Posts Tagged Pirch

Pirch Cooking Demo: Pink Himalayan Salt Block Cooking

We learned all about salt block cooking

Pink Himalayan Salt Block Shrimp

I can’t say enough good things about the experience we had at my event at Pirch. I’ve talked about their space and the wonderful event staff but I wanted to tell you more about one of the highlights of the evening: the cooking demo. I had never heard of salt block cooking but let me tell you, I am sold! The chef made a really wonderful but simple shrimp dish on a pink Himalayan salt block; we we all really impressed by how he simply sauteed the shrimp on the heated block and it was really delicious, just lightly infused with salt.

I found an interview with Mark Bitterman on The Splendid Table (a great cooking radio show and podcast) who wrote the book that our demo was based on: Salt Block Cooking 101  He explains the technique and how to care for your salt block. I have his cookbook and can’t wait to try making shrimp on it at home. I also noticed that it can be used on the grill, which is great since we are lucky in Atlanta to be able to grill almost year round, and also saw some really great looking cold salads like watermelon and feta in the book.

This recipe from Sur la Table is similar to the one we loved at Pirch:

photo credit: Surletable.com

photo credit: Surlatable.com

Salt Block Honey and Black Pepper Shrimp

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 small shallot, peeled and finely minced
  • 1 medium garlic clove, peeled and finely minced
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1-½ teaspoons cracked black pepper
  • 1 pound large shrimp, cleaned
  • Kosher sea salt, as needed

Procedures:

Grilling shrimp brings out their natural sweetness, and grilling them directly on a Himalayan salt block, imparts a subtle salty note to the shellfish. Make sure to heat the salt block slowly on the grill or in an oven to prevent cracking. Also make sure to give the block several hours to cool to room temperature before lightly scrubbing under running water.

Prepare the Himalayan Salt Block: Place a completely dry Himalayan salt block on a cold charcoal or gas grill. Light grill and heat slowly to 400 degrees. Once grill reaches temperature, allow salt block to heat for another 20 to 30 minutes. Alternately, set salt block on a rimmed baking sheet, place on a rack in the center of a cold oven and heat to 400 degrees. Once oven reaches temperature, allow salt block to heat for another 20 to 30 minutes.

To make the honey cracked pepper glaze: In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and cook until shallots have softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the honey, lemon juice and black pepper. Stir to combine, then taste and season with salt and pepper.

Cook the shrimp: Using a silicone pastry brush, brush shrimp with glaze mixture. Place shrimp directly on salt block and cook until lightly browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Using tongs, turn shrimp onto a clean spot on the block. Brush again with glaze and continue cooking until the center is slightly opaque, about 2 to 3 minutes more.

To serve: Divide shrimp between 4 heated serving plates. Drizzle with 2 to 3 tablespoons of reserved glaze mixture and serve immediately.

Via the Sur la Table test kitchen

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Party at the Pirch

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The grand entrance

A couple of weeks ago I hosted an event for my clients.  It was SO much fun that I need to keep telling the world about my new favorite place,  Pirch.
Back when the real estate market was crazy in 2005-2007 I sold more new construction than resales.  Then the market tanked and business became re-sales and buyer representations.  Recently the market for new construction has opened up again and I’m currently working with two clients who are building new homes and three clients who are doing major remodels.  That passion and joy that that business brings me is embodied in the Pirch experience.
Just step inside their doors at Lenox Marketplace Showroom at 3535 Peachtree Road NE (across from Phipps Plaza) and you’ve opened up a world to dream about what your home could be.  The service is incomparable and they’ll even serve you a drink from the Cafe while you browse.  They have in house consultants and rooms where you can design and dream.
Pirch chef hard at work in this showcase kitchen

Pirch chef hard at work in this showcase kitchen

I had attended a function with my office there a few months back and one of the outside sales reps had suggested that I hold an event for my clients.  The challenge came in conveying the experience and how much fun it is to them via an invitation.  Those that have a passion for cooking understood, along with my “foodie” friends but every single person left wanting to come back, just like I did.
We learned all about salt block cooking

We learned all about salt block cooking

Delicious dumplings

Delicious dumplings

The cooking demo area with friendly, helpful staff

The cooking demo area with friendly, helpful staff

Guests were treated to tours and a cooking demo by their in house chefs who come from some very upscale  restaurants and are showing their skills in this beautiful show kitchen without having to deal with the brutal hours of the restaurant world.  They taught us how to prepare fish, cook on a salt block and served us very yummy food and treats.
Cocktails ready to go!

Cocktails ready to go!

Cheers!

Cheers!

 Guests were treated to go home with a salt block and a cookbook along with a goodie bag with items from my partners that helped me host the event.  Besides Pirch, I had Dan Asbury with Suntrust Mortgage provide the drinks, Caleb Rhodes with Green Friendly Homes who showcased some fabulous homes he had built and provided measuring tapes to all, Traci Rhoads with Traci Rhoads Interiors, who gave tips on decorating, showcased some of her fabulous work, and slipped a wonderful linen candle into the goodie bags, and then one of my closing attorneys, Anthony Bagiatis with McLain and Merritt came up with a creative idea to give everyone a jar of specialty pork/chicken rub that he assures us is fantastic, can’t wait to try it along with my salt block.  Traci Rhoads said that it was such a great event that she’d have her wedding there one day!  We all cracked up, but it’s really a testament to what a first class event it was.
Goodie bags ready for guests

Goodie bags ready for guests

Since the event, I had a client that needed to look at appliances for a prospective build go over to check Pirch out.  He called me the next day to tell me they served him lobster and turned on the TV to his football game! He ended up spending three hours there!  Trust me and head over to Pirch to dream, you won’t go home hungry.  Even my son enjoys coming along to have the barista’s serve him hot chocolate!  I encourage you to check out one of their upcoming events, you won’t be disappointed.

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