Fried Green Tomato with Country Ham and Beer Cheese Mornay - The Local Palate

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
• 2 ounces Tabasco
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 4 green tomatoes, sliced and with the center cut to size of a half-dollar coin
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• ¾ cup milk
• ¾ cup beer, PBR preferred
• 5 ounces white sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• Salt
• Tabasco
• ¼ cup grapeseed oil, plus 1 teaspoon to sauté ham
• 1 cup seasoned flour (recipe follows)
• ⅓ pound country ham, cut to same half-dollar-coin size as tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon capers
• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon coastal California fennel pollen rub