Sweet Corn Pancakes with Triple-Cream Cheese

Puffy in the centre and crispy at the edges, the crunch of corn inside and melted triple cheese on top — this one’s from Stuart Brioza of the restaurant State Bird Provisions in San Francisco. (Published in Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs All-Star Cookbook, edited by Dana Cowin.)

—Mia Stainsby

3 cups (744 g) corn kernels
1 large egg, lightly beaten [55 g]
1 1/2 cups (338 g) all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp (7.5 mL) salt
1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
1/2 cup (125 mL) finely chopped scallions
1/4 cup (50 g) canola oil, plus more as needed
2 oz (57 g) triple-cream cheese, such as St. Andre, cut into 1/2-inch (1 cm) wedges
Freshly ground black pepper

In a large saucepan of salted boiling water, cook the corn until crisp-tender.

In a large bowl, beat the egg with 1 1/4 cups (310 mL) of water. Sift the flour, salt and baking powder over the egg and whisk until a batter forms. Stir in the corn kernels and scallions.

In a large non-stick skillet, heat the 1/4 cup (60 mL) of canola oil until simmering. Spoon a scant 1/4 cup of the batter into the skillet for each pancake, and cook over moderate heat until browned on the bottom, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip the pancakes and top each with a piece of cheese.

Cook until the cheese just starts to melt and the pancakes are cooked through, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer the pancakes to a platter and season with black pepper. Serve warm.

Makes 4 to 6 starters.

Spicy and sweet pairings

Mini corn pancakes, cream cheese and a glass of sparkling wine will jump-start any evening.

— Anthony Gismondi

Bellavista Franciacorta Cuvée Brut N/V, Lombardy, Italy

Price: $30 (375 ml) | Score: 89/100

UPC: 894902000011

Availability: Private wine shops

Look for a big nutty, toasty, cherry, baked apple nose with spicy, honey aromas. Round, juicy, slightly foamy palate that is on the sweeter side of dry. Cherry, baked apple, nutty, spicy, honey, peach and guava flavours. Good finesse in a ripe, full style sparkler to drink anytime. Well done.

Selbach-Oster Riesling Brut 2011, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

Price: $36 | Score: 88/100

UPC: 717215003503

Spicy, light floral, green apple, light nectarine and lees aromas. Crisp, fresh, somewhat foamy but dry with green apple, grassy, nectarine skin and lime flavours. Simple, fresh style with clean fruit. Ready to drink. Try this before dinner with light seafood appetizers.

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