Tomato Vin Salmon, American Beauty Inspired
Steps
Mix the tomato vin in a ceramic baking dish: 1 cup tomatoes, 1/2 shallot, 1 tsp capers, 1/4 tsp kosher salt, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, and 1 tbsp olive oil.
Add the salmon fillets to the dish, and top with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes. Broil on high for 2 minutes.
If you live anywhere near Venice, California, you know of a little place called The Win~Dow, but if you live here and don’t know of a little place called The Win~Dow, you’re like me, and you live under a rock. I’m ashamed to say that it took me about 2 years living in LA before I tried The Win~Dow, and now, I, uh, go approximately once a week.
Ok, we’ve now established that The Win~Dow is delicious. BUT, the real magic is that The Win~Dow turns into a “neighborhood steakhouse featuring wood-grilled steaks, seafood & a variety of vegetable forward dishes.” Yeah, that! Thanks, Google.
So, yeah, The Win~Dow turns into American Beauty after 5:30 pm. The first time I tried to go to The Win~Dow, I pulled up at approximately 5:30 pm to learn this fun fact, and when I heard “steakhouse,” I was intimidated. I ain’t got funds for a steakhouse right this moment, I got funds for a smash burger from a window like I was promised, is what I was thinking, and turned my humbled ass around.
Okay, fast-forward from whatever the heck I’m providing too much information about: my humbled ass made it back to American Beauty. And, American Beauty has become a very important place in this household because it was Jere's and my first date after we met at Blue Bottle Coffee that same morning. It was the best date ever. I broke a martini glass and spilled my martini all over him within the first 5 minutes. I rock at first dates.
I will never forget that moment. I had just spilled an entire martini on this man, and he stood up immediately, walked over to the bar, and said, like the true king he is: “I broke my martini, can I order another one?” Then told me not to worry about it, that someone was coming to clean it up, scooched us over to the next bar seat, and handed me my fresh martini. And then… I did it again.
Nah, I KID, I’m not thaaaat much of an amateur. But, I was sooooo worried I was going to. Talk about king behavior. I told this story to all my friends. And I still bring it up to Jere all the time.
It was love at second martini.
Now, we find ourselves back at American Beauty all the time, splitting the “Tomato Vin Salmon.” A KING salmon, so frkn tasty, I had to attempt to make it myself. It’s no American Beauty, but it’s absolutely delicious, and it’s easy to make because ya just pop everything into 1 baking dish and watch it bake for 12 minutes. The perfect amount of time for Jere to make 2 martinis.
