Portuguese Style Potatoes ……. Not Quiet elBulli !
November 3, 2010 in Uncategorized
What a fabulous week I have had – frantic – birthday events all washed down with rivers of tequila and wonderful wine. Turning 50 gets the attention of turning 40 for some reason – particularly by your co-revellers. I wake up every day and sit quietly to feel if I feel any different – NAH – Little Janice is still happily playing in the park and big Janice still won’t pass up the opportunity to throw back as many tequila’s as she can get away with.
It’s all good – my birthday booty would rival the spoils of Jack Sparrow ANY day – I am staring at my new Nikon D90 with all of the bells and whistles in its racing driver sexy black and yellow Nikon bag …… Gwajus!!!! I haven’t the foggiest idea what this little baby can do – but I will soon find out – I am going on a day’s orientation course – then on to the big guns!!! The morning (6.30am) of my birthday was hailed by Jamie (6) and Daniela (8) – with a song and a beautiful scrummy home made Birthday Cake (chocolate) for breakfast. Chocolate cake is ‘THE BOMB’ for breako’s !!!!
This afternoon I am cashing in my spa vouchers – one facial and some reflexology should see me float through this evening on a cloud of aroma and therapy. During my last visit to Cape Town – Daniele and I were seated at San Marco’s having an espresso when my eye caught sight of a book in their library, A Day at elBulli – I am sure that I got whiplash I grabbed the book to have a squiz sooooo quickly !!!!! What a book!!!!
Birthday morning saw me become the proud owner of my very own copy of this tome of a book. I have always admired Ferran Adria, but after reading this book ….. I am a bona fide Ferran fan. His food is shear lunacy – borderline alchemy and sublime experiential tom foolery – BUT – I would pretty much do anything to go and be one of the only 8000 (out of 2 000 000 requests) people per year who have the opportunity and honour to experience a meal at this landmark restaurant.
One of my hobbies is painting – I am an artist – I love the smoothness of a brand new canvas and the smell of new oils makes me high in anticipation of the finished artwork – likewise – I just love food to look good on the plate and this book speaks to my limitations ……. You know when you have a scab – and although you just KNOW that you shouldn’t pick off the scab ….. You do! Time and time again – like the thorn bird you impale yourself on your thorny limitations – mine is plating up food. I am simply quite useless at it – which would seem like a paradox for an artist. I need to develop more patience and buckets of more skill in that department.
Ferran Adria is an Olympian in this department – he navigates the divide between food and art with the dexterity of a wizard such as Merlin. He is a sorcerer – that’s more like it. I have a constant argument going on in my head – to garnish or not to garnish. Food for tastes’ sake vs. “we eat with our eyes first” – I have a tiny wee little voice within that decrees that I, Janice will accept and even embrace garnish that ADDS to the overall flavour of the dish. The debate rages on!
Bottom line though – this book is a great read and if that’s all that goes on in just one day at elBulli – liewe hemel – they are busy little bees dedicated to their craft. Since opening in 1981 the restaurant has been voted “Best Restaurant in the World” no less than four times. Their food is described as Avant Garde and a guest will eat between 28 and 35 dishes per meal. They boast three Michelin stars and a completely new menu is presented each year.
Here are just a few of the staggering elBulli facts:
· 50 guests per day
- · 160 days open for business
- · 8000 guests per year
- · €215 per meal in 2009
- · €300 per person including drinks in 2009 on average
- · 700g of food per meal per guest
- · 5600kgs of food consumed per year
- · 1666 wines on their wine list
- · 1000 pieces of cutlery used every night
- · 55 types of glassware
- · 750 glasses moved around the restaurant daily
Their attention to detail really appeals to me and they willingly share all of their amazing recipes – which would be fab if I had Lecite, Algin and Xantana in my store cupboard not to mention water bathes and dehumidifiers and the such – I have only just invested in a scale!!! Hope springs eternal!
Have a wonderful day – the sun is shining like the Cullinan diamond here on the East Coast today – thank heavens for air-conditioning!
Portuguese Potatoes
Ingredients
6 potatoes
3 carrots peeled and sliced
2 sticks of celery with their tops sliced
3 onions quartered – do not peel them – this will prevent them from falling apart in the poaching liquid. Better for the presentation of the cooked dish
A bouquet garni – rosemary, thyme, parsley, sage
1 red chilli
1 sachet of saffron or ½ tsp of saffron stamens
3 chicken stock cubes or 1L of chicken stock
10 whole black pepper corns
4 bay leaves
1 bulb of garlic cut in half
Olive oil – use your very best virgin olive oil for this dish – you will really enjoy the fruity pepperiness of a good olive oil in this dish
Salt – flaked fleur du sel
Freshly ground black pepper
Parsley – 1 large bunch chopped finely
In a heavy based pot place all of the ingredients except the olive oil, fleur du sel salt, ground black pepper and parsley.
Cover with cold water and bring to the boil.
Once boiling – reduce the heat so that the potatoes cook slowly and don’t absorb lots of water – this takes about 30 minutes.
When the potatoes are soft but NOT falling apart – strain off the poaching liquid and arrange on a platter together with the carrots and onions
Sprinkle over the finely chopped parsley, salt and pepper and drizzle with plenty of olive oil and serve.
These potatoes are a great side dish with the carrots and onion you really don’t need to add any further veggies and can be eaten cold as well.
They are a nice healthy alternative to roast potatoes in summer with some
Braai’d meat!
Buon appetito
Xxx
Jan
Sous-Chef said on November 3, 2010
The dish looks so colourful! Enjoy your new camera and welcome to the club!
sharonsmit said on November 3, 2010
Welcome back – ooh you are going to have loads of fun with the new camera (and book)!! Glad you enjoyed your birthday!!!
Love the potatoes!!! xxx
MickyM said on November 3, 2010
hey Jan, being 50 is so cool and welcome to the club !!! Those potatoes look yummy and will definitely give them a try. A bit of sad news – elBulli is closing it’s doors and I think it’s at the end of 2010 – not sure of the date though. So you had better hurry………..
gigglinggourmet said on November 3, 2010
BITE ME DISH!!
tandy.sinclair said on November 4, 2010
lovely gifts Jan – and hopefully next time you are here we can have lunch together
janicetripepi said on November 4, 2010
Hahaha …. they are pure “manfood” – my boys love these with many different dishes. have a great day angel xxx jan
janicetripepi said on November 4, 2010
Thanks T – yes i hope so – last visit was just sooooo hectic xxx
janicetripepi said on November 4, 2010
Ooooh my Gwachi Mickey so it is!!!! Shits – I just told hubby that perhaps it’s time for the Tripepi’s to go and visit Spain – and try our guts out to get a reservation @ elBulli – oh for heavens sake this is a bucket list item – so i need to try my best to beg for a reservation – perhaps i could pull the “I am from Africa and previously disadvantage Card” or something like that…… whatever it takes!!!! hehehe …… I read that the restaurant has been losing something in the region of €500 000,00 a year – HAIBO!!! Personally – i think the poor man is exhausted and his creative spirit is very very thin …. you CANNOT constantly DEMAND from your creative side cos it will turn around and smack you right between the eyes THWAP!!$###@#** Have a great day xxx jan
janicetripepi said on November 4, 2010
Thanks Shaz – how are you feeling??? Littel jelly bean is growing quickly now? any wonderful cravings?/ Lotsa love and have a great day xxx jan
janicetripepi said on November 4, 2010
Thanks angel – I THINK that I am feeling a bit different – it’s a great feeling and is closely related to the words – nonchalant – chilled out – nothing bothers me – phone lifeline and see if they care – side of me!!!! totally chilled out kinda feeling xxxx Have a fab day xxx jan
janicetripepi said on November 4, 2010
Thanks a mill – these tatoes go very well with many different dishes – particularly somthing that is a bit on the rich side – they are clean and fresh tasting with the parsley and olive oil – my son also squeezed over some lemon which i must say just adds a nice bit of acidity. I cook purely homestyle versions of recipes mostly but i think you could stack this up in a ring quite nicely for presentation and pretty it up for the plate. The flavours are great though and offer a clean counter point to something rich. Have an awesome day xxxxxx jan
AJDS said on November 4, 2010
Hi Jan!
Sjoe – this brings back home cooking memories! One suggestion though – my mom/grandmom/aunties/uncles all cook this dish but add the (2 or 3 finely chopped raw cloves of) garlic as a topping with the parsley etc. Gives a raw strong flavour and interesting crunchyness. Try it!
sharonsmit said on November 4, 2010
Hallo’s
Im still doing very well! Peanut growing fast!! Milk & cheese – cant get enough!! Oh and last week I had a ‘lus’ for bean soup, discovered Woolies Beef & Lentil Soup – hit the spot!! Already ate 2 cans…hehe
Hugs & love! xxx
slicesofkiwi said on November 4, 2010
OOh this looks so lovely. And the colours! Happy belated birthday darling Jan- may you continue to inspire us. Much love xoxo
janicetripepi said on November 4, 2010
Thanks angel – so far i have been having a ball!!!! xxxxx have a great evening xxx jan
janicetripepi said on November 4, 2010
Thanks Toni that sounds like a great idea! I love Portuguese food and I don’t think it gets enough exposure – i am eager to learn the clam and pork dish – not sure what its called – and rissois etc. Thanks for this tip i will give it a go xxx jan
Juno62 said on November 4, 2010
A wonderful and evocative post: I can smell the fresh oil paints (and the food). I’m two years off turning 50, and feeling a bit cross about it, but reading your post (especially the tequila bit) cheered me up. A LOT. x
pinkpolkadot said on November 4, 2010
Wonderful!
leaineskitchen said on November 14, 2010
Happy Belated Birthday Jan *blush* sorry it has taken me so long! I also love to paint and my plat presentation is lacking too – maybe there’s a link? The potatoes look fab!