In Our Final Pescatarian Holiday Recipe from Bob Blumer, We Toss Meat-Eaters a Bone

Bob Blumer's bacon-wrapped trout recipe

Bob Blumer has New Idiom for 2022: ‘When Pigs Swim Upstream’

As we wish all of our friends and family a Happy New Year, we also thought we’d wrap Bob Blumer’s ‘Pescatarian Holiday’ Recipe Series by committing the wonderful sin of adding bacon into the mix. It’s been seven weeks of this series – inspired by the Feast of the Seven Fishes and Winemaker Rob Lloyd’s pescatarian ways – so it’s only fair to our meat-eating fans to feed their need for some fatty goodness. Right?

This also gives our Lloyd Cellars Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir a chance to shine as a delicious pairing!

This is the seventh and final installment of Blumer’s ‘Pescatarian Holiday’ 2021 recipes series with Lloyd Cellars. If you’d like to see all of his ‘Pescatarian Holiday’ recipes, we invite you to scroll through our Online Recipes section. Shop our Online Store or utilize our Store Locator for local shopping!


Purchase Our ‘Flavor Bomb’ Gift Collection Featuring Blumer’s Latest Cookbook & Four Wines

Bob Blumer’s Bacon-Wrapped Trout

Bob Blumer
Our final 'Pescatarian Holiday' recipe throws a bone to meat-eaters!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 4 trout head and tail on, gutted
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 large sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 lemons halved, then sliced
  • pounds sliced bacon
  • toothpicks

Instructions
 

  • Preheat grill to medium-high direct heat
  • Rinse and pat dry fish inside and out. Drizzle cavity of trout with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with 4 lemon slices and 2 sprigs of thyme.
  • Wrap trout with bacon like a mummy, using toothpicks to hold bacon in place. Each trout will require approximately 6 strips of bacon.
  • Grill for approximately 5 minutes per side, or until bacon is crispy and trout is cooked throughout. Resist moving fish around, but peek underneath to ensure that bacon isn’t burning. If necessary, modulate the heat so that the bacon doesn’t burn before the fish is cooked.

Notes

Level of difficulty: As easy as wrapping a gift, then putting it on the BBQ
Active prep/cooking time: 20 minutes Grilling time: 10 minutes
Pan version: Trout can be pan-seared in a dry pan over medium-high heat for approximately 5 minutes per side, or until cooked throughout.
Advance work: Trout can be wrapped in bacon and refrigerated earlier in the day.
 
Keyword Bacon, Bob Blumer, Trout

The Meals Around the Holiday Meal: Serve Blumer’s Lobster Tacos as a Counterpoint

Bob Blumer's lobster tacos
Bob Blumer's lobster tacos

Tired of eating Holiday Leftovers? We recommend Bob Blumer’s Lobster Tacos to reset fatigued palates

Please, no more turkey and gravy and tryptophan crashes. Give me some energizing south-of-the-boarder zing to brighten a winter day – and pair it with the hedonistic pleasure of eating lobster. Now that’s a reset! The other bonus is that tacos are finger food, so how nice is a meal that doesn’t create another pile of dishes in the sink.

This is the sixth installment of Blumer’s ‘Pescatarian Holiday’ 2021 recipes series with Lloyd Cellars. If you’d like to see all of his ‘Pescatarian Holiday’ recipes, we invite you to scroll through our Online Recipes section. Shop our Online Store or utilize our Store Locator for local shopping!


Purchase Our ‘Flavor Bomb’ Gift Collection Featuring Blumer’s Latest Cookbook & Four Wines

Bob Blumer's lobster tacos

Bob Blumer’s Lobster Tacos

Bob Blumer
A south-of-the-border inspired Maine course 🙂
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4 Tacos

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lobster tails roughly 4 – 6 ounces each
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 ounces best-available butter (about 3/4 of a stick)
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • ½ cup cilantro minced, divided
  • ½ jalapeno chili ideally red for color, stemmed, seeded and minced
  • zest of 1 lemon + 3 tablespoons juice divided
  • zest of 1 orange
  • 4 medium size roughly 6-inches flour or corn tortillas
  • 2 ripe avocados
  • 2 green onions sliced finely
  • Your favorite salsa or hot sauce
  • 1 lime quartered for serving

Instructions
 

  • Use a heavy sharp knife to cut the lobster tails in half. (Place your knife on the end where the flesh is exposed and cut down through to the tail.)
  • Brush the exposed flesh with oil and season with salt and pepper. Reserve.
  • In a small pan, over medium heat, melt butter. When it starts to bubble, add garlic, half of the cilantro, jalapeno, citrus zest and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Stir for 1 minute, then remove from heat and reserve.
  • Half and pit avocados. In a medium bowl, mash avocado with 2 tablespoons lemon juice, the remaining cilantro and the green onion. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Reserve.
  • Preheat grill to medium/medium-high direct heat, or heat a heavy skillet to medium-high.
  • Place lobster tails cut-side down on grill or pan and cook for 4 minutes. Flip, and baste generously with butter mixture. Cook for 2 more minutes, or until tails are cooked throughout.
  • As the tails are cooking, burnish the tortillas on the grill or stovetop until toasted.
  • Spread avocado mixture and salsa over each of the tortillas, then place lobster tails, in their shells, overtop. Instruct the diners to pull their own lobster meat.

Notes

Either or: Serve 4 as an appetizer or 2 as a main
Shopping tip: Frozen lobster tails are not as expensive as you might imagine, and are available in the fish section of many large grocery stores.
 
Keyword Bob Blumer, Lobster, Tacos

Bob Blumer Teams with Ms. Claus for Shrimp on the Barbie Holiday Appetizer!

shrimp on the christmas barbie web
Celeb Chef & Cookbook Author Bob Blumer is also an artist who fills his world with surreal works of visual deliciousness, like his Candy Cane Shrimp illustration above!

Bob Blumer and Ms. Claus got together recently to plot out a menu for St. Nick’s return from his annual worldwide gifting tour. We can only imagine how hungry he is on Christmas Day, right? Early on in the appetizer planning, the two decided they could do some gift giving themselves by sharing, in advance, Blumer’s famous ‘Shrimp on the Barbie’ recipe, with a holiday twist. The recipe comes with the option to grill or pan sear.

This is the fifth installment of Blumer’s ‘Pescatarian Holiday’ 2021 recipes series with Lloyd Cellars. If you’d like to see all of his ‘Pescatarian Holiday’ recipes, we invite you to scroll through our Online Recipes section. Shop our Online Store or utilize our Store Locator for local shopping!


Purchase Our ‘Flavor Bomb’ Gift Collection Featuring Blumer’s Latest Cookbook & Four Wines

shrimp on the christmas barbie web

Shrimp on the Xmas Barbie: Grilled Oaxacan Shrimp with Blistered Jalapeño Salsa Verde

Bob Blumer
Ms. Clause is prepping a warming, spicey dish for Santa's return to the North Pole!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6 guests

Ingredients
  

Dry Rub

  • 1 teaspoon ground chipotle chili
  • 2 teaspoons ancho chili powder
  • ½ tablespoon garlic powder
  • ½ tablespoon dried Mexican oregano
  • ½ tablespoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • In a small bowl combine all ingredients. Reserve.

Shrimp

  • pounds uncooked 16/20 count shrimp ideally wild, or whatever size shrimp you prefer
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil + extra if pan searing
  • Shell and devein shrimp.
  • In a medium bowl mix all dry seasonings. Add shrimp and oil and toss to thoroughly cover shrimp. Reserve.

Blistered Jalapeno Salsa Verde

  • 1 tablespoon natural oil
  • 2 jalapeno chilis stemmed and halved length-wise
  • 1/4 white onion layers separated
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro lightly packed
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • In a large sauté pan over high add oil. When oil is hot, add jalapenos, onion and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes, tossing frequently, or until blistered and toasted on the outside. Let cool.
  • Transfer pan contents to a blender. Add cilantro cumin, salt, vinegar and 1/3 cup of water. Puree until very smooth. Reserve.

Instructions
 

Grilled Version

  • Preheat grill to direct high heat.
  • Grill shrimp for 1-2 minutes per side, or until shrimp are marked and no longer translucent. Serve with dipping sauce.

Pan Version

  • Open a window to avoid setting off your smoke alarm.
  • Heat a large sauté pan over high heat. When it is smoking hot, add 1 – 2 tablespoons oil. Wait a beat, then add as many shrimp as pan will accommodate without overlapping. Cook for about one minute per side, or until no longer translucent.
  • Serve with dipping sauce.

Notes

Advance Work: The dry rub can be made ahead and stored in a sealed jar. Make extra—it lasts almost indefinitely. Shrimp can be peeled and deveined up to a day in advance.
 
Keyword Bob Blumer, Oaxacan, Shrimp

Holiday Adulting with Ahi Sno-Cones & Cookbook Author Bob Blumer

Blumer's Ahi Sno-Cone Recipe

Growing up should never mean loosing your sense of whimsy or adventure – especially in the kitchen!


In our fourth installment of Celeb Chef and Cookbook Author Bob Blumer’s seven-part ‘Pescatarian Holiday’ series for Lloyd Cellars, he delivers his crazy-delicious ‘Ahi Sno-Cone’ recipe while evoking fond childhood memories. Oh, the joy of childhood when your parents would give in to ‘Please, please, please, can we get a sno-cone!’ They’d fane reluctance as they slipped you change and allowed you to make the purchase on your own. It was part of growing up, learning to negotiate, and managing a transaction. Blumer constantly reminds us to revel in the joy and memories of eating our favorite things by flavor bombing nostalgic bites for the here and now of our adult lives!

Blumer’s ‘Ahi Sno-Cone’ is yet another dish that pairs well with both our Lloyd Cellars Carneros Chardonnay and Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir. If you’d like to look back at all of Blumer’s recipes and others, we invite you to scroll through our online Recipes section.


Purchase Our ‘Flavor Bomb’ Gift Collection Featuring Blumer’s Latest Cookbook & Four Wines


Blumer's Ahi Sno-Cone Recipe

Blumer’s Ahi Sno-Cones

Bob Blumer
Sno-Cones that will warm hearts this holiday season.
Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 16 Sno-Cones

Equipment

  • 12, 4 or 6-ounce paper cones (available in office water coolers and at restaurant supply stores)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup peanut oil for brushing wonton wrappers
  • 16 3½- inch square wonton wrappers 4 are back-ups
  • 10 ounces sushi-quality ahi tuna diced finely
  • 1 fragrant peach papaya or mango peeled, pitted and diced into ¼-inch cubes
  • 2 green onions sliced finely
  • 10 mint leaves chopped finely
  • zest of 1 lime
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds toasted
  • 1 teaspoon wasabi paste
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 ripe avocado peeled and pitted
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • salt and pepper
  • Pinch of ground cayenne pepper
  • 12 teeny weenie cherry tomatoes or cranberries, or pomegranate seeds

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • In a small bowl, set out 1 cup peanut oil along with a small pastry brush. On a baking sheet, set out 12 paper cones.
  • Trim 12 wonton wrappers according to diagram (see below). Generously brush both sides of each wrapper with peanut oil. Wrap 1 wrapper around each cone and press seam together. Twist the bottom around itself and pinch to seal. Bake for 5 – 7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. When cones cool, twist them off the cups. Reserve.
  • In a medium bowl, combine tuna, peach, green onion, mint, zest and sesame seeds. Reserve.
  • In a small bowl, combine wasabi, sesame oil, soy, honey, ginger and lime juice. Taste and adjust if necessary. Reserve.
  • In a mini food processor, or in a bowl with a whisk, puree avocado and lemon juice until it is super smooth. Season to taste with salt, pepper and cayenne. Transfer to a small piping bag or a small resealable bag with the corner clipped. Reserve.

To Finish & Serve

  • Add dressing to tuna, starting with half. Toss and add more as required to dress, but not drench. Taste and add a pinch of salt if necessary. Spoon tuna into cones. Top with a dollop of avocado puree and a cherry tomato. Serve cones in shot glasses, or your own cone holder.

Notes

Uncommon Goods: Cone-shaped paper cups (available in office water coolers, at restaurant supply stores like Smart & Final, or on Amazon.com); sushi quality tuna is available at most groceries with a fresh fish counter. Have the fishmonger sign off on you consuming it raw before purchasing.
How To: Wonton Wrap Illustration
Level of Difficulty: Wonton cones require the pattern-making skills and dexterity of an amateur seamstress.
Shortcuts: Skip the wonton cups and serve tartare in paper cones or mini paper cups.
Advance Work: Wonton cones, dressing, and the slicing and dicing of tartare ingredients can be done earlier in the day. Toss just before serving.
Keyword Ahi, Appetizer,, Bob Blumer, Pescatarian

Hunger Fighter Bob Blumer’s Crab (Cup)cake is a Savory Delight – Visually & Tastefully

Blumer crab (cup)cake recipe
Blumer is an Ambassador to Second Harvest in Toronto and a supporter of Chefs Cycle for No Kid Hungry. He’s pictured here with Chef Mary Sue Milliken, Share Our Strength Emeritus Board Member

Lloyd Cellars is recommending that you embrace and fight being crabby this holiday season. First, by supporting Blumer’s efforts in fighting hunger through Chefs Cycle for No Kid Hungry. You’ll feel so good knowing you’re helping feed hungry children. Second, by embracing Blumer’s savory Crab (Cup)cakes recipe below to share with friends and family this holiday season. This magical recipe, which pairs beautifully with both our Carneros Chardonnay and Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir is guaranteed to lift the spirits of even the most committed Grinch in your social circle.


About No Kid Hungry

No child should go hungry in America. But 1 in 6 kids will face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger through effective programs that provide kids with the food they need. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization working to end hunger and poverty.


This December, Blumer launched his 12 Drops of Christmas campaign on Instagram @BobBlumer. Every day he is offering an item from his art archives or cookbooks. Where noted, 100% of the selling price will be in the form of a direct, tax-deductible donation to @NoKidHungry, as part of his fundraising for the upcoming 2-day, 200-mile Chefscycle.

Other items—which will be noted—are conventional sales. His first drop was a signed, limited-edition lithograph he illustrated for his book Surreal Gourmet Entertains. It is 22” x 32” on fine art paper. The price is a $200usd, tax-deductible donation to NoKidHungry. He’s covering the postage and is happy to personalize it. There are a few available. DM him on Instagram @BobBlumer to order and arrange for the direct donation.

#chefcycle #nokidhungry #surrealgourmet

Blumer crab (cup)cake recipe

Bob Blumer’s Crab (Cup)Cakes

Bob Blumer
If you're going to feel crabby around the holidays, make it good crabby!
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Crab Cupcakes

Equipment

  • cupcake liners; muffin tin (not uncommon, but crucial); piping bag with a startip (ideal, but not necessary)

Ingredients
  

Crab Cupcake

  • 1 small beet
  • 2 medium russet potatoes peeled and quartered
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons butter at room temperature
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 egg
  • 1 green onion finely sliced
  • 2 tablespoons red bell pepper finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons bread crumbs or panko
  • 1 tablespoon sour cream
  • zest of 1 lemon + 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley leaves
  • 1 garlic clove finely chopped
  • ¼ jalapeño pepper seeds discarded, minced
  • 8 ounces fresh frozen or tinned crab meat (your choices will vary depending on your shopping options. But fear not, all versions will be tasty in this recipe)

Instructions
 

To Finish & Serve

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Spray interior of muffin tin with spray oil. Line the tin with 4 paper liners. Generously spray interior of liners. Spoon crab mixture into liners. Gently press crab mixture down and flatten level with the top of the tin.
  • Just before putting cupcakes in the oven, reheat potatoes by covering the bowl with aluminum foil and placing it over a pot of boiling water for 5 – 10 minutes. When potatoes are steaming hot, finely grate approximately 1 tablespoon of beet and add it to potatoes. Blend thoroughly with a fork. Add more beet for a deeper color if desired.
  • Bake cupcakes for 8 minutes, or until cakes are fully set, yet still moist. Remove cakes from tin immediately so that they do not continue to cook.
  • Use a piping bag with a star tip, or a table knife to ice the cupcakes.

Notes

Level of difficulty: About the same as making cupcakes from scratch
Advance work: The crab mixture can be prepared earlier in the day, to the point that the cakes are ready to be baked. Bake and ice just before serving; Mashed potatoes can be made earlier in the day then reheated over a double boiler just before serving (add grated beet after reheating)
Keyword Bob Blumer, Crab Appetizer, Lloyd Cellars, Recipe

The All-Purpose Grape

Somm Journal article page

Somm Journal, December 2021 – January 2022

Our Balancing Act: Chardonnay at its best. Webinar examined how style manifests in the glass.

It was fitting to commence the webinar with a tasting of Lloyd Cellars Carneros Chardonnay, as winemaker/ proprietor Rob Lloyd has been focused on the grape for most of his career, having worked at not one but two Chardonnay powerhouses, Rombauer and La Crema. But in 2008, with a little encouragement from his wife, Bonnie, Lloyd took a risk and opened his own winery, the Napa-based Lloyd Cellars, as well as a consulting firm.