Bromberg Bros. Blue Ribbon Cookbook: Better Home Cooking
When the first Blue Ribbon restaurant opened in 1992 in downtown Manhattan, it ushered in a new era in dining, one where reservations aren’t taken and delicious food—dressed up or down—comes out of the same kitchen. On a menu suited to satisfy every craving, Herb Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Sage, a favorite with neighborhood regulars, shares equal billing with Beef Marrow Bones with Oxtail Marmalade, the late-night dish most often requested by the celebrity-chef crowd. After seventeen successful years, Bruce and Eric Bromberg, the brothers behind the now nine-restaurant Blue Ribbon phenomenon, share their secrets for exceptional American fare.
Bruce and Eric draw heavily on their childhood in suburban New Jersey as well as time spent cooking in France after college, translating these culinary influences into incredibly satisfying American home cooking that’s a cut above in every way: Braised Beef Short Ribs with Succotash; a Blue Reuben sandwich made with chorizo, cheddar, and coleslaw; collard greens cooked quickly in browned butter; addictively crispy Northern Fried Chicken that gets its crunch from an ingenious yet simple matzoh-meal coating.
The brothers share insightful cooking tips in “Blue Ribbon Wisdom” boxes throughout the book. Learn when to use kosher salt versus regular table salt; how to make perfectly golden, crisp French fries at home; the secret behind truly creamy crème brûlée; even the neatest way possible to slice fresh corn kernels off the cob. From simple tricks of the trade to notes on improving cooking techniques, these invaluable insider hints can help home cooks elevate their everyday dishes.
Just as at their restaurants, Bromberg Bros. Blue Ribbon Cookbook covers all meals: snacks, appetizers, main courses, sides, desserts, breakfast, and sandwiches. This is the book to dip into no matter what time of day, no matter what you’re in the mood for—whenever you want the very best home cooking possible.Recipe from Bromberg Bros. Blue Ribbon Cookbook: Herb-Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Sage
Serves 4
We hit upon our favorite recipe a few summers back, when we helped out a buddy with his annual Labor Day pig roast in Connecticut. In addition to the 125-pound porker we were planning to serve, we decided we should have some chicken just in case not everyone at the party wanted to partake of the sacred swine. We got about 100 birds, halved them, and soaked them in a simple marinade of just lemon, sage, and cracked black pepper. It turned out to be one of the first times–maybe the only time–there was a pig roast where chicken was the hit of the day. What really made it special was the marinade. It lent a nice acidity to the meat, which became really tender, and the sage and lemon flavors just exploded.
For the most classic presentation, roast a whole bird and carve it tableside. If you want an especially crispy, golden-skinned chicken, have your butcher halve it, and roast the halves skin side up so they can self-baste as they roast.
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 bunch of fresh sage leaves (about 1/2 cup)
2 teaspoons kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 medium carrots, peeled and halved crosswise, optional
3 celery stalks, cut crosswise into thirds, optional
1 large onion, peeled and cut into large chunks, optional
1. Put the chicken in a large bowl. Add the oil, lemon, and sage; toss well. Cover tightly and transfer to the refrigerator to marinate for 24 hours.
2. The next day, let the chicken stand at room temperature for 30 minutes while the oven preheats to 450°F.
3. Sprinkle the chicken inside and out with the seasonings. Remove the lemon slices and sage from the marinade and stuff them inside the chicken cavity. Scatter the carrots, celery, and onion, if using, over the bottom of a roasting pan. Pour just enough water into the pan to cover the bottom. Arrange the chicken, breast side up, on top of the vegetables, if desired, or place the chicken on a roasting rack over the vegetables.
4. Transfer the pan to the center oven rack; roast for 20 minutes. Baste with the pan juices, and continue roasting, basting once or twice, for 25 minutes more (if the chicken is not golden brown all over at this point, continue to cook for 10 more minutes).
5. Reduce the heat to 325°F. Finish roasting, without basting, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F, 20 to 25 minutes longer. Let the chicken stand for 5 minutes before carving. Serve with the pan juices and vegetables, if desired.
