two countries. many kitchens. one table.

rolling with lobster, California style (and a little French influence)

September 24th, 2012

  

 

rolling with lobster, California style
(and a litle French influence):

lobster “roll” California style

Lobster season. In America, lobster is generally enjoyed two ways: steamed and served with a bath of melted butter; or, if you are on the East Coast, in a “lobster roll”(lobster meat combined with melted butter and mayonnaise served in a roll). However, we cannot forget that it is also the season for apples and Asian pears (and in California, heirloom tomatoes and avocados are delicious right now). 

seasonal fruit 

It is in the nineties in southern California (and will be for some time).  In this heat, hot, heavy food does not sound appealing. Sliced, Asian pears, apples, tomatoes and cucumbers all look like wheels and it seems to me that with these seasonal fruit wheels we can create our own “roll” that uses the West Coast bounty and is compatible with this summer weather. These thoughts inspired this week’s simple pleasure: lobster “roll” California style (mille-feuille de homard à la Californie).

apple wheels sliced 

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lobster “roll” (California style)

September 24th, 2012

 

lobster “roll”  California style
(mille-feuille de homard à la Californie)

serves 4

what you need:

lobster 
4 lobster tails 
1 cup seafood stock
½ cup dry white wine
1 sachet (1 bay leaf, fresh Italian parsley, fresh cilantro, black peppercorns, 1 strip lime peel)

salad
1 ripe avocado, thinly sliced
1-2 apples, thinly sliced, seeds removed
1 Asian pear, thinly sliced, seeds removed
1-2 cucumbers, thinly sliced
1-2 tomatoes (preferably Green Zebra), sliced
1 shallot, thinly sliced

dressing
2 teaspoon gros sel de Guérande (or sea salt)

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
⅓ cup olive oil
¼ cup avocado
¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon fresh minced Italian parsley
pinch piment d’espelette
freshly ground black pepper (as needed)

lobster apple and avocado ingredients

garnish
pinch piment d’espelette
pinch minced fresh Italian parsley Read the rest of this entry »

 

going green: (my) steak au poivre vert on a pillow of fresh puréed fennel

September 18th, 2012

 

steak au poivre chef morgan 

going green: (my) steak au poivre vert on a pillow of fresh puréed fennel

To most people, the phrase “going green” conjures up images of electric cars and recycling. Not me. I think of food. Green food. This week in particular the “going green” slogan left me dreamily thinking of green peppercorns and the French bistro classic steak au poivre vert, a pan-seared steak covered with a creamy, brandy-infused reduction sauce loaded with green peppercorns. It was one of the very first dishes I discovered my first time in Paris over twenty-something years ago (sigh). It was divine and I have enjoyed this classic (both eating it and teaching others how to make it) throughout the years. 

thyme by  chef morgan

This week I was inspired to “go green” with this French classic and create a leaner, simple dish that you can duplicate at home in less than 30 minutes, without sacrificing that peppery-brandy flavor and using various green ingredients. The thought resulted in this week’s simple pleasure: (my) steak au poivre vert with puréed fennel. Get ready, this week we are going green in a whole new way and it is delicious. Read the rest of this entry »

 

(my) steak au poivre vert

September 18th, 2012

 

 

steak au poivre 3

 

(my) steak au poivre vert 

stats:

serves 4
takes 25 minutes (10 minutes inactive)

what you need:

4  steaks (filets or new york cuts), organic and grass-fed beef
1½ tablespoons gros sel de Guérande (or sea salt) 
1½ tablespoons fresh French thyme leaves
2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon green (dried) peppercorns, crushed
1 teaspoon olive oil 
1 teaspoon brandy Read the rest of this entry »

 

creamy fennel purée

September 18th, 2012

 

fennel puree 

creamy fennel purée

stats:

serves 4-6
makes 1 pint (16 ounces)
4 ounce serving is approx. 176 calories 

what you need:

1 ½ pound rough chopped fennel bulbs, core, stalks, and fronds removed
⅛ cup fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon
¼ cup olive oil
kosher salt (to taste) Read the rest of this entry »

 

a fast food you can run on and dive into: roasted red pepper tuna purée.

September 10th, 2012

 

 

a fast food you can run on and dive into:
 roasted red pepper tuna purée. 

The inspiration for this week’s simple pleasure is the concept of fast food. Food provided in a fast (and inexpensive) way. It is a genius concept created by the American entrepreneurial spirit to meet our desire for immediate gratification. The problem is that what is often “fast” — whether obtained by reaching in our pantry or driving through a drive-thru — is nothing more than empty calories or just plain bad for our health (our waistlines and ultimately our pocketbooks too). Moreover, because we think of food (and it is defined) as a nourishing substance, it begs the question: is what we are getting fast really “food” ?  However, you can have a fast snack or meal that is inexpensive, delicious and nourishing and this fast food, made with heart-healthy protein, is this week’s simple pleasure: roasted red pepper tuna purée Read the rest of this entry »

 

roasted red pepper tuna purée

September 10th, 2012

roasted red pepper tuna purée

stats:

makes 1 pint (16 ounces)
approximately 421 calories 
2 ounce serving = 53 calories

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cheers to the slippery slope of age and making our calories count

August 27th, 2012

 

 seafood “zucc-ghetti“  ( zucchini spaghetti ) with fresh herb and walnut pesto

cheers to the slippery slope of age and making our calories count:
seafood “zucc-ghetti“with fresh herb and walnut pesto.

It the honesty of my youngest daughter — one of those parent-child moments — that was the inspiration for this week’s simple pleasure: seafood “zucc-ghetti“with fresh herb and walnut pesto.

 

girl eating seafood “zucc-ghetti“  ( zucchini spaghetti ) with fresh herb and walnut pesto

 

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seafood “zucc-ghetti” with fresh herb and walnut pesto

August 27th, 2012

 

seafood “zucc-ghetti“with fresh herb and walnut pesto

 stats:

serves 4-6 
30-35 minutes active time
if serving 4, one serving equals 365 calories (322 calories
 of which from the olive oil & walnuts)

 

seafood “zucc-ghetti“with fresh herb and walnut pesto zucchini pasta

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seeing things from the downside-up and the inside-out

August 20th, 2012

 Pont de L’Archêveché bridge paris 

seeing things from the downside-up and the inside-out: 
melon and honey-ricotta cannoli (with raspberry coulis)

It is the combination of a famous bridge in Paris and a honey bee crashing our dinner party which inspired this week’s simple pleasure: melon and honey – ricotta cannoli (with raspberry coulis). Also this week, peach and tarragon clafoutis. Both recipes make the most of summer’s end. 

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