Our incredibly talented Chef Beat (pronounced “bee-att”) Meier is helping everyone feel the love at Harbor’s Edge with the creative and inspired dishes he has up his sleeve for Valentine’s Day. Chef Meier is a European-trained chef with over 30 years of successful culinary and operational experience. He’s a Certified Executive Chef with the American Culinary Federation. In short, every dish he whips up is sure to tantalize even the pickiest taste buds. The Valentine’s Day menu he’s come up with features a most festive dessert: a heart-shaped Raspberry Napoleon.
Food historians trace the origin of this decadent pastry back to ancient Mediterranean baklava and filo. The sweet treat was introduced to the people of Medieval Europe, who instantly adopted it and made it their own. French and Italian Renaissance chefs are believed by many to have perfected it. Because it’s been around for so long and altered to adapt to various countries and cultures, the Napoleon is known around the world, and there are many variations.
Chef Meier has crafted the signature Harbor’s Edge Raspberry Napoleon using pastry tarts filled with vanilla crème and fresh raspberries. This will be the cherry (or, perhaps in this case, the raspberry) on top of the cake for the thoughtful brunch Chef has designed for Valentine’s Day. Residents will have their choice of a bread basket or Greek yogurt berry parfait to begin. For the main course, they’ll be offered garden veggie quiche, a Nova Scotia fish sampler, cheese blintzes or eggs benedict. The sides include fruit, crispy bacon, sausage links and potato latke. And for dessert? You guessed it – a light-as-air treat rich in history that will almost be too pretty to eat – the Raspberry Napoleon.
Bon appétit! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Julie Deriso
