Olive Leaf Arugula

Here is a dish which began with the hopes of highlighting a tasty variety of arugula.  It is called olive leaf arugula and it has an intense spice and near garlic or allium notes in flavor.  It is arugula with attitude.  The arugula needed something to tame it so we looked towards compressed crenshaw melon.  With the melon and the arugula on hand we just needed to marry the flavors.  We opted to marinate the melon in green sauce and top the melon itself with pickled chufa nuts.  I have an affinity for strawberries and arugula, so we finished the dish with a strawberry and long pepper syrup.