Dish of the Week: purple food at Empire State South
Dish of the Week: Purple Cabbage Gazpacho at Empire State South
Few vegetables do color the way purple cabbage does color.
The shade is an uncommon hue, so purple that it seems it should be the petal of a flower rather than the leaf of a plant. Beyond that, it contains so much purple that it seems to have enough to stain the whole world around it. Aside from turmeric root, which will leave your fingers glowing yellow days after you handle it, purple cabbage might be one of the most potent dyes in the vegetable world.
As for flavor, well, not so much. It is crunchy, at least. Which is why the bowl of purple cabbage gazpacho from Empire State South is such a welcome treat. It captures the magnetic power of purple, but it layers and condenses flavors into something that matches the visual impact. There’s a tang of vinegar and a bite of mustard and smooth richness of olive oil and, above all, a cool, vegetal freshness that fits just right in these last, hot days of summer.
Empire State South, 999 Peachtree St., Atlanta, 404-541-1105, empirestatesouth.com.
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About the Author
Ligaya Figueras is the AJC's senior editor for Food & Dining. Prior to joining the AJC in 2015, she was the executive editor for St. Louis-based culinary magazine Sauce. She has worked in the publishing industry since 1999 and holds degrees from St. Louis University and the University of Michigan.
