HOGS in Marseilles France

Accueilli Pres:

 

Date:

Saturday, March 29, 2003

Temps:

5:30 p.m.

Le Menu

Tarte aux Oignon Carame¢lise¢s

Fromage de Che¢vre en Pate Feuilletee avec

Vinaigrette Fouette¢e aux Olives Noires

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Potage Magali

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Filet de "Red Snapper" bourre¢ avec Epinards, Beurre de Tomate

Pure¢e de Pommes de Terre au Fondant de Citron et d¢Oignon

Petite Pois et Carottes

Baguette

~~~~~

Tarte au Framboise et Chocolat avec Cre¢me Fouette¢e

RSVP by March 20, 2003

Marseille is a Provencal city with its own accent, customs, and multiethnic influences.  Marseille's reach extends from the French West Indies to Indochina, with heavy concentrations throughout the four-corners of the Mediterranean.  The food of Marseille, like the culture it richly reflects, is the result of twenty-six centuries of importation, immigration, and implantation.  It is a cuisine de la mer, a "seaport cuisine."  It is an evolution that began with the Greek mariners who founded Marseille around the year 600 B. C. and soon after planted the region's first olive, fig, and walnut trees along with vineyards.  This meal does not incorporate the famous Bouillabaisse, but shares with you some of the other flavors from this region.

 


Potage Magali

Tomato Soup with Rice

Julia Child: Mastering the art of French Cooking, Vol. I

Serves 8

Ingredients

¾ Cup thinly sliced Leeks or Onions or combination of both

3 Tbs. Olive Oil

1-½ lbs. Fresh ripe, best quality Tomatoes

4 large cloves Garlic, minced or mashed

4 Cups Chicken Stock

¼ Cup White Rice

Bouquet Garni consisting of: 6 parsley sprigs, 1 bay leaf, ¼ tsp. thyme, 4 fennel seeds, and 6 large fresh basil leaves (tied in cheesecloth)

a large pinch of Saffron threads

Salt and Pepper to taste

2 or 3 tsp Tomato Paste

6 Additional Basil leaves, minced finely for garnish

Method

In a 3-quart saucepan, cook the leeks/onions slowly in oil until tender but not browned.  Peel and chop tomatoes.  Stir into the cooked leeks.  Add garlic and stir over moderate heat for 3 minutes.  Add the chicken broth, bring to a boil and add the rice.  Add the herbs and saffron, salt and pepper and simmer, partially covered for 30 to 45 minutes.  Add the tomato paste and stir to incorporate it.  Remove Bouquet Garni.  Serve hot and sprinkle minced basil in each bowl when serving.

Notes: Bring soup in a large pot to reheat prior to serving.

Petite Pois et Carottes

Sugar Snap Peas with Carrots

Pierre Franey with Roger Souvereyns

Serves 8

Ingredients

½ lb. Sugar Snap Peas

4 medium Carrots - Julienne 1/8" thick

1 Tbs. butter

1 tsp. fresh Mint

¼ tsp. ground Cumin

Salt, freshly ground Pepper

Method

Trim and discard the tips of the peas; remove strings.  Scrape and trim the carrots, then cut into julienne lengths.  Steam carrots in salted water for about 3 minutes.  Add peas and cook for another 3 minutes.  Drain immediately.

Melt the butter, adding mint, cumin, salt, and pepper.  Blend well.  Pour over peas and carrots, mixing to blend well, serve immediately.

Notes:  Prepare in advance of dinner.  Bring to dinner in microwave dish.  Heat vegetables and butter separately at dinner then toss vegetables in butter mixture and serve.

Tarte au Framboise et Chocolat

Raspberry Chocolate Tart

Joanna Pruess

Serves 8

Ingredients - Crust

Walnut Crust:

1-¾ Cups Flour

6 oz. Unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small cubes

1 large Egg

1 Tbs. Milk

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 Tbs. Sugar

¼ Cups finely chopped walnuts (1-½ oz.)

¼ tsp. Salt

10" Tart Pan, buttered

Method - Crust

Combine the flour, butter, egg, milk, and vanilla in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel chopping blade.  Using an on-off motion, process until butter is the size of small peas.  Add the sugar, salt, and walnuts and process just until the dough starts to pull together. 

Remove from bowl, pat into a ball and then flatten into a disk.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.  Remove from refrigerator and gently massage dough until it is workable. .  (Dough can be prepared 4 days ahead.  Let soften slightly before continuing.)

Preheat oven to 375°.  Flour rolling pin and board and roll dough to a thickness of 1/8".  Transfer to buttered tart pan and trim off excess dough.  Pick well with a fork.  Butter a piece of aluminum foil on the shiny side and place in the piecrust.  Fill with weights or dried beans.  Place in the middle of preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes until crust begins to dry.  Remove weights and aluminum foil from pan and return to oven for another 3-5 minutes until golden.  Remove from oven and let cool on a rack

Ingredients - Filling

8 oz. finest quality Semisweet Chocolate

1-½ oz unsalted Butter - cut into small pieces

1 pint firm Raspberries

8 Walnut halves

½ Cup+ 2 Tbs Sugar

¼ Cup Water

4 oz. Red Currant Jelly

16 waxy leaves (camellia, orange, gardenia, etc.) - washed well

Method - Filling

Melt 6 ounces chocolate over a double boiler.  Remove from heat and stir in butter.  Spread chocolate mixture over the bottom of the tart shell.  Place raspberries in an orderly fashion over chocolate.

Prepare glaze by placing currant jelly and 2 tablespoons sugar in a small saucepan and simmer for about 3 minutes or until sugar dissolves and a glaze coats spoon.  Starting on edge of tart, brush glaze over edge of pastry crust and then gently over berries.


Make chocolate leaves by melting remaining 2 ounces chocolate in double boiler.  Brush underside with chocolate and transfer to freezer for a few minutes or refrigerate for ½ hour until set.  Carefully peel off leaf, holding onto stem.  Return leaves to refrigerator until needed.

Toast walnuts in oven until lightly browned.  In a small saucepan, combine ½ cup sugar with ¼-cup water.  Simmer until sugar melts.  Add toasted walnuts, bring to a slow boil and cook for 14-16 minutes.  Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a rack to cool.

Final Assembly

Place 8 walnut halves evenly around outside of tart.  Add 2 leaves to each walnut.  Serve with stabilized whipped cream.

Cre¢me Fouette¢e

Stabilized Whipped Cream

The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum

Makes 2 Cups.

Ingredients

2 Tbs powdered Sugar

1 tsp Cornstarch

1 Cup Heavy Cream

½ tsp Vanilla

Method

Refrigerate bowl and beater at least 15 minutes.  Place sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan.  Gradually stir in ¼ cup heavy cream.  Bring to boil, stirring constantly, then simmer just a few seconds until liquid is thickened.  Place into bowl and cool to room temperature.  Add vanilla.

Beat remaining ¾ cups heavy cream until traces of beater marks begin to show distinctly.  Add cornstarch mixture in a steady stream, beating constantly.  Beat just until stiff peaks form when beater is raised.  Place in refrigerator.

Notes:  Prepare prior to dinner, bring in a serving bowl.

Fouette¢e aux Olives Noires

Black Olive Puree

Adapted from Daniel Young: Made in Marseilles

Makes 1-1/4 Cups

Ingredients

1 Cup Black Olives, pitted

1 tsp. Herbs de Provence

1 tsp. Red Wine Vinegar

Freshly ground black Pepper, to taste

1Tbs. Olive Oil

1/4 Cup Water

Method

Put all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until the mixture has the consistency of melted chocolate.  Transfer to a tightly lidded jar and refrigerate.  Will keep for 2 months.  Transfer to a plastic ketchup bottle to dress Fromage de Chrevre Roti aux Herbes en Croute de Baklava.


Fromage de Che¢vre en Pate Feuilletee

Warm Baklava of Herbed Goat Cheese

Adapted from Daniel Young: Made in Marseilles

Makes 16

Ingredients

4 Roma Tomatoes

1/2 tsp. Herbs de Provence

Freshly ground black Pepper, to taste

Salt to taste

1Tbs. Olive Oil

8 oz. Goat Cheese, cut into 16 rounds, then sliced in 3

8 sheets Phyllo Dough cut in half, lengthwise

4 oz. unsalted Butter

Method

Cut a small x on the smooth end of the tomatoes.  Drop into boiling water for 1 minute.  Plunge the tomatoes into cold water and use a sharp knife to peel off their skins.  Cut the tomatoes in half, scoop out the seeds, and cut into 1/4" slices. 

Heat olive oil in a medium Teflon fry pan.  Add tomatoes, herb de Provence, salt & pepper.  Simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes until tomatoes are cooked and moisture is released.

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.  Unravel the Phyllo dough and remove 8 sheets, cutting in half lengthwise.  Cover with wax paper and a damp kitchen towel so they won't dry out.

Take one strip of Phyllo and lightly butter.  Fold in half lengthwise, forming a strip about 3" wide.  Starting at a narrow end, place 3 slices of cheese on the diagonal and top with 2 teaspoons of tomato puree.  Fold up into a triangle, baste with butter, and place on a cookie sheet.  Repeat for remaining dough.

Bake Baklava at 375° for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.  Cool for 10 minutes before serving.  Drizzle with black olive puree before serving.

Note: Prepare and assemble prior to dinner.  Bring to dinner on jellyroll pans, ready to bake.


Tarte aux Oignon Carame¢lise¢s

Caramelized Onion and Garlic Tart

Bon Appetite

Serves 8

Ingredients - Crust

1-¼ Cup unbleached all purpose flour

½ tsp. Salt

5 Tbs. chilled unsalted Butter, cut into pieces

2 Tbs. chilled solid vegetable shortening

3 Tbs. (about) ice Water

Method - Crust

Combine flour and salt in processor.  Add butter and shortening and cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal.  Blend in enough water until dough forms moist clumps.  Continue blending until it forms a solid ball.  Remove from processor, and flatten into a disk.  Wrap in plastic.  Refrigerate 30 minutes.  (Dough can be prepared 4 days ahead.  Let soften slightly before continuing.)

Preheat oven to 400°.  Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 12-inch round.  Roll up dough on rolling pin; transfer to 10-inch diameter tart pan with removable bottom.  Press dough into pan; trim edges.  Freeze crust 15 minutes.

Prick bottom of crust with fork.  Line crust with foil.  Fill with pie weights or dried beans.  Bake crust until set, about 15 minutes.  Remove foil and weights.  Continue baking until crust is golden brown, piercing again with fork if crust bubbles, about 15 minutes longer.  Transfer to rack; cool completely.

Ingredients - Filling

2 Tbs. Olive Oil

2-½ lbs. Onions, sliced ¼" thick

10 large garlic cloves, minced

¼ tsp. Herbs de Provence

½ Cup dry White Wine

Pepper to taste

1 Cup shredded Gruyere Cheese (about 4 ounces)

Method - Filling

Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat.  Add onions and sauté for 10 minutes.  Add garlic and herbs de Provence.  Cook until onions brown and mixtures is caramelized, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.  Add wine; stir until almost all liquid evaporates, about 5 minutes.  Season with pepper. Cool. (Crust and filling can be made 6 hours ahead.  Cover separately let stand at room temperature.)

Preheat oven to 400°.  Stir Gruyere into onion mixture and transfer filling to crust.  Bake until filling is brown, about 20 minutes.  Remove pan sides from tart.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes: Bring cooked crust and filling to dinner.  Add in cheese and bake at dinner upon arriving.

 

Pure¢e de Pommes de Terre au Fondant de Citron et d¢Oignon

Mashed Potatoes with Lemon and Onion Confit

Adapted from Daniel Young: Made in Marseilles

Serves 6

Ingredients

2 lbs. Yukon Gold or Idaho Russet Potatoes

1/2 Cup Olive Oil

1 large Onion, finely chopped

1 Tbs. Lemon Juice

Freshly ground black Pepper, to taste

Salt to taste

4 Tbs. unsalted Butter

Method

Scrub and peal the potatoes.  Cut into 2" wide slices and place in a large pot, covered by at least 1" cold salted water (1/2 tsp per quart of water) and bring to a boil.  Lower the heat to medium and cook uncovered until tender, about 20 minutes.

Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan over moderate heat.  Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.  Add the lemon juice and cook for 5 minutes.  Add wine to deglaze the pan, and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the wine has evaporated, about 15 minutes.

Drain the potatoes, place in a large bowl, season with salt and pepper, and beat with hand mixer.  Add butter and continue beating until smooth.  Add the onion confit and stir until fully incorporated.  Taste and adjust seasoning.

Note: Bring fully prepared mashed potatoes to dinner in a bowl that can be put into a microwave or double boiler for re-heating.

Filet de "Red Snapper" Bourre¢ avec Epinards, Beurre de Tomate

Filet of Red Snapper Stuffed with Spinach and topped with Tomato Herb Butter

Adapted from: Daniel Young: Made in Marseilles

Serves 12

Ingredients

12 Red Snapper filets, about 6 ounces each

1Tbs fresh Thyme, minced

1Tbs fresh Tarragon, minced

1Tbs fresh Basil, minced

1Tbs fresh Cilantro, minced

1Tbs fresh Thyme, minced

½ Cup Olive Oil

Freshly ground black Pepper, to taste

Salt to taste

4 Tbs. Olive Oil

3 lbs. fresh Spinach, washed and tough stems removed

Method

Mix the fresh herbs, olive oil, salt & pepper.  Line a jellyroll pan with aluminum foil.  Lay snapper filets on pan.  Baste with herb mixture and let marinate for 30 minutes. 

Heat 4 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan over moderately high heat.  Add the spinach; season with salt and pepper, and cook, tossing the spinach with a fork until wilted, about 2 minutes.  Cool to room temperature.

Cover each filet completely with a thin layer of spinach.  Roll the filets over the spinach.  Cut each bundle in half width-wise and secure with a toothpick.  Place filet rolls on jellyroll pan, cut side up, and bake on grill or in 400° oven for approximately 10 minutes.  Transfer to serving platter and immediately place a pat of Tomato Herb butter on each serving.

Notes:  Bring filets to dinner on jellyroll pans ready to cook.

Beurre de Tomate

Tomato Herb Butter

Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel

Serves 12

Ingredients

16-oz. unsalted Butter - room temperature

3 Tbs. Sun-Dried tomatoes, finely diced

½ Tbs. fresh Thyme - minced

½ Tbs. fresh Basil - minced

½ Tbs. fresh Tarragon - minced

1 Tbs. fresh Chives - minced

¼ Tbs. fresh Cilantro - minced

½ tsp. fresh Garlic - minced

Salt, White Pepper

Dash of Worcestershire Sauce

Dash of Tobasco

1 tsp. Lemon Juice

1 tsp. fresh Shallots - finely chopped

Method

Place butter in food processor.  Add liquid ingredients and pulse until incorporated.  Add remaining ingredients.  Process on full speed to incorporate, stopping to scrape down sides and incorporate all the herbs.  Place on wax paper or plastic wrap and roll to approximate 1" diameter log.  Place in refrigerator or freezer to set.

Notes:  May be prepared up to 3-weeks in advance of dinner.  Bring chilled log to dinner; slice while filets are cooking.