Follower Sunday: Thank You Readership! Food & Wine Magazine’s Best New Chef of 2009 Contributes to Cerebral Palsy with Healthy Recipe

By Anthony J. Sepe

http://fromadietititiansperspective.blogspot.com

http://www.medicalnutritiontherapyservices.com

Each Sunday, I thank my readership for their loyalty and dedication to my blog, by providing a healthy recipe.  To those that know, this is a healthy repeat, but for those that are unaware and are new to the blog, this is my way of “giving back.”  It is also a way to “Pay it Forward.”  Each Sunday, not only will you have a healthy recipe, but you will have an expert in the field of dietetics, food and nutrition, provide the healthy recipe to you.  It is my pleasure to provide for you this week, my colleague and Chef, Kelly English and his recipe:  “Restaurant Iris Beet Salad.”

 

chef kelly english
             restaurant iris

 

Born and raised in southern Louisiana, Chef Kelly English has learned a thing or two about authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine.  After putting himself through college at the University of Mississippi by working as a cook in local kitchens, English decided
to get serious about his passion for food. He graduated from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America at the top of his class, and has studied both in Spain and France.  The majority of his culinary education, however, came under
the direction of award-winning chef, Chef John Besh.

After many years training under Besh, English was ready to spread his wings. He came to Memphis with hopes of opening his own restaurant and bringing his unique style of cooking to Memphis diners. In April 2008, English opened Restaurant Iris, a French-Creole restaurant, in the historic Overton Square of midtown Memphis.

English and his team have taken the Memphis dining scene by storm in the restaurant’s first year. Restaurant Iris received a four-star review from the Commercial Appeal and was voted Memphis’ “Best New Restaurant,” “Best Service,” and “Most Romantic Restaurant,” by Memphis Magazine readers.
Memphis Magazine also awarded Restaurant Iris a 4.5 out of five star review. English’s restaurant was also voted “Best New Restaurant” by the Memphis Flyer, was named “Editors Choice: Best Restaurant” by At Home Tennessee,
“Best Bet Outside of Louisiana” by Louisiana Life Magazine, and “Hot New Restaurant” by Delta Magazine.

In April 2009, English was named Food & Wine Magazine’s Best New Chef. This title, which has recognized rising stars since 1988, is awarded to exceptionally talented men and women who are pushing culinary boundaries throughout the country.

 

© Restaurant Iris Beet Salad

Developed and reprinted with permission from Chef Kelly English and Restaurant Iris

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1. 12 beets
2. ~ 3 tbsp. Salt
3. ~ 18 oz. Olive oil
4. 1 cup Sugar
5. 3 cups Champagne vinegar
6. 2 ½ Water
7. 6 oz. Pepper Jelly
8. 12 oz. Red wine vinegar
9. Feta or Blue cheese
10. Salad greens

Optional: tomatoes, cucumbers, local vegetables

Beet preparation:

Wash 12 beets. Place beets in a bowl. Add 1 tbsp. salt. Toss beats in olive oil. Place beets in baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil. Roast at 350 degrees for one hour or until tender. Remove beets while still hot. Wipe skins off beets with kitchen or paper towel. Slice beets. Marinate in mixture of 1 cup sugar, 2 tbsp. salt, 3 cups champagne vinegar, 2 ½ cups water. Let sit for 24 hours.

Vinaigrette dressing preparation:

Mix 6 oz. pepper jelly with 12 oz. red wine vinegar, and 18 oz. olive oil seasoned with salt and pepper.

To serve:

Place beet slices on paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with your favorite low-fat feta or blue cheese. Wash salad greens. Toss with vinaigrette dressing to your liking. Add tomatoes, cucumbers, or local vegetables if available.

Enjoy!

Chef Kelly English

restaurantiris.com

Don’t Use Social Security and Medicare to pay down the deficit

Today’s retirees are relying more and more on Social Security and Medicare as our 401(k) balances have diminished, housing values have plummeted, and food, health care, and energy costs have soared.

We are in a debt crisis created not by Social Security and Medicare, but by spending on “other” priorities: tax cuts for mostly wealthy Americans…seemingly endless federal bailouts—an economy in recession--  And now, with mounting public concern over the projected $1.8 TRILLION current year deficit, federal spending on Social Security and Medicare is being questioned like never before.

Some days it seems like a growing number are joining fiscal conservatives in labeling Social Security and Medicare as economic threats that should be slashed to reduce the federal deficit.  Barely a day goes by when someone in the media buys into this false claim to some degree.  And at a time when proposals are on the table for dangerous entitlement spending cuts and “reforms”—who will congress be listening to? 

Social Security and Medicare—our largest and most successful entitlement programs—did not cause the economic problems we face; however, Social Security and Medicare do need Congress’ priority attention, but not as part of a deficit reduction plan.  As critical lifelines for tens of millions of America’s retirees, these programs must not be “lumped” together and subjected to spending cuts to achieve arbitrary budget goals.  Social Security’s long-term health relies on a plan that will close-up its long-term gap, not weaken its finances! 

And Medicare, with skyrocketing costs driven by privatization and health care inflation, must be strengthened as part of national health care reform – not crippled by spending cuts that hurt beneficiaries!  Even still, these facts are falling by the wayside as powerful forces in Washington continue to advance an agenda to unravel our entitlement programs.  Fiscal conservatives in Washington are making it increasingly clear:  They want to put a large bull’s eye on Social Security and Medicare.

Indeed, this politically influential group of economists, conservative think tanks, and deficit hawks applaud any proposal that includes entitlement cuts.  This group said the debt crisis is “an opportunity” to make the case for entitlement cuts.  And these proponents of entitlement spending cuts have put big money behind their high-profile campaigns.  We cannot begin to match their financial strength, but neither can we afford to retreat from a battle so critical to the well-being of those approaching and those of retired Americans.

Let’s be reminded about Peter G. Peterson, who has poured $1 BILLION into a foundation to “educate” Americans that the government can no longer afford Social Security and Medicare.  This is an absolute myth.  Other organizations have also followed suit, including the Concord Coalition (founded by none other than Peter G. Peterson) and the Urban Institute—both using the debt crisis as justification to cut entitlements.  These dangerous ideas are being fought and staving off harmful proposals—since they began gaining momentum under the Bush Administration.  And now, against the backdrop of a $1.8 TRILLION current year deficit that is strangling federal spending, we have to fight harder than ever.  This is the one proven way to ensure Social Security and Medicare are protected from proposals that would undermine future benefits. 

Opponents of this fight, continue their efforts through the media to convince the public—and, of course, the White House and Capitol Hill –that Social Security and Medicare are unsustainable.  Social Security and Medicare did not cause the deficit crisis and must not be sacrificed to solve it; rather, these programs need to be addressed individually and strengthened to meet the future needs of those nearing retirement and of retirees today, and in generations to come!