Orange You Glad
The cocktail snack of the year
Sparklers, snifters, on the rocks and up: Cocktail-party season is here, and its festive drinks need a smart bite or two. To that end, Chicago chef Tony Mantuano's olives are stuffed with orange segments and marinated in fennel, oregano and basil. At Bar Toma, he suggests pairing the rich olives with a dry, sparkling wine. Other recommended options: Nosh on the olives by themselves, nibble on them alongside croquetas, deviled eggs or devils on horseback, or drop them into a dry martini. Cheers to versatility.
Orange-Stuffed Olives
Yield: 1 1/2 cups olives
Cook Time: 1 day refrigeration
- INGREDIENTS
1 medium orange
1½ cups Mt. Athos or other large green olives, pitted
2 tablespoons fennel seeds
1¾ cups extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons chile flakes
½ tablespoon fresh oregano, leaves removed and finely chopped
2 tablespoons torn fresh basil
2 tablespoons olive brine
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
About The Chef
Tony Mantuano has been awarded the 2005 James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef Midwest and is the chef and a partner at Spiaggia, the only four-star Italian restaurant in Chicago. He also owns Mangia Trattoria in Kenosha, Wisconsin and the chef and a partner at Terzo Piano at the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. His latest endeavor is Bar Toma which he opened in 2011.
Bar Toma, 110 E. Pearson St., Chicago, IL; 312-266-3110 or bartomachicago.com



