Rosemary Crème Brulée

Celebrating the Holidays with Daniel's Catering Chef Amine Elbouchti

Learn his method of making the perfect Rosemary Crème Brulée

Hey Chef, what's happening at Daniel's Catering this holiday season?

Chef Amine: Things have settled down now that we are in our brand new catering facility in South Seattle. We are right back into the thick of things as we move into our busiest time of the year.

A brand new catering facility. Tell us more about that!

Chef Amine: We just completed a 13,000 square foot facility solely dedicated to catering operations. It features a custom kitchen design, storage for our extensive beverage program as well as sales offices and a conference room where we prepare sample menus for some our VIP clients.

So Daniel's Catering is really busy in December?

Chef Amine: We are slammed in December, preparing and executing up to 15 parties a day. We do everything from an intimate dinner party for six in your own home or an off-premise event for up to 3,000 guests. Yes, we are very busy in December and as you know we are the exclusive caterer at Experience Music Project & Science Fiction Museum as well as the Columbia Winery in Woodinville. We also do parties at the Chinese Room in Smith Tower, Woodhouse Family Cellars in Woodinville, Uptown Hideaway on Queen Anne, the Seattle Center and Seattle Parks and Recreation.

Wow! How do you organize all that?

Chef Amine: It's crazy, but our team of professionals is well seasoned in the business and accustomed to handling every little detail from the food and beverage, service staff, floral, rentals, decorations and even valet service. Daniel's Catering will design a one-of-a-kind event with all the special touches to create a lasting memory.

Okay Chef that sounds great. Now tell us about the food?

Chef Amine: You could take a look at our menus at our new website danielscatering.net or we will work with you one on one to create a unique menu special to your occasion.

Can you tell us the process of putting together a party and more about the food?

Chef Amine: Well, we invite you in to sit down with a Daniel's Catering Sales Manager. They get all the facts and figures and discuss your vision. Then we take all that back to our team of Chefs and come up with a menu plan that fits your needs. We really focus on traditional Northwest style cuisine as well as upscale presentations, but we've done everything. With my background from the Mediterranean we can also put together specialty menus including, Italian, French, Moroccan or whatever sounds good to you.

Wow that sounds great! How long have you been in this business?

Chef Amine: I've been in the catering business for over 21 years and this is my second stint with Schwartz Brothers Restaurants. I was with them over 10 years ago at Chandler's Crabhouse. I've also worked at McCormick & Schmick's and Ray's Boathouse as Catering Chef. My Sous Chef Russell Burton also has experience at Schwartz Brothers Restaurants as well as Ray's Boathouse and the Golf Club at Newcastle. Jeff Kitchen is our newest Sous Chef at Daniel's Catering and has experience as an Executive Chef at Islander's Restaurant on Camano Island.

Hey that all sounds great. Would you be willing to share one of your favorite recipes with us?

Chef Amine: Hey sure, here's the recipe for the Rosemary crème brulée, one of our most popular recipes, right in time for the holiday season.

Daniel's Catering Rosemary Crème Brulée

Recipe:

• 5 cups heavy cream
• 1-½ cups granulated sugar
• 12 each egg yolks
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 each Rosemary sprigs

Method:

In a mixing bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Wisk by hand for about 2 to 3 minutes (mixture will become creamy and light).

Warm up the heavy cream with the rosemary sprigs to about 190 degrees F.
(just before cream comes to a boil)

Slowly add cream to egg yolk and sugar mixture.

Let mixture set for about an hour to eliminate any foam during the stirring.
(this process will also allow the Rosemary to infuse into the cream).

Pass mixture into a strainer (chinois) and hold.

Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees F.

Pour mixture into 6 to 8 oz. ramequins (custard cups).

Bake in water bath for about 18 to 20 minutes.

Turn oven off and let set for 15 minutes.

Take out from the oven and refrigerate immediately.

Before serving, sprinkle granulated sugar and caramelize with a torche or under the broiler.

Serve with mixed berries and a sugar cookie.

Enjoy!

South Lake Union is the Place to Be in December!

Have you visited Daniel's Broiler and Chandler's Crabhouse on South Lake Union lately? Hopefully you're already a fan of Daniel's exclusive USDA Prime beef or Chandler's legendary Crabfest (which runs twice yearly in the spring and fall). Schwartz Brothers Restaurants would like to invite everyone down to South Lake Union to enjoy our world-class service and food, including succulent, fresh Dungeness crab.

If the ongoing construction and resulting traffic kept you away from Fairview and Mercer Street, please toss that aside. Not only is the construction over, but the city of Seattle is now offering a new, unique public transportation option that will make scooting around South Lake Union a breeze!

The unveiling of the South Lake Union Streetcar is December 12th when the 2.6-mile round-trip route with eleven stops will be in service. For the entire month of December, it will be free for both adults and children. Starting in January, the cost will be $1.50 for an adult (each way) and $0.50 for children aged 6 -17. Children 5 and under always ride for free and anyone 65 or older (or anyone with disabilities) rides for $0.50. The Streetcar operates Monday through Thursday from 6am to 9pm; Friday and Saturday from 6am to 11pm; Sundays and Holidays from 10am to 7pm.

After a morning or afternoon spent holiday shopping downtown, hop on the Streetcar at the corner of Westlake and Olive and ride it 1.3 miles to the corner of Fairview and Ward. You'll be right near the doorsteps of both Daniel's and Chandler's, where depending on the time, you can enjoy Lunch, Happy Hour or Dinner. Daniel's Happy Hour begins at 3:30pm.

December is the start of Dungeness crab season, which runs from now through February. Most Dungeness, some of the sweetest and most succulent crab, is frozen by the time it reaches the consumer. But Chandler's fresh Dungeness crab surpasses its frozen counterparts in flavor, texture and overall quality. Chandler's is all crab, all the time, and when you taste the Dungeness, you'll know why.

December is a great month to try out the many benefits of the South Lake Union neighborhood, including visits to Daniel's Broiler and Chandler's Crabhouse. Ride the new Seattle Streetcar for free from Downtown Seattle to the corner of Fairview and Ward. See how easy it is to stay connected to some of your favorite Schwartz Brothers Restaurants!

Chandler's Crabhouse on Lake Union

Try a Daniel's Hot Buttered Rum

The Hot Buttered Rum at Daniel's Broiler

There is no known origin to the Hot Buttered Rum cocktail we know today. Although it has been mentioned in some books dating as far back as the early 1800's there is no history as to how it got started. Hot alcohol beverages date back to 400 AD. Hot molted wine was popular. As best we can figure Hot Buttered Rum got started in England and was most likely brought about by the mariners of the day. Most likely to stay warm during colder voyages. That would be our best guess as to when and where "Hot Buttered Rum" began. In the 50's and 60's Hot Buttered Rum became a holiday classic probably due to the movies of the times. Today it remains a Holiday staple, a must for any holiday celebration. Daniel's Hot Buttered Rum is classic in it's own right. We have been serving them since we opened our first Daniels and believe the current recipe is truly the best.

Recipe for the Daniel's Hot Buttered Rum

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 (16 oz) package confectioner's sugar, sifted
• 1 pound of dark brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon all spice
• 1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened

Method:
In a large bowl cream the butter, all spice and the sugars together until smooth. Add the soften ice cream and mix until a creamy consistency is obtained. Transfer this to the freezer in a freezer tight container for up to one month.

Put 2 oz of the Hot Buttered Rum mix into a blender and add 3 oz of hot water. Blend until mixed and smooth. Add 2 oz of dark rum (Meyers) flash blend, pour into a clear coffee mug and add the remaining hot water. Top with nutmeg.

Sip and Enjoy!

Celebrate Special Occasions at Daniel's Broiler Leschi

When looking for that perfect spot to celebrate your special occasion, Daniel's Broiler at Leschi Marina is a one-of-a-kind location. The unique, intimate setting perfectly captures anniversaries, birthdays and other special moments. You'll find world-class quality and service, as is the case at all three Daniel's restaurants (Lake Union and Bellevue), with a breathtaking view of Lake Washington, Mt. Rainier and the Cascade Mountains. Celebrating here has been a tradition in the Seattle area since 1980.

The lavish dining room has been expanded. This cozy hideaway, set along Lake Washington Boulevard (a scenic, 10 minute drive from either 520 or I-90), is a perfect retreat from the faster pace of downtown Seattle and/or Bellevue. The address is 200 Lake Washington Boulevard, Seattle, 98122.

Immediately upon arriving at Daniel's Leschi, you will discover that it is well worth every minute of travel time. General Manager, Ira Muench, will make sure you have a world-class dining experience. The entire restaurant, which was remodeled from an old converted boathouse, can be rented out during the day for weddings, parties or other events. The Board Room, Leschi's private dining room, is an experience all to itself. It is a quiet, private space that holds 18 for a sit-down dinner. The sliding glass wall can be opened to overlook the dining area and allow for a more inclusive dining experience or provide privacy while still enjoying the great views.

If you have a special occasion to celebrate, or just want to be in a place where you will be surrounded by luxury but be so well cared for that you feel like you're family, Daniel's Broiler at Leschi Marina is the perfect destination. Relive great moments or start new traditions!

The dining room at Daniel's Broiler Leschi