ISO: Here is why Kevin will win Top Chef. After tonight's episode I found his recipe. HOW did he come up

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joe

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with this in 2 hours? I'm determined to replicate it. I have turnips sprouting in the garden and though I don't really like kale enough to plant it, but I'm willing to buy some just for this. The Morrels may be beyond my price range, and I don't even know what hen-of-the-woods are, but I bet I could sub other mushrooms if I got all the other exacting flavors right. What's a Cold Smoker?

Duo of Mushrooms, Smoked Kale, Candied Garlic and Turnip Purée

Info

Course:

Dessert, Main Course

Total Time:

Under 2 Hours

Skill Level:

Challenging

Cost:

Splurge

Top Chef, Season 6, Episode 10, Elimination Challenge Winner

Yield

12 SERVINGS

Ingredients

For Braised Morels:

2 cups morel mushrooms

¼ lb butter, unsalted

2 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon cream

Salt

Lemon juice

For Garlic Syrup:

1 cup sugar

1 cup cider vinegar

10 cloves garlic, peeled

For Turnip Puree:

2 cups turnips, peeled and sliced

2 tablespoons heavy cream

¼ lb butter, unsalted

1 teaspoon sugar

1 cup water

3 turnips, quartered (for garnish)

For Pistou:

½ cup tarragon leaves

¼ cup pistachios, toasted

2 cups parsley

½-1 cup extra virgin olive oil

For Greens:

2 bunches kale

1 onion, brunoised

1 clove garlic, minced

½ teaspoon chili flakes

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

½ lb butter

1 quart water

For Sautéed Hen of the Woods:

3 cups hen of the woods mushrooms

1 teaspoon butter, unsalted

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 celery stalk, fine brunoised

1 lemon, zested and juiced

Directions

For Garlic Syrup:

1. Caramelize sugar in a little water until a deep amber color.

2. Add vinegar and boil until the mixture redissolves into liquid.

3. Add garlic and reduce ¾ to a syrup consistency (about 1 hour). Reserve.

For Braised Morels:

1. In a small saucepan, emulsify butter into water and cream. Season with salt.

2. Braise mushrooms until tender. Season with lemon juice.

For Turnip Puree:

1. Melt cream, butter, and sugar together until dissolved.

2. Add turnips and cook covered until tender.

3. Pour into vita prep and puree until smooth. If too thick, thin with a little water. Adjust seasoning.

4. Roast the remaining turnips in butter until golden. Season with salt. Reserve.

For Pistou:

1. Combine all ingredients in vita prep.

2. Puree and drizzle in olive oil to emulsify to desired consistency. Season.

For Kale:

1. Smoke kale in cold smoker for 5 minutes.

2. De-stem and wash until cold running water until not slimy.

3. Trim away any brown or discolored parts. Cut into ¼” chiffonade.

4. Emulsify butter into water and add remaining ingredients. Add kale and cook to desired tenderness (5-20 minutes). Adjust seasoning with sugar and salt.

For Sautéed Hen of the Woods:

1. Melt butter with oil. When golden color, add mushrooms, celery, lemon juice and zest.

2. Let sit on heat until golden brown and tender, trying not to stir too much.

3. Take off the heat and season.

To Serve:

1. Spoon pistou onto plate.

2. Set kale next to pistou.

3. Spoon turnip puree on the other side of the pistou. Place quartered turnips on top of puree as garnish.

4. Top kale with mushrooms.

5. Drizzle garlic syrup over pistou.

© 2009 Kevin Gillespie

 
...and that's why we'll be saying: "Oh, honey, LA is so nice this time of year. I hear

the smog imbues a woody bouquet and a smooth CO2 finish to the local mushrooms. You know, I know a guy there..."

 
So glad you brougt this up. I'm confused. This was supposed to be vegetarian, so...

is butter allowed and cream?? Also where is the protein, since judges dumped on a couple of chefs over this? Did some chefs take "vegetarian" too literally as including only vegetables, otherwise where were the grains like rice, pasta,and legumes (beans) ?. Somebody used lentils (and she still got dumped on) and polenta; but is that enough protein--and where was the tofu? Were they ony allowed what was in the steakhouse kitchen? "inquiring minds want to know" Anyway, delighted to see the last of Michael I!

 
Top Chef

I wondered about that too Aajay. Where was the rice and pasta? I don't understand why the judges jump on some and not others? Glad Michael is gone, but was sure it was going to be Robin.
Kevin is amazing!!!!

 
Aajay, as I understand it, vegetarians do not eat flesh foods. Dairy and eggs are allowed because

the animal is not killed. Vegans are stricter and eat no animal products at all, even geletin. There seems to be a lot of in-between stages too.

I think Kevin won because he made so much out of ingredients that would normally be a side dish. The judges commented that his dish didn't leave them wanting anything. The mushrooms gave the protein effect.

Natalie Portman commented that it's hard to find kale done right. I agree--I don't much like it and don't know what to do with it.

I'm still wondering what a cold smoker is.

 
The judges' blogs at bravotv address their surprise at the lack of protiens.

I am enjoying these cheftestents much more than those in past years. Besides the skill level there is less cussing and backstabbing. (Except for their mutual dislike of Robin.) Now that it's down to the highest skilled of the group (except for Robin) we are seeing more ego-speak, tho.

Last season there would have been an all out brawl over the eggplant, this season they flipped a dried fruit for it. Yes, she whined over losing, but that was probably encouraged by the interviewer in the diary room. In later interviews they talk about how you don't hear the questions they are asked, only their answers so sometimes it appears they are complaining a lot but they are actually just responding to the questions.

 
I haven't done anything. I'm a lazy person. It's just so much easier to ask you guys.

 
Thanks, Orchid and Lisa. I may try this next time I BBQ and have a small bit of heat left.

 
The thing I noticed about Kevin's dish was that it was more of a main dish size too!

That matters a lot. This was supposed to be an entree and yet hardly any of the others would suffice as an entree in my opinion. Much too small especially for vegetarian which unlike a meat protein which is 4 oz, tends to need larger size to fulfill the dietary requirements. And the use of mushrooms was also very good as it is a very good substitute for meat both in texture and taste.

 
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