After searching for recipes for a good mix of experiments and knowhows, this was what we came up with: Stripey Tart, Ocean Trout with Funky Fennel Salad and Cauliflower Puree, and a More-Than-a-Mousse Mousse.
Entree: Stripey Tart
I love grilled eggplants and capsicum and I have been wanting to make Strawberry Tarts with Creme Patissiere (one of my favourites). Tart eggplants capsicum... Wouldn't it be nice to have a tartful of my favourite roasted vegetables! Brilliant! I have never made shortcrust pastry from scratch before. My first trial was okay but not great. So I made a new batch and it must have been the amount of water I added that made a whole lot of difference. Proud to say that the tart was a success! :) Here, the tart was layered with pecorino cheese, grilled eggplant, semi-dried tomatoes and lastly strips of roasted capsicum and bonconcini laid artfully on the top creating a stripey tart haha. The assembled tart was then put in the oven for a few minutes for the cheese to melt. Artful tartful ;)
Experiment: Shortcrust pastry
Knowhow: Grilled eggplant and capsicum
Main: Ocean Trout with Funky Fennel Salad and Cauliflower Puree
Clement was in charge of main and he's pretty good at frying fish fillets after a previous success with salmon fillets. Fennel has never been bought nor cooked before, so that was a challenge. The fennel salad recipe was very good with a mix of fresh fennel and roasted fennel, avocado, rocket, parsley and capers tossed in lime dressing. We wanted to add a sauce to the dish and picked a cauliflower puree for its milder flavour. So here it is, crispy skin ocean trout with funky fennel salad and a sweep of cauliflower puree.
Experiment: Anything fennel
Knowhow: Panfrying fish fillets
Dessert: More-than-a-mousse Mousse
What is a More-than-a-mousse Mousse? We've used 1/2 an eggwhite more than intended, so that makes it abit more than a mousse. haha. It wasn't as fluffy as a normal mousse but it still tasted good. Great dessert to make for a dinner party since it can be prepared well ahead of time. We served it with pistachio dust and slivers of strawberries.
Experiment: Mousse
Knowhow: Blitzing pistachios
It was a fun night with great company! :) Now, I'm looking forward to your entree of an opened can of whoop ass, Sydney City! :) For more photos check it out here.
