The special this week at The Lindsay is Vitello Tonnato. This dish is prepared with a Wood Fire Grilled Rose Veal Rib Chop, Albacore Confit, Tonnato Sauce, Honey Punch Pluot Mostarda Vinaigrette.
So what is Vitello Tonnato? It is a traditional Italian dish that marries the delicate flavors of tender, thinly sliced veal with a velvety, savory tuna-based sauce. Hailing from the Piedmont region of northern Italy, this dish is a testament to the artful combination of seemingly contrasting elements. This dish is likely something you’ve never heard before, nor something you’ve ever tried. And isn’t that one of the reasons why you choose to eat at a restaurant versus cooking at home? You get to try unique dishes such as this.
Let’s first talk about the Veal, the star of the dish. Not all Veal is the same. In this dish, John is using ‘Rose Veal’. "Rose veal" is a type of veal production that focuses on improved animal welfare and ethical practices compared to traditional veal production methods. The name "rose veal" is derived from the slightly pink color that the meat takes on due to the calves being raised under more humane and natural conditions. We see the importance of sustainability and animal welfare is critically important. If you’d like to read more about ‘Rose Veal’, here is more information on it: https://smallfarmersjournal.com/a-guide-to-raising-and-marketing-rose-veal/
Now that we have a high quality meat, its important to prepare it right. John will be using our wood fire grill at The Lindsay. We are lucky to have a piece of equipment such as that. Wood burning grills have long been banned in kitchens. Ours just happens to be grandfathered in. The Veal will be cooked over the open fire and then rested prior to slicing it.
The tonnato sauce is a masterpiece of balance, blending rich and briny tuna with other carefully chosen ingredients to create a harmonious symphony of flavors. The sauce consists of high-quality tuna, olive oil, lemon juice, capers, garlic, and egg yolk. These ingredients are artfully blended together, resulting in a creamy and luxurious sauce that encapsulates the essence of the Mediterranean.
We'll be offering this dish starting Friday August 11th through Sunday August 13 (or until we run out).