A Day at Austin's Top Caribbean Restaurant: Cooking Whole Wild Boar

Youtuber: Bon Appétit

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@bonappetit

Restaurant Name: Canje

Restaurant Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Esd85Ug4TxRJr25i6

TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g30196-d24152734-Reviews-Canje-Austin_Texas.html

Google Maps:

🌴 Caribbean Inspiration in Texas

Imagine if Texas were a Caribbean island—what kind of food would emerge from that fusion? At Canje, a modern Caribbean restaurant in Austin, the philosophy revolves around treating each ingredient with the utmost respect. Chef de cuisine Harvard Aninye emphasizes the importance of planning, creativity, and inspiration in every dish.

🍽️ The Role of a Chef de Cuisine

As the CDC, Harvard's responsibilities include overseeing kitchen operations, training staff, and developing new dishes. With Canje being open for about a year and a half, he strives to present a menu that feels authentic yet distinctly Texan. The restaurant serves dishes reminiscent of what your grandmother might cook if she lived in Texas.

🐗 Breaking Down the Wild Boar

Today, the kitchen is buzzing with excitement as a whole wild boar arrives. Weighing in at 83 pounds, this boar will be transformed into a traditional Guyanese dish known as pepper pot. This dish features cassareep, a special ingredient made from black cassava root, which is juiced and reduced with warming spices. Harvard explains that preparing the boar is labor-intensive but essential for creating the rich flavors of the pepper pot.

Equipped with his Dexter butcher kit, Harvard begins breaking down the boar. He explains the importance of cutting with precision to avoid tearing the meat, as each cut will ultimately impact the quality of the final dish. He notes that wild boars are a pest in Texas, and by utilizing them, Canje is helping local farmers.

🥥 Cracking Coconuts for Fresh Milk

With the boar prepped, it's time to make fresh coconut milk. Harvard shares his technique for cracking coconuts, emphasizing the difference between fresh coconut milk and store-bought alternatives. Fresh coconut milk is lighter and adds a unique flavor without unnecessary sweetness.

He explains that Canje goes through around 20 quarts of coconut milk every few days, using it in various dishes, including a braised green dish called callaloo. The process involves shucking the coconut flesh and blending it with water to create the milk, which will be used in many of their Caribbean-inspired dishes.

🍛 Crafting the Wagyu Beef Curry

As lunchtime approaches, Harvard moves on to preparing a Wagyu beef curry. He highlights the importance of using aromatic ingredients, such as garlic and onions, which are staples in Caribbean cooking. The curry features a house spice blend that combines turmeric, cumin, and fenugreek, ensuring a rich flavor profile.

Harvard describes how they build depth in the curry by using fruit stock made from scraps, along with chicken stock. He also mentions the addition of jerk drippings, which are the flavorful juices rendered from cooking chicken, to enrich the dish even further.

🍴 Research and Development: Creating New Dishes

The creative process continues as Harvard shifts to research and development, focusing on a Haitian dish called akra. This dumpling is made from raw malanga and epis, a Haitian sofrito. After several iterations, he aims to achieve the perfect texture by rinsing off excess starch.

Working alongside his team, Harvard emphasizes the collaborative nature of developing new dishes. They taste and refine each creation, ensuring it meets the high standards of the restaurant.

🕒 Preparing for Service

As the clock ticks closer to service time, Harvard takes a moment to check in with his team, ensuring that everything is on track. From the final touches on family meals to confirming menu items, the kitchen is a flurry of organized chaos.

When service begins, Harvard will work as the expo, coordinating between the kitchen and the dining room to ensure timely and accurate delivery of dishes. His role is crucial in maintaining the flow of service and ensuring that every guest receives the best experience possible.

🎉 Family Meal and Team Bonding

Before the restaurant opens, the team gathers for family meal, a cherished tradition that fosters camaraderie among staff. Harvard shares that this moment is one of his favorite parts of the job, as it connects him to his family's history in the service industry.

🥳 Showtime: The Restaurant Opens

As the doors open at Canje, the team is ready for another bustling night of service. From the vibrant Caribbean-inspired dishes to the dedication of the kitchen staff, every element comes together to create a unique dining experience that reflects the rich cultural tapestry of the Caribbean and Texas.