Spring is here, Easter is just around the corner, and The Fatted Calf is ready to celebrate. Forget the peeps and chocolate bunnies! Fatted Calf has a ho
st of treats for your spring celebration from chive scented bockwurst to succulent stuffed quail. And don’t forget the bacon, breakfast sausage and farm fresh eggs for a holiday brunch. To place an order for pick up, please email or call (707) 256-3684.
Marsha’s Grilled Rabbit Spiedini with Chicories, Olives and Almonds (serves four)
This recipe was handed down to The Fatted Calf from Marsha McBride, chef and proprietress of Berkeley’s Cafe Rouge. This savory grilled rabbit spiedini utilizes both the meat and organs of the rabbit, deliciously served over a salad of chicories, olives and almonds, perfect for a spring feast.
For the spiedini:
1 2 to 3 pound rabbit, boned
2 rabbit kidney
s, halved 1 rabbit liver, cut into fourths
sea salt
1 tsp. toasted and ground coriander
zest of 1/2 orange
2 Tbs. chopped parsley
2 Tbs. chopped thyme
1 Tbs. chopped garlic
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ cup rosé wine
4 thin slices of pancetta
For the salad:
¼ cup red wine vinegar
1 finely minced shallot
sea salt
1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
¾ cup olive oil
4 cups washed and trimmed arugula
4 cups wash
ed and trimmed escarole hearts 4 cups washed and trimmed frisée
¼ cup chopped picholine olives
½ cup toasted chopped almonds
freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Cube the rabbit meat into one-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Season the meat, liver, and kidneys with the sea salt and coriander. In a large bowl mix the garlic, orange zest and herbs with the olive oil and wine. Add the seasoned rabbit. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Prepare the vinaigrette for the salad. In a medium sized mixing bowl, macerate the shallots in the red wine vinegar. Add a pinch of sea salt and the Dijon mustard. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to emulsify. Set aside.
Remove the rabbit from the marinade. Wrap the rabbit liver with the pancetta. Thread one piece of liver and one kidney onto each skewer along with ¼ of the rabbit meat, leaving ½ inch (1.25 cm) in between each piece. Grill over a medium-hot fire for about 8 to 10 minutes total, turning frequently to brown evenly on all sides.
In a large bowl, toss together the arugula, escarole and frisée with the vinaigrette. Add the olives, almonds and a few grinds of black pepper. Divide the salad amongst four plates. Place a whole skewer, still warm, over the bed of greens and serve.