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| December 2007 |
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My
favorite time of the year has always been Christmastime. Every year
there is a large gathering at my mother's house in Brittany. The weather
is usually cold and crisp at night. The stars are blinking and flirting
with everyone's moods. There is a crescent of moon who lights the
surrounding hills and prairies in the town of Pleucadeuc. My mother,
uncles, aunt and sisters are gathering to prepare the midnight dinner
meal. Everyone will go to church and walk for about a mile to the
church. Midnight mass. Everybody loves, but looks forward to it ending
quickly and starting the feast. On the menu you will find the traditional
foie gras, oven roasted geese, honey glazed ham, winter root vegetables
and my uncle Gilbert, the baker, brings the plat de resistance - the
three foot long buch de Noël. It is art at its best. A beautiful
yule log with meringue mushrooms, candied holly berries, marzipan
ivy leaves, coco powder with a hint of Grand Marnier. All this washed
with the finest champagne. But, shhhh.....I have just heard the bells
and a sleigh passing over the house...and a ho-ho-ho. Santa is coming
to town. I will blow the candlelight and join the stars in the nighth. Tip: #1- When cooking
your ham, stud it with cloves and rub it with sea salt and lemon thyme.
Glaze every 15 minutes with pure maple syrup. |
Recipe:
"Buche
de Noel"
Hazelnut
Genoise, Merangue Mushrooms, Grand Marnier Syrup
Chocolate
Pastry Cream, Hazelnut Buttercream Frosting
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Hazelnut
Génoise Meringue
Mushrooms Grand
Marnier Syrup Chocolate
Pastry Cream Hazelnut
Buttercream Frosting Assembly |
Bon Appetit!!
Executive Chef Bernard Guillas
The Marine Room, La Jolla, California
www.ChefBernard.com 2006 - Web Design Frank Tycer - http;//www.FrankTycer.com