Sunday, September 4, 2011

AT&T Ball Park Series #4: Edsel Ford Fong Asain Cuisine


Edsel Ford Fong Stand
Only in San Francisco!!! As I continue my adventure around the ball park my next stop was what I consider probably the most unique out of all the offerings. How many ball parks can you get an array of Asian cuisines at ?! From sushi to orange chicken, edamame and potstickers, Thai curry and Chicken Satay the Edsel Ford Fong Stand has something for everyone! I wanted to be able to try a few things so I was excited to see that they had a "Combo Plate" option with fried rice, orange chicken and a egg roll. One of the first things that struck me when I got my food was how HUGE the serving was! The plate is served in a plastic togo box that
 seals which is great to keep the food nice and warm as you carry it to your seat. Once we got settled I went for the egg roll first. (Note: if you like a dipping sauce for your egg rolls make sure before you leave the stand you get a little to go container from the left side they have a broad selection available so you can prepare it how you like!) I was very impressed first with the size of the egg roll then with the nice thick crispy wrapping. I find so frequently that egg rolls that are done in quick service places can sometimes sit too long and become soggy but they must prepare these to order or on a very regular basis because they were great and crisp. The
filling was very simple but still tasty. The fried rice was a basic version of the classic- fried egg, peas and carrots. It was lacking some flavor but the texture of rice was good and it was definitely filling! The Orange Chicken was the biggest surprise. Since my time in High School working at an amazing family run Thai restaurant I have had a very high standards for most Asian food. They had some of the best Orange Chicken I have ever had it was nice and crisp with a great slightly spicy sauce. While I'm not sure any other Orange Chicken could ever compare this stuff was not bad at all! The pieces were nice and crisp outside good white meat chicken inside and the sauce was really yummy. While it has been years since I've had Panda Express Orange Chicken I felt like style wise that is the closest comparison, maybe even better. Overall I was pleasantly surprised by the whole experience and I look forward to hopefully trying more of what they have to offer.

Locations: Promenade Level Section 118, Lexus Clubhouse (extended menu)
Average Wait: Since this is a far from average Ball Park menu it may not look as popular, there is rarely a wait- Lucky you!
Price: $10 for the combo plate- See menu picture for additional prices
Value: The size and quality of this plate make it a great value, I suggest splitting it with a friend and buying an extra egg roll so you each have your own, I promise you will both be full!
Over-All Satisfaction: This is a really great option for those who are in the mood for something different. I really enjoyed everything I ate and was very pleased with the portion sizes as well as flavor!

Game Score:Another close one! We beat the Padres 2-1 just by the skin of our teeth!


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Give a Bachelor a Burger: A Homemade Dinner for your Favorite Working Man

In the past 10 years a cultural food phenomenon as appeared in the Silicon Valley. Publicised first by Google, it has become the common standard that all corporate campuses in the Bay Area now offer plentiful meal options to their employees morning through night. The thought process behind this of course is that if they don't have to go far for a great meal they can spend more time working more productively. A happy healthy employee is a loyal productive employee... and loyal productive employees make you money!

I recently had one of my favorite bachelor buddies over for dinner. He has been working for a few years at a big time Silicon Valley company and he loves his job. Like any wise bachelor he also daily takes advantage of 3 meals a day while working early in the morning to late in the evening. Who wouldn't? I don't know many guys (or gals for that matter) who enjoy heading home after a long day at the office to rustle up a meal for one (if you have started to follow my twitter:: and you should!::  you know that my domestic goddess rarely comes out on the weeknights. Example- the night I had pancakes, asparagus, & left over sweet potato fries for dinner... yikes). However even with the fine food options available after awhile the appeal of eating every meal from a cafeteria is bound to wear thin. If you have one of these bachelor buddies here is your opportunity to be their new favorite person. There is something special that a hand crafted and thought out meal provides to the eater that a cafeteria can never provide.

When planning out this dinner my first thought was "I have to do burgers". I knew my buddy was a huge burger connoisseur, but of course I couldn't do just your average burger it needed to have my own flair on it. Since it's grilling season there have been ample ideas in my favorite recipe magazines and web sites. One trend that I really attached to was the cheese stuffed burger. I went with a nice creamy Gorgonzola to give a nice surprise and then happened upon an awesome recipe for a caramelized red onion, bacon & balsamic dressing that would work so perfectly. Finishing off with some fresh arugula brought a nice cool peppery component and a nice compliment of color! While I wanted to really go all out and bake the buns myself it was not in the cards this time but I did put them on my grill pan for a few minutes to warm them up and give them a nice toast. To round out the plate I herb roasted some dutch golden baby potatoes and grilled some asparagus. It made my night when as soon as he walked in the kitchen (smelling the hearty smell of cooked bacon) he declared "it's like you went online and looked up 'what are Jared's favorite foods?' !". Nothing makes me happier than making people feel special with food and a comment like this left me glowing. It is always so fulfilling to show people how much you care with a meal you thought up just for them! Unfortunately in all the fun I forgot to take a picture but below you can find the recipes!

I found the original recipe via foodgawker on fellow food blogger's site, visit Tracey's Culinary Adventures to see what other treats you might enjoy!

Gorgonzola Stuffed Burger
with Red Onion, Bacon, & Balsamic dressing:

For the Dressing

4 thick slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
1 large red onion, halved and thinly sliced
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

For the Burgers
2 thick slices bacon
3/4 lb 85% lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ( I just kinda dashed some in the bowl till it looked good, I may have put a little more)
1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola or blue cheese
2 hamburger buns

To Prepare the Dressing:

In a large skillet over medium heat cook bacon (chopped into 1/2 pieces) till it just begins to crisp. Transfer it from the pan with a slotted spoon to a plate covered with a paper towl to drain. Leaving the heat at medium add the sliced onions to the bacon grease to cook down and caramelize. I pulled the pan off the heat for a second while I was adding them to try to avoid hot grease splatter. stir periodically as they begin to caramelize around 10 minutes or so until they look nice and soft. Add the balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, 1/3 cup of water and the cooked bacon to the pan. Bring the mixture to a simmer and continue to stir periodically as the liquid is reduced and absorbed another 5 minutes or so (you want to make sure it is no longer soupy). If you are going to be short on time the day you plan to serve your burgers you can prepare this part up to two days in advance and then reheat it before service.

Burgers:

In  medium bowl mix the ground beef, minced bacon and Worcestershire sauce with a little salt and pepper. Separate into 4 even portions flatten each into a round about a 1/4 inch thick. Top each of two rounds with a 1/4 cup of the crumbled gorgonzola. Top with the extra two rounds a firmly press the edges together to seal in the cheese (after pinching the edges I picked up each burger and formed them a little more in my hands so it felt like it was 1 piece not two halves of the whole, you dont want the cheese to escape!)

After grilling your buns set you burgers on the grill over medium heat about 5 minutes on each side for a nice medium doneness (I wait till the outside edge is no longer pink about half way up then flip it, since the center is cheese there is less worry about the doneness).

For mine I put a little mayo on my bottom bun then topped with the burger the onion dressing and some fresh arugula! Filling and flavorful this is a sophisticated twist on a classic with some great unique flavors!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

AT&T Ball Park Series #3: King Street Carvery

I first fell in love with the King Street Carvery concessions (seems like such a cheap word for the fare available at this stand) last season on one of my first games in the 315 vicinity of View Reserve. I had come to a day game and I wanted to branch out from my usual Italian sausage. While surveying my options this stand stood out from the Doggie Diner and heat lamp ruined pizza's as an option for a real meal. I ordered the Carved Turkey sandwich with optional Cranberry sauce (nice and thick) and the side of potato salad. While I did at first balk at the cost (Combined with a beer my total was over $20) I so enjoyed the sandwich that combined with it's close proximity to my season tickets it has become my new standard! (with the exception of the potato salad- it was very tasty but not really necessary the sandwich is filling enough) I now have to introduce all my friends who join me at games to this spot because it really is a can't miss. With the Review as an inspiration I have begun branching out to other  items on the menu and so today I present you with three options. Fore warning- they were not all fantastic, however there are plenty of things that you will really enjoy available!

Locations: View Reserve 317, Lexus Clubhouse, Promenade Level section 126
Average Wait: My main experience is with the View Reserve Location, there are 2 lines (which many people don't realize) Head to the line on the right side of the stand as that one is usually shorter. Line moves quickly although it may take a moment for your order as it is being prepared on the spot not pre-packaged which is totally worth it for the warm fresh flavors

The Carved Turkey Sandwich The picture depicts the sandwich after I have already dressed it to my taste spreading the heaping spoonful of cranberry sauce around with some mayo and deli mustard (condiments conveniently located right next to the stand)
Price: $9.25
Value: I definitely think this sandwich is worth, heaping with thick slices of turkey carved on the spot for your order. It is also served with a pickle spear!
Overall Flavor & Satisfaction: I am never disappointed. The carved turkey is nice and moist, great flavor. The cranberry sauce has excellent consistency and the roll it is served on tastes fresh and holds up well (most times). If you are not a turkey fan I have heard nothing but great things about the Carved Brisket sandwich which is served with horseradish and a pickle as well! Also carved fresh to order

Pulled Pork Sandwich with Creamy Slaw
I am a huge lover of pulled pork and had been eyeing this item warily on the menu for awhile now. I recently enjoyed a game with my dad and decided it was time to give it a try!
Price: $10.00
Value: I'm going to rate this in terms of the cost of this same sandwich at a sit down restaurant and say that the quantity matches the cost
Over All Flavor & Satisfaction: YUM!!!! I was over the top pleased with the sandwich. First of all size wise it is great totally filling. The meat is tender and juicy and the sauce is the perfect balance of sweet with just enough spiciness. The creamy slaw balances everything really well and it is served on the same great rolls as the Turkey & Brisket sandwiches. Fair warning though - this is a fork sandwich! You can maybe if you are lucky make it through 1/3 of the sandwich before the roll begins to fail you, with all that delicious sauce it's gonna get soggy. I recommend tearing pieces of the bun off and loading them with the pork and slaw and eating it in sections and the remaining straight with a fork. And get lots of napkins!
Side Note: This is an original item from Willie McCovey's Restaurant, the aptly named- McCovey's, in Walnut Creek, CA. Read more about the restaurant on their website here.

Boudin's Chili in a Bread Bowl
As a bay area native I grew up with delicious Boudin's sourdough bread always available. Usually i would be a clam chowder in a bread bowl girl however on this particularly chilly (hehehe) night- only chili would suffice! Both options are available however.
Price: $8.25
Value: If you can eat the bread- great, if not the amount of chili or chowder available does not really justify the cost
Overall Flavor & Satisfaction: Here comes the disappointment. I was actually pretty excited to try this one out. I like chili, I love bread bowls but right off the bat I was underwhelmed. My bread had obviously been cut too far in advance and was beginning to taste dry and stale. While the cheese melted in nicely the chili lacked depth and character. I like a dynamic chili with a variety of textures (and lots of beans!). This chili had no beans to speak of and basically was just seasoned ground beef. Within not much time it began to get that greasy unappealing sheen on it. I can't say I would recommend it. At a separate game a friend ordered the clam chowder and was disappointed by how unsatisfied it left her as she did not really enjoy the bread and there was an inadequate quantity of chowder in the large seeming bowl. Your dollars are definitely better spent on other items at this stand.

Game Scores: It's been some hard fought battles this year and I'm sad to report that each game I enjoyed these items at was a lose. Phillie, the D-backs, & the Brewers :( Thankfully we had a great shut out win last night! LET'S GO GIANTS!!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Farmers Market Squash Blossoms

One of the great sadnesses of my working weekends is that I rarely make it out to the many local farmer's markets in the area. This last weekend I finally had a Sunday off and hit up the Campbell farmers market (organized by Urban Village) just a quick drive from my apartment. This is probably my most frequented of the farmers markets near by. They always have a great showing and I'm guaranteed to leave feeling satisfied. On my first pass through the market I have to admit I felt a little overwhelmed. I hadn't really come in with a plan of attack but more just wanted to go with what looked the freshest and most seasonal. The "problem" was that EVERYTHING looked great! (poor little California girl, so many fresh fruit and veggie options you can't choose, must be a hard life) With 6+ fruit stands and just as many (if not more) veggie stands narrowing down what I wanted to take home felt impossible. They all had a lot of the same things, they all looked great, and the price points were all within 50 cents. It took delving a little deeper to find something special. Just as I was getting close to finishing the lap around the street I hit a veggie stand with something to offer that no one else had. Something I had been wanting for a looooong time but never see at super markets- Squash Blossoms. Really- it's the simple things. This literally made my day. I bought 5 for $1 along with some great looking yellow squash and from there I was one fire. Cute little individual looking cantaloupes? Be mine! Gorgeous lavender/yellow dahlia's? Come to Mama! Handmade personal spinach and salmon quiche? Don't mind if I do! I loaded up my cloth bag like a pro and headed home feeling successful without even spending my whole trip budget!

As soon as I got home I put my blossoms in a little bit of water (the stems were wet when I purchased them from the stand so I figured this would help sustain them till I was ready to use them later that afternoon) and began searching epicurious for the basics on stuffing squash blossoms. From them I borrowed some basics, the batter (a/p flour, Parmesan, & club soda) and filling (ricotta, Parmesan, & egg) and added my own flair (sweet corn, bacon, & green onion, all things I happened to have in house). I also decided that I needed a dipping sauce and was inspired while at Trader Joe's to whip up a basil cream sauce (this inspiration would have been nice while I was still at the Farmer's market where I could have bought the basil cheap but cest la vie). After gathering all my ingredients I took a little break to catch up on about 5 episodes of True Blood.... cause what better way to spend a Sunday than watching gore and sex scenes with vampires & werewolves.... don't judge me....

As the afternoon wore on my curiosity got the best of me and I took a break from my TV Marathon to whip up my Squash blossoms. They had shriveled some but with a gentle hand I was able to spread the petals enough that they would be able to wrap around ample filling. As I inspected them I noticed the pistil still in the center. I have no clue about the edible nature of this part of the flower so it seemed like the best choice to just remove it. After that I stuffed each with just over 2 Tablespoons of the filling (pretty much all with my fingers to be as delicate with the fragile petals as possible) and twisted the top together as the epicurious directions suggested.

The batter was very simple to prepare: just whisk together 1/2 Cup all purpose flour, 1/3 cup Parmesan, & 3/4 cup seltzer water. dip the blossoms into the batter and fry at 375 degrees in about 3 cups vegetable oil. I don't have a thermometer so I went with just over medium and they seemed to fry well warming the inside with a  nice crisp outside. Turn them over just once with a set of tongs (by far my favorite basic kitchen tool) after 1- 2 minutes (when you can see that the edges of the batter are starting to turn golden. Let them dry for a moment on some paper towels to absorb the extra oil. I made a nice basil mustard cream sauce to go with these that I found on epicurious as well you can follow the link here: Mustard Cream Sauce (with Basil) .

This was such a yummy and surprisingly easy experiment I was really pleased. I will definitely be hitting up my local farmers market for more squash blossoms soon so I can experiment with my fillings and batters!

Monday, August 1, 2011

AT&T Ball Park Series #2- the Cha Cha Bowl

Promamade Location
For a few seasons now I have heard rave reviews about the infamous Cha-Cha bowl. Served at Orlando's BBQ named for Orlando Cepeda the Giants 1958 rookie of the year and hall of famer. Orlando's roots are in Puerto Rico and the food at his stand has a distinctly Caribbean flair. The menu is limited almost exclusively to the Cha-Cha Bowl and nacho's with fresh pico di gillo and caribbean seasoned pork or chicken.

I chose a Padres game with my dear friend who is a San Diego native to enjoy this particular delight. It has become our tradition each year to attend at least one game together, one per series if we can. We took the train up which gave us plenty of time to head to the promenade to pick up our dinners. Had I taken more time to notice at the previous games I could have double checked the Orlando's stand on my View Reserve Level to see if they had the bowl as well as the nachos' (which I had sampled at a previous game and was sadly disappointed in...) but alas I had not and didn't want to risk getting all the way up there only to have to trek all the way back down. Although popular there was not much of a line when I arrived at the Orlando's stand to my delight and so I marched right up and placed my order. They had a stack of about 5 pre made bowls ready to go but you could see the fresh ingredients being readily spooned into new bowls at regular intervals. I was not concerned that they had been sitting there long.
While waiting for Jayme to get some Clam Chowder in a Bread bowl I sat down at one of the small tables provided in that area to investigate my purchase. Upon opening the lid I was greeted by a nice aroma from the adobo seasoning on the chicken. The Cha-Cha Bowl has 4 layers- first rice, then black beans, then the pieces of chicken and it is topped last with pineapple and zucchini salsa. If you are looking for a healthy satisfying meal at the ball park- this is your go to. Everything was warm and flavorful, fresh and filling. The chicken was tender and moist with a nice little kick to it while the "salsa" (almost more of a slaw it seemed) added such a nice freshness you really feel like you are eating a well rounded plate.

Location: Promenade Level, View Level near Section 315
Price: $9.75
Value: This feels like a full meal with the multiple food groups represented so I definitely say it is worth the price
Average Wait: Head there earlier than later (pre-game), in the early innings you will definitely hit a line, but since they prep some bowls in advance it should move pretty efficiently
Over All Flavor & Satisfaction: I have to give it another 10 out of 10. The Zucchini Pineapple salsa really put it over the top for me. Plus with all the protein from the chicken and black beans you will stay nice and full the whole game!
Game Score: Lost to San Diego 3-5 but it was a hard fought battle!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Gruner Veltliner - The other white wine

The other day I was enjoying a beautiful afternoon out by the San Francisco Bay at Waterbar, a Swanky restaurant on the Embarcadero that faces the Bay Bridge to the far right and Marin to the left. Sailboats float by and on a clear sunny day you just can't ask for better. They have great happy hour specials (which we happened to be enjoying at the time, pre- Giants game) and oyster menu to die for. All we needed to round out the experience was just the right bottle of white wine. As I perused the list my eye was drawn to the usual picks- Sav blanc from New Zealand or a Rose from Provence... but today I wanted adventure and there in the middle of the list I found what I had been looking for!


As we approach late summer some of you may be saying, "Jen - I have really been enjoying this warm weather and the excuse to drink gallons of white wine... but my palate is bored. If I have to suck down one more glass of Pinot Grigio- I'm swearing off white and switching to cocktails!". Fear not my Friends. There's a new young gun in town hitting your wine lists and it's taking no prisoners. May I introduce the white wine Prince of Austria- Gruner Veltliner! Ok so it's not really that young, initially dating back to the 1800's, but it's popularity state side has just begun to burgeon on wine lists on both coasts over the last 5 + years and in my opinion is really beginning to pick up steam. My first experience with this varietal was in a nine grape blend called "Evolution" produced by Sokol- Blosser out of Oregon. This deeply complex (and delicious!) white wine brought a lot to the table but when tasting it I never quite knew which component belonged to the Gruner Vetliner. Was it there for acidity? Sweetness? Color? Aroma? I just wasn't sure. As it turns out Gruner Vetliner is best known for it's food friendly acidity, citrus flavors sometimes stone fruit aromas, notes of white pepper and that lovely minerality on the finish. I'm not one for overly sweet white wines and the G.V.'s I have tried so far have a crisp profile most closely resembling Sauvignon Blanc's which I love. Gruner Vetliner represents about 1/3 of the vines grown in Austria- a substantial chunk. While it is beginning to grow in the U.S. for now I say go for the real deal and buy Austrian!

Now that I have told you all about it no doubt you are currently jogging to your car to go pick some up! I did some leg work for you but was sadly disappointed. After searching my local Trader Joe's, BevMo's, Cost Plus World Market, & Safeway I could not find any in stock. My goal was to present you with 3 options at different price points. Luckily enough the single bottle I found (Carried at Whole Foods Market) was on the bargain end of the spectrum, so while I cannot offer you a break down of options- at least I can suggest a bottle to try that is affordable! At $11.99 pre tax this is a great deal for a fantastic summer wine.
2009 Gruner Veltliner, Lossterrassen, from Felsner, Austria

Chin Chin!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Lavender Sugar- A perfect way to give your Cocktails & Desserts something new!

Awhile back I went wine tasting up in Carneros (Sonoma) for a bachelorette party. One of our first stops, Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, not only has great tasting & affordable Italian inspired wines they also have a fabulous artisan olive oil and gourmet foods shop. After our private tasting we took a little time to peruse the merchandise. With so many fun things to sample I was on foodie over load! After a few olive oil tastes (Blood Orange infused?! What?!) I moved on to some of the other products lining the walls. Adorable home wares, cookbooks, and tapanades were everywhere but what drew me in was a selection of Lavender products. As a frequent recipe peruser and stalwart Bon Appetit reader I had noticed lately a number of lavender seasoned dishes and was intrigued by the Lavender sugar with it's seemingly endless possibilities. Produced locally by Little Sky in near by Boulder Creek, California the all natural organic sugar is blended with dried lavender grown on their farm to create an intoxicating aroma with a nice subtle flavor that gives baked goods and other treats a unique elegant flavor.



I have experimented with the Lavender sugar I purchased in 3 ways- as a simple syrup for cocktails & beverages, in Madeleine's, and in & on pastry dough for a Fig and Gorgonzola Gallette. Included in this article I have the recipe for the simple syrup (which is also on the packaging) with cocktail suggestions as well as pictures and recipes for the Gallette (a rustic flat pie like pastry).

While we have a few more weeks to enjoy our summer time let's take advantage of the warm weather as an excuse to sip some cool cocktails. This lavender simple syrup plays great into any crisp and refreshing cocktail as a replacement for your standard simple syrup. To make the simple syrup combined equal parts of Lavender sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil so the sugar can dissolve then lower to a simmer for about 5 minutes or so to give it time to thicken. take your syrup off the heat and let it steep for 20- 30 minutes so the lavender flavor really infuses into the syrup. Once it has cooled and is done steeping strain out the lavender. Can be kept in the fridge covered 5- 7 days.

I enjoyed this syrup in a nice refreshing mixed drink- In a shaker full of ice combined 2 parts vodka, 1 part simple syrup and the juice of 1/2 a lime. Shake vigorously, pour in a glass over ice and finish with mineral water (I chose the lime mineral Water from Trader Joe's it made an excellent compliment. I prefer mineral water over club soda for it's finer carbonation and more natural flavor). Garnish with a round of lime and voila! A refreshing drink for a hot summer day!


Which of your favorite cocktails could you incorporate this simple syrup into?








Fig & Gorgonzola Gallette with Lavender Sugar


I began making Gallette's around Christmas time last year with a fabulous apple recipe. While I am not a big pie person this gave me everything I liked about pie without the parts I didn't Beautiful flaky crust with no slimy filling just delicious fruit!


Pastry Dough:


1 3/4 Cups All Purpose Flour

1/4 Cup Lavender Sugar

1/4 Teaspoon Salt


3/4 Cups (1 1/2 sticks) Chilled unsalted butter cut into small cubes

2 Tablespoons (or more if needed) ice water



Topping:


Honey
5 oz Gorgonzola Dulce ( I found a nice little block of this at Whole foods it had a nice creamy consistency, not to overwhelmingly tangy that went great with the fig flavor and melted well when baked)


1 Pint basket of whole fresh Black Mission figs



Whipping Cream and an extra Tablespoon or two of lavender sugar for the finish


Preparation:


In a food processor combined all the dry ingredients. Slowly add the chunks of chilled butter (the colder your butter the flakier your crust!) and process in quick on off turns until the mixture resembles coarse meal. (I sometimes have to give my dinky little food processor a good shake to make sure everything is incorporating properly.... yes I realize this somewhat defeats the purpose of having a food processor to do that for me. Hopefully I can upgrade soon). Once you the dry ingredients and butter are incorporated add one tablespoon of ice water at a time until the mixture begins to cling together into a dough. Remove from the food processor and form a disc wrapped in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour (you can do it up to 2 days in advance).

Are you starting to see a trend here? Cold cold cold! Whenever you are making pastry dough you want everything cold cold cold. The reason being that those little chunks of cold butter melt as they are baked helping to create the sort of layers that make your crusts nice and flaky. If there are no chunks to melt... there will be no separation of layers and your crusts will be dense.

Preheat Oven to 450 Degrees


Between two sheets of parchment paper roll out your dough into an 1/8 in think round. You have a few choices here- with this particular recipe I actually quartered the dough and made 4 individual ones but you can make one large one if you prefer! Don't worry about trying to make the edges perfect, part of the charm of the Gallette are the rustic edges. Transfer dough on the bottom sheet of parchment onto a baking sheet.


Spread the dough with honey up to about 1 inch from the edge.

On top of the honey arrange thin slices of the gorgonzola. Since I made individual gallette's each one I used a slightly different ratio of cheese and found that having a heavy hand was better both in texture and flavor. Since the Gorgonzola dulce isn't as pungent putting more let the flavor still come through. In concentric circles layer the slices of fig starting at the outer edge (where the honey ends) and working in. Go ahead and slice your figs a little thick so you will have a nice juicy piece to bite into. Fold the edges up over the edge of the fruit sealing in all the topping. You will have to crimp and fold a little but this is all part of the rustic appeal, don't try to make it to perfect just work on even.

Once all of the edges have been folded up take a pastry brush and brush the entire top and edges with the whipping cream and sprinkle with the remaining lavender sugar.
This will help the crust get that beautiful glossy Golden edge to it while also adding a little bit more of that lavender essence.
Now the bake time will vary dependant on if you make one full size gallette or individuals. If you choose the full size bake for 20 minutes at 450 then reduce your oven temp to 375 for an additional 30 minutes or so. With the smaller one's I would cut these bake times by about half. Mostly just be mindful and check on your pastry regularly to be sure it is baking at an even pace getting nice and golden but not burning! After removing it from the oven slide a knife around the edge to unstick any parts from the parchment paper. Transfer to a rack to cool. Can be served warm or at room temperature. Would be lovely with some lavender ice cream! Enjoy your rustic yet refined treat.