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UNIQUE Featured Chef and Recipe: Villa Toscana - Paso Robles, CA

CHEF: Richard K. Graham

WITH THE INN SINCE: 2003

STARTED IN THE KITCHEN: Summer of ‘74.

TRAINING/EXPERIENCE: Cooking Academy, Portland OR; Apprenticed under 6 European chefs: 3 German, 1 English, 1 French, 1 Turkish.

LIST ANY AWARDS OR PUBLICATIONS: Member of the American Culinary Federation; Member of the Horizon 2000 Coalition; Gold Medal Winner 1992 Chefs in America Competition, Mark Hopkins Hotel, San Francisco.

FAVORITE INGREDIENT: Seafood and fresh vegetables.

FOOD PHILOSOPHY: Quality and care, with fun and energy. Also, to teach the art of cooking to the next generation of young, talented people.

INSPIRATION: To see people enjoy the life of good spirit!

ANYTHING ELSE? It’s very special to find a niche with your art and desire to travel through life.

Wild King Salmon Wellington

3 lbs. Salmon fillet, boned and skinned cut into 6 equal pieces
3 Sheets Puff Pastry 8”-14” in size
1 lb. Fresh Scallops
¾ C heavy cream
2 Egg Whites
1 T Shallot Puree’
1 T Lemon Juice
½ T Thyme
½ T Oregano
Dash of Tabasco
Dash of Worcestershire
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 C Fresh Spinach Leaves (no stems)
6 Even Piles Egg Wash (2 eggs ¼ C cream)


1. In blender, puree’ scallops to a paste, add cold egg white and blend 10 seconds. Slowly add cold cream and blend 15 seconds. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend 10 seconds. ( MUST KEEP THIS COLD.)

2. Cut Pastry into 6 even pieces; cut a pocket in salmon fillet, fill pocket with scallop mixture evenly into six equal pieces of salmon

3. Brush pastry with egg wash

4. Place 1/6 of spinach on each sheet of pastry, place salmon skin side up on top of spinach, sprinkle with salt and pepper

5. Wrap salmon pieces in the dough and seal the edges

6. Brush with egg wash

7. Place onto a sheet pan and bake at 375 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes

8. Serve Hot

9. Helpful Tip : You can decorate Wellington with pieces of dough or core top with a knife to make a design.

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CONTACT: Rose Allen, Unique Executive Director • 877.2UNIQUE (877.286.4783) • email: Stay@uniqueinns.com