July 2018


The raw squid and mussels ready for our grilled seafood recipe

Our Grilled Seafood Recipe for Squid and Mussels

My Favorite Grilled Seafood Recipe: Simple but Exquisitely Mediterranean

Chef Calle image

By: Chef Calle, Resident Executive Chef

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Over the past several weeks, my good friends at SmokinLicious® have allowed me to make their Tips & Techniques blog platform “my home away from culinary home” to highlight cooking with wood style. I hope you’ve enjoyed the articles as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. Before I begin an extended hiatus overseas, as my thanks, I thought I’d leave you with a pretty easy and flavorful recipe that showcases all the virtues of wood grilling with a couple of my favorite seafood- squid and mussels. The cooking style is one that is very popular in the Mediterranean region. Give it a try and let us know how it fared!

Let’s start out with squid or “calamari” as my Italian friends remind me. Whether it’s squid or calamari, it’s got to be fresh! Prepare first by thawing and rinsing thoroughly with cold water. Drizzle with a good quality of EVOO.

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STRAWBERRY BELLINI BOTH SWEET & SMOKY

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I’ve worked on a trio of recipes to take full advantage of the short seasonal harvest of strawberries we have here in Western New York State. I’ve already shared with you my Smoked Strawberry Hand Pie and my Creamy Smoked Strawberry Semifreddo. Now, it’s time for a refreshing cocktail that also features smoked strawberry- the strawberry bellini!

Just grab a couple of quarts of fresh strawberries or even store bought when they are out of season in your area and pick your smoke technique: we have three options – the charcoal grill which is how I did my strawberries, the gas grill or the handheld food smoker. Then prepare to make our version of the strawberry Bellini which has a trademark smoked strawberry to balance the sweetness of simple syrup and Prosecco.

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Strawberry Semifreddo gets smoky is a "cool" treat with a little smoky taste for your BBQ!

Strawberry Semifreddo gets smoky is a “cool” treat with a little smoky taste for your BBQ!

STRAWBERRY SEMIFREDDO GETS SMOKY

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My favorite fruit season is here! Strawberry picking and eating season. I’ve worked on a trio of recipes to take full advantage of the short seasonal harvest we have here in Western New York State. My first was a Smoked Strawberry Hand Pie. The second is another dessert option – Creamy Smoked Strawberry Semifreddo. The perfect slice of smoky, cool goodness on a hot day.

Just grab a couple of quarts of fresh strawberries or even store bought when they are out of season in your area and pick your smoke technique: we have three options – the charcoal grill which is how I did my strawberries, the gas grill or the handheld food smoker. Be sure to make plenty of extras so you can enjoy our other recipes. Let’s get started.

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SMOKED STRAWBERRY HAND PIE being filled with the Stawberry mixture with the final result in the middle! yummy

SMOKED STRAWBERRY HAND PIE is a great recipe for fresh or frozen Strawberries. The smokiness will add a special twist

THE MAKING OF A SMOKED STRAWBERRY HAND PIE

Summary: This strawberries recipes for smoked strawberry hand pie using cooking wood chunks; is the art of wood fired cooking with a two-zone cooking method is easy! Using pie dough and strawberries fruit! Add this to your strawberry dessert recipes or to smoked strawberries recipes so something to delight your guests.

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It’s one of my favorite times of year – strawberry picking season! As my area of Western New York State has such a short strawberry season, I literally am consuming strawberries for three weeks straight.

Good thing they are packed with vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C and K, folate, potassium, magnesium, as well as being low in calories and fiber-rich. They sure are great at filling you up which makes you eat less.

This season, I’ve got a trio of recipes all using the smoked strawberries that I’ve done on my charcoal grill. Get yourself a flat of strawberries, follow our easy smoking technique (we do have 3 to choose from that offer various levels of smoke flavor), and prepare to make simple hand pies, perfect for the hot days of summer or frankly anytime you can find strawberries.

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