Round 7 : Totally Local Summer

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Driftless Food

“So long as you have food in your mouth, you have solved all questions for the time being.”
Franz Kafka

Summer Tastes sourced within Winneshiek county in Iowa

What a great idea, admittedly not my own nor the first to do it either, but something that the restaurant where I work strives to do everyday… until the dead of February any how. The timing could not be better either, the blazing heat of august allows all of our favorite veggies to come to most pleasurable. Our mind already jumps to ripe, dense eggplants, freshly scrubbed new potatoes, beautiful tender sweet corn, over abundant summer squashes, fragrant herbs of every variety perfuming the air, and let us not forget multi-hued juicy tomatoes. How could summer around Decorah be any better?

So why not make it a of a challenge? So all the food will be limited to what can and is produced, raised or prepared within the confines of Winneshiek county. With the only except I can think of… salt (and my preference Morton’s Kosher salt). Unless somebody can think of something we could not possibly find or exchange. So in addition to all the photos we usually take, we will included photos all the sources of the food (hopefully) or at least write out where each product came from and who produced/raised it. Wish us luck.

So with summer in all it’s glory we present the layout for the menu of Round 7: Local Summer

[ Lots of Herbs / Turnover ]

[ Tomato / Salad ]

[ Sweet Corn / Soup ]

[ Pork Confit / Ratatouille ]

[ Puff Pastry / Summer Fruit ]

We will also offer a Vegan, GF option as well in addition in the regular menu. Dinner will be $45 per person and possible have a drink pairing as well. More details on the menu and drinks will come soon. BYOB is still encouraged as well.

That night we will offer two seating, 5:30 and 7:45 pm, on Sunday September 8th 2013. Seating will be limited to 20 people per seating. Please email all reservations or question to Driftlessfood@gmail.com . We look forward to serving some amazing food that night.

Thanks,
[ Salt / Water ] Staff

Round 5: Italian Farmhouse

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Driftless Food

Peasant food.

What is more satisfying than a simple meal of homely honest ingredients cooked well. These are the dishes of mothers and grandmothers everywhere, the tastes that bring to mind happy times with family at the table. What better image in the American psyche is the gathering of Italian American families eating Sunday meals. From the Godfather movies to the Sopranos TV show, the Italian lifestyle of gathering to eat has shown us what a proper meal is supposed to look like. However all these meals come from a long history of not only Italian families gathering for a shared feast everyday, but one where all cultures have shown that after a long hard day working in the field , everyone could come together and share in the bounty of their shared labor. Thus we present for Round 5, The People’s choice…. Italian Farmhouse

[ L’Antipasto ]

House Made Mozzarella, Eggplant Caviar, Caper berries, La Quercia Prosciutto, Crostini

[ Il Primo ]

Fresh Stuffed Pasta with Gorgonzola, Beef Broth, Parmesan

[ Il Secondi ]

Braised Beef Short Ribs, Creamy Polenta, Tomato Ragu

[ Il Dolce ]

Amaretto Semifreddo, Almond Biscotti, Espresso Crema

Dinner will be $40 per person and may include a wine/drink pairing for an additional $15. BYOB is encouraged and allowed. We will have two seating 5:30 and 7:45 for this Sunday, July 14, 2013. Please reserve in advance at Driftlessfood@gmail.com.

Our many thanks,

[ Salt / Water ] staff

Follow up to “Spring” Menu – The Photos

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Driftless Food

Well we made it through another amazing Dinner service for the second [ Salt / Water ] Spring dinner menu. Again the support was amazing from everyone who attended and those who couldn’t get seats, we will make it up to you all.

I took some lovely photos of the food this time, more than last time. If anybody has any photos to share please email them to me and I will make sure you get some credit.

[ Pistachio ] course

pic of the [ Flower / Citrus ] course

Roasted and marinated beets, Malt “soil”, local goat cheese “sorbet”, local beet shouts, beet-balsamic reduction.

Below are some more links from my Instagram, please follow if what to see more pics of some lovely food. http://instagram.com/driftlessfood

[ Pistachio ]Pistachio cake with dark chocolate, toasted nuts, and meringue

[ Flower / Citrus ] Cauliflower puree, grapefruit segment, artichokes two ways, rose hip reduction, violets

The [ Flower / Citrus ] had to be my favorite course of all. Amazing tastes and so very beautiful. Recipe soon.

Some of the nice wine we had.

Many thanks,

[ Salt / Water ] staff

“SPRING” menu for April 7th Dinner

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Driftless Food

saltwater Spring Menu

Above is a link for the newest menu for the “SPRING” menu on April 7th, 2013. We will be featuring both a Regular Menu and a Vegan Menu as well, for all our lovely and friendly Vegan guests. The seating will be at 5:30 and 7:45 pm and the cost of the dinner will again be 38. for the Regular Menu and 35. for the Vegan Menu. There will also be a possible Wine pairing as well, with details to come soon. Please email Driftlessfood@gmail.com with your time and menu preferences. Remember space will be limited and all reservations are on a first come and first served basis. Again thank you all for your support and time.

[ Salt / Water ] staff