Macy's Culinary Council's Celebrity Chefs Offer Valentine's Day Recipes
Macy's Culinary Council, which includes some of the best known chefs in the world from Wolfgang Puck (above) to Nancy Silverton, have offered us some of their favorite recipes for celebrating Valentine's Day. From a goat cheese fondue to a butterscotch budino with caramel sauce, these recipes are bound to make your Valentine's Day entertaining a special one.
Chef Rick Bayless suggests serving his famous "Red Hot Margaritas". The recipe calls for Ferrara Red Hots, which provide the kick. The chef's recipe for the limeade can be used for other types of margaritas as well. "We were trying to come up with a margarita for our winter bar menu at Frontera Grill," says Bayless. "So we were thinking mulling spices...bright red color... and then someone said it: 'The drink should taste like a liquid version of those Red Hot candies.' Bingo."
Chef Takashi Yagihashi, proprietor of Takashi Restaurant in Chicago, suggests making his intensely flavorful Curry Kaffir Lime Soup recipe, which is best served to guests in little cupfuls. It can be passed as an appetizer, with colorful garnishes on toothpicks for a complete dipping and sipping experience. Kaffir lime leaves gives this soup its floral aroma and flavor.
Chef Wolfgang Puck's Gnocci Gratin with Gorgonzola recipe is fairly simple. The recipe only requires six ingredients for the gnocci and another four for the sauce. "Gnocci is one of the world's greatest comfort foods" says Puck who has won two James Beard Awards. "That makes it fun to serve at a fancy party. Unlike some versions that are rib-sticking, these puff up nice and light, so they go well with an eclectic menu." If you are not partial to gorgonzola, Puck suggests substituting it with parmesan or pecorino romano cheese. See the gnocchi in the photo below.
Chef and restaurateur, Todd English, has offered us his special recipe for goat cheese fondue. This dish is made with clarified butter and heavy whipping cream in addition to crumbled goat cheese. "I get a lot of ideas from traveling around the country and the world," he says.
Chef Nancy Silverton, founder of La Brea Bakery (a Luxist Award nominee for best bakery), offered her recipe for butterscotch budino with caramel sauce. Made with heavy cream, whole milk, brown sugar, and lots of eggs, Silverton says this dish is "really just a pudding". The addition of caramel and the surprising salty crunch of Maldon salt makes a classic American butterscotch pudding taste wonderfully Italian.
The Macy's Culinary Council is a culinary initiative comprised of 15 of the nation's top chefs that aims to impact the way customers shop, cook and eat at home. These chefs serve as the face of Macy's housewares and food service divisions and help guide consumers in selecting the best tools of trade. Check out Macy's Culinary Council online for more recipes, tips and events.
