The Secret Ingredient in St. Cecilia's Attack of the Killer Tomato Meal

Monday, July 6, 2015

Chef Craig Richards of St Cecilia was just named an emerging star of Atlanta's restaurant world by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, which came as no surprise to us! Chef Craig is a purist when it comes to local food - he lets the flavors shine through while still always throwing something exciting into the mix - like charred lettuce.

The charred lettuce in Chef Craig's Seared Shrimp with Tomatoes, Charred Lettuce, Farro & Green Goddess Dressing takes this salad to a new level, and may very well be our new favorite trick to jazz up a salad.

We went straight to the source to find out how Chef Craig devised this delicious meal. "Who doesn't like tomatoes and shrimp together?" he told us. "Charred lettuce, adds another element to the salad that's smoky and slightly meaty. It tastes like summer and is a great addition to the raw crunch of the tomatoes."

Chef Craig says any lettuce will do, but he likes to use lettuces that will hold up, like romaine or little gems. Don't go overboard though. Just char on one side in the oven or on the grill so you have a contrast of cooked and raw in the same head of lettuce.

And the other components of Chef Craig's dish? "I've always been very fond of farro salads with their texture and nutty flavor." Chef told us. "And the green goddess dressing is so old school it's cool again. The creaminess and herbaceous flavor of the dressing is a great contrast to the nutty crunch of the farro and acidity of the tomatoes. It's all about balance."

Ready to transform your kitchen into St. Cecilia? Order your Seared Shrimp with Tomatoes, Charred Lettuce, Farro & Green Goddess Dressing.