Ingredients
Spiced Huckleberry Demi:
15 black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
5 whole allspice
1 cinnamon stick
7 cloves
3 star anise
3 thyme sprigs
1T butter
1 1/2 cups mirepoix (celery, carrot, onion), medium dice
2 whole garlic cloves
4 cups red wine
1 quart fresh huckleberries
1/12 pints fresh blackberries
1/12 cups port
4 cups lamb demi
Salt and pepper to taste
Sugar to taste
Cauliflower and Fingerling Smash:
3 cups fingerling potatoes, sliced, half-inch rounds
3 cups cauliflower florets, medium-bite size
Milk (enough to cover)
1/2 cup chevre
1/2 cup chopped dried cherries
1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped fine
Salt and pepper to taste
Pickled Cauliflower:
3 cups water
1 1/2 cups sherry vinegar
1 1/2 cups red wine vinegar
1 cup Kosher salt
1 cup sugar
1 head cauliflower, small florets
5 shallots, sliced thin
Elk Loin:
6 loins of elk (dry-marinated overnight with fresh rosemary, thyme, peppercorns, allspice, cloves, star anise, chopped garlic cloves)
Garnishes:
Corn shoots
Radish sprouts
Chopped pecans
Pickled cauliflower
Cinnamon and ginger powder (mix 50/50)
Preparation
Spiced Huckleberry Demi: In a heavy bottom pot, bloom all spices on medium-high heat (make sure pot is dry). Add butter to hot spices; melt and brown mirepoix and garlic. Deglaze with 2 cups red wine, reduce by half over medium-low heat. Place berries in pot, and reduce by half. Add remaining red wine to pot; reduce by half. Pour in port; reduce by about one-third. Add lamb demi and reduce to desired consistency. Season with salt, pepper and sugar. Strain through a chinois; adjust seasoning. Mount with butter, if needed.
Cauliflower and Fingerling Smash: Place potatoes and cauliflower in heavy bottom pot; cover with milk and simmer on medium-heat until tender making certain not to overcook potatoes. Strain; reserve some cooking liquid.
In a mixing bowl, add potatoes, cauliflower, chevre and cherries, folding repeatedly, breaking down potato starch. Add parsley and season with salt and pepper.
Pickled Cauliflower: Bring water, sherry and red wine vinegars, salt and sugar to a boil. Pour over cauliflower and shallots. Immediately cover. Best if cools completely, overnight.
Elk Loin: Sear marinated elk loins to medium-rare. Properly rest meat. Slice into half-inch slices.
To Plate: Place cauliflower and fingerling smash onto plate. Top with a few slices of elk loins. Drizzle with huckleberry demi. Add garnishes; dust loins with cinnamon-ginger mix. Add pickled cauliflower to sides.