Undoubtedly the best thing about my position as editor of Casa de Campo Living (as well as CasaLife, TODO Casa de Campo and TODO La Romana-Bayahibe)- is the food! I love going to events, I love writing, and I love seeing my words published, but the privilege of being treated to exceptionally good food – and calling it “work”, is wonderful – especially when the dish in question has been invented and prepared by Chef Luca Banfi, Executive Chef at The Beach Club by Le Cirque and La Caña Restaurant and Lounge by Il Circo.
Dividing his time between Casa de Campo’s 2 signature restaurants; The Beach Club by Le Cirque on Minitas Beach and La Caña Restaurant and Lounge by Il Circo in the main Casa de Campo hotel area, Chef Banfi from Milan, Italy is passionate about food- and even more passionate about inventing and creating new dishes.
He’s a star! Chef Luca Banfi with fans at the La Caña Lounge
And so having tried (and loved) many of Chef Banfi’s “specials”, when invited recently to La Caña to sample his latest creation- the “Chicken Fried Churrasco”, we did not hesitate to say “yes!”
The “Chicken Fried Churrasco” was exactly as the name suggests – a churrasco fried chicken-style, something which is typically done in the South of the United States with steak (we tried it in a Cowboy bar called “Billy Bobs” in Fort Worth, Texas.)
But of course not happy to simply fry up a steak – Chef Banfi went several steps further and turned this Southern comfort food into a gourmet dish to die for – by adding a poached egg and sausage gravy with a hint of gorgonzola, perching it atop of broccoli and serving with traditional Dominican “arañitas” (shredded green plantain fritters). OH MY! Oh my indeed!
“There is no way that the magnificence of that dish can be expressed without the use of profanity.”
— Rodolfo Bournigal
Alternatively, as I don’t think profanities would go down very well with all our readers, I can say – it was quiet simply DELICIOUS.
“Chicken fried heaven. An inspired combination of crispy southern goodness, with a succulent and perfectly tender churrasco at its heart. All topped off and brought together with a rich and creamy sausage – gorgonzola kissed gravy.
Whilst not for the faint of heart, or for those with a weak heart, this dish is sure to satisfy the most robust appetite, by being the perfect balance of comfort food and a divine gastronomic inspiration.”
— Philip Silvestri, Founder and CEO Silgon Inc.
So where on earth did this incredible creation come from? Here Chef Luca Banfi, explains the inspiration and creative process which went into the birth of the “Chicken Fried Churrasco”
“As a chef there’s something I get asked a lot: how do I come up with a dish. Well, not all dishes are born alike; some are born out of necessity, such as using up specific ingredients available in the kitchen; some are born out of an experience, like recreating a memorable dish that grandma used to make. Sometimes though a dish can come about from a simple question, a question I didn’t have an answer to: can you fry a churrasco? As it turns out, yes and with delicious results! I found that this cut of beef lends itself well for this purpose after a nice breading since it had a good amount of fat and by frying it all that translates to flavorful juiciness.
Now I was faced with a difficult decision, do I stop here or do I keep on going. With breakfast freshly on my mind I kept going and what better than a rich country style gravy to go with my freshly fried crispy cutlet. Now armed with the idea of a breakfast dish as a take on a classic chicken fried steak with country gravy I was faced with another dilemma: to hash brown or not to hash brown… Thanks to another idea inspired by a good friend, hash browns made way for plantain fritters for a little Caribbean touch and with the addition of a little bit of broccoli to soak up all the saucy goodness a tasty dish was born!
buon appetito!”
— Chef Luca Banfi, Executive Chef at The Beach Club by Le Cirque and La Caña Restaurant and Lounge by Il Circo
Want to try the legendary Chicken Fried Churrasco by Chef Luca Banfi?
Please remember this dish is NOT available on the menu and is only available as a “special” – at either The Beach Club by Le Cirque or La Caña Restaurant and Lounge by Il Circo, WHEN (and only when) Luca selects to prepare the dish as a special. Which sadly means there really is no way to know when you will be able to taste this superb delicacy – EXCEPT to “like” our TODO Casa de Campo Facebook page (click here to “like” now) – where we will endeavor to post Chef Banfi’s daily specials.
The moral of this tasty story?
If you want to eat really AMAZING food, next time you’re feasting at the Beach Club by Le Cirque on Minitas Beach or La Caña Restaurant and Lounge by Il Circo, and you get the opportunity to try one of Chef Banfi’s specials – go for it! Even if its not the Chicken Fried Churrasco – you will not be disappointed!
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