Day Three Hundred and Sixty Four : Airco Results

So folks, who do you think won out for the ideal Airco pairing and how did I decide what pairing would work best?

I decided what pairing would work best based on what I thought would make the best sort of food to eat while watching a sporting event like the Superbowl mixed obviously with the best way to display the unique nuances of the Airco. Airco is a melting cheese, not a cooking cheese. By that I mean, it's great for grilled cheeses but less great for creamy cheesy sauces.

So who won?

How does a portobello mushroom burger with melted Airco, homemade arugula pesto, caramelized onions and sundried tomatoes sound? Good right?

Let me explain a little more in depth why a fresh tomato or the eggplant wouldn't work as successfully... Fresh tomatoes juiciness would overwhelm the delicate sweet smokiness of the cheese and mask its most excellent flavor nuances. An eggplant, although somewhat of a blank canvas, does not need to dial up it's smoky bitterness, it needs to downplay it with a cheese like mozzarella that is fresh, lactic, creamy and luscious -- opposites attract for our dear eggplant.

The portobello on the other hand with its earthy meaty-ness will be the perfect backdrop for the hickory sweetness of the cheese. The homemade arugula pesto and caramelized onions will add some herbaceous brightness and the sundried tomato the right umami "je ne sais quoi."

How to make arugula pesto?

Simple!

1 bunch of arugula
2 garlic cloves
2/3 cup of pine nuts
1 full cup of Parmesan cheese
4-6 tablespoons of EVOO
1/3 cup of basil leaves
Sea Salt
Fresh ground black pepper

Blend all together in the food processor.

Next up, to caramelize onions, I like to use EVOO and cook them over really low heat till they are golden brown and ready to top your sandwich!

For the portobello, I think a nice sear is perfect, coat it in some EVOO, sea salt and black pepper. Cook over low to medium heat for a five minutes per side.

Now your sandwich is ready to assemble -- I recommend utilizing a nice sesame semolina bread as the backdrop for your Airco portobello mushroom sandwich. Coat each side of the bread with a nice dollop of your arugula pesto then top with the mushroom, some generous slices of your cheese, sundried tomatoes and caramelized onions and you're ready to pop this baby in the oven!

Enjoy!