Red-wine-poached pear hearts classically served with honey, walnuts and gorgonzola crème, is unique, and successfully marries sweet-and-savoury flavours. It prepares one’s palate for the dessert.
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A dill-and-tuna ring always seemed to be on examination papers at the Christina Martin School of Food and Wine - and yes, I got tested on this for my starter in the mid-year practical exam. Still today, the aroma of dill reminds me of this dish. I recall being extremely proud of my creation. Now when looking back I cringe at the simplicity - or was it naivety - of my effort. I guess we all have to start somewhere...
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Sue’s trout from Wayfarer Trout can only be explained to the initiated - once bitten you won’t go anywhere else. Hers are pin-boned and tastefully presented - seared with lemon is my choice, alternatively you could use the smoked trout in a spread.
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From Dargle Valley Ducks I order Serene and Dean’s whole birds and they also sell the thighs separately, which is good to know should you want to make confit. I recently tried their sausages and duck liver pate and was very favourably impressed. We make our own at Hartford House but I recommend this pate for home use. Serve with crispy, thin Melba toast and sweetened strawberry-and-rosemary relish.
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Croft Chickens are free-range, happy hens. I use Candy and Chris’ delicious, plump livers and their whole chickens and can also recommend their pies, rolls, spatchcocks and stuffed roasts too. What is a tasty roast chicken without a super crispy roast potato? Try the accompanying recipe. It promises to please.
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Nothing can compare when it comes to goat’s cheese from Fran’s Swissland Cheese. If you live in KZN I suggest you visit her farm on the Midlands Meander. Her St Maure, slightly warmed on a bruschetta with home-marinated beetroot, is a delicious snack.
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Back to ‘local is lekker’ and the suppliers I am currently using. Pork pies, sausages, sliced gammon and well-smoked, streaky bacon from Caz, of Dargle Valley Pork, are top class. They help make breakfast memorable. Pork mince balls with chunky barbeque/pineapple sauce is an unusual dish and worth a try.
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I would like to see more rabbit dishes on our country-restaurant menus. It is often our best seller on a Sunday at Hartford House. Try Ziggy’s New-Zealand rabbits and make a superb hot terrine or casserole.
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A preferred choice of mine was coronation chicken with toasted almonds. I had never eaten this before my training days at the Christina Martin School of Food and Wine and had always jumped at the opportunity to make it. Poaching and stuffing apricots into chicken breast, wrapping in plastic and poaching was a method I enjoyed. This is probably the reason I use the sous vide (cooking under vacuum in a water bath) process today. The creaminess of the sauce, the fresh fruity flavour with the crisp freshly-roasted almonds makes a delicious light-lunch option. Serve with a freshly-picked herb salad.
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As students of the Christina Martin School of Food and Wine we were exposed to many different cooking styles, and functions ranging from top-quality private home dinner parties and gourmet restaurant food; to deli combinations, in-store launches and cocktail parties - all very stimulating. We would make whatever the menu dictated, fill the clients serving dishes and they would return home for their dinner party for which, they led their guest to believe, they had spent the whole day preparing. One specific dish I remember often preparing for this type of occasion was Cape Malay pickled fish. Guests always went crazy for it
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