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It’s all the time enjoyable once I discover a proficient chef making fabulous delicacies in an surprising place! On a current street journey by Iowa, I ended in Cedar Rapids and booked a reservation at Cobble Hill Eatery & Dispensary. Chef Andy Schumacher and his spouse Carrie opened the restaurant after transferring from the Cobble Hill neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, a spot pricey to their hearts. The Schumachers’ philosophy is, “You don’t have to go away Iowa to eat like you might be in New York Metropolis.”
The Early Days
Chef Andy by no means meant to grow to be a chef. He meant to go to medical college, however after incomes a BS in Biology from the College of Iowa, he started dabbling within the meals trade. Realizing he was extra within the culinary world than medication, he and his spouse Carrie headed to New York Metropolis, the place he attended the French Culinary Institute. In New York, Chef Andy labored for a number of eating places studying the ins and outs of the trade, after which launched his personal catering firm.
Chef Andy’s first step into the limelight occurred when he starred within the second season of the TV present The Subsequent Meals Community Star. He didn’t win however he turned good mates with Man Fieri, who did win the competitors. Whereas Andy labored on his new profession in New York, Carrie interned with a dressmaker. Then, to make ends meet, she bartended and waited tables and ultimately moved into administration at Mexica Radio restaurant.
The Transfer Again Dwelling
After just a few years within the trade in New York, each Andy and Carrie visualized opening a high-end restaurant again dwelling in Iowa; so to get the ball rolling, they packed up their belongings and their little lady and headed again dwelling. Chef Andy scored a job on the Lincoln Café, and for 5 years he labored on his culinary abilities. Carrie spent a number of years working within the trade. She discovered the nuances of managing the back and front of the home and concurrently labored on elevating three kids.
The Restaurant
Chef Andy and Carrie opened Cobble Hill restaurant in 2013. Chef Andy runs the kitchen, and Carrie manages the entrance of the home. The Schumachers restored the brick partitions and used flooring joists from an outdated dwelling to manufacture tables. The couple is doing one thing very proper. In 2015, after being open for under two years, their upscale positive eating restaurant Cobble Hill earned a semifinalist award for excellence from the James Beard Basis and was labeled one of many “Most Romantic Eating places in Iowa.”
The Interview
Throughout my go to, Chef Andy was serving a brand new international-themed dinner menu every month to construct native enthusiasm throughout the hardship of Covid-19. Each month he selected a special overseas nation. Once I visited German meals was the specialty. I requested Chef Andy how he got here up along with his recipes. He stated, “I really feel like I’m a really inquisitive individual. I do my analysis. I’m pretty goal. Once I style good issues, I ask what makes them good. Growing a recipe is about seasonality and method, after which I create one thing new from issues I’ve been drawn to and have eaten previously.”
The Eating Expertise
My dinner started with considered one of Cobble Hill’s signature cocktails, the French Oak Previous Common. The bartender used Previous Forester Kentucky Bourbon, demerara, orange blossom water, and home bitters to create this scrumptious libation. It was clean and attractive.
The workers at Cobble Hill is properly educated and offered every dish with heat skilled air and offered glorious descriptions of every plate. My first course consisted of meatballs made with pork and beef drizzled with curry ketchup. Nearly every thing on the restaurant is made in-house. All through the night, I used to be impressed with the elements chosen to make the flavorful and distinctive sauces.
Subsequent got here the sausage and house-made pretzel. The hyperlink was mildly spiced, and the casing had a delicate snap. The pretzel was tender and completely salted. Home-made contemporary sauerkraut and delectable stoneground mustard combined with pickled sunchoke made glorious accompaniments. The mustard took the dish excessive!
The next course was a pan-seared arctic char completed within the oven and perched on high of Rösti potato. The Rösti is constituted of shaved potato dried and rehydrated to make one thing like an intense hash brown. The fish was paired with dill yogurt and roasted beets.
The final savory dish was my favourite, brief rib sauerbraten. Chef Andy marinated the ribs in purple wine, bay leaves, and vinegar for 48 hours. Then he made a sauce, thickened it with raisins, and served the meat with roasted Brussels sprouts and decadent dumplings.
I loved two desserts, and each have been delicious. First was a tiered black forest cherry cake. On the underside was a butter cookie after which a cake soaked in cherry brandy topped with chocolate mousse and darkish chocolate powder. The cake was garnished with brandied cherries and edible gold leaf. It was served with Morello cherry sorbet. The second was a cinnamon-sugar-coated donut crammed with plum seed oil and prunes. It got here with a calmly sweetened Chantilly cream. Yum.
The Evaluation
I liked the meals at Cobble Hill. Each dish was properly balanced, refined, and but acquainted. Chef Andy makes use of skilled culinary strategies, high-quality native elements, and nice instincts to arrange and current distinctive delicacies at Cobble Hill.
The Schumachers have expanded their efforts and not too long ago opened an city taco joint serving rustic-style Mexican fare specializing in contemporary salsa and handmade tacos. The brand new place, Caucho, boasts an thrilling cocktail menu, customizable connoisseur Mexican meals, and a hip vibe.
In your subsequent go to to Cedar Rapids, make time to dine at each eating places with the intention to expertise Chef Andy’s huge array of culinary creations.