V-Day dinner for $1,000

Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

Western Bureau:

There is not much $1,000 can get you these days, but the creative ingenuity of chef Stephen Hamilton offered a delicious spin on Valentine's Day as he showed how you can make a gourmet meal with only $1,000.

His signature Shades of Love dish costs $865 and entails strawberry fried rice with herb baked vegetables, served with a succulent, grilled, pineapple, papaya chicken breast glazed with honey.

"We must always remember that we eat with our eyes. So that special dish on this special day celebrating love doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg, Hamilton told Food.

He continued, "It can be achieved with a low budget in mind. Use your groceries that you have in your house and be creative, a simple garnish and plate arrangement can make a dish say a thousand words."

The 24-year-old restaurateur owns and operates Eskay Caterers based in Kingston, and has amassed several awards for his work in the kitchen.

"For persons who do not have the luxury of dining out or have a chef come and prepare a personalised meal, you can use some simple ingredients to create a gourmet meal that your loved one can appreciate," Hamilton outlined.

The Eyes of Eskay is another dish that comes in under $1,000. The orange sautéed potatoes and grilled vegetables, served with barbecue chicken strips topped off with sesame seeds is a quick do-it-yourself meal that will wow the taste buds of your loved one.

Shades of Love

Ingredients

8oz chicken breast

¹/² cup rice

1cup strawberry juice

2oz scallion, garlic, thyme

1oz pineapple slices diced small

Salt and pepper to taste

1oz all-purpose seasoning

1oz chicken seasoning

2oz oil, vegetable

2oz soy sauce

1oz parsley, chopped

1oz pepper, chopped

1oz honey

6oz string bean

6oz carrot

1oz tomato (red) - julienne

2 sheets aluminium foil

Method

1. Preheat grill.

2. Blend papaya and pineapple and pour into a bowl.

3. Season chicken breast in a bowl with salt, pepper, thyme, parsley, all-purpose, chicken seasoning, 1tsp oil, papaya mixture then set aside.

4. Add rice, scallion, thyme, pepper, salt, garlic and strawberry juice with water into a pot and allow to steam.

5. Over high heat add strawberry rice into a skillet or frying pot. Sauté with soy sauce and scallion until a dark red colour appears or until desired colour.

6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

7. Line baking tray with aluminium foil and grease it with oil, then place vegetables seasoned with salt, black pepper, parsley scallion, oil and parley on the baking tray. Cover with another piece of foil, bake for three to eight minutes.

8. Place chicken breast on the grill and grill each side for six minutes. Glaze with honey until done.

The Eyes of Eskay

Ingredients

8oz chicken strips

3 potatoes (cubed)

¹/² cup orange juice

Salt and pepper to taste

1oz egg powder

1oz all-purpose seasoning

1oz chicken seasoning

2oz oil (vegetable)

1oz bell pepper (red) - julienne

6 grapes

1oz onion

1fl oz barbecue sauce

1oz sesame seed

Method

1. Season chicken strips in a bowl with salt, pepper, all-purpose, chicken seasoning and 1tsp oil then set aside.

2. Sauté chicken strips until fully cooked, add barbecue sauce, then garnish with sesame seeds

3. Bring salted water to a boil and add potatoes. Boil until potatoes are tender, remove and set aside to cool.

4. Season potatoes with salt and pepper. Place into a skillet with orange juice and egg powder and sauté for three minutes.

5. Grill onion, grapes and sweet peppers over high heat for three minutes

6. Enjoy.