Putting On The Ritz With Chop House Style Pork Chops......

Chop House Pork Chops With Warm Applesauce

"If your'e blue and you don't know where to go, why don't you go where fashion sits? Putting on the Ritz!" This is a song first sung by Fred Astaire that made a pop comeback in the late 80's. I can still remember the video, with a swanky gentleman "dressed to the nine's" in a black tux with A top hat and walking stick. Really cool.... Anyway, as I started to write the idea of the chop and chophouse married the song and food so here goes.

To me nothing quite says fancy like a Chop House, they are normally done in a "Speak Easy" type of decor with rich wood, and smell of steak, cigars and bourbon. What, I ask, is more sophisticated than that? During prohibition these joint were birthed. They were places where the lawmakers went underground to break their own laws and feel like they had achieved the American Dream. The idea of the Speakeasy is still around today and I am ever so grateful for that. Nothing makes me happier than cozying up to a chop, salad and stiff drink. I often times find myself daydreaming of blending in with the rest of the "lawbreakers" of the day, just there to have a great time and feel like I pulled one over on the rest of the country. History is so intriguing........

Boardwalk Empire - Speakeasy Tour

On the menu today: Chop House Pork Chops with Warm Applesauce & Creamed Sprouts & Cabbage.

Chop With Applesauce & Creams Sprouts with Cabbage.

Who says that chops have to be steaks? Pork chops are just as delicious as a fine cut of beef when it's able to stand on its own without to many additions. I only add salt and pepper to mine as it's being grilled and of course applesauce because the pairing is classic. I added the creamy brussel sprouts because I love them with this dish...  Taste this combination and you can't help but finish off the song.
"Dressed up like a million dollar trooper, trying hard to look like Gary Cooper, Super Duper!!!"

Pan Seared & Oven Roasted 

For the Chop you will need the following:

• Thick Cut Pork Chop (1 p p)
• Salt & Pepper (t t)
• Olive Oil or Butter (2 Tbs)

Heat a skillet to high and place oil or butter in the pan and then the seasoned chop and sear for 5 minutes on one side. Flip the chop and place in an oven preheated to 400 for 5 more minutes or more depending on the how well you wish you chop to be. (In the picture above the chop is medium rare, which took 3-5 minutes in the oven.) Take out once done and allow to rest for 5 minutes before cutting or serving. 

Applesauce

For the Apple Sauce we need:

• Apples (4-5 each feeds 4)
• Brown Sugar (1 cup)
• Apple Juice (1/4 cup)
• Butter (2 Tbs)
• Cloves (5-6 each)
• Nutmeg (t t)

Peel and cut the apples into slices (apple pie style). Add the butter to a warm skillet and then the apples allowing them to brown. Add in the juice and allow to reduce then add the cloves and sugar and allow to thicken to your desire. Set aside or refrigerate. I like cold applesauce to I actually put mine in the freezer for 10 minutes before serving. 

Creamy Brussel Sprouts & Red Cabbage

For the Creamy Brussel Sprouts & Red Cabbage we will need:

• Brussel Sprouts (15-20 ea)
• Red Cabbage (1/2 head)
• Garlic (4 cloves)
• Olive Oil (2 Tbs)
• Heavy Cream (3 cups)
• Salt & Pepper (t t) 

In a heated sauce pot place the garlic and a dash of olive oil and allow t brown slightly. Add the cream and place on low, allowing the cream to reduce by half slowly.  Place the brussel sprouts and cabbage in a food processor and then sauté using the olive oil. Add the cream mixture to the brussel and cabbage combo and salt to taste. The sprout mixture will loosen up the cream so allow it to cook down to your desired consistency, about 2-4 minutes.