Deconstructed Bagel and Lox is not something you would expect from me. I assure you.
You see, food often reflects the person that created it. The culture, upbringing and knowledge that person has can be seen on the plate. Put simply, we stereotype people based on the food they make or eat. Some negative, some positive.
Imagine the following:
- A thick slab of BBQ ribs pulled from a grill.
- Fried chicken served with collard greens and corn bread.
- Bite sized pieces of meat and veggies tossed around in a scorching hot wok.
- A parent preparing their child a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
- An individual ordering a Pumpkin Spiced Latte from Starbucks.
In each of these instances, you may have a preexisting idea of the person’s gender and race. What if I told you that all the situations above relate to a single man? Would you believe me?
No, not me. The list above are things that my father has done. That’s right! A middle aged Chinese immigrant did all that. The reasons for doing what he did is listed below (in relations to the list above):
- Learning the way of the American people
- Wanted to bring soul food into his culinary repertoire
- Currently owns a Chinese restaurant
- “It is cheap”
- Suggested by the barista
In light of this topic, I wanted to create a dish that DOES NOT reflect who I am as a cook. My friends, I present to you, my Deconstructed Bagel and Lox!
Let’s break it down:
- This dish screams elegance and wealth (do you see the caviar?). I am…what’s the best way to put it…hmm…financially impaired.
- “Everything” flavored Cream Cheese lends a richness to the plate. I am lactose intolerant.
- Beautifully brined salmon makes the perfect center piece. I am not a fan of smoked salmon.
Inspiration for the food I make comes in ridiculously random ways and for that, I am thankful. Although this is obviously not my favorite recipe, this was loved by the people I served it to. The point in this recipe was to 1) give you a new way to enjoy Bagel and Lox, 2) show that there is always a story behind the food people create and 3) You won’t ever truly know the story until you ask (don’t jump to conclusions).
Thanks for taking part in my little adventure, we’ll be back on track with more fusion recipes next week! See Ya!
- 4 oz Cream Cheese Room temp.
- 3 oz Sour Cream
- 1 tbsp Chives Finely minced, plus more for garnish
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/4 tsp Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Poppy Seeds Plus more for garnish
- 1/2 tsp Toasted Sesame Seeds Plus more for garnish
- Kosher Salt To taste, I used 1/8 tsp
- 8 oz Smoked Salmon
- 1 dozen Bagel Chips
- 1/4 whole Red Onion Diced
- 2 tbsp Caviar
- Dill As garnish
- Dice the red onion and set it in an ice bath for 10 minutes (this will take away some of the rawness of the red onion).
- Mix all the ingredients for "Everything Cream Cheese" together.
- Layer the slices of smoked salmon on top of each other.
- Roll the slices up, cut off the bottom and shape the "flower" to your liking by pulling on the flaps.
- Plate how you want. The rest is up to you, don't let me tell you how to eat.
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