November 20, 2007

Secret Sauce has another delicious dish from The Excelsior Café Chef & Owner Jake Linzinmeir, 2-Minute Telluride Ski Patrol Pasta.

This is a true classic of Jake's and one of the old favorites from The Excelsior Café. In fact, we've been assured that if it were ever taken off the menu, a riot would ensue!

...Grab this recipe now before Jake changes his mind!

Procedure:

• Cut pancetta into quarter in dice. Freeze prior to cutting if you'd like to make it easier to cut.
• Cook orreciette to al dente in steady boiling water. Remove, toss in oil, and let cool on sheet pan in fridge. Do not shock with water or ice!
• Roast red peppers over open flame, peel, seed, and cut into thin strips.
• Heat E.V.O.O. in sauté pan and add pancetta and pepper flakes. Saute until pancetta is golden brown. Do not allow garlic to brown.
• Add roasted peppers, tomatoes, and garlic to pan and toss twice away from heat. Return to heat and deglaze pan with white wine.
• Reduce slightly and add pasta toss well to coat with sauce.
• Add spinach with fresh oregano, toss twice and plate.
• Finish with grated Pecorino Romano cheese.
• Pour yourself a cold glass of Pinot Grigio, eat, and then go skiing!

Serves 4.

E.V.O.O.: Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Jake Linzinmeir comes from the great Midwest where he grew up in the kitchens of his family farm. The son of a pilot and an internationally traveling family, Jake was exposed to the regional cuisines and cultures of America, Asia and Europe from a young age.

With this influence, he chose to attend Cornell University's acclaimed School of Hotel Administration. A specific interest in the independent restaurant world took Jake to kitchens and restaurants of New York, Aspen, Los Angeles and Italy.

While in Italy he was selected to stage with the Michelin Three Star Le Calandre near Venice with Chef Massimiliano Aljamo, the youngest Chef to ever earn three Michelin Stars.

Currently, Jake owns and operates a number of restaurants in Telluride, Colorado, including The Bluepoint Grill & Noir Bar, The Excelsior Café, and Chair 8. Other concepts he has begun include Sushi Kiko, The Excelsior Deli, and The Wildflour Market.

Jake has been a regular guest of NBC's The Today Show and featured in Bon Appetite, Food Arts, Newsweek as well as representing Amstel’s “Living Tastefully” campaign as their featured Chef.

Recently selected as one of the industries Rising Stars by Restaurant Hospitality magazine, Jake continues to lecture and demonstrate at culinary events throughout the country. He's currently compiling recipes for a new cookbook for all to enjoy his dishes at home.

Visit Chef Jake Linzinmeir on the web @ Chair 8.com.

• Watch Jake prepare his Telluride Ski Patrol Pasta on TODAY
• Telluride Shepherd's Pie
• Watch Jake prepare his Telluride Shepherd's Pie on TODAY