CheekyChicago

I have a major culinary crush. Major. Whoa there. I’m finding it hard to type. One that I didn’t even know existed until I hit up the BBQ Showdown between Marcus Samuelsson and David Burke at C-View a couple of weeks ago. David Burke (of David Burke’s Primehouse in Chicago and Townhouse in NYC) may be regal in all of his meat-grilling glory, but, dare I say, Marcus (of C-House in Chicago and Aquavit in Manhattan) is sexy in all of his seafood-cooking splendor. So…although David Burke’s Primehouse (thanks to the mastermind behind it) may be one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago, I declare Marcus Samuelsson the winner of this rooftop BBQ challenge.

In honor of seafood-loving, sultry Samuelsson, here are two of his winning recipes from last week’s challenge:

Grilled Octopus Salad

Watermelon

Frisee

Basil

Braise the octopus until tender, throw on the grill, toss with some watermelon, frisee, basil and fresh lemon juice. Voila!

Grilled Hamachi Fish Tacos

Hamachi

Pickled red onion

Red cabbage

Avocado puree

Taco shells

Cilantro

Mark the hamachi on the grill lightly; don’t overcook. Slice the fish, cabbage and onion to fit in the shells, toss with some fresh lime juice. Add some avocado puree to the bottom of the shells, then add the hamachi, cabbage and red onion. Garnish with cilantro. Mmmmmmm…..

David, I love the red meat you cook. I love your lobster fried rice, bone-in ribeye and rare filet mignon. But Marcus, you’ve stolen my meat-loving heart. I’ll be grilling up some octopus salad and hamachi fish tacos in your honor. Email me if you’d like to join…