Knife & Fork Spring 2020

Page 13

Bayou-inspired

The Dish

The Batteau’s Clayton Butler takes a cue from his Louisiana upbringing By Caite Hamilton

Dessert: Crème brûlée Ice cream flavor: Chocolate chip cookie dough Kitchen aroma: Bread baking Always in the home fridge: Milk and eggs Always in the pantry: Spices Bodo’s order: Roast beef on everything bagel with Swiss cheese and tomato Salad bar toppings: Cucumber, tomato, red onion, croutons, shaved carrots, croutons, ranch dressing, and more croutons.

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layton Butler admits that, since working as a dishwasher at Duner’s in the late ’90s, his culinary journey has been “trial by fire.” He’s traveled and trained throughout the United States, including at a Relais & Chateaux establishment in North Carolina, celebrity chef restaurants in Las Vegas, and destinations in Lake Tahoe. The Batteau owner and chef said his goal was always to own his own restaurant, so after moving to Scottsville to be near family, he and his wife set up shop downtown, first opening a small wine store, which expanded into a wine and specialty spot with grab-and-go lunch options, then finally to The Batteau, the full-service restaurant and wine bar that opened in October 2019. On the menu, crispy fried catfish meets chili-lime edamame meets Thai curry. “I was born and (partially) raised in Louisiana, which sparked a lifelong interest in Southern-American cooking,” Butler says. “I’ve picked up techniques from French, British, Turkish, and Japanese chefs along the way, which I’ve adapted and melded into the [restaurant’s] eclectic style.” We asked him to tell us about a few more of his favorite things and biggest influences.

JOHN ROBINSON

Always on the bar: Missile IPA from Champion Brewing Company Special-occasion drink: Champagne Energy source: I know it sounds cheesy, but I thrive on my kids’ energy. At 1 and 3, they have a ton of it. Lunch spot: Riverside or Guadalajara Chinese take-out order: My new favorite is kung pao chicken. Go-to comfort food: Fried chicken Sandwich: French dip Unusual ingredient: Huy Fong chili sauce Healthy snack: Bananas Unhealthy snack: All the unhealthy snacks. Seriously, I love snacks. Condiment: Mustard—yellow, Dijon, stone-ground. ...Any kind of mustard. Chocolate: Dark chocolate Grocery-store cookie: Tate’s thin chocolate-chip cookies

“I was born and (partially) raised in Louisiana, which sparked a lifelong interest in SouthernAmerican cooking.”

Cut of meat: Rib-eye Fish: Sea bass Vegetable: Onion Midnight snack: Popcorn. Also a plain Hershey bar with a handful of pistachios. Knife: Messermeister Appliance: Gas range Food books: Anything by Thomas Keller and On Food and Cooking by Herold McGee. Dream trip: Japan. Everything about the food and culture is fascinating. Favorite food city: New Orleans Cooking clothes: Chef jacket, chef pants, clogs, and an apron. Kitchen shoes: Birkenstocks and Danskos Best meal ever: Oyster Orleans at Half Shell Oyster House in Biloxi, Mississippi. I once took a two-hour detour on a road trip home from New Orleans for these oysters. Worth it.

Spring Knife&Fork 13


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Knife & Fork Spring 2020 by C-VILLE Weekly - Issuu