Now that the weather’s getting nicer, I want to have a patio party. What kinds of appetizers can I make ahead of time?
A grill is fun when you have people over — it acts as a centerpiece to the party. Anything that can be thrown together ahead of time is good because if you’re the host you don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen.
You can do warm grilled crudites — put the stuff right on the grill so they get a little charred. If it’s asparagus or artichokes, you blanch them ahead of time, then just brush on melted butter, salt and pepper and use the grill to reheat and add a little smoky flavor.
At Black Pearl, we’re doing goat cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon — that’s real easy to do at home. I use medjool dates: just pull the pit out and replace it with Haystack Mountain Goat Cheese, then wrap a third of a slice of bacon around it and secure it with a toothpick. Grill until the bacon’s cooked through.
Sean Huggard, executive chef, Black Pearl and Encore restaurants
