Slow Down Chef

APPETIZERS

(V) = Vegetarian Option        (E) = Available in Entrée Portions

Please inquire about which Appetizers are appropriate for seated service or stand-up cocktail mingling!

CHEESE APPETIZERS

• Brie en Croute (V) – Wheel of Brie Cheese, topped with Fruit Preserves, wrapped in Puff Pastry & Baked
• Cheddar-Ale Cheese Ball (V) – Chef’s own recipe.  Tangy cheese ball served with cracker assortment.
• Olives in Cheese Pastry (V) – Large Stuffed Olives baked in a savory cheese pastry and served warm
• Pizzettes (V) – Tiny Margherita Pizza Rounds made with Sliced Tomato, Sliced Mozzarella, & Fresh Basil
• Savory Cheese Profiteroles (V) – zesty Baked Bacon & Cheese Pastry Puffs, a perfect match for cocktails!
• Spanakopita (V) – choice or sheet tray or individual triangles.  Classic Greek Spinach & Cheese Pies

CHICKEN & BEEF APPETIZERS

• Chicken & Boursin Bites – Chicken & Boursin Cheese, baked in Phyllo Pastry Triangles
• Chicken Wings (E) – Broiled Drumettes & Wingettes, spiced & sauced to your preference.
• Classic Rumaki – Chicken Livers and Water Chestnuts, marinated and wrapped in bacon, then baked
• Mexican Flag Enchiladas (E) – Corn Tortillas rolled with a Choice of Chicken or Beef (with Cheese), then striped with Salsas & Cheese to resemble a Mexican flag and baked.

CRAB & OTHER SEAFOOD

• Crab Mini-Quiches – Little Quichelets Baked with Crab Imperial & Egg Custard
• Crab Rangoon Bites – Crab Meat & Seasoned Cream Cheese, baked in Phyllo Pastry Triangles
• Crab Stuffed Mushrooms – made with Crab Imperial and baked tender

FISH APPETIZERS

• Caviar & Egg Canapés – Zesty Egg Salad & Lumpfish Caviar on Cocktail Toasts
• Plank of Smoked Salmon – fillet of Smoked Salmon with Capers, Minced Red Onion, and Olive Oil
• Salmon Mousse – Salmon Mousse Mold served with Cocktail Breads & Toasts
• Thai Fish Cakes – Small fried whitefish cakes served with Sweet & Sour Cucumber Relish
• Warm Crab Dip – Crab Imperial’s First Cousin, served with crackers, crostini, or toast points

FRUITS & VEGETABLES APPETIZERS

• Artichoke Dip (V) – Baked to Golden Cheesy Perfection and served with crostini, crackers, or cocktail breads
• Black Bean & Corn Salsa (V) – seasoned with chili-lime-cilantro and served with Tortilla Chips
• Crudités with Dips (V) – Classic Cut Vegetable & Fruit Tray.  Comes with Choice of Two Dips
• Dippers & Spreads – Choice of: Spinach Dip; Dill Dip; Mock Boursin Spread; or Chutney Cheese Spread
• Hot Dates (V) – a Mediterranean Date, filled with pineapple or almond, wrapped with bacon, and broiled
• Marinated Greek Olives (V) – Combination of Mediterranean Olives marinated in Greek herbs & spices
• Market Table – a cascading array of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, & dips.  For parties of 12 or more.
• Stuffed Tomatoes (V) – Summer-ripe Tomatoes filled with choice of Crab or Artichoke-Hearts of Palm
• Stuffed Vegetables (V) (E) — Rice and Beef (or Lamb), then Baked in a Sweet & Sour Tomato Sauce.
• Choose from Grape Leaves, Bell Peppers, Cabbage Leaves, or Zucchini Boats.

MEATBALLS & SKEWERED APPETIZERS

• Balsamic Caprese Skewers (V) – Cielegine (little mozzarella balls) skewered with grape tomatoes & basil
• Meatballs in Choice of Sauce – Swedish Dill, Southwestern Tomato, Moroccan Orange Spice
• Polynesian Teriyaki Skewers (E) –Tender Meat (beef, chicken, or pork) & Pineapple marinated & grilled.
• Satay (E) –Strips of Beef, Chicken, or Pork, marinated, skewered, & grilled.  Served with Peanut Sauce.

MISCELLANEOUS APPETIZERS

• Banderillas – Classic Spanish Tapa, consisting of 4 small skewered tidbits – a diverse mouthful!
• Pinwheel Wraps – Multi-Flavored Flour Tortillas rolled with the Day’s Best Deli Meats and Cheeses

PORK, SAUSAGE, & LAMB APPETIZERS

• Empanaditas – Little Baked Turnovers with a Zesty Meat Filling and a Southwestern Tomato Sauce
• Little Lambie Pies – Ground lamb & Feta Cheese baked in Phyllo Pastry Triangles
• Sausage Pinwheels – Spicy Sausage Bits baked in a Pinwheel Pastry Crust
• Sweet & Spicy Smokies – L’il Smoky Cocktail Wieners cooked in a Spicy BBQ Sauce

SCALLOPS APPETIZERS

• Bacon-Wrapped Scallops – broiled to perfection and served with Choice of Cocktail Sauce
• Seared Scallops (E) – Extra-large Sea Scallops seasoned with Old Bay & served with Sweet Chili Sauce

SHRIMP APPETIZERS

• Richard’s Shrimp Cocktail – Champagne-marinated shrimp served with Piquant Sauce
• Shrimp Sangrita – Extra Large Shrimp Steamed and Skewered, served in a Tomato-Citrus Marinade

 

SOUPS

Most of my soups are made with beef, chicken, and fish stocks.  If you would like a vegetarian option, please inquire – I will be happy to make if for you if I think that the soup will taste right without the appropriate stock! And if you don’t see it, please ask!  I can probably make it for you!

• Carrot and Turnip Soup
• New England Clam Chowder
• Classic French Onion Soup
• Portuguese Kale Soup
• Curried Cream of Squash Soup
• Richard’s Vegetable Minestrone
• Hot & Sour Soup
• Rustic Leek & Potato
• Indian Sambar
• Senate Bean Soup
• Louisiana Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
• Spiced Cream of Tomato Soup
• Manhattan Clam Chowder
• Spinach Barley and Lentil Soup
• Maryland Cream of Crab Soup
• Spring Vegetable Soup
• Maryland Red Crab Soup
• Very Best Vegetarian
• Split Pea Soup
• Mushroom & Onion Soup

 

SALADS & DRESSINGS

Each salad comes with my own dressing suggestion.  I have done this in order to step above the usual This-and-That Commercial Whatever!

Of course, you may have any dressing you’d like, just let me know!

• Baby Greens Tossed Salad with Market Best Crispy Veggies, Choice of Dressing
• Barley Salad with Lemon Juice & Mint
• Classic Caesar Salad with Toasted Croutons and Parmesan Vinaigrette
• Classic Greek Salad with Vegetables, Olives, & Feta Cheese, Oregano Vinaigrette
• Columbia Health Salad with Raw Cabbage and Crispy Sliced Vegetables, Red Wine Vinaigrette
• Ethiopian Lentil Salad with Hot Chilies and Red Wine Vinaigrette
• Marinated Cucumbers and Onions, Lemon-Dill Vinaigrette
• Marinated Vegetable Salad with Rice Vinegar and Extra Light Olive Oil
• Pear, Walnut, and Gorgonzola over Baby Greens, Non-Fat Raspberry Vinaigrette
• Russian Salad – Crispy Lettuces and Vegetables with Denise’s Russian Dressing
• Slivered Red Bell Pepper, Carrot, & Snap Pea Salad, Oriental Orange Sesame Vinaigrette
• Spinach, Mushroom, and Red Onion Salad with Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette
• Tabbouleh Salad, with Bulghur, Parsley, and Red Wine Vinaigrette
• Tomatoes Stuffed with Artichokes and Hearts-of-Palm, Chef’s Zesty Vinaigrette Dressing
• Tzatziki – Cucumber, Yogurt, & Mint Salad
• Wheatberry Salad with Chef’s Zesty Vinaigrette

Most of the salad dressings are hand-made by the Chef!

Generic Salad Dressing Choices:

• Almost Caesar Dressing (Egg-Safe, yogurt based)
• Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette
• Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
• Lemon-Dill Vinaigrette
• Chef’s Zesty Vinaigrette
• Non-Fat Raspberry Vinaigrette
• Classic Caesar Parmesan Vinaigrette with Anchovy
• Oriental Orange Sesame Vinaigrette
• Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing
• Red Wine Vinaigrette
• Denise’s Russian Dressing
• Thousand Island Dressing
• Greek Salad Dressing Oreganata