Kale Caesar with Goat Gouda, Avocados and Homemade Croutons
A few weeks ago I was invited to the opening of Messhall in Los Angeles to partake in an amazing media dinner. I was stuffed with steak tartare tacos, lobster mac n cheese, incredibly memorably cheese grits, the best pork chop of my life and a kale caesar salad I can’t stop thinking about. I was fortunate enough to accompany the incredibly dashing Greg Henry of Sippity Sup, sit with a small group of food writers, publicists, bloggers and magazine editors on the patio of the iconic space that once housed The Brown Derby. a Los Angeles landmark turned into the hip new Mess Hall with a summer camp chic vibe and a menu that is both familiar and vibrantly new.
Although all the food was memorable (how can I forget corn on the cob with smoked tomato butter?), there was something about that salad that I couldn’t stop thinking about. The simplicity and perfectly balanced flavors, how the kale was such an improvement over Romaine, how had I never thought of this?
Even weeks later, when a waiter at a different Los Angeles restaurant attempted to talk me into ordering the kale salad at his place, I had to mention to him the perfection of Mess Hall salad.
So here is my version, a Kale Caesar with Goat Gouda, Avocados and Homemade Croutons. But if you’re in Los Angeles, stop by Messhall for the real thing.
Ingredients
- Six cups of berries (I used 2 cups each blackberries, strawberrries, and blueberries) Frozen is fine
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, plus 2 tbs divided
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbs corn starch
- 1 1/2 cups blueberry beer
- 2 cups cake flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 12 tbs butter (1 1/2 sticks) cut into small cubes
- 1/2 cup beer
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbs beer
Directions
- Preheat oven to 450.
- In a pot over medium high heat, add 4 cups berries (reserve 2 cups mixed berries for the end), 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, corn starch and beer. Allow to simmer until reduced and thickened, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat, add reserved 2 cups of berries, stir to combine. Add to a deep dish pie pan.
- In a bowl, add 2 tbs brown sugar, flour, baking powder, salt and stir to combine.
- Add the butter, rub into the flour until well combined and resembles course meal.
- Add the milk and 1/2 cup beer, stir until combined.
- Gently add the flour topping, a bit at a time, to the pie pan until the berries are covered.
- Bake at 450 until the topping has turned a light golden brown, about 18 minutes.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the cream, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 2 tbs beer. Whip on high until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes.
- Serve the cobbler topped with whipped cream.
(I was provided with a delicious free dinner & cocktails from Messhall,
however I was not monetarily compensated for this review.
All ideas and opinions are my own.)
Comments
Cassie October 3, 2012 um 10:59 am
Amazing! I love a homemade Caesar salad and the kale here gives it a great kick, I love kale!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious October 4, 2012 um 9:49 am
Love, love, love this version! And I’m a huge caesar fan so this salad is just screaming my name!
Ashley – Baker by Nature October 4, 2012 um 9:56 am
I love kale in salads: this is gorgeous!
Bree October 4, 2012 um 12:17 pm
How creative-I love it!
Maggie October 4, 2012 um 2:56 pm
I have to admit that I just tried Kale and my hubby and I both liked it! We will try this for sure. I was wondering what else to do with it.
sippitysup October 4, 2012 um 3:10 pm
Gorgeous and delicious, I can attest! GREG
Stumbling Over Chaos :: Linkity laments the end of summer October 5, 2012 um 12:03 am
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Jen @ Savory Simple October 5, 2012 um 6:43 am
I love everything about this salad! So many favorites.
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies October 5, 2012 um 3:14 pm
I had my first kale salad about a month ago and it was so good. I’m not a big fan of salad greens so this was totally a revelation to me.
Bellenza Bistro November 3, 2012 um 3:44 am
Would love a dish of that right now! Looks so deliciously healthy. 🙂
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