Chef Melody Lane, Director of Culinary Services Case Dighero, and Curator Chad Alligood onstage at this week’s WOW
Warhol was famous for eating very little while ironically holding classic American culinary archetypes such as burgers, comfort food, and picnic fare in high regard. We thought it appropriate to initially “fake out” our WOW guests with a meager offering of fruits, cheeses, and crackers as a centerpiece to tables for the event, but then revealing bountiful picnic baskets, at just the right time, teeming with cold fried chicken, charred corn succotash, pickled green beans, heirloom tomatoes jarred and layered with fresh basil, pine nuts, and homemade mozzarella cheese, and our very own double top-secret chicken dippin’ sauce.
Andy Warhol, 1942-1987
“The Picnic,” ca.1959-60
ink, watercolor, and gouache on paper
(Collection Donald Rosenfeld, St. Louis, Missouri, photo Eric W. Baumgartner Photography)
High South Succotash 6 ears sweet corn, cleaned 2 cups fresh baby lima beans 3-4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 2 pints multi-colored Farmer’s Market tomatoes, chopped 1/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced 2 Tbsp. flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped 2 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped 2 Tbsp. fresh basil, chopped Zest and juice of one small lime 1 tsp. coarse salt 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Technique Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Place ears of corn on hot grill and cook 10-15 minutes, until corn is slightly charred and kernels are tender. Toss lima beans in one tablespoon olive oil, place in a grill basket, and cook 4-5 minutes, until the beans are slightly crispy. Remove corn and beans from the grill and allow to completely cool. In the meantime, combine tomatoes, green onion, herbs, lime zest, and juice in a large bowl. Add lima beans. Slice corn kernels off the cobs and add to the bowl. Toss together with remaining olive oil, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Serve warm or chilled.
Chicken Dippin’ Sauce 1 cup mayonnaise 1/3 cup barbeque sauce 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 2 Tbsp. clover honey 1/2 tsp. paprika 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper Technique Mix all ingredients together until well blended. Enjoy as an accoutrement to fried chicken.