Grape and Blue Cheese Truffles Tweetcipe

I hope you like these little appetizers as much as my clients do!

GRAPE AND BLUE CHEESE TRUFFLES

4 oz cream cheese, softened

6 oz blue cheese, softened

3 T port wine

1 cup pistachio nuts, ground but not too fine

1 bunch seedless grapes, red or green

Mash the softened cream cheese and blue cheese together in a bowl until combined. Pour in the port and mix until blended.  Chill for 30 minutes.  Grab a bit of the cheese in one hand and a grape in the other.  Put the two together and roll the grape around in your hands until it is completely covered with the cheese.  Roll the cheese covered grapes in the ground pistachios.  Chill until ready to serve.

Note:  Don’t make these too far in advance or the pistachios get mushy.  A nice way to present the truffles is to place them in martini glasses with toothpicks.

Welcome to Our New Commercial Kitchen in Austin

At Capital Kitchens, our motto is “Your Vision, Our Kitchen.”

Caterers, personal chefs and small businesses with a product to bring to market tend to run into issues when it comes to finding a place to do what they do best – cook. In response to this growing need and with our own interest in bringing this lively community together, my business partner, Trish, and I have opened a shared-use commercial kitchen in South Austin to provide a solution for professionals who need a place to build a menu or cook a product without the enormous overhead that comes with building their own kitchen. Additionally, our clients have access to a walk-in freezer, refrigerator and dry storage space.

Smaller businesses often can’t afford to build their own commercial kitchen. The equipment alone – burners, convection ovens, three-holed sinks and all that’s required by the health department – can run anywhere from $50,000 if you buy used to $120,000 for new. Many small business owners just don’t have that kind of money to invest, especially when they’re just getting started. With our new community kitchen, these businesses can come and rent our kitchen by the hour. They can rent the space only for as often as they need it, so small businesses can grow without making a big investment.

Outside of the Cottage Law, it is not legal for people to operate a food preparation business out of their homes in Texas, so there are a lot of people out there who need commercial kitchen space in order to operate legally. Some do operate illegally, but if they want to grow into Whole Foods or some other large food market distributor, they’re going to have to use a commercial kitchen. Grocery markets and food distributors want to know where your products are being made. They need to know that your food is safe, that your business is legal and that you’re following the rules.

In addition to assembling all of the standard kitchen equipment chefs need, we’ve created a Farm-to-Table themed meeting and dining area for clients who want to entertain, hold tastings and fundraisers, or have team-building sessions.  The wall of recycled wood, corrugated metal, well-worn concrete floor and cedar trim gives the room a warm and comfortable atmosphere.

Our ambition at Capital Kitchens is to become an incubator for startups who need a little boost into becoming fabulous and successful. Our goal is to make introductions and advise clients on how to build their business. In addition to coaching caterers and personal chefs, we’re a resource for businesses that cook and bottle their own products such as hot sauces, jams,  preserves, and pickles to sell at farmers’ markets, local grocery stores and gift shops.

On a personal note, this is an exciting way for me to use my skills and experiences as a chef to teach and encourage others. Our commercial kitchen in Austin is an opportunity for the whole food community.

Until next time, eat well.