Treat of the Week

These are the exercise of both my culinary skills and passion for teaching, in the hope of raising the quality of modern European cooking in the Indian home kitchen, whilst championing the small & intimate sit down & served dinner party format that advances interesting dialogue, cultivated debate and enduring friendship … do try your hand at these recipes, for they are easy yet impressive, and above all delicious!

Timbale of Butter Garlic Crabmeat in a Classic French Shellfish Bisque

An old favourite of mine & sheer poetry to the palate when well executed, which is why I hereby reveal an unequivocally perfect recipe that  is a combination between the one I was taught at cooking school, Le Cordon Bleu London, and a Gordon Ramsay original believe me when  say that this is the best bisque you will ever eat, or drink!…

The Modern European Thali Service, Round 3

Et Voila, round 3 of the Modern European Thali Service, comprising a carefully chosen selection of recipes from DiyaSethi.com, in part color coordinated with my fabulous new acquisition from ‘The House of Things’, the Gulmohar Kansa Thali…

Classic Crepes Suzette, Chubby Cheeks Creamery ‘Holy Cannoli’ Ice Cream

A dessert as synonymous with France as the Eiffel tower, which I have combined with our very own home grown brand of ice cream, ‘Chubby Cheeks’, and that too the very original and absolutely delicious  ‘Holy Cannoli’ flavour that is in a league of its own…

Mini Choux Pastry ‘Bagel’, Prawn Cocktail Filling

Now this makes for a most precious little hors d’oeuvre and since I showed you how to make the choux pastry profiteroles some months ago, half the battle is already won; the only difference is the shape, which is precisely what I am going to demonstrate and teach this time around, in addition to a prawn cocktail…

Champagne & Lime Granita, with a Touch of Mint

This is a simply delicious and deliciously efficient palate cleanser, albeit with one hell of a kick I used to serve this Champagne & Lime Granita regularly at my table, as a much needed interlude to a 5 course meal, and it went down a storm! That said, it is equally effective in cleaning the palate after drinks and hors d’oeuvres, before moving to the table, especially as it serves a second purpose of opening up the appetite…

Indo-Oriental Tempered Mustard Seed Dressed Tuna Tartare, Gram Flour Spinach Leaf Tempura

My penchant for purism may be going down the tube, but I must say that I have tested this out as an hors d’oeuvre at two dinner parties thus far, and am pleased to report that it has been a resounding successsour and sweet, fragile yet robust … in short an altogether seductive medley of flavours and textures, and super simple to construct…

Pulled Slow Cooked Lamb Shank, Butter Tossed Spaghetti, Lamb Broth

For quite a while now, I have been wanting to do a European, smart casual version of a ‘noodle bowl’, and I must say that this is rather wonderful, served either in a mini version as part of a multi course menu, or maxi version for a one or two course meal…

Pan Fried Duck Foie Gras, Toasted Gingerbread, Rehydrated Fig, Balsamic Drizzle

So, here is one of my own personal favourites, Pan Fried Foie Gras, even though I am not a big fan of the pate of foie gras, and frankly, I could not have made this any easier for you than I have, by telling you where to pick up the fully prepared ingredients in Paris, France, and then guide you through the simplest of cooking techniques…

Gourmet ‘Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup’: Soft & Sensual Poached Quenelles of Chicken Mousse, Sweetcorn Veloute, Parsley Oil

So this may be called a ‘two for one’, since last week I demonstrated the making of a chicken mousse with which to stuff a ballotine, and I hereby show you how to transform the leftover mousse into the most delicious quenelles served atop a sweetcorn velouté it’s easy, elegant & pretty darn exquisite…