July 19, 2007

Daniel Humm, Executive Chef, Eleven Madison Park in New York, brings you one of his personal favorites, Beet Salad with Goat Cheese & Olio Verde.

Executive Chef Daniel Humm takes a modern approach to classic flavor combinations, creating sophisticated dishes that emphasize purity, simplicity, and seasonal flavors. “The texture and sweetness of the beets balances the tartness of the cheese. The different colors make it such a beautiful dish when it is plated.”

Play chef and recreate Daniel Humm's tasty Beet Salad recipe in your kitchen tonight:

Procedure

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Brush beets with olive oil and salt, and then wrap them individually in aluminum foil. Cook in the oven for approximately one hour, or until soft. Let beets cool so you can handle them.
• Peel the beets and cut into wedges. Toss in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
• Scoop the fresh goat cheese (the cheese should be very fresh and soft) into a bowl. Arrange the beets on top and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

• Sprinkle with fleur de sel and pepper mix to taste. Garnish with Nasturtium leaves.

As a child growing up in Switzerland, Daniel Humm’s parents had always hoped that their son might follow in the footsteps of his father and become an architect. Instead, young Daniel took his inherited sense of structure and design and applied it to his true passion: cooking.

In 2003 Daniel moved to the United States and settled in San Francisco as Executive Chef at Campton Place. He quickly garnered attention for his innovative interpretation of contemporary French cuisine, with accolades such as Four Stars and 2004 Rising Star Chef from the San Francisco Chronicle, James Beard Foundation nominee for Rising Star Chef in both 2004 and 2005, and inclusion on the Best New Chefs 2005 list by Food & Wine.

In 2006, Daniel became Executive Chef at Eleven Madison Park in New York City, part of Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. Executive Chef Daniel Humm takes a modern approach to classic flavor combinations, creating sophisticated dishes that emphasize purity, simplicity, and seasonal flavors and ingredients. Off to a great start, in his first year at the restaurant, Daniel led Eleven Madison Park to receive its first Three Star review from The New York Times in January 2007.

Visit Executive Chef Daniel Humm on the web @ elevenmadisonpark.com.