David Butler
David is not a man known for his cooking skills, so we could hardly request a recipe from him. Fortunately, we do know where he likes to eat. The chefs from Delaney’s Bistro & Bar were kind enough to share a recipe for a popular soup from their specials menu. With beer, cheese, and bacon, it’s sure to please the manliest palate, and sneaking some broccoli in there lets you say you had your veggies too!
Ingredients:
½ lb. bacon
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. low-sodium chicken broth
1 c. whole milk
1/3 c. heavy cream
12 oz. light lager, such as Bass Ale
4 c. shredded cheddar
½ c. broccoli, chopped small after stems removed
½ tsp. ground white pepper
kosher salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Bread, for serving
Preparation:
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp, 6 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to let drain, then crumble. Heat skillet with bacon fat over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, 6 minutes, then add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add flour, white pepper and whisk until golden, 3 minutes, then add broth, milk, heavy cream and beer and let simmer, 15 minutes. Add cheese and stir until melted. Season generously with salt and pepper, then stir in most of the crumbled bacon and broccoli. Simmer 5-10 minutes until broccoli is tender. Ladle soup into bowls and top with remaining bacon. Serve warm with bread.
TIDBIT
Know Your Beer
What’s the difference between ale and lager? Beer enthusiasts will tell you that the difference is the yeast: ale uses a top-fermenting yeast and lager uses a bottom-fermenting yeast, but there are other factors in the brewing process and post-fermentation handling that play a role in the finished product. Ales tend to be darker than lagers, with a cloudier appearance. They have a higher alcohol content and a stronger, fruitier, more robust flavor with stronger bitter tones from the hops due to the higher volume of hops, faster, more thorough fermentation. Lagers look more light and clear, have a lower alcohol content and a sweeter, smoother, crisp flavor from the higher sugar content, slower fermentation, and cold treatment.
