FROM THE MENU OF ...

Cherokee Town and Country Club: Honey Lemon White Balsamic Vinaigrette,

I was recently at the Cherokee Town and Country Club for a banquet and had a salad with this creamy, sweet dressing. I was wondering if you could get the recipe for me. — Hannah Gasaway, McDonough

Jonn Nishiyama, formerly executive chef at the Cherokee Town and Country Club, created the recipe for the dressing this reader requested. It’s his Honey Lemon White Balsamic Vinaigrette and he was happy to share it. Gasaway enjoyed the vinaigrette on a salad of artisan greens with Sweet Grass Dairy Green Hill cheese, ovenroasted tomatoes and crisp herb crostini. Nishiyama also serves it on the club’s spinach salad with fresh berries and candied pecans. And if you need one more use, he says it would be delicious drizzled over grilled asparagus.

When they prepare the vinaigrette at the club, they make it 14 quarts at a time. We’ve cut it down to an eighth of that, but it still makes a substantial quantity. We thought it would make a delicious dressing for a potato salad as well.

Nishiyama has two tips: he prefers to use Colavita olive oil in the vinaigrette and says it’s important to prepare the Epicurean Garlic ahead of time. The garlic is a recipe he learned in Hawaii at his first hotel job. “The garde manger chef made this Epicurean Garlic to flavor his dressings. I’ve made it at my jobs ever since.” And now, Nishiyama has taken it to his new job in Palm Beach.

As for what to do with the extra Epicurean Garlic, he suggests trying it as a base for a marinade for pork or chicken.

Cherokee Town and Country

Club, 155 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta. 404-365-1200, cherokeetcc.com

Is there a recipe from a metro Atlanta restaurant you’d like to make at home? Tell us and we’ll try to get it. We’ll also test it and adapt it for the home kitchen. Because of volume, we can’t answer all inquiries. Send your request, your address and phone number to fromthemenu@gmail.com and put “From the menu of ” and the name of restaurant in the subject line.