CASSIS...Who Knew?

Cassis Seaside France - Palm Beach Personal Chef

What is Cassis? It is a town located just east of Marseille in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. As a tourist destination it is known for falaises (cliffs) and its many sheltered inlets. Wine lovers know it for its full bodied, herby white wines produced from Clairette, and Marsanne as well as Doucillon Blanc primarily. It is also famous for its rose wines, but on this it is overshadowed by its neighbor to the east, Bandol.

Say cassis to others and immediately Creme de Cassis comes to mind. To most it is a sickly sweet, thick deep purple syrup that it only made to mix with champagne for the famous “Kir Royale”. Even the Kir Royale does not have a wonderful reputation. It is thought to be the drink of old ladies at Sunday brunches. What a tragedy this is. Most of us know only of the imitators, the impostors of the most versatile of liqueurs. If you are lucky enough to take a trip to France and happen to wander into the Dijon region (yes that Dijon) you will encounter the real thing, Creme de Cassis de Dijon. Yes it is inky black, and tasting of black currants. Having the “de Dijon” on the label you know that it is the real thing. It is made from actual macerated berries, not flavourings. The currants (cassis) will have been grown only in the commune of Dijon. They are picked and promptly put in alcohol to macerate for 3 months, sugar is added and perhaps some water. That is it. The difference is unbelievable. It is nicely balanced with sweetness and tartness and in the end has an alcohol content of about 20%, somewhere around that of a fine port wine.

How did the drink get its name you ask? Whether you drink a Kir (mixed with a crisp white wine - try a Bourgogne Aligoté ) or a Kir Royale (mixed with champagne), it is named after Canon Felix Kir a World War II hero and later on the Mayor of Dijon. He became mayor in 1945 and would serve what was then known as “Blanc Cassis” to all visiting dignitaries. The drink soon became popular with the natives, then nationally and eventually became the international “in drink”. By the time it was an international hit, it had been renamed for Mayor Kir.

There are two picks for the best in my book.
Briottet, a company run by the Briotet family in Dijon since 1836; the best from Briottet is “Creme de cassis de Dimon 15% vol “DIJONA 15 Special Bar” made with a very high percentage of fruit.
Gabriel Boudier Creme de Cassis de Dijon founded in 1874.

Try one of these two on their own to learn what the authentic thing tastes like. You will not be left with the feeling of a gooey mouth full of sugar.

A couple of classic cocktails come to mind such as:
The Diablo: 3 parts tequila, 1 part creme de cassis and ginger beer (not ginger ale)
Pink Lady: 2 parts creme de cassis, 1 part white rum, 1 part lemon juice, splash OJ
Ballet Russe: 2 parts vodka, 1/2 part creme de cassis, 3-4 dashes lime. Shake with ice; serve in martini glass

Creme de cassis makes food special. Try adding it to a cheese cake. Drizzle it on ripe fruit or vanilla ice cream. It makes sauces for game, and makes lamb with fresh berries even more vibrant. Pair a bit of cassis with a creamy cheese plate.

As the weather warms up and you find yourself sitting out on your patios, at an outdoor cafe or spending a day out on the water, do yourself a favour: take the time to find a bottle of Bourgogne Aligoté and a true Creme de Cassis; your taste buds will thank you.

Remember to experiment. As always be responsible when you are drinking.

Do you Remember Herman? Sourdough Starter and Recipe

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Amish friendship bread, as well as an interchangeable starter referred to as Herman (the name varies), became a popular exchange among friends who shared the starter as well as recipes. Herman Starter Preparation time: 10 minutes Standing time: 5 days Yield: 4 cups 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup warm water 2 packages (2 1/4 teaspoons each) active dry yeast 2 cups each: milk, flour 1. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the sugar over the warm water. Sprinkle yeast over mixture; set aside until doubled in volume, about 10 minutes. 2. Combine milk, flour, remaining sugar and yeast mixture in a plastic or glass container. (Do not use metal.) Stir with a wooden spoon; cover loosely. Set aside at room temperature, at least 8 hours. 3. Stir mixture once a day for three days. On the fourth day, measure out 1 cup of Herman for baking; measure 1 additional cup to give to a friend as a gift. To replenish starter: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk and 1...

Homemade Turkey Ham Recipe

Making your own cured turkey “ham”, is not only healthier, but in our opinion much tastier. It will be much lower in sodium and be preservative free. You are going to use turkey in 3 different forms. Cubed, minced and pureed. This will give it a more “ham” like texture. Start with 2 pounds 10.5 ounces of skin off deboned turkey thigh meat Cubed Turkey 14 ounces/400 grams turkey meat, cut into cubes 1 teaspoon/4 grams salt 1/4 teaspoon/1 grams curing salt Minced/Ground Turkey (if you use pre minced make sure it’s thigh meat) 14 ounces/400 grams turkey meat 1 teaspoon/4 grams salt 1/2 teaspoon/2 grams curing salt 2 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons/40mls water For The Puree 10.5 ounces/300 grams turkey meat 4 teaspoons/20mls water 1/2 teaspoon/2mls garlic powder 1 teaspoon/4 grams salt 1/2 teaspoon/2 grams curing salt 1 large egg white 2 teaspoons/10ml liquid smoke 1/2 tablespoon/2 grams smoked paprika Trim the turkey if not trimmed alread...

Braised Lettuce (Laitues Braises): A Take On Julia Child’s Recipe

You can use almost any lettuce, such as chicory, or frisee, or Boston Bib if you are busing large heads, cut them in half. We made these pescartarian because of the shrimp stock, but vegan is easy with vegetable stock, or if serving with beef, a beef stock and bacon. Braised lettuce is a delicious garnish for poultry, white meats such as veal or pork, or steamed white fish. It can be the main accompanied by a warm sweet potato salad. Serves 4 4 heads Romaine lettuce hearts 4 thick slices of bacon (if making not vegetarian or vegan), cut into lardon strips 1 small onion , diced 2 carrots, diced 1 tablespoon/15g plus 1/2 tablespoon/7 butter divided 1 teaspoon/5ml olive oil 1/2 cup/125ml shrimp or seafood stock (see notes above) 1/2 cup/125ml cup white wine or dry white vermouth bouquet garni: 1 parsley branch, 1 branch of thyme,1 bay leaf tied to a cheesecloth ½ tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon parsley Trim stems of lettuce and ...

Chinese Chicken Teriyaki & Bok Choy Egg Rolls

T he original recipe came from Nakano. We have changed it up a bit to accommodate our clients tastes. Makes 18 egg rolls Serving Size: 2 egg rolls ⅓ cup/79ml soy sauce ¼ cup/60ml Seasoned Rice Vinegar 1 teaspoon roasted sesame oil 2 tablespoon honey 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, finely minced 3 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 pound/450g of chicken breast, small diced 1 tablespoon canola oil ½ cup celery/115g, sliced thin 1 ½ cups/150g Napa cabbage, thinly sliced ¼ cup/12.5g carrots, thinly sliced 2 scallions, sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced Salt and pepper 18 egg roll wrappers 1 cup/250ml canola oil, to sauté Combine soy sauce, Seasoned Rice Vinegar, sesame oil, honey, garlic, ginger and cornstarch. Heat oil in pan and cook chicken, then add teriyaki sauce and cook until thickened, approximately 3 minutes. Set aside. Wipe pan clean and add oil, celery, Napa cabbage, carrots, scallions, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook until all water is...

Eat Your Vegetables - They Are Good For You

There's no question that eating three to five servings of fruits and vegetables daily will improve your health. But more and more experts are saying healthy eat ing is not only about how many servings you eat. It's about the variety you pick, too. Eat a diet of solely white foods, and you'll miss key nutrients your body needs—even if your palette includes cauliflower, onions, and mushrooms. Adding a multivitamin doesn't cut it either. "People will say, 'I'm taking a multivitamin, so I don't really need to eat these,' " says Karin Hosenfeld, RD, LD, a dietitian in private practice in Dallas, but she says scientists don't know whether whole foods may offer undiscovered benefits that vitamins don't. "We do know for sure that if you don't eat your fruits and vegetables, you're not getting your fiber, and that's [helping keep] your blood sugar down." Every one of your meals doesn't have to be multicolored...

Roasted Eggplant Recipe

Roasting is one of the best ways to cook eggplant. 2 Medium Eggplants 1/4cup / 60ml Olive Oil 1/2teaspoon / 2.5g Sea Salt 1/2teaspoon / 2.5g Garlic Powder 1/4teaspoon/ 1.25g Black Pepper Instructions Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Slice the eggplant crosswise to make circles, about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick. Cut off the leafy end only after you are done slicing, so that you'll have more to grab onto as you slice. Arrange the eggplant slices on an extra large baking sheet in a single layer. Brush with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Flip and repeat the olive oil, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Roast eggplant in the oven for 30-35 minutes , until soft, golden, and caramelized. You can flip halfway through if you like, but you don't have to. private chefs and event catering Palm Beach + Boca Raton + Fort Lauderdale + Miami Beach info@yadachef.com | 954-367-YADA (9232) 561-285-7466 www.yadachef.com south florida cater...

Our Blog Has Moved

We are in the process of migrating our blog to our updated website, yadachef.com , using WordPress. For new, as well as past, blog posts visit: https://yadachef.com/blog/ .

Quick Sauerkraut Recipe

Fermented foods are so good for your immune system and gut health. No need to make huge crocks of the stinky stuff. You can make a couple of ball jars worth. I say if it tastes good eat it. So I don’t have an expiration time on the kraut. 1 medium head cabbage (about 3pounds/1.4kg) 11/2 tablespoons/22ml course salt 1 tablespoon/15ml caraway seeds, optional (3) 32 ounce/950ml wide mouth ball jars cheesecloth Some weights Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage. Do not wash the cabbage. The beneficial bacteria is in the cabbage, don't wash it all away.Slice the cabbage by first slicing in half, then in quarters. Remove the core and slice the cabbage lengthwise into thin ribbons. Place the cabbage into a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Massage/rub the salt into the cabbage.Gradually the cabbage will become watery and limp. This should take 5-10 minutes. If you are using caraway seeds or any other spice add it now. Pack the cabbage into your wide mouth mason ...

9 Wonderful Benefits Of Pistachios

The health benefits of pistachios include a healthy heart , weight management, protection against diabetes and hypertension, and improved digestion . The vitamins , minerals , fats, and protein found in pistachio are all good for health. What Are Pistachios? Pistachios are one of the oldest edible nuts and are commonly used all over the world. They are native to Asia, particularly Iran and Iraq. Archaeological evidence dates the association of pistachios and man as early as 6,000 BC. They were cultivated in Iran, Iraq, and Syria and were introduced to the Romans only in 100 AD. Today, apart from Iran, Iraq, and Syria, pistachios are being produced in many countries such as the United States, Australia, Turkey, and China, among others. Pistachio nuts belong to the Anacardiaceae family from the genus Pistacia . A pistachio tree takes about 10 to 12 years to produce the first crop. They are d...

The History of Aluminum Foil: Just Don't Call it Tin Foil

Gerard Paul September 11th, 2020 Cookware , Grilling & Outdoors Aluminum foil – sometimes incorrectly called tin foil – is a thin, prepared sheet metal made of aluminum, often used in cooking (and food storage!). Although it may seem a little dull at first glance (especially on its dull side), aluminum foil has quite a fascinating story behind it. Many incredible things occurred before it became a staple in the modern kitchen. In this post, I'll discuss the various events that led to the aluminum foil revolution, and highlight the continued importance of this seemingly mundane material in our lives. Aluminum Foil What Is Aluminum Foil? Aluminum foil is a thin sheet of metal foil or metal leaf composed of an aluminum alloy containing roughly 92–99 percent aluminum. It usually has a thickness between 0.0002 to 0.006 inches, but its width and strength vary greatly based on the intended applicati...

YaDa Chef Private and Personal Chefs

Search This Blog