Our Chef’s Favorite Summer Dish To End The Season
As summer sadly starts to come to an end, here at Charleston Hospitality Group we want to celebrate the final days of summer by providing all you summer foodie lovers some of our favorite summer dishes. We asked a few of our chefs from various Charleston Hospitality Group restaurant locations to see what they considered their favorite summer dish and tips on how you can recreate it right in the comfort of your kitchen!
We asked two of our top chef’s about their all time ride or die summer dish. We asked our Bakery Chef, Kelli McKinley, from Toast All Day and our Head Chef at Eli’s Table, Billy Noisette, to give their insights on their favorites and what Fall dishes they’re looking forward to.
Billy Noisette, Head Chef at Eli’s Table
Kelli Mckinley, Bakery Chef at Toast All Day
- As summer comes to an end, what is your favorite seasonal dish and why?
Kelli:
Summer berry trifle. It’s so fruity and delicious, it’s a great way to end the summer. We are also working on a new dessert dish to add to the menu soon which will be either a Southern Peach Biscuit Pie or Southern Apple Biscuit Pie. It’ll be just $6 and the dish consists of a fresh warm biscuit topped with vanilla bean ice cream, warm apple or peach syrup, dusted with powdered sugar and served with whipped cream.
Summer berry trifle. It’s so fruity and delicious, it’s a great way to end the summer. We are also working on a new dessert dish to add to the menu soon which will be either a Southern Peach Biscuit Pie or Southern Apple Biscuit Pie. It’ll be just $6 and the dish consists of a fresh warm biscuit topped with vanilla bean ice cream, warm apple or peach syrup, dusted with powdered sugar and served with whipped cream.
Billy:
One of my favorite summer dishes is grilled salmon on the top of a fresh cucumber and fennel salad. The warm salmon and the cool salad make a great contrast. This dish is topped with yogurt and dill dressing, making it quite refreshing.[insert picture of salmon]
One of my favorite summer dishes is grilled salmon on the top of a fresh cucumber and fennel salad. The warm salmon and the cool salad make a great contrast. This dish is topped with yogurt and dill dressing, making it quite refreshing.[insert picture of salmon]
- For people reading this who want to make this specialty, what are your tips to make sure it turns out just right?
Kelli:
Soak the berries in a fragrant syrup. Add orange zest, lime zest, and a berry liquor. Anything to soak into the angel food cake that will add an extra flavor your guests will go “hmm what’s that? It’s so good!” The citrus zest is the secret. When it comes to recreating the Southern Peach Biscuit Pie or Southern Apple Biscuit Pie, adding a pinch of nutmeg to the apple or peach syrup will do the trick. It will add an extra layer of flavor without taking over.. I like to think of this dessert as “the sweet version of biscuits and gravy”.
Soak the berries in a fragrant syrup. Add orange zest, lime zest, and a berry liquor. Anything to soak into the angel food cake that will add an extra flavor your guests will go “hmm what’s that? It’s so good!” The citrus zest is the secret. When it comes to recreating the Southern Peach Biscuit Pie or Southern Apple Biscuit Pie, adding a pinch of nutmeg to the apple or peach syrup will do the trick. It will add an extra layer of flavor without taking over.. I like to think of this dessert as “the sweet version of biscuits and gravy”.
Billy:
Make sure you make the salad first to give the cucumbers time to drain and to absorb some of the flavors. Grilling the salmon to a perfect medium allows the salmon to retain all it’s natural flavor without becoming dry.
Make sure you make the salad first to give the cucumbers time to drain and to absorb some of the flavors. Grilling the salmon to a perfect medium allows the salmon to retain all it’s natural flavor without becoming dry.
- What would you say is the best side dish to accompany your seasonal favorite?
Kelli:
A glass of red wine, a mimosa, and or iced coffee is best to enjoy with this dessert. The components of these drinks are acidic enough to cut through a fatty meal.
A glass of red wine, a mimosa, and or iced coffee is best to enjoy with this dessert. The components of these drinks are acidic enough to cut through a fatty meal.
Billy:
A grapefruit and mandarin orange with a hint of mint and basil. You can place it right on top of the salmon.
A grapefruit and mandarin orange with a hint of mint and basil. You can place it right on top of the salmon.
- What dish from Toast! All Day/Eli’s Table would you say people should come in and get before the season ends?
Kelli:
The Frose at Toast All Day! It’s so refreshing and cooling after coming off of the beach! Come in during happy hour, get some southern comfort food to eat and grab a Frose!
The Frose at Toast All Day! It’s so refreshing and cooling after coming off of the beach! Come in during happy hour, get some southern comfort food to eat and grab a Frose!
Billy:
The pickled beet salad at Eli’s Table is to die for. With fresh local arugula and a basil oil with whipped ricotta cheese, light but very satisfying.
The pickled beet salad at Eli’s Table is to die for. With fresh local arugula and a basil oil with whipped ricotta cheese, light but very satisfying.
- What dish are you looking forward to now that Fall is around the corner?
Kelli:
Pumpkin rolls, caramel everything. Fall desserts are amazing and are a favorite among our Toast! All Day restaurants.
Pumpkin rolls, caramel everything. Fall desserts are amazing and are a favorite among our Toast! All Day restaurants.
Billy:
Osso Buco and short ribs are my Fall and Winter favorites.
Osso Buco and short ribs are my Fall and Winter favorites.
Chef Kelli and Chef Billy without a doubt are two incredible culinary experts with impeccable taste. In the next few weeks, if you find yourself wondering what you should cook or what you should order on some of the final days of summer, turn to their recommendations on how to end the summer with a happy belly. Come stop by any of our Charleston Hospitality Group restaurants if you are looking for a good time with even better food and hospitality! We hope to see you soon!
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