Chopped?

Monday night... what's a boy to do? Well, there was the Cowboys game on... and its ALWAYS good to see the 'Boys beat up on the Deadskins... and to spice things up, I invited my friend Dustin, the Chef de Cuisine at Jasper's Austin , over to do a little cooking...

Busted out some venison backstrap and doves from the Medina County freezer... and some artisanal Czech bacon from Kocurek Family Charcuterie in Austin.

Fileted off the breast meat of the doves, wrapped them in the bacon while stuffed with jalepeno and onion. Rubbed down with a little BBQ seasoning, and off to the grill.

Trimmed off the silver skin on the venison back strap, and marinate it with EVOO, salt, pepper, and fresh basil, oregano, purple basil, thyme, rosemary, and parsley.

While the doves cooked and the venison marinated, we blanched off some broccolini and peeled some shrimp. Made a basil pesto marinade for the shrimp, and chopped up some patipan squash.

As the doves came off, the venison went on the grill... seared off then moved to indirect heat... Added the shrimp and broccolini to the grill and sauteed the squash in a little butter...

The result?

It was a total blast getting to cook with my friend... and one hell of an amazing chef. And thanks to our wonderful "kitchen bitch" Jina! :-0 (P.S. I never thought in my life she would actually LIKE the dove... I guess that bacon DOES make everything better! Its all about the pig!)

We will have to do it again sometime soon... be on the look out for the invite...