Seared Lamb Steak with Orzo Pasta Salad and Heirloom Tomatoes
by Chef James Wade, Porter’s Steakhouse

Seared Lamb Steak

1 lamb leg steak (approximately 6 ounces)
Salt, Pepper
Extra Virgin olive oil

Season lamb with salt and pepper.
Heat oil in cast iron skillet until very hot - until the oil just begins to smoke.
Carefully place the lamb into the skillet and cook to the desired doneness; for medium rare, about 2 minutes on each side.
Remove the lamb from the skillet and let it cool about 4 or 5 minutes.
After the lamb has cooled, slice into strips.

Orzo Pasta Salad

1/2 pound cooked orzo (prepare according to package directions)
3 bell peppers of varying colors ( red, purple and yellow work well)
One cucumber peeled, seeded and diced into 1/4 inch cubes
10 to 12 leaves of purple basil rough chopped
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt, Pepper
Toss all ingredients together in large bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Tomatoes

1 red Heirloom tomato, sliced thin
1 yellow Heirloom tomato, sliced thin
Salt and pepper to taste

Presentation:

Spread the tomato slices on a plate in a circular pattern. Alternating colors look nice but red on one side and yellow on the other looks good, too.
Place about 1/4 cup of the orzo salad onto the tomato slices.
Arrange 4 or 5 of the lamb slices in a star pattern on top of the orzo salad.
Garnish with a purple basil leaf.

This week at the Chattanooga Market features an all-star Iron Chef Competition, sponsored by Lodge Cookware and FiveStar Professional Ranges.  Area chef’s will create dishes usings local ingredients to be judged by an all-star panel.

Jay “Iron Chef” Rivett
Defending the Chattanooga Market

To kick the competition up a notch, this year we’ve invited one of our own to defend the Chattanooga Market — Jay Rivett, a local farmer who has been offering fresh produce & agricultural products all season long!  Come out on Sunday and join the fun!

Jerk Chicken Breasts

by Chef Anna Scott, Mia Cucina

4 double boneless chicken breasts
¼ cup Alchemy’s Jerk Seasoning
3 tbsp oil
1 cup lager beer

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat oil in large pan. Clean chicken, removing fat and separating breasts.
Coat chicken with jerk seasoning and cook in pan for 5-7 minutes. Turn chicken over and continue cooking until no liquid remains in the pan. Add beer and bake in oven for 20 minutes, uncovered.

Jeweled Rice
by Chef Anna Scott, Mia Cucina

Rice
1 shallot, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 golded beet
1 bell pepper, red or orange look best
1 ear of corn (removed from cob)
1 ½ cups fresh arugula
1 ½ tbsp beer
1 bunch of the following herbs:
savory
basil
chives
parsley
lemon thyme

Prepare 6 servings of rice according to package directions. Heat cast iron skillet on low (approximately 15 minutes) while slicing vegetables. Add shallot, garlic, bell pepper, beet and corn to skillet. Cook until beets are soft to the touch but not falling apart. Add beer and let sit until soaked in. Fold into rice and add herbs and arugula. Salt and pepper to taste.

Fried Green and Heirloom Tomato Salad with Balsamic Vinegar Reduction
by Chef Wolfgang Poe, The Red Rock Grille

1 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 large unripe tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices, ends removed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 – 3 heirloom varieties of tomatoes, sliced like the green tomatoes.
Balsamic Vinegar reduced to a thick syrup

In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt and pepper to taste

Make an egg wash with whipped eggs and water

Dip the tomatoes in the egg wash and then dredge them in the flour mixture, coating both sides well.

Place a large cast iron skillet over medium heat and coat with the oil. When the oil is hot, pan-fry the tomatoes (in batches if necessary) until golden brown and crispy on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Carefully remove the tomatoes and drain on paper towels.

Layer the fried green tomatoes and heirloom tomatoes shingle style and drizzle with the balsamic vinegar.

[This recipe was featured in the Five Star Food Fight competition -- and is extremely tasty!]

Yuengling and Honey Braised Chicken
by Chef Wolfgang Poe, The Red Rock Grille

2 -4 Chicken breasts halves (boneless/skinless is ok, but I prefer skin on)
1 Stick butter
salt and pepper
1 bottle of Yuengling Lager Beer
½ pound of honey

Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat butter in a 10-inch cast iron skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then brown chicken on both sides, about 4 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.

Add beer to skillet and deglaze by boiling over high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until reduced by about 1/2. Re-add chicken breasts and juices from plate, pour honey over chicken, then gently simmer over low heat, covered, until chicken is just cooked through, about 8 minutes.

Our congratulations to Anna Scott (chef/owner of Mia Cucina) for her winning of the 2008 FiveStar Food Fight at the Chattanooga Market on Sunday.  This year’s trophy was crafted by Charles McFarland, a long-time metal artist at the market.

The competition was terrific this year, and featured fresh-produce and spices available at the Chattanooga Market.  All of the competitors used FiveStar Professional Ranges, the finest stoves in the world made here in the Chattanooga metro area.  Our thanks go out to all of the celebrity chefs and their Chattanooga restaurants - local is better!

Photo (left-to-right): Wolfgang Poe, Red Rock Grill, Wes Orr, 212 Market, Anna Scott, Mia Cucina, Brandon White, Back Inn Cafe/Bluff View District, and Bill Heckler, Gordon Biersch

More photos from this weekend are available on our Google Photos site (click on the sidebar on the right)

Visit the Chattanooga Market in the First Tennessee Pavilion this Sunday, June 29th, from Noon to 5 PM to enjoy a Five Star Food Fight Cooking Demonstration, featuring chefs from 212 Market, Mia Cucina, Back inn Cafe’, Gordon Biersch and Red Rock Grill:

Wes Orr, 212 Market
Bill Heckler, Gordon Biersch
Anna Scott, Mia Cucina
Wolfgang Poe, Red Rock Grille
Brandon White, Back Inn Cafe’

Contestants will be displaying their professional and creative expertise by preparing dishes using fresh produce, spices, herbs and other goods available fresh and direct from farmers at the Chattanooga Market. The chefs will be using the finest professional ranges in the world, thanks to Five Star Professional Ranges, which are also available for home use.

Five Star is yet another best-of-class manufacturer here in the Chattanooga metro, and a long-term supporter of the Chattanooga Market. Please support our local farmers, manufacturers, craftsmen and organizations - Local is Better!