The Lush Chef

As much as I'd like to, I don't always have the time or the energy to make EVERYTHING.  Sometimes, all a Lush Chef wants to do is open a jar or package of something delicious and serve that to her guests.  I took a stroll over to the new Market at Santa Monica Place (Santa Monica's light version of San Fran's Ferry Plaza) where Artisanal LA had a pop-up with rotating local purveyors.  A jolly chef was serving all sorts of bacon she had cured and dips she had made.  When she asked if I wanted to try her Bacon Bourbon Chutney, well...I thought the rapture was happening right then and there.  Chef Rashida at Cast Iron Gourmet makes this chutney with smoked and braised, in what I'm assuming is bourbon, pork bacon.  The mixture is then combined with some veggies, herbs and spices.  It has both a smoky and sweet flavor.  I could have kept eating this plain on crackers, but it's also great on sandwiches.  I bet it would also be amazing on some toast points with goat cheese.  The texture reminds me more of a tapenade than a chutney because of the stringier nature of the bacon, but who cares?  At $16 a jar, it was a little on the pricy side, but I'm a strong believer in supporting local artisans and it's always nice to have some fun and surprising gourmet items in the cabinet for party emergencies (or moments of laziness).