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Daughter of two professional chefs provides a young adult's perspective on food, restaurants, and eating!! follow us on facebook @Francis Xavier

Month: May 2023

From the “Sandwich Book” list … “Sort of Sandwiches”

From the “Sandwich Book” list … “Sort of Sandwiches”

Dreams of flavors fill my head as we head into summer picnics. One of these open faced sandwiches is the same basic components. Braised Vegetables, Pesto, Compote and toasted bread with a twist. Gratin of zucchini, tomato and caramelized onion. Brush the vegies with olive […]

COOK BOOK Read: Nancy Silverton’s “Sandwich book” snack and garnish

COOK BOOK Read: Nancy Silverton’s “Sandwich book” snack and garnish

“sandwich book” – is a collection of ideas and flavors from Campanile’s Thursday nights. ISBN0-375-41260-3 . Every Thursday night prior to service the misen place is braised vegetables, tapenade pesto and candied walnuts. From the Sandwich Book – My Top open face sandwich list include: […]

COOK BOOK Read: notes & list. Nancy Silverton’s Sandwich Book

COOK BOOK Read: notes & list. Nancy Silverton’s Sandwich Book

This weeks read is Nancy Silverton’s Sandwich Book. I had picked it up after watching Net Flix’s Chefs table. It had Spotlighted Nancy. Nancy Silverton is better known for the La Brea Bakery in Los Angeles. Quote for baking and developing / perfecting bread recipes stuck with me. One word she used is obsessed.

Later at her restaurant “Campanile”. One night a week at Campanile she the obsession became sandwiches. She envisioned a laid back evening with time to know and chat with customers. According to the interview and the “sandwich book” – Thursday nights became Campanile’s busiest nights. The obsession became various and different flavors. ISBN0-375-41260-3

ratatouille list of unique and flavor combinations:

Open faced Sandwiches left to you imagination…

  • Cremini Mushroom Toasts
  • aSPARGUS, pOACHED eGG, pROSCIUTTO AND fONTINA cHEESE
  • Soft-Scrambled Eggs , Long-Cooked Broccoli and Feta Cheese
  • Braised Artichokes, Ricotta, and Mint Pesto with Pine Nut Currant Relish.
  • Mozzarella, Pesto and Roasted Radicchio
  • Roasted Beets, Goat Cheese, Sautéed Beet greens and Candied Spicy Walnuts
  • Bacon, Avocado and Watercress
  • Grilled Escarole, White Bean Purée and Bacon
  • Braised leeks, Hard Boiled Egg, and Anchovies

Braised Artichokes, Ricotta, and Mint Pesto with Pine Nut Currant Relish.

Nancy Silvertone
open faced sandwich with unique and delicious combination of flavors
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • Panini Press

Ingredients
  

Alt B == Marinated Artichokes

  • 4 (Alt) Roman Style – Marinated Artichokes long stem marinated is sunflower oil "Roman Style"

Artichokes

  • 4 Med Artichokes Cut into quarters
  • 1 1/2 cups Olive oil Extra Virgin
  • 1 LEMON
  • 1 medium Onion
  • 1 whole Dry Red Hot Chili Pepper
  • 4 cloves Garlic
  • 2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 Tree Rosemary

PineNut Relish

  • 2 tbsp PineNuts
  • 1/2 cup Golden Currants
  • 1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
  • 3 teaspoons minced red shallot
  • 1 whole Dry Red Hot Chili Pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 Tree Rosemary

Ricotta Spread

  • 3/4 pound Fresh ricotta
  • 1 Dry Red Hot Chili Pepper
  • 1/4 cup Olive oil save from braising the artichokes
  • 1 teaspoon Salt

Mint pesto

  • 5 tbsp pine nuts
  • 3 clove garlic peeled and minced
  • 1/2 cup mint chopped
  • 1/4 cup parsley chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt Kosher
  • 1/2 cup Olive Oil Extra Virgin
  • 1/4 cup Parmigiano- Reggiano Finely Grated
  • 2 teaspoon lemon Juice fresh

Parmigiano – Reggiano

    Instructions
     

    • Braise the artichokes in Olive Oil with the Lemon halves, Onion Chile, Garlic, rosemary.
    • The heat at this step is medium for 15 minutes.
    • remove the artichokes and save the oil for the ricotta.

    Ricotta Spread.

    • Mix the Ricotta, Artichoke Oil, Salt.

    Sandwich

    • Grill the bread. Add ricotta, spoon over the Mint pesto, add Currant relish.
    • Top with Artichokes, shave fresh parm over the top. Drizzle artichoke oil over the top.
    Keyword obsession
    Getting Back to a Baking Ritual

    Getting Back to a Baking Ritual

    Life & Culture April 19 writes about Baking and the the Sweetness of the sourdough life – and continues with … “Getting back to a baking ritual pays off in flavor and adventure”. this evening watching NetFlix’s Chefs table Nancy is featured. it brought back […]

    Taco Tuesday

    Taco Tuesday

    So from the DenverPost Business 5/17.. who owns the rhyme? well riddle me this – it appears that it will be sorted out in court. Taco Bell is asking U.S.Regulators to force Taco Johs’s to abandon its long standing claim to the trademark .. Taco […]

    Closed.

    Closed.

    I shall have to expand the 5/13 story. Not only Denver closing of restaurants as part of the tableau story. restaurants in todays DenverPost’s .. Data expands to Boulder owner of 108 Hardee’s filing for Chapter 11. Thirty Nine Hardees are closing. 2,350 people across eight states. The eulogy sites Covid and decline in restaurant traffic.

    May the rains fall softly upon your fields..

    Closings.

    Closings.

    Denver restaurants closing is part of the tableau story that i have in my mind’s eye. It is a bit of a continuous covid restaurant closing hangover. The posted eulogy is from Wednesday 03 from Life & Culture. The closing is Denver Teds Cheesesteak as […]

    Practical Method of Cookery. Oven Temperature

    Practical Method of Cookery. Oven Temperature

    Inspired from CSN, Just a note before I go todayTo whom it may concernCooking twice the speed of soundIt’s easy to get burned … so I thought oven temperatures would be a good thing to write down. My thoughts to the culinary thread. Oven Temperatures […]

    Practical Cookery. Basic Sauce Chicken Veloute

    Practical Cookery. Basic Sauce Chicken Veloute

    Basic Sauce for one quart

    Basic Sauce Chicken Veloute

    Chef Francis Xavier
    Basic Sauces: Bechamel, Velout'e, Espagnole, Demiglace, Sauce Tomate, Sauce hollandaise
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine American

    Equipment

    • sauce pot
    • proper whisk
    • wooden spoon
    • strainer (#prefered a chinois == conical strainer)

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 ounces butter
    • 4 ounces flour
    • 1 quart chicken stock

    Instructions
     

    • melt the margarine in a thick bottomed sauce pan (larger that one quart).
    • add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon
    • cook the roux on medium heat but with out coloring
    • set aside the roux to cool a bit
    • slowly add the boiling stock
    • whisk until smooth
    • allow to simmer for 30 minutes
    • dip the wooden spoon in the sauce and draw a line on the back of the spoon to confirm consistency
    • pass through the chinois
    Keyword Sauces