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Ahhh, spices. The magic ingredient in most dishes. The right combination of spices is what gives food its unique flavor qualities. Each has a distinct character. And when mixed with things such as salts and sugars, they become known as seasonings

How Spices Became Part of Our Tradition

A spice is a vegetation component such as a seed, root, bark, or fruit with aromatic or pungent qualities. They’re almost as old as human history itself. The ancient Egyptians were using spices to enhance their food as far back as 3500 BC. Spices were valuable trade items and led to the Age of Exploration starting in the early 15^th century. Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco da Gama, and Christopher Columbus all set sail in part to open new routes for the delivery of spices from China and India to Europe and the New World.

Today, most people have a basic spice rack in their kitchen. Black pepper, garlic, ginger, and cinnamon are some of the most common elements.

Spices Are a Key Ingredient at Blue Plate

They play a major role in many of our most popular dishes. Our garlic clouds of heaven is a fluffy garlic sauce found in our Mediterranean chicken skewer. We finish our beef chili with five distinct chiles. We add plenty of coriander and cilantro to the Panang red curry with Scottish salmon and black rice. And Blue Plate co-owner Elli Roustom is quite enthusiastic about her love for the aroma of sautéed cilantro.

Blue Plate is an American restaurant because we offer a diverse menu. According to Elli, since America is a melting pot, that gives us the ability to offer a variety of cuisine styles and flavors. For example, our Mediterranean-styled dishes call on both traditional techniques and the shared knowledge of family.

Chef Adam was born in Damascus, Syria. When he created our fluffy garlic clouds of heaven, he called on aunts and cousins in Syria for tips. They guided him through proven methods to create the right combination of spices.

There are plenty of restaurants in the Vail Valley. But Elli Roustom estimates that none are more stocked with spices than Blue Plate.

There are more than 200 known culinary spices. What are some of Chef Adam and Elli’s favorites?

• Garlic
• Cumin
• Coriander
• Harissa (a hot chili pepper paste)
• Sumac (possibly their favorite!)

Piecing it All Together

There’s nothing like sitting down to a great meal lovingly crafted with the right ingredients and spices. When it all comes together, it’s pure magic.

See our menu for a tantalizing array of dishes. You’re sure to find some made with our favorite spices. Try the chicken shawarma with sumac onions, or the buffalo chicken bites with six-chili hot sauce.

Blue Plate’s dining room has reopened and we’ve returned to our regular serving hours. Curbside pickup is also still available.

Among our top 3 most popular dishes is a world-famous delicacy: Austrian Schnitzel.

This dish is beloved around the world for its taste and simplicity. If you haven’t yet tried this delicious Austrian specialty, you simply must!

Keep reading to learn more about the history of the dish both in Vienna and in our kitchen.

What Is Austrian Schnitzel?

Austrian Schnitzel, or Weinerschnitzel, is a popular Viennese cuisine. It’s a thinly hammered breaded cutlet made with veal or pork. Most commonly, it’s made using the leg of veal or tenderloin pork.

Schnitzel is four to six millimeters thin, crispy, and drained from fat. This dish is commonly served in Viennese restaurants that serve Austrian food.

It’s a bit of a mystery how Schnitzel came to be such a popular dish. Some say it was imported from Italian Costoletta a la Milanese in the 19th century.

Most believe the dish was created by the Austrian upper class in 18th century Vienna. At that time, it was common for the upper class to bread their chicken and meats due to the large amounts of white bread consumed.

Breaded cutlets were first mentioned in literature in 1798.

How Schnitzel Got Its Start in Our Kitchen

The first time we served Schnitzel it was actually just a joke. A friend and I were cooking at home and talking about how delicious and fun-to-make Austrian dishes are.

We decided to make Schnitzel with all the sides and sure made a mess of the kitchen. Our chef, Adam, shook his head.

The next week, he made Schnitzel of his own with potato salad, green salad, and the perfect lingonberry sauce. He had a smile on his face and a sparkling clean kitchen.

Adam had no idea of the impact he would have.

The next day 14 people called to ask when we would have Schnitzel on special again. The response was crazy. From then on, we had Schnitzel every Thursday on special and we sold out every time.

We didn’t even have the cooking space at the time and Adam was swinging the big pans with the smoking hot butter from the grill to the burner to the candy burner. Adam earned the nickname “The Schnitzel Man” for his impressive and agile cooking skills.

When we relocated we decided to include Schnitzel on our dinner menu and it has become one of our best sellers. With the Schnitzel, we added cheese fondue and apple strudel to the menu as well.

Have You Tried Our Austrian Schnitzel?

If you haven’t tried chef Adam’s famous Austrian Schnitzel, you’re missing out! We offer a taste of the world to our customers in Avon.

Come by and try our Schnitzel with some apple strudel today. We would love to share our love of Austrian food with you.

We are offering carry-out and delivery services at this time. Click here to view our menus and place an order.

Here at Blue Plate Bistro in Avon, Colorado, the snow is melting and the kitchen is humming. We’re cranking out delicious dishes five days a week for curbside pickup and delivery

But we’re also hard at work making an important resource in these troubled times: face masks.

Blue Plate Co-owner Elli Roustom decided to make the masks in the restaurant’s dining room. It’s closed right now anyway for the safety of our customers and staff.

Elli pulled a few tables together, grabbed a sewing machine, and started cranking out masks. After all, they’re in short supply right now.

“We have to help the locals,” as she wrote on Blue Plate’s Facebook page.

She knew she couldn’t produce the N95 masks reserved for health care professionals. But she could still gather together enough basic materials and start making masks that work for non-medical use.

Elli also decided to get the word out about them using Blue Plate’s social media. In a series of Facebook posts, she let people know that she was producing masks, in her words “like crazy.”

As always, she applied her insatiable sense of humor to the process. In one post, she jokingly referred to the project as “sweatshop Blue Plate.” Then she put out a request to direct message her if anyone wanted a mask at no charge.

In typical Elli Roustom form, the masks are colorful and vibrant. She describes them as “super comfortable with a tissue pouch and nose clip.”

The response to Elli’s efforts has been fantastic. Some of the comments on Blue Plate’s Facebook page include:

“Nice job!! Thank you.”

And:

“I am so proud of you and your efforts and humor and nourishing food through this trying time!”

The mask-making project is another example of Elli and Chef Adam supporting their community by providing good food and much-needed supplies.

The Mediterranean is home to sapphire blue seas, ivory beaches, and an active, coastal lifestyle.

Anyone who has visited Greece or Italy knows the magic of Meditteranean food, which is rich in olive oil, fruits, and veggies.

What is a Mediterranean dish, and how is it distinguished from other cuisines? Let’s take a look.

The Magic Of The Mediterranean Dish

The Mediterranean diet involves a healthy amount of veggies, fruits, legumes, grains, and good fats like olive oil. It is low in added sugar, processed meats, and trans fats.

Eating like the traditional Mediterranean can help you lose weight, ward off disease, and keep you agile. It can also help prevent depression and Alzheimer’s. Those who follow the diet are healthier, happier, and slimmer than they were before.

A traditional Mediterranean dish will allow you to enjoy lean protein, seafood, and a bit of dairy. Smoky skewers might get served along with a soothing yogurt sauce. Greek yogurt contains high amounts of calcium, protein, and probiotics, which support a healthy gut.

You may find traditional Greek ingredients like Tahini, which has an earthy, nutty flavor. Mediterranean Italians use olive oil for cooking instead of animal oil. They also use lots of fresh nuts and fish.

Those interested in foods from the south of France may be looking for Provencal tomatoes, French Onion soup, or muscles. It is made with local ingredients like bouillabaisse or Salad Nicoise.

You may find some thin-crusted pizza on the Mediterranean menu, but don’t expect to find any heavy sauces. Greek salads usually have cucumbers and feta, a soft and crumbly brine cheese that is traditionally made of sheep’s milk. Feta is lower in calories and fat than other cheeses and contains a high amount of vitamins.

Lentils and yogurt are also very popular. Lentils are legumes similar to soybeans and chickpeas. They are low in calories, rich in iron, and packed with health-promoting polyphenols.

Hummus is a popular Greek appetizer. It is made with ground chickpeas, lemon, and olive oil, all of which are great for supporting your health. Pita chips, veggies, and fruits can all get dipped in hummus.

Fabulous Fish

Those who live by the sea know how to use it. Fish is high in fat and low in quality protein. It is also rich in calcium, phosphorous, and a great source of minerals.

Tapas

Tapas is a small portion of food that can be enjoyed with drinks and friends or as an appetizer. They originated in Spain and can be served hot or cold, or casual or fancy.

Mediterranean Tapas might involve seafood, soft yogurt sauce, olives, or falafel, which is made of spiced chickpeas. Even finger food is tasty and good for your heart!

Classic Mediterranean

A traditional Mediterranean dish may surprise you with its grilled taste and healthy ingredients. The more you eat like you’re from the Coast, the more you’ll feel like a native!

For more great Mediterranean cuisine, contact us today.