Rice Man
Risotto hits the brunch table
Cindy Pawlcyn, the owner of Napa Valley's new Brassica calls her executive chef, Darren McRonald, "the best risotto chef in the United States." We might question such high praise if we hadn't sampled McRonald's leek and pancetta risotto. The dish, which appears seasonally at Brassica, is both creamy and surprisingly light. Plus, the addition of a fried egg on top is a genius touch.
Leek and Pancetta Risotto with Fried Egg
Yield: 6 servings
Cook Time: 40 minutes
- INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 leeks, cleaned well and finely chopped
1 cup finely chopped pancetta
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
½ cup finely chopped yellow onion
3 cups Arborio rice
⅓ cup dry white wine; at room temperature
5 to 6 cups hot chicken stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
6 large eggs
About The Chef
Award-winning Napa Valley chef Cindy Pawlcyn is the owner of the legendary Mustards Grill, Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen and Brassica, which opened this year. Brassica's executive chef, Darren McRonald, worked at such renowned restaurants as Le Cirque, Chez Panisse and Bellavitae before accepting the position at Brassica.
Brassica, 641 Main Street St., Helena, CA; 707-963-0700 or brassicanapavalley.com



