A Composed Appetizer made For Grace #MoviesandMunchies

This Tunatini is a beautiful, elegant, tasty start to your dinner party.  It could also be served as a light lunch with some crusty bread.

Layers of fresh Ahi Tuna, Cucumber, and Avocado, layered in a slightly Spicy Sauce, in a Martini glass. Compose a dish as beautiful as it is delicious. 

I watched the Netflix documentary "For Grace," which tells the story of Curtis Duffy and the opening of his restaurant, For Grace.  This was our Movies and Munchies film chosen by Amy of Amy's Cooking Adventures. 

Some of us also read Duffy's memoir, Fireproof, for our Lit Happens Group, which inspired me to make a Grilled Fennel Salad.  

While watching this documentary, I kept notes.  These are the things that stuck in my mind.....

• Beautiful food, Art on a plate
• 5100 Square Feet to be ready in 8 mos. (This was the size and time frame they allotted for the restaurant.)
• "Best Restaurant in the Country....that's my goal"
• Grant Achatz, Rick Tramanto, Matthias Merges were very complimentary when speaking of Duffy.
• Trained by Charlie Trotter and Grant Achatz.  Not much pay but lots of experience.
• Meeting as he closes Avenues to open For Grace, explaining to his employees and promising them positions.
• Duffy attends the last dinner at Charlie Trotters before it closes, and gets turned away.
• Teacher saved his life........This, to me, was the most poignant scene in the documentary, when his teacher comes to For Grace for dinner, and you understand how much the relationship meant to both of them.

I wanted to make a beautiful, composed dish, but I lack the confidence and the skills needed.  Not that I don't make beautiful dishes.  It's just that they turn out beautiful despite me LOL.....

I decided to keep things easy and make this composed appetizer.  Simply layer your ingredients in a Martini Glass, serve, smile, and humbly accept the accolades from your guests.

Appetizers, Tuna, Cucumber, Avocado

Appetizer

American

Yield: 4 servings

Author: Wendy Klik

Tunatini

Layers of fresh Ahi Tuna, Cucumber, and Avocado, layered in a slightly Spicy Sauce, in a Martini glass. Compose a dish as beautiful as it is delicious. 

Prep time: 15 MinTotal time: 15 Min

Ingredients

• 3/4 c. Mayonnaise
• 1 T. Siracha
• 1 t. dark sesame oil
• juice of 1 small lime
• 1 lb. Ahi Tuna
• 1/2 of a large seedless cucumber
• 1 avocado

Instructions

1. Whisk together the mayonnaise, siracha, oil, and lemon juice and place in the refrigerator. Can be made up to 3 days ahead of time.
2. Partially freeze the tuna, and cut into bite-size cubes. Place into the refrigerator to thaw completely.
3. Dice the cucumber and set aside. Dice the Avocado immediately before serving.
4. Chill 4 Martini glasses. Place a dollop of sauce in the bottom of each. Top with some of the tuna and another dollop of sauce. Make a layer of cucumber and another dollop of sauce.
5. Add a layer of tuna. Add the final layer of avocado and serve immediately.

Notes

Adapted from a recipe found in Food and Wine

Nutrition Facts

Calories

547

Fat (grams)

46 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

8 g

Carbs (grams)

7 g

Fiber (grams)

4 g

Net carbs

3 g

Sugar (grams)

1 g

Protein (grams)

28 g

Sodium (milligrams)

401 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

61 mg

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