Recipe: Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken

Rich and delicious, this chicken dish features complex flavors that will surprise and delight you!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
3 tablespoon Pebble Creek Roasted Garlic & Red Chile Mustard
1 tablespoon honey    
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
pinch salt    
1 green onion, chopped    
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Directions:
In a bowl, combine all ingredients except chicken and green onion. Set aside 1/3 cup mustard mixture. Grill chicken, brushing frequently with mustard mixture until chicken is cooked, and juices run clear. Serve chicken with reserved mustard mixture and garnish with chopped green onions if desired.

Makes 4 Servings

Marinade, Brush-on, or Dip. It Depends on the Sauce!

Have you ever marinated chicken in your favorite BBQ sauce overnight only to end up with a charred mess on the grill the next day? We tell you how to avoid this from happening again!

Marinade: There is no better way to get flavor deep inside your meat than the marinade method. You can use a dry rub or a wet mixture to impart that flavor. You do however need to be sure you are using an appropriate flavor delivery system to accomplish this. If you use a sugar, honey, or molasses laden blend you will surely find yourself in a sticky and burnt situation. If you like the idea of marinating try using a sauce like Stone Brewing Co's IPA Curry Mustard Grill Sauce. Perfect on chicken, pork, or even lamb, you can use more; brushed on top for a nice blast of flavor!

Brush-On: What could be nicer than a tangy glaze on your chicken or ribs? Many sauces are suitable for glazing. The key to identifying one of these is usually thickness. The thick sauce should be brushed or mopped on in layers during the last twenty minutes of cooking. This will give your sauce time to thicken further and caramelize on the surface of your meat. While BBQ sauce like Pebble Creek's, Phil's, or Russian River Fine Foods lines are all great for brushing on your meat, Tony Tah's Chinese Chicken Salad Dressing makes an incredible tangy glaze, especially if you are looking for something a little different for your family or friends!

Dip: Perhaps you opted for the dry rub method because you love that crusty bark on your brisket or ribs but you still enjoy some sauce with your barbeque. Dipping is the perfect way to have the best of both worlds. All the sauce previously mentioned are excellent for dipping, but don't just pour the sauce from the bottle into a bowl, nothing will put a damper on your BBQ like cold sauce! Heating the sauce for dipping is the perfect way to enhance both your sauce and the meal. The heat will help intensify the flavors and develop some caramelization and thickness, and you won't be giving your pork the cold shoulder!

Canadian Hot Sauce Company Heads South For the Winter

I was recently speaking with Denzel Sandburg of Denzel’s Gourmet Foods in British Colombia, Canada. He was telling me that he may get his fantastic products out here to the Napa area for the Mustard Festival. Denzel recently learned that his honey mustard sauce took the top prize at the Napa Valley Mustard Festival Worldwide Mustard Competition.

Then today while surfing my usual food related searches I can across this article about Denzel in the Vernon Morning Star:

Denzel Sandberg has to drain every grocery store along Highway 97 in the Okanagan to collect enough habaneros — the spiciest naturally-grown hot pepper — for his world famous hot sauces. It takes about 20 pounds of habaneros to make a batch of Fire Hazard, a hot sauce ranking eight out of eight on his spicy scale because it uses twice as many habaneros as his next-hottest sauce (Dangerous Goods, a seven) and which he uses the word really three times to convey how hot it is.

“It’s my drug of choice. This one is ‘aahhh,’” he says, widening his arms as if he were imitating a bear.

In the four-hour process of grinding, chopping, and roasting the habaneros for Fire Hazard, his eyes burn, his skin flares and his nostril hairs seer.

“It smells good but it burns,” said Sandberg. “It hurts.”

Making hot sauce is hard work, which is why the Enderby entrepreneur/chef, whose bottles have been bringing him international awards since he started Denzel’s Gourmet Foods seven years ago, entertained the idea of getting into the barbecue sauce business. Less than a year later, three of his four barbecue sauces have won some of the world’s top sauce prizes.

We hope that we will see you in Napa!

Read the rest here...

Napa Valley Mustard Festival 2009

Celebrating the unique food, wine, art, and rich agricultural & cultural bounties of the Napa Valley!

The Mustard Season offers a full palette of food, wine, art, entertainment, and cultural activities staged throughout the world-famous grape growing region when fields, vineyards, and hillsides are vibrant with wild mustard in bloom.

This, the sixteenth annual mustard festival is the sixth year that Innuendo Foods will be attending the event. It is the second time the event is changing venues. Initially at the Napa Fairgrounds the festival quickly outgrew the venue and was relocated to Copia; the Napa Center for Food and Wine. This year the Marketplace Event will be hosted by the Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville.

Highlights of this rain or shine food, wine and arts festival include: celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, a KGO Newstalk AM810 live remote broadcast of Dining Around with Gene Burns, a Sunset Magazine pavilion, and taping of Martha Stewart Living radio shows. Artful activities include fine arts and crafts presented by juried artists and artisans, and live performances of jazz, world, and classical music.

Adult admission to The Marketplace at $35 in advance, $40 at the door, includes eight food and five wine tasting tickets (value $1 each), plus a souvenir wine glass. Student admission, ages 13 to 20, at $10 includes five food tasting tickets. Admission for children ages 6 to 12 is $5. Children under the age of 6 are admitted for free. Visit participating Raley's, Nob Hill Foods and Bel Aire Markets to purchase adult tickets in advance, which include a voucher for five additional tasting tickets.

Purchase a weekend package in advance at mustardfestival.org which includes both The Awards and The Marketplace at $125 per person.

Look for us at the Innuendo Foods / Dave's Gourmet booth at the Marketplace Event for some great gourmet fun and samples of a selection of our fine products! See you there and let us know you read it in The Last Bite!

Corned Beef Pastrami Maven Dies at Age of 90

Today in the International Herald Tribune was an announcement that would surely have foodies everywhere hold their heads down in a moment of silence.

Milton Parker, the longtime owner of the famous Carnegie Deli renowned for its gargantuan pastrami, tongue and chopped liver sandwiches, has died. He was 90.

Parker, whose business card said Milton Parker CPM — for Corned Beef and Pastrami Maven — died Friday of respiratory problems, said his daughter, Marian Levine.

His family says nothing will change at the legendary Theater District deli where Woody Allen filmed scenes in "Broadway Danny Rose."

Parker's son-in-law, Sanford Levine, told the Daily News: "It's the food, the communal tables, the menu. That's not going to change."

Read the rest of the story...

Recipe: Monica's Cuban Sandwich Wrap

The Cuban sandwich is a wonderful combination of flavors and textures. For this version we use a commercially available bread wrap. The pork filling is slow roasted and by using a Crockpot, a perfect result it easily achieved. Pork recipe follows below.


Ingredients:
1 FlatOut bread wrap
2 pcs Ham, thick sliced
8oz. Pork, shredded (slow roasted)
2 pcs Cheese, Colby Jack sliced
1 lg. Dill Pickle, Sliced
1 tablespoon Roasted Garlic & Red Chile Mustard
1 teaspoon Mayonaise
1 teaspoon butter, softened

Directions:
Butter one side of FlatOut bread wrap. Place butter side down in a skillet or grille pan. Place the cheese on one half of the bread wrap. While the cheese is beginning to melt sear the ham slices in the pan and place on top of the melting cheese. Spread spicy mustard on the ham and spread out 6 to 8 ounces of roasted pork over the mustard. Sliced dill pickles go on top of the roasted pork. Spread the mayo on the opposite half of the bread wrap and fold over. Transfer to a cutting board and slice the sandwich in half.

Serve with some tortilla chips, black bean dip, and plenty of hot sauce.


FOR SLOW ROASTED PORK

3 Onions
1 Pork shoulder
Hawaiian red salt
Fresh cracked black pepper

Peel and half three onions. Place onions cut side down in Crockpot. Clean and pat dry pork shoulder. Season liberally with Hawaiian red salt and fresh cracked pepper. Place seasoned pork shoulder on onion halves. Cover with lid and set to cook for 12 hours on high. DO NOT add any liquid. This should be a slow cooker that reaches a max temp of about 275 degrees. For the last three hours prop the lid up so that the accumulated liquid can reduce. You should be left with very little liquid at end of cooking.

The pork should be fork tender and the onions should be dark brown and completely caramelized. Using two large forks shred up the pork and onion together making sure they are well mixed.

Besides the Cuban sandwich, this pulled pork can be used as an ingredient in many dishes. The very simplistic seasoning allows it to take on the flavors of any dish without adding an uncharacteristic element. It works well in tacos, carnitas, BBQ pork sandwiches, and more!

A Call For Products; We're Looking For A Few Good Sauces!

Are you a gourmet food or specialty sauce maker? Are you located in Northern California? Are you interested in having your products placed in online and Bay Area Stores?

Innuendo Enterprises LLC is looking for some great new products to add to their current offerings. Your products; should they be approved for placement in our network will be presented to our ever growing list of retail clients. Your product will automatically be placed online with their retail affiliate RoJosGourmet.com and may also qualify to be offered to over 40 million shoppers a day on Amazon.com .


The criteria are as follows:

*Your product must be a shelf stable gourmet or specialty food item.

*Your product should be professionally packed in a FDA approved processing facility.

*You must have a professional label which includes ingredient declaration and nutritional facts.

*You should provide a price list of your submitted items which includes both wholesale and distributor price and your suggested list price.

*Your product should be made and stocked in Northern California.

*You acknowledge that any materials that you submit will be done at your own expense and regardless of the outcome your samples and/or materials will not be returned to you.

*All decisions are at the sole discretion of Innuendo Enterprises LLC and its officers.

We are particularly interested in expanding our Rubs and Spices, Salsa, dressings, olives and pickles, wing sauce, and condiments offerings.

If you would like to submit your specialty food items please contact us at INNUENDO CONTACT FORM and provide us with some details of your products.

Recipe: Roasted Chicken with Honey, Mustard & Curry

This simple and fast recipe makes a hearty supper that everyone will enjoy. This roasted chicken is both sweet and savory with just a hint of spice.

Serve it with some steamed vegetables and your favorite rice or potato on the side!



INGREDIENTS

1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup prepared mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon curry powder


DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place chicken pieces in a shallow baking pan, skin side up.
3. Combine the melted butter, honey, mustard, salt and curry powder and pour the mixture over the chicken.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 1/4 hours (75 minutes), basting every 15 minutes with pan drippings, until the chicken is nicely browned and tender and the juices run clear.


Submit your favorite recipe to be posted and you could receive a free gourmet gift if selected. Drawing for free gourmet gift is random and at the sole discretion of "The Last Bite".

Recipe: Honey Mustard Rubbed Roast Pork

Mustard is not just for sandwiches or hot dogs. Here is an example of another way you can use it! For this recipe we utilize your Crockpot to save on time and cleanup:

Ingredients:

2 pork tenderloins
salt and pepper
1 small clove garlic, minced
4 tablespoons Pebble Creek Roasted Garlic & Red Chile Mustard
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dried leaf thyme, crumbled
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Wash and trim the pork and pat dry; sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Place pork in the slow cooker. Combine garlic, mustard, honey, brown sugar, vinegar, and thyme; pour over the pork. Turn pork to coat thoroughly.

Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 9 hours, or on HIGH for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours.

Remove pork to a plate, cover with foil, and keep warm. Pour the juices into a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, or until reduced by about one-third. Combine the cornstarch and cold water; whisk into the reduced juices and cook for 1 minute longer. Serve pork sliced with the thickened juices.

Suggestion: Serve with some baby spring greens tossed in a light vinaigrette.

Send In a recipe using one of the products purchased from RoJo's Gourmet. If your recipe is chosen we will post it for all to read. You will also receive a gift from RoJo's Gourmet Foods if your recipe is selected. Thank you all in advance for your great recipes.

Shop For Gourmet Ingredients...

Stone Brewing Company Unleashes Their Arrogant Bastards in Gourmet Sauces

Introduced in 1997 by the Stone Brewing Co, Arrogant Bastard Ale immediately developed a following among "those who know" (a.k.a. "the Worthy"). Arrogant Bastard Ale is an aggressive beer and not for the timid or weak. As such, it demands pairing with food that takes the same stance. So when Russ Bruhn, a similarly (and appropriately) arrogant friend at Carlsbad Gourmet approached them to collaborate on a hot sauce recipe made with Arrogant Bastard, not only did they say yes - they said, "Let's make three!"

Russ, a fixture in the Orange county area, well known for cornering the strawberry market with his myriad of strawberry themed products seems to be having a great time in his venture out into slightly darker territories of the gourmet food world. While this line is a bit of a step out from his Carlsbad Gourmet line in image, Russ puts the same care and quality into these fine brew laden sauces. The end result is some of the best specialty sauces that you will ever find. Oh... and they have beer in them!

This is the Bastard Trinity. “They shall deliver you from mediocrity, whether you want it or not.”

Arrogant Bastard Ale: Jalapeño Heat
Few are Worthy of this sauce. Its distinct burning flavor is certainly beyond the tolerance of most. Beyond you? That is for you to decide. The matriculated will appreciate its flavor and depth. The informed will understand its craftsmanship. Curiously, while the flavor is most certainly suggestive of the fiery depths, simply combine with your favorite food and an Arrogant Bastard Ale, and you might swear you were in heaven.

OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale: Chipotle
OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale is a truly unique beer. All of the aggressive palate-punishing flavor of the original Arrogant Bastard Ale, but with American oak wood chips added in the brewing process, resulting in unique flavors and aromas of vanilla and molasses. Combining it with the roasty distinctiveness of chipotle peppers creates a hot sauce as unique as the beer.

Double Bastard Ale: Double Burn Habanero
A sauce almost as big as the beer that's in it - ALMOST. Merciful beings that we are, we chose to utilize none other than habanero to dilute it. If you're tasting this hot sauce as you read this, you either love habanero or you just lost a bet. (Not yet personally familiar with habanero? No matter, it's a s-h-o-r-t learning curve.) Double Bastard Ale Double Burn Habanero is a surprisingly well-balanced hot sauce to those fire eaters who love habanero, and a singular pain to those who are unworthy.

Besides the Trinity of hot sauces this joint venture has also produced two sauces that are not created to send your tongue on a torturous ride to Endorphinville.

Stone Ruination IPA Curry Mustard Grilling Sauce; Does the mere mention of mustard and curry send your palate into a frenzy of anticipation? Then just imagine those flavors combined with the beautifully bitter potency of our Stone Ruination IPA! You'll transcend to a whole new level of gustatory joy when you use this sauce at your next meal. "A liquid poem to the glory of the hop" is how we refer to Stone Ruination IPA, and this sauce is like setting those poetic words to music. Your palate will sing and your tongue will dance. Careful now...you’re drooling is causing people to stare. But that's not really the problem - except that they might want you to share!

Stone Smoked Porter & Pasilla Pepper BBQ Sauce; a “dark, rich, and complicated sauce", describes our Stone Smoked Porter - and we like our BBQ sauce the same way. Although you yourself needn't be dark, rich, or even complicated to enjoy this sauce, if you happen to be any of the above, perhaps so much the better. Regardless, come with us and venture over to the dark side...if you dare! Just don't waste it on unworthy food. For starters, we recommend natural/organic meats. If you use it on tastes-like-rubber factory chicken, for example, you will simply end up with tastes-like-rubber chicken with tastes-like-dark-rich-and-complicated sauce on it. And we expect more of you than that. Don't ever let us, or more importantly, yourself, down. We won't.