It’s not unusual for me to steal a recipe idea from a local
restaurant, but it’s not everyday that I’m inspired by something I eat at a
bowling alley. This happened recently at the Mission Bowling Club, a fun and
funky, six-lane bowling alley located just a few blocks from our home, which
despite the cacophony, features some of the City’s best bites.
In addition to an otherworldly fried chicken appetizer, and a “granulated,” aged beef burger some (including my wife
Michele) consider the best in the City, the MBC also features daily specials,
and one such offering was described as an “heirloom tomato salad topped with a
crispy rye crumble.”
Michele) consider the best in the City, the MBC also features daily specials,
and one such offering was described as an “heirloom tomato salad topped with a
crispy rye crumble.”
That sounded great to us, and our server vouched for its
excellence, so we happily included it among our starters. What we didn’t know
at the time, was that our server had defied the kitchen and refused to use the
dish’s official name, “tomatoes and dirt.”
excellence, so we happily included it among our starters. What we didn’t know
at the time, was that our server had defied the kitchen and refused to use the
dish’s official name, “tomatoes and dirt.”
She made this stunning admission as we raved about its
deliciousness, and admitted to going rogue and changing the name because she
just didn’t think that “dirt” sounded appetizing. What?! I thought this plate of tomatoes and “dirt” was just about the most
creative thing I’d heard/seen/tasted in a while.
I was this close to going into that kitchen, ratting her
out, and maybe getting a free dessert for my trouble, but thought better of it,
and decided to quietly finish the salad, knowing that I would share it here,
dirty name and all. Anyway, this
is my version, and I hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!
out, and maybe getting a free dessert for my trouble, but thought better of it,
and decided to quietly finish the salad, knowing that I would share it here,
dirty name and all. Anyway, this
is my version, and I hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!
Ingredients for 4 Small Portions:
8 oz burrata cheese, or fresh ricotta
Enough freshly sliced tomatoes for 4 portions
Wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper to
taste
taste
Fresh sliced basil leaves
For the crumbs:
2 tbsp olive oil, more if needed
3 large brown mushrooms, minced fine
big pinch of salt
3 slices of dark rye, made into crumbs
1 rounded tablespoon ground almonds (aka almond meal, almond
flour, or just crush your own)
flour, or just crush your own)