Pride Villager April

place the saucepan over medium heat. By the time the edges start to simmer, the liquid should be completely clear, not cloudy. Immediately remove it from the heat source. After everything was prepared, we went to the patio to enjoy, catching up, enjoying each other’s company and the fruits of the Chef’s labour. Staff and the owner made a point of coming over to the try the salsa. It was a huge hit. It is wonderful to see how the teenager I once knew, grew into an accomplished Chef. These recipes are perfect for a party on your patio this summer. Watermelon Salsa 1 round Watermelon 2 cups Fresh Pineapple - diced 1/3 cup Jalapeno – Seeded & finely chopped 2/3 cup Green Onions – chopped 1/4 cup Cilantro – chopped 3/4 cup Salsa - tomato 1/2 cup Olive Oil Pinch Course kosher salt • Pinch Crushed black pepper 6 shakes Hot sauce • Cut the watermelon in half then cut a small amount of the bottom of one of the halves so it sits flat • Ball the entire watermelon – ball a layer then scoop out the residue and reserve, repeat until done • Set everything aside • Peel and core the pineapple • Dice the pineapple into small pieces that can be scooped with tortilla scoops • Seed and very finely dice the green jalapeno • Finely chop the green onions and the cilantro • Now it is time to put it all together • Mix watermelon, pineapple, jalapeno, green onions and cilantro in a large bowl • Add olive oil, tomato salsa, salt, pepper, hot sauce and mix • Take the watermelon half that sits fat and add the watermelon salsa, serve with Tortilla Scoops Watermelon Smash 4 oz Vodka • 3 oz Melon Liquor 2.5 cups Watermelon Juice & Pineapple Juice 1 cup Simple Syrup • 5 cups Ice • Pinch Salt • Hand-full Cilantro • Take the remainder of the watermelon, pineapple and puree • Strain and reserve the juices • Juice the lime and add to the watermelon and pineapple juices • Make the simple syrup • Pour vodka, melon liquor and simple syrup to a 2 litre/2 quart pitcher • Put 5 cups of ice in a blender, add watermelon/pineapple juice and create a slushie • Add to the mixture in the pitcher • Pour into the glasses of choice, garnish with a piece of pineapple and cucumber • Take a handful of cilantro, with the palm of your hand and hit the cilantro twice to release the flavour • Put on top of the drink and serve with a straw Tip: I couldn’t find melon liqueur so I substituted melon vodka which worked perfectly.

What a small world! When I arranged with Wink’s owners Dennis and Adam Wickler to work with their Chef, I had no idea. It turns out that I knew the Chef. When I still had my food store and eatery in Wortley Village, he worked at a friend’s restaurant called Manga Mania. That was the mid 1990s when he was still in high school. Chef Mike Clark has worked in kitchens ever since, opening Winks with the owners 12 years ago. It was very nice to walk into Winks to a friendly smile and warm greeting from Chef Mike. We would be making Watermelon Salsa and a Watermelon Smash. What is a Smash you ask? It’s is a family of cocktails that generally include spirit, sweetener, herb, seasonal fruit, ice and water. Don’t freak out about what appears to be a load of ingredients, because smash drinks are easy to make, even for a beginner. It’s like a Mint Julep with seasonal fruit. Chef Mike very methodically walked me through all the steps. Giving tips and sharing along the way: 1: Use the smallest melon baller you can find. Chef Mike used a pinch spoon which is about 1/16th of a teaspoon. 2: After “balling” a layer of the melon scoop out the access and reserve. He shared how to make a simple syrup: Pour equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan. Remember, the sugar dissolves into the water, so 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water will not equal 2 cups of simple syrup. It’s more like 1 ½ cups simple syrup once dissolved. Heat the ingredients until dissolved. Stir the simple syrup and An afternoon at Wink’s – with Watermelon by Martin Withenshaw

PRIDE Villager

Page 6 Issue 2 • Spring 2019

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