HALF MOON BAY (KCBS RADIO) — Meet Chef Jakob Esko the new Executive Chef at Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay. Esko joins the oceanfront resort having most recently served as Executive Chef at W Barcelona. Raised in Sweden near the Arctic Circle, hunting was an important means of survival for Esko and his family – moose and reindeer were often on the menu at home. Drawing from his Scandinavian roots and international experience, Esko's European-inspired culinary style complements the fresh, locally sourced cuisine at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay.
Esko's illustrious career spans over 26 years and has taken him all over the world. In that time he has been recognized for excellence in team management as well as his culinary prowess. He was awarded "Leader of the Year" from Hotel Arts Barcelona where he served as Chef at Restaurant Veranda. Years later, during his tenure as Executive Chef at Capella Singapore, Esko was named one of the top 10 best "Western Cuisine" chefs by the Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards. Esko held esteemed positions at numerous Michelin star restaurants such as The Square in London and the legendary Ulriksdals Wa¨rdshus in Stockholm before moving to the United States in 2012. It was then that he joined Capella Hotel Washington D.C., Georgetown as Executive Chef. There he carefully designed daily menus to reflect the best of the season's ingredients, which often featured expertly prepared seafood and bone-in meats. Drawn back to Spain in 2014, Esko took on the role of Executive Chef at W Barcelona. During his tenure there, he successfully managed and developed the hotel's culinary team and high-volume banquet department in addition to the design and implementation of all menus. Esko's striking accomplishments as a thoughtful leader and culinary artist have positioned him as the perfect addition to The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. He will oversee all culinary aspects of the resort and is looking forward to embracing the rich, coastal flavors offered by Northern California. We met at the Ritz Carlton, HMB recently for Chef Jakob Esko the Global Cuisine Series with guest chef and friend Johan Bjoerkman of Michelin started restaurant Koka in Gothenburg, teaching modern Nordic cuisine.
The Global Cuisine series at Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay is an immersive cooking experience and lunch for Ritz Carlton Loyalty members. It was a joy to partake. Check out the delish fish recipe below and see info on upcoming guest chefs.
Jerusalem Artichokes - Rinse jerusalem artichokes thoroughly, without peeling. Slice super-thin. Transfer to a bowl of water. Fry the Jerusalem artichokes at 160 degrees. Remove when golden and crispy. Transfer to a sheet of oil-absorbing cooking paper to drain and season with a little salt.
Jerusalem Artichoke Puree - Cook the Jerusalem artichokes in the cream until they are tender. Blend it with a bit of the cream and adjust the flavor with salt and lemon juice.