You Made WHAT?!?!?
Chef James McDonald of I'O went outside of the island comfort zone with his version of the classic peasant dish: shepherd's pie.
That’s right; I made Shepherd’s Pie, only I did it Maui style mind you and called it Paniolo Pie. What the heck is Shepherd’s Pie? I’m glad you asked. It’s an English, or Scottish depending on who you ask, dish of minced lamb and vegetables topped with potato puree and baked. It’s something of a peasant dish that even iconic chef Gordon Ramsay has been known to make.
What’s so good about that you may wonder? Well, my version is made of braised upcountry wild Axis deer and Ulupalakua Ranch lamb, mixed in with organic root vegetables and herbs from our very own O’o Farm. My staff has affectionately referred to this appetizer as “chef’s little pot’o luv”.
I know what you’re thinking….who in the heck wants to eat some peasant dish of lamb and deer on an island? Get in touch with your customers, Chef James!
Finished and plated and ready to eat ... I'o staff call it "chef's little pot'o luv."
Well guess what people, I want to eat it, and sometimes you have to just take some chances and put your heart on your sleeve, or chef coat, and trust that what you are doing is culinarily sound, (is that even a word?) unique and tasty, and won’t be found in any other restaurant.
It’s sustainable, local, organic, and I challenge even Gordon Ramsay to make a better pie. And I want to go on the record as saying that it was well received by the dining public and by our staff at I’o. In fact, I was able to Cryovac and freeze a couple of pounds in order to make it again in the future. So if you’re the type that likes to take a chance with the chef, come on by and “get your eat on”!
