~ Thanks to Nicoletta & Beppe’s, located in the heart of Portland’s Pearl District, for bringing us Sound Tasting! ~

Are you interested in a beef recipe that offers the homey comfort and convenience of pot roast, yet is versatile and sophisticated enough for entertaining?

Well have we got the treat for you this week on Sound Tasting Episode 2.

Join host Marti Mendenhall in the kitchen with local songwriter, pianist, and vocalist Naomi LaViolette as they cook up a flavorful Beef Daube Provençal (pictured below). Naomi also treats us to a live performance of a track off her newest record, Written for You, discusses her musical influences, and states her vision on how music, people, and food can blend together in the most seamless of ways.

Guest:

Naomi LaViolette, local songwriter, pianist and vocalist.

From Behind the Microphone

Some of the ingredients used in this recipe include natural beef organic wine, onions, garlic, cloves, and a special “herbs de provence.”

The beef and vegetables mixed with the wine; nearly finished cooking.

This dish is typically served atop egg noodles. But rice can serve as an easy gluten-free substitute.

RECIPE               

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 12 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 (2 lb) boneless chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2-inch cubes
  • 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 2 cups chopped carrots
  • 1 1⁄2 cups chopped onions
  • 1⁄2 cup reduced-sodium beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 dash ground cloves
  • 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 cups cooked medium egg noodles (or rice, for a gluten-free option)

*Variations also call for olives, prunes, and flavoring with duck fat, vinegar, brandy, lavender, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, juniper berries, or orange peel.

Preheat oven to 300°.

Heat olive oil in a small Dutch oven over low heat. Add garlic to pan; cook for 5 minutes or until garlic is fragrant, stirring occasionally. Remove garlic with a slotted spoon; set aside. Increase heat to medium-high.

Add beef to pan. Sprinkle beef with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook 5 minutes, browning on all sides.

Remove beef from pan. Add wine to pan, and bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.

Add garlic, beef, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper, carrot, and next 8 ingredients (through bay leaf) to pan; bring to a boil.

Cover and bake at 300° for 2 1/2 hours or until beef is tender. Discard bay leaf. Serve over noodles. Garnish with chopped fresh thyme, if desired.

 

Naomi’s Playlist for Cooking

Guest Biography

Portland, Oregon-based songwriter, pianist and vocalist Naomi LaViolette has found her niche  among retro-style grooves, cool jazz, and classical arrangements.  Naomi’s smooth vocals span the sultry blues of Norah Jones to the ambience of Sarah McLachlan, and her inclusion of both vintage and current keyboard sounds are reminiscent of both the funky rhythms of Billy Preston and classic folk-rock of Carole King.  Her original songs tell stories of falling in love, life lessons and heartbreak, while striking a distinctive balance between sweet flirtation, soul-searching and gratitude.

Naomi’s roots are deep in classical music, with a master’s degree in classical piano performance; but she has also immersed herself in jazz standards, folk songs, soul, pop and gospel. All these influences give her music a variety of moods and styles for listeners to enjoy. Naomi is often commissioned to write songs for special occasions, and she is regularly hired for live music at events and weddings.  She also provides arrangements of her music for other musical groups, and her choral arrangement of “Noel” has been performed by many choirs in Oregon and Washington.  Naomi is an in-demand session player, accompanist and performer.

Naomi’s music has received great review and critical acclaim from media including Oregon Music News, The Oregonian, The Portland Tribune, Willamette Week, The Inessa Blog, StereoSubversion.com, KATU’s AM Northwest, KINK.fm, and KMHD.fm.  Her work as a pianist, vocalist, arranger and composer with Steven Goodwin and the Saving His Music project has received prominent coverage in national and local news. Naomi has opened for national and international artists, performed at esteemed venues and festivals including the Portland Jazz Festival, the Doug Fir Lounge, the Alberta Rose Theatre, and The Bite of Oregon, and is the pianist for the Oregon Repertory Singers.

Sound Tasting with Host Marti Mendenhall, features interviews with chefs, musicians and foodies about music, food, behind-the scenes info and a how-to recipe on every show.

Host:

Marti Mendenhall, Jazz Singer, Food Enthusiast

You can follow Sound Tasting on Social Media:

Twitter: SoundTastingPDX   Facebook: SoundTastingPdx   Instagram: SoundTastingPdx

Join us Friday, November 10th at 2 p.m. for Sound Tasting: Episode 2, featuring Naomi LaViolette. Listen live at 99.1 FM in the heart of Portland – or online anywhere at PRP.fm.

This week on Sound Tasting, Naomi has graciously agreed to mail you a free CD (or give a free download). Listen to the live show for a chance to text-to-win!

 

 

 

Jenna Deml
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