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The first Joy Ranch Chef Night of the season is coming up on Tuesday, Sept. 24, and local chef Kyle Lalim is going all out.
Lalim has been featured every year during a Chef Night at Joy Ranch, and he has never disappointed. This year’s opener will include a happy hour with wagon rides around the ranch beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The mouth-watering dinner menu features a coffee-crusted New York strip steak perched on a serving of horseradish mashed potatoes and Mexican street corn.
“I have typically done a heavy protein every year.” Lalim told the Watertown Current. “I’ve done steaks, double bone-in pork chops, and last year it was beef Wellington. I like big, rich, savory foods, which is why I’m doing the coffee-crusted New York strip steak this year. It’s one of my favorites.”
The hand-cut steaks will be 2 to 2½ inches thick, coated with a blend of chilies, brown sugar and ground espresso before grilling.
“It’s just a great flavor burst in your mouth,” Lalim said.
The salad will be iceberg lettuce with ranch, cherry tomatoes and bacon, topped with cheddar cheese and green onions.
The meal is rather heavy, so he chose a lighter dessert.
“For dessert, in the past I’ve done chocolate or cheesecake, but this year I decided to do something lighter. It will be an angel food cake berry trifle, with cubed angel food cake layered between vanilla pudding, fresh berries and whipped cream.”
New this year will be the happy hour, featuring a charcuterie board with sausages and flavored meat sticks from the local 1889 Meat Company, along with an assortment of cheeses, fruits and fresh vegetables.
Lalim’s meals are always among the most popular at Joy Ranch. One year, he prepared 260 dinners.
“I truly believe in Joy Ranch’s mission,” he said. “It’s fun to be part of something that’s such a great asset to our community.”
Tickets to the event, which is a major fundraiser for Joy Ranch, are $50 each and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com. Search for Joy Ranch.
