Buddy V’s Ristorante, used with permission.

The month of September is fast approaching and what better way to celebrate that special day than with cake. As San Antonians get ready to celebrate, TLC’s ‘Cake Boss’ Buddy Valastro, from  Buddy V’s Ristorante, located at The Shops at La Cantera is graciously sharing the secret recipe for the much loved Italian Birthday Cake. (Buddy V’s Ristorante, 2018)

Italian Birthday Cake courtesy of Bryan Forgione
Ingredients:
•3 vanilla sponge cakes
•Rum simple syrup
•Cannoli cream
•Chocolate pastry cream
•Toasted almonds
•Whipped cream

Method:
1.Brush sponge with simple syrup. Then spread cannoli cream.
2.Place second layer of sponge and brush with simple syrup. Then spread chocolate pastry cream.
3.Place third layer of sponge and brush with simple syrup. Using a spatula, smooth chocolate pastry cream on the sides of the cake. Then smooth whipped cream on top of the cake.
4.Coat the sides of the cake with toasted almonds.
5.With the star tip in a piping bag, pipe a border around the top and bottom of the cake.

Sponge Cake Ingredients:
•265 grams water
•160 grams blended oil
•1 tbsp vanilla extract
•9 egg yolks
•375 grams cake flour (sifted)
•157.5 grams sugar
•19 grams baking powder
•3 grams salt
•9 egg whites
•300 grams sugar

Sponge Cake Method:
1.Whip water, oil, vanilla extract, yolks and dry ingredients until double in size.
2.Whip egg whites and sugar until stiff peak and fold into mixture.
3.Spray pan and put parchment.
4.Bake at 325 degrees F until it springs back.

Rum Simple Syrup Ingredients:
•985 grams sugar
•985 grams water
•1 cup rum

Rum Simple Syrup Method:
1.Boil sugar and water until sugar has dissolved.
2.Add rum.
3.Cool in ice bath.

Cannoli Cream Ingredients:
•2 lbs. Impastata
•1 lb. Ricotta, tub
•2 drops cinnamon oil
•8 oz. sugar
•4 oz. cocoa drops

Cannoli Cream Method:
1.In electric mixer with paddle attachment, beat both cheeses and sugar.
2.Add oil.
3.Lastly, add cocoa drops and taste the cream.

Chocolate Pastry Cream Ingredients:
•360 grams egg yolks
•600 grams sugar
•125 grams cornstarch
•1 qt. + 488 grams Half & Half
•8 grams vanilla extract
•3.5 grams salt
•2 oz. butter
•70 grams cocoa powder

Chocolate Pastry Cream Method:
1.Combine Half & Half, sugar, vanilla and salt in a pot. Bring to a boil.
2.In a bowl, combine yolks, cocoa powder and cornstarch.
3.Temper the milk mixture into yolk mixture.
4.Put back onto heat and with a hand blender, mix until thick.
5.Add butter.
6.Strain and cool in ice bath.

Whipped Cream Ingredients:
•1 qt. heavy cream
•1.5 cups powdered sugar
•1 tbsp vanilla extract

Whipped Cream Method:
1.Whip all ingredients together until stiff peak.

Buddy V’s Ristorante
15900 La Cantera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78256
(210) 462-1167

Summer Chef Collaboration Dinner Series at The Granary

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The next dinner in The Granary’s Summer Chef Collaboration Dinner Series is this Sunday July 22. Photo: Robert J Lerma, used with permission.

The Granary’s Summer Chef Collaboration Dinner Series continues this Sunday July 22 at 6:30p.m. with the second dinner in the series. The three-part dinner series will focus on collaborative menus with nationally and internationally ranked chefs from various culinary backgrounds.  This Sunday, The Granary ‘Cue & Brew’s Chef and owner Tim Rattray partners with Charleston Chef BJ Dennis for a Southern smoke potluck style dinner. Chef Dennis is known for hosting several pop-up dinners, especially in Charleston, where he incorporates Gullah Geechee cooking, a style of cuisine from the culture of the descendants of West African slaves who settled on the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia. (The Granary ‘Cue & Brew, 2018)

Sunday’s dinner menu features below and more:

  • Smoked goat with suya spice
  • BBQ ribs with pineapple bbq sauce
  • Okra and smoked sausage purloo (rice)
  • Gullah red rice
  • Crab seasoning boil corn with crab roe butter
  • Stewed summer greens with smoked ham hocks
  • Hog head hash and rice
  • Cucumber salad

Cost is $85 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are limited and can be bought online. The Granary has previously partnered with John Tesar of Knife Dallas in June and the final dinner is scheduled for August with acclaimed Chef Bo Bech of Geist in Copenhagen.

The Granary ‘Cue & Brew
602 Avenue A
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 228-0124

Father’s Day dining at Buddy V’s Ristorante

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Enjoy a classic Italian meal this Father’s Day at Buddy V’s Ristorante. Photo: Buddy V’s Ristorante, used with permission.

Meal planning for the perfect Father’s Day celebration can be tricky. This Sunday, skip the cliché steakhouse dinner and savor home-cooked recipes from the “Cake Boss” instead – available exclusively at the newly opened Buddy V’s Ristorante at The Shops at La Cantera. (Buddy V’s Ristorante, 2018)

  • Boasting the same succulent flavor without the hefty price tag, Buddy’s Surf & Turf is a steakhouse staple featuring shrimp scampi, bistro tender medallions, broccolini and chianti sauce. Now available for $30.95.
  • Oven-baked with provolone and mozzarella, the Bone-In Parmesan Veal Chop weighs an impressive 16 ounces and includes a generous side of spaghetti marinara. Enjoy this colossal dish for $24.95.
  • Every dad knows a good pizza when he sees one. Smothered in Italian sausage, grandma’s meatballs, Molinari pepperoni, cherry peppers, ricotta, mozzarella and provolone.  Buddy’s Favorite Pizza is perfect for dads and kids. Get it now for just $14.95.
  • Spaghetti is in full supply as Buddy’s world-class chefs cook up this beloved dish. Dads can customize their meal by ordering different sauces, including pomodoro ($13.95), meatballs ($15.95) and Bolognese ($15.50).

Vegetarian Options:

  • Buddy’s Caprese with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, tomato confit, balsamic reduction and grilled Filone bread
  • Tomato & Basil Soup with grana padano and croutons
  • Margherita Pizza with sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil
  • My Wife’s Eggplant Parm with crispy eggplant, tomato, mozzarella and parmesan
  • Cheese Ravioli with ricotta, parmesan cheese and roasted tomato sauce

Buddy V’s Ristorante
15900 La Cantera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78256
(210) 462-1167

Celebrate Father’s Day at COVER 3

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COVER 3 and COVER 2 have special Father’s Day promotions to celebrate dad this Sunday June 17. Photo: Julia Keim, used with permission.

Father’s Day is this Sunday and for those who would prefer to treat dad to a sports-centric day, COVER 3 has special promotions for this special occasion. (COVER 3, 2018)

On Sunday, June 17 at all COVER 3 locations, plus COVER 2, all dads will receive a complimentary draft beer or a Bloody Mary wrapped in a COVER 3 koozie. The Bloody Marys are only available with brunch until 3p.m., but fathers can also select their choice of any available draft beer anytime that day compliments of the house. Limited to one free drink per dad per location. At the San Antonio, Downtown Austin and Round Rock locations, fathers can choose from any available beers from (512) Brewing.

All COVER 3 and COVER 2 locations will open one hour early, at 10a.m. on Sunday for World Cup watching when Mexico takes on Germany. If needed, all locations will also be showing Game 7 of the NBA Finals at 7p.m. that same night with the Cleveland Cavaliers taking on the Golden State Warriors. Those interested in reserving a table or booth for the​ games​ are encouraged to do so in advance by calling their preferred COVER 3 location.

COVER 3 is the leading high-end sports bar and has previously been named to CNN’s list of “101 of the best sports bars in the U.S” as well as the “Best Sports Bar in the Central Region” by Sports Illustrated. Each location has enough TVs to give guests multiple options regarding which TV near their table is the most comfortable for their viewing pleasure. Serving upscale food, craft cocktails and high-end wines, COVER 3 remains elegant and stylish while giving guests the feeling they are enjoying the Super Bowl in their own private box.

COVER 2 is an independently owned and operated sports bar and restaurant created in 2008 by native Austinites, Doug Young and Matt Dodson. It is the premier sports bar in Central Texas offering an exceptional guest experience within a casual and comfortable atmosphere that sports fans of all types can call home. COVER 2 boasts both elevated cuisine offerings and classic bar food staples, in addition to over 20 beers on draft, a full bar with premium spirits, two chilled liquor taps and a curated selection of additional beers and wines. Sports fans will appreciate the more than 25 big-screen HDTVs and a larger-than-life sound system.

1806 N Loop 1604 W
San Antonio, TX 78248
(210) 479-9700

2700 W Anderson Ln, Ste 202
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 374-1121

1717 West Sixth Street, #21 OR
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 982-1550

2800 N-IH 35, Suite 300
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 693-2393

COVER 2:
13701 Research Blvd
Austin, TX 78750
(512) 506-9935