Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

Veal Picatta

A mainstay in the early days of the Purple Parrot Café. I served this at my rehearsal dinner.

Ingredients

1 cup All-purpose flour
1 Tbl House seasoning blend (recipe xxx)
16 each – 2 oz. veal top round cutlets, pounded thin
2 tsp Kosher salt
2 tsp Fresh ground black pepper
½ cup Extra virgin olive oil
6 Tbl Capers, drained and rough chopped (if large)
2 Tbl Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 Large lemon, zested (about 1 Tbl) and juiced (about 2 Tbl)
1 tsp Garlic, minced
½ cup Dry white wine
¼ cup Chicken stock (see recipe)
4 Tbl Unsalted butter, cut into cubes, chilled

Instructions

In a bowl, combine the flour and house seasoning. Season the veal with the salt and pepper. Lightly dust each cutlet in the seasoned flour and set aside.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the floured veal cutlets, working in small batches, for about 1-2 minutes on each side and set aside on paper towels to drain. When all the veal has been seared, add the capers, lemon zest and juice, parsley, and garlic to the same skillet and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Deglaze with the wine and cook until almost completely evaporated, about 3-4 minutes. Add the chicken stock and reduce until about 2 Tbl of liquid remains. Reduce heat to low and incorporate chilled butter pats one at a time, stirring with a wire whip until fully incorporated. Once all butter has been incorporated, remove from heat.

Serve 2 cutlets per person and top each with the caper, lemon, butter mixture.

Recent Recipes

Chocolate Christmas Cheesecake

Chef Linda Roderick has been by my side through these cookbooks for over two decades, and there’s no one I’d rather have guiding me through a cheesecake recipe. She’s a master of the craft—steady, exacting, and always aiming for perfection. This rich, decadent chocolate cheesecake is no exception. It's all about balance. The deep, smooth chocolate filling meets a crisp, slightly salty crust for a perfect bite every time. Ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing—otherwise, you’ll end up with lumps. And when you melt the chocolate, give it time to cool slightly before mixing it into the batter, so you don’t end up with curdled filling. It’s worth the patience, every time. A few techniques can elevate this recipe to another level: chilling the dough overnight for a richer flavor, using a water bath to ensure an ultra-smooth texture, and letting the cheesecake rest for at least 24 hours before serving for the best flavor.

Read more

Harrison’s Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Having a son who’s following in your footsteps is one thing. Watching him take what you’ve taught him and elevate it to something even better—that’s special. During his Christmas break from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York, a few years ago, he nudged me out of the way and made these mashed potatoes. I was skeptical, of course as I’ve been making mashed potatoes for decades. But there was no question his version was better. There’s a lot of pride in seeing him excel in the kitchen, making something as simple as mashed potatoes taste extraordinary. This recipe has become a new tradition in our family. Watching him cook now, with all that skill and precision, is a proud moment for me every time. This is his recipe, and I’ve adopted it as my own.

Read more

Macaroni and Cheese

Growing up, elaborate mac & cheese wasn’t something that made its way to our dinner table. That’s not some sort of elitist statement. We grew up in a very modest way. It’s just that macaroni and cheese was something my mom never purchased at the store and therefore never served. This recipe is rich and indulgent with a blend of cheeses that create a creamy, savory masterpiece. Adding crispy fried shallots or crumbled bacon to the breadcrumb topping gives it a savory, satisfying crunch. The blend of cheeses—Velveeta for creaminess, Gruyere for nuttiness, Cheddar for sharpness, and Colby Jack for that buttery melt—makes all the difference.

Read more