According to Steve Schimoler, chef/owner of the wonderful  Crop Bistro & Bar, this dish is a super summertime appetizer, and can be easily prepared a day ahead. He shares that a Causa is basically a potato salad, but with different twists and presentations. Before you start this recipe, you will need to go to the hardware store or kitchen specialty store.  To do the stacks that you see in many recipes or restaurant presentations, you need to have something to serve as a mold. An inexpensive option for the molds uses PVC pipe that you can find at a hardware store. All you need to do is buy a length of pipe as small as 2 feet long, although they will probably want to sell you a standard pipe that is six to eight feet long. You want a 2 inch inner dimension size pipe. At a good lumber yard or hardware store, they may cut it for you, but if not you will need to have a hack saw ready to cut it yourself. To make the molds, simply measure the pipe into 3 inch lengths and cut the pipe into as many segments as you desire. The result is pipe segments that are 3 inches high and 2 inches wide. The edges will be rough so use a fine grit sand paper and smooth all the edges very well, then run them through the dish machine to clean them well. These PVC molds are very useful for many different cold molded foods. Do not attempt to use them in any cooking applications.  Molds are also available in specialty kitchen stores like Williams Sonoma or Sur La Table.

Ingredients:

• Chicken (4 large bone in breasts)
• Purple Potatoes 10 each
• Tomatoes (diced) 1 cup
• Kalamata Olives (pitted and diced) ½ cup
• Capers (minced) 4 tsp
• Garlic (minced)  2 tsp
• Olive Oil ½ cup
• White vinegar ¼ cup
• Dijon Mustard 4 TBSP
• Salt  2 tsp
• Pepper ground 1 tsp
• Balsamic Vinaigrette  ½ cup ( see recipe below)
• Cumin Powder 2 tsp
• Chili Powder 2 tsp
• Garlic salt 1 tsp

Preparation:

For the chicken: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wash and dry the chicken breasts and combine the cumin, chili and garlic salt in a small bowl. Mix the spices and then sprinkle the mix equally over the skin side of the chicken. Roast the chicken for 18 to 20 minutes until the juices run clear and the skin is well crisped. Let the chicken rest and cool, it can be refrigerated until ready to use in the next steps.

For the Potatoes: Cut the Potatoes into ½ to ¾ inch cubes, place in boiling water and cook for approximately 15 minutes until fork tender. Drain the potatoes and place in a mixing bowl. Add the olive oil and white vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Use a hand potato masher and mash the potatoes till well blended but still chunky. Let the mixture cool.

Make the balsamic vinaigrette (below) and set aside.

Dice the olives, tomatoes and mince the capers and garlic, and combine in a bowl.

To assemble the dish: Begin by rubbing the insides of the PVC mold with some olive oil just to coat the surface. Place the molds on a tray or large plate and scoop 3 TBSP of the potato mix into the molds and press down firmly. Sprinkle 2 TBSP of the tomato, olive, caper and garlic mix into each mold and press down. Add more of the potato mixture to fill the rest of the mold and press down firmly. Place in the refrigerator for minimum 1 hour so the set up and can be un molded easily. Using your fingers, pull all the chicken meat and skin from the bones and continue to pull the meat apart so it looks evenly shredded. Be sure to use all the skin, you may want to use a knife to julienne the skin. When ready to serve, remove the molds from the refrigerator and place one on each plate. Carefully push the filling down while you are pulling the mold upwards and off. They should un mold easily. Place approximately 2 TBSP of the pulled chicken on top of each stack and sprinkle some of the extra around the base of the molds. Sprinkle some of the remaining tomato and olive mix around the plate then drizzle 1 to 2 oz. of the balsamic vinaigrette on the stacks and around the plates. Serve immediately.

Balsamic Vinaigrette

• Olive oil 1 cup
• Balsamic Vinegar 1/3 cup
• Dijon Mustard 3 TBSP
• Fresh Basil (finely minced) 1 TBSP
• Salt  ½ tsp
• Pepper ½ tsp

For the dressing: Combine the oil, balsamic, Dijon, basil, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl. Using a wisk, vigorously wisk till the dressing is completely blended and deep mahogany in color. Set aside in clean container or refrigerate till needed.

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This post was sponsored by Heinen’s. Anne Somoroff, the wine consultant for the Pepper Pike store, offers a few suggestions to pair with Steve’s dish. Her first is the MA.SA.GA California Syrah  ($13.99). It’s a full-bodied red with softer tannins. Smooth and round, she says it’s great with the sweetness of the balsamic, plus the olives, tomatoes and  spices.

The DOMAINE DE LA MORDOREE ROSE, Rhone Rose  ($16.99), is a medium-bodied lush rose with berry flavors  which counters the salt of capers/olives and cumin spices. The round fruitiness accentuates vegetables in the dish.

Finally, ESTAMPA VIOGNIER/CHARDONNAY, a Chilean white ($9.99) for its full-bodied fruit that counters salty capers and olives and spice in this dish. Bright acidity in wine compliments the vegetables. The bright acidity helps to carry vinaigrette and roundness of wine accentuates creaminess of potatoes and in general, dry and crisp wine pairs well with chicken.

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New lunch and dinner menus at Parallax. Both menus will focus heavily on the cuisine of the Far East, including a lot of seafood options, from Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand. Lunch options start at $8; $15 for dinner.  New lunch entrees include Japanese Fried Chicken with Napa slaw, hot rice and Japanese BBQ; Grilled Mahi with cilantro oil, Latin style creamed corn and South American pepper sauce; a Corn Fried Walleye Sandwich with sweet onion marmalade, Napa slaw and spicy mayo; and a Vietnamese Sub.   The dinner menu features entrees like Wasabi Pea Crusted Salmon with Ginger-Carrot Coulis and Edamame or Udon Noodles prepared “Japanese Carbonara” style.  Classic dishes receive an Asian twist like Grilled Hanger Steak with Vietnamese Pho and Steamed Mussels with Thai Sausage, Chiles and Lemongrass Broth or Bruell’s Monkfish “Osso Bucco,” flavored with Milanese Risotto and spiced with Ginger Orange Gremolata.

Speaking of Bruell, demo recently started for his latest endeavor, Chinato, on E 4th. At L’Albatros last week for dinner (“French Toast” and escargots for apps followed by the cassoulet and cheese – another outstanding meal), Brandon shared with us that while the team hopes to be open towards the end of the year, he feels January is more realistic. He also let us sample some Chinato wine, for which the Italian restaurant is named after. It’s a different wine – unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. In fact (and I know this comparison will make wine aficionados shudder – sorry), it sort of reminded me of Fire Water, perhaps more smell than taste. I didn’t care for it – but absolutely can not wait for this restaurant to open.

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There’s a new chef at Umami, Matthew Anderson, formerly of Sapore. In addition to some menu changes (though the restaurant’s theme will remain the same) this ultra tiny Chagrin Falls restaurant is once again back open for lunch.

I went last week with a coworker. I thought it was good – but not great. I really enjoyed my pumpkin coconut soup but thought the tuna with squash was overpowered in taste by too much charring. Nonetheless, I’m exited to see what becomes of the place and that it’s open for lunch. We’ll be back.

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Three Browns Sunday pre-game brunches left at Crop Bistro. Load up on brats, double-double lamb sliders, chipotle BBQ ribs, eggs and waffles and the macaroni and Amish cheddar topped with braised brisket. In addition, the Crop crew will be raffling off Browns-related books and on 12/27, meet Plain Dealer columnist Michael Heaton, son of beloved sports witer Chuck Heaton. The first 20 people to make reservations for the 12/27 and 1/3 brunch dates here will receive a FREE copy of Chuck’s book, Browns Scrapbook, on 12/27 and Scott Huler’s book, On Being Brown, on 1/3.

Brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on these dates only (beer and wine available).