Supper After The Storm

AN UNUSUAL CHICKEN/DUCK DISH WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND WILD RICE

When my office set up a web page for people to post their Hurricane Sandy meals, I was inspired. But on the day of Hurricane Sandy I went out to Clyde's for a "hurricane lunch" and that raucous and filling meal was enough to get me from the day into and through the night. So, I'm hoping a supper after the storm still counts. (If not I'll give our team of ace foodies a hard time tomorrow). 

Today I wasn't sure what I wanted except that I felt it should counter the weather, meaning a kind of stick-to-the-bones carnivore tilt. My inclination is to go to Cannon's and buy a piece of fish but my main meal yesterday was a steamed lobster. Lobster is the best possible way to conjure being on a mooring in Nantucket harbor in a blow. Being anywhere up north in a blow.

But back to meat. It just seemed right for today's raw weather. I stopped into Stachowski's market at 28th and P and surveyed all the dead red animal flesh. I was drawn to the good-looking fresh ground steak burger meat and then drifted over to this odd looking wrapped package. Jamie Stachowski was at the counter and I asked, "what's that?" He explained it was what he'd made for his dinner last night: a duck breast wrapped in a chicken breast wrapped in bacon. Well, those of us who favor New Orleans know this is a homage to the TurDuckIn. He had some crazy name for it: ChickDuckOn. Close enough. But I was sold. 

How did it work out? Well, I would like to go back to Jamie to discuss. He advised roasting at 325 for 20 minutes, but that barely cooked the outer layer. I kept returning it to the oven.In the end it took an hour for the chicken to be cooked and the duck to be rare. I am including a photo of the meat, fresh from the oven, but it doesn't do justice. It looks sort of messy, but that probably had more to do with my awkward plating. There was enough meat for two, potentially three.

FRESH FROM THE OVEN.

With dinner I served an '09 Sonoma Coast pinot noir. It had everything needed to go up against the duck and the chicken and the bacon plus the brussels sprouts and wild mushrooms and wild rice. That menu was a tall order for a wine. The wine had to be able to slay all that flavor and protein.

Dessert? Not doing dessert much these days. But you never ever go wrong with chocolate. I indulged enough yesterday in my "hurricane" persuasions that there was no need for dessert tonight. Besides, we had such a good crisp apple with the dinner. And often a good cup of coffee can be dessert enough.

One last note: I tweeted today that people should go out and give business to the restaurants that are open in this nasty weather. And then I stayed home. I try always to practice what I preach, but then I did go out to Clyde's yesterday. It would be good this week if people think about their neighborhood restaurants. A storm like Sandy, any exteme weather, cuts into profits in a bad way. So, go vote for your fave by making a reservation, keeping it and ordering a good bottle of wine. 

Also, very flattered that both Bourbon Steak and The Palm tried to woo my favors. Geez, they know I'm good to show up, but I did love the storm woo.

Comments

[Old Georgetowner]

When I bought one a couple weeks ago, they told me 35 to 40 minutes at 350. It worked out well enough, but it didn't rock my world.