It’s at all times enjoyable once I discover a proficient chef making fabulous delicacies in an sudden place! On a latest street journey by means of Iowa, I finished in Cedar Rapids and booked a reservation at Cobble Hill Eatery & Dispensary. Chef Andy Schumacher and his spouse Carrie opened the restaurant after shifting from the Cobble Hill neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, a spot pricey to their hearts. The Schumachers’ philosophy is, “You don’t have to go away Iowa to eat like you’re in New York Metropolis.”
The Early Days
Chef Andy by no means meant to change into a chef. He supposed to go to medical college, however after incomes a BS in Biology from the College of Iowa, he started dabbling within the meals trade. Realizing he was extra within the culinary world than drugs, he and his spouse Carrie headed to New York Metropolis, the place he attended the French Culinary Institute. In New York, Chef Andy labored for a number of eating places studying the ins and outs of the trade, after which launched his personal catering firm.
Chef Andy’s first step into the limelight occurred when he starred within the second season of the TV present The Subsequent Meals Community Star. He didn’t win however he grew to become good pals with Man Fieri, who did win the competitors. Whereas Andy labored on his new profession in New York, Carrie interned with a clothier. Then, to make ends meet, she bartended and waited tables and ultimately moved into administration at Mexica Radio restaurant.
The Transfer Again House
After just a few years within the trade in New York, each Andy and Carrie visualized opening a high-end restaurant again residence in Iowa; so to get the ball rolling, they packed up their belongings and their little lady and headed again residence. Chef Andy scored a job on the Lincoln Café, and for 5 years he labored on his culinary abilities. Carrie spent a number of years working within the trade. She discovered the nuances of managing the back and front of the home and concurrently labored on elevating three kids.
The Restaurant
Chef Andy and Carrie opened Cobble Hill restaurant in 2013. Chef Andy runs the kitchen, and Carrie manages the entrance of the home. The Schumachers restored the brick partitions and used flooring joists from an outdated residence to manufacture tables. The couple is doing one thing very proper. In 2015, after being open for under two years, their upscale effective eating restaurant Cobble Hill earned a semifinalist award for excellence from the James Beard Basis and was labeled one of many “Most Romantic Eating places in Iowa.”
The Interview
Throughout my go to, Chef Andy was serving a brand new international-themed dinner menu every month to construct native enthusiasm through the hardship of Covid-19. Each month he selected a distinct overseas nation. After I visited German meals was the specialty. I requested Chef Andy how he got here up together with his recipes. He stated, “I really feel like I’m a really inquisitive individual. I do my analysis. I’m pretty goal. After I style good issues, I ask what makes them good. Growing a recipe is about seasonality and method, after which I create one thing new from issues I’ve been drawn to and have eaten prior to now.”
The Eating Expertise
My dinner started with considered one of Cobble Hill’s signature cocktails, the French Oak Outdated Usual. The bartender used Outdated Forester Kentucky Bourbon, demerara, orange blossom water, and home bitters to create this scrumptious libation. It was clean and engaging.
The workers at Cobble Hill is nicely educated and offered every dish with heat skilled air and offered glorious descriptions of every plate. My first course consisted of meatballs made with pork and beef drizzled with curry ketchup. Virtually every thing on the restaurant is made in-house. All through the night, I used to be impressed with the components chosen to make the flavorful and distinctive sauces.
Subsequent got here the sausage and house-made pretzel. The hyperlink was mildly spiced, and the casing had a mild snap. The pretzel was tender and completely salted. Home-made contemporary sauerkraut and delectable stoneground mustard blended with pickled sunchoke made glorious accompaniments. The mustard took the dish excessive!
The next course was a pan-seared arctic char completed within the oven and perched on prime of Rösti potato. The Rösti is constructed from shaved potato dried and rehydrated to make one thing like an intense hash brown. The fish was paired with dill yogurt and roasted beets.
The final savory dish was my favourite, quick rib sauerbraten. Chef Andy marinated the ribs in purple wine, bay leaves, and vinegar for 48 hours. Then he made a sauce, thickened it with raisins, and served the meat with roasted Brussels sprouts and decadent dumplings.
I loved two desserts, and each had been delicious. First was a tiered black forest cherry cake. On the underside was a butter cookie after which a cake soaked in cherry brandy topped with chocolate mousse and darkish chocolate powder. The cake was garnished with brandied cherries and edible gold leaf. It was served with Morello cherry sorbet. The second was a cinnamon-sugar-coated donut crammed with plum seed oil and prunes. It got here with a calmly sweetened Chantilly cream. Yum.
The Evaluate
I liked the meals at Cobble Hill. Each dish was nicely balanced, refined, and but acquainted. Chef Andy makes use of skilled culinary strategies, high-quality native components, and nice instincts to organize and current distinctive delicacies at Cobble Hill.
The Schumachers have expanded their efforts and just lately opened an city taco joint serving rustic-style Mexican fare specializing in contemporary salsa and handmade tacos. The brand new place, Caucho, boasts an thrilling cocktail menu, customizable gourmand Mexican meals, and a hip vibe.
In your subsequent go to to Cedar Rapids, make time to dine at each eating places so that you could expertise Chef Andy’s huge array of culinary creations.