In the Cherries From Tree to Tabletop celebration, Northwest Cherries commissions one restaurant from each state to submit a creation relying on Rainer cherries. In Connecticut, Chef Manuel Romero of Ibiza submitted Rainier Cherry Gazpacho with Frisse, Goat Cheese and Marcona Almonds. Yum, we love Spanish cuisine and Ibiza, too, especially the tapas!
Washington State’s entry came from Serious Pie in Seattle and Tom Douglas – and his blog and menu show he loves cherries, too.
“From Rainier cherry-infused cocktails and brews, to Rainier cherry compotes, each chef designed a special dish that not only showcases the cherries’ sweet, crisp flavor, but also incorporates them into the cuisine for which the state or restaurant is known,” reports Stephen Fries, Food Scene columnist for The New Haven Register.
As Barron’s Online, notes, everything’s better with a cherry on top, or for that matter, loads of cherries.
Sadly, summer is over and we must wait until next year for the next crop of cherries – unless of course, you stocked some away in the freezer or preserved some with brandy. And maybe, just maybe, in a future contest, we’ll see an entry with St Jude tuna. Imagine, hot tuna salad, with grilled tuna, warm goat cheese, hot olive oil, lightly grilled Rainier cherries, lime … absolutely mouthwatering and healthy.
Photo courtesy of Northwest Cherries.
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