Classic Fish Cakes and Maine-grown Beans

[johnnyd]

National Public Radio aired a short piece this morning on how top restaurants are handling recession-weary customers, featuring Portland's own Sam Hayward.

Chef Sam Hayward of Fore Street Restaurant in Portland, Maine, was a James Beard award winner for outstanding chef in 2004. To draw in diners in a tough economy, Hayward makes fish cakes and beans that are about half the cost of fancier items on his menu.

Instead of Cod he uses haddock, poached, then folded into a russet potato and egg emulsion. Locally grown beans (The Beanery - Exeter, Maine - are available at Jordan's Farm, Cape Elizabeth) are simmered in caramelized onions.

Story - Podcast - Recipes / NPR.org

The recipes are quite comprehensive. I am definitely doing this this week.

[Chris Amirault]

Those look great. Do you know a good substitute for marifax beans? Would soldier beans work?

[Lapin d'Argent]

Wow...those look really yummy! Thanks for pointing out the article johnnyd -- those fish cakes are on the menu for this weekend, especially since it looks like the whether is finally going to cool off a little bit.

Hope I don't have to go all the way to Arlington to get Aleppo pepper...