Pappa al Pomodoro (traditional Tuscan bread and tomato salad):
Stew one finely-cut leek with some olive oil for a few minutes.  Add five medium-sized diced tomatoes as though preparing a simple tomato sauce, and add salt according to taste. Add a handful of finely-chopped basil and a half-loaf of hardened white bread (cut in slices one day before and let dry) and cook for another 20 minutes, or until mixture looks well-blended.

Black Cod:
Scale and de-bone 2 pounds of black cod, making 6 portions.  Meanwhile, prepare a sauce made of 4 tablespoons red miso, 3 tablespoons sugar, 3 tablespoons sake, 2 tablespoons rice-wine vinegar and 2 tablespoons water. Sear the skin side of each cod fillet in a pan with olive oil and salt and then cover with the red miso sauce. Cook on medium heat reducing the sauce completely so that it becomes a dense glaze, at which point the cod will be cooked (about 15 minutes).  During the process (and particularly towards the end), continuously glaze the cod fillets with the red miso sauce, using a spoon, coating the fish entirely in the sauce as it cooks. 
 
Lay the cod fillets on top of the pappa al pomodoro.
 
Buon Appetito! 

About Imàgo:
With arguably the best panoramic view of the Eternal City, Hotel Hassler Roma's rooftop restaurant Imàgo recently underwent a multi-million dollar redesign (the first since the original Rooftop Restaurant opened more than 50 years ago), and was also recently awarded its first Michelin star. Headed by Chef Francesco Apreda, whose international training includes five years both in Japan and London, Imàgo's cuisine is an artful combination of traditional Italian ingredients and flavors with creative and innovative preparations.  The décor follows suit, blending modern and classic styles with pale grays and custom-designed mirror tables that mesh beautifully with traditional touches of white marble flooring and antique-wood inlay.  Menus vary according to season, and Chef Apreda's whimsy. 
 
About Hotel Hassler Roma:
Set atop the Spanish Steps and featuring a panoramic view of the entire city, the Hassler Roma has been Rome's five-star lodging of choice for the world's elite for more than a century.  Each of the 82 rooms and 13 suites is individually designed and adorned in authentic Italian accents.  Highlights include the panoramic rooftop restaurant, Imàgo, and the neighboring, Hassler-owned Il Palazzetto, a charming 16-century palazzo that offers a restaurant and wine bar with panoramic terraces, four rooms, and the International Wine Academy of Roma which offers wine-tasting classes with world-renowned sommeliers.
 
For more information on Hotel Hassler Roma, visit: www.hotelhasslerroma.com.

• Bianca's Gourmet offers Caponata, Pesto Piccante or Orange-Apple Cranberry Chutney. These delicious spreads can be added to any pasta or vegetable, or poured over grilled salmon, chicken breasts or lamb for a quick and tasty meal.
• Jeff's Original Chili Butter is smooth, sassy and delightful over pasta, veggies, chicken or steak for a quick and flavorful meal.
• Granola Girl's Cranberry Almond or Maple Pecan granola mixes make sweet snacks and are the perfect addition to yogurt for a healthy breakfast.

                             Asparagus Flan with Roth Käse GranQueso

Yield: About 8, 4-ounce ramekins

From Executive Chef Giancarla Bodoni, Escopazzo Restaurant, Miami Beach

Flan

1 bunch asparagus

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

½ yellow onion, chopped

1 pint heavy cream

Salt and pepper to taste

5 large eggs, beaten

¾ cups Roth Käse GranQueso, grated

1.    Preheat oven to 300 F. and prepare an ice bath.

2.    Trim 1 inch off the asparagus stems. In a medium saucepan, bring water to boil, add asparagus, remove after 1 minute and put into ice bath.

3.    In a sauté pan, add olive oil and butter, melt. Add onion and sauté until translucent. Add asparagus, cream, salt and pepper; let simmer approximately 10 minutes. NOTE: If mixture is still bubbling, cool slightly before putting in food processor.

4.    In a food processor, add asparagus mixture, process until smooth.

5.    Stir asparagus-cream mixture into beaten eggs. Add grated GranQueso, and beat with whisk until ingredients are combined well.

6.    Grease 4-ounce ramekins.

7.    Add asparagus mixture and place in bain-marie. Cover ramekins with a sheet of parchment paper.

8.    Bake in preheated oven approximately 30 minutes or until mixture is set. Remove from oven and keep warm until service.

Roth Käse Fontiago “Fonduta”

1 pint heavy cream

Pinch white pepper

Pinch grated nutmeg

1 sprig fresh thyme

3 cups Roth Käse Fontiago, shredded

1.    In medium saucepan, add first 4 ingredients. Bring to boil; remove from heat.

2.    Add the shredded Fontiago, stir just to blend, and let sit for 5 minutes.

3.    In food processor or blender, add the cheese mixture and process until smooth. Keep warm.

Finishing for service

Truffle-infused olive oil, as desired

Sautéed mushrooms, as desired

1.    Place baked, warm flans on serving plates.

2.    Dividing Fonduta evenly among plates, pour the warm Fonduta over each flan.

3.    Drizzle each flan lightly with truffle-infused olive oil. Top with sprinkling of sautéed mushrooms.

FORK & FORAGE: Bursting at its agricultural seams, Monterey County celebrates its culinary roots with a wealth of regional finds.  Ideal for the foodie on a taste trek or traveling oenophile seeking the next new vintage, this county boasts a sinful round-up of local calamari, red abalone, artichokes, sardines every-which-way, stellar Salinas greens and a cornucopia of events. ). 

FORK IN HAND, FOODIES CAN DIVE INTO the Big Sur Food and Wine Festival (11/5-8), Cal Stamenov’s 13^th Annual Truffle Dinner at Bernardus Lodge (11/11) or the 13^th Annual Great Wine Escape Weekend (11/13-15). 

Top Picks:  Cooking for Solutions, sustainable seafood conference (May/2010), Pebble Beach Food & Wine (April/2010). 

Hot Chops: Highlands Inn’s delectable Red Abalone Tasting Series, featuring Monterey Abalone Company’s “Super Abs” and L’Auberge Carmel’s tasty lineup of new cooking and pastry classes with Chef Christophe Grosjean and Pastry Chef Ron Mendoza.  www.highlandsinn.com