Roger Verge And Serge Chollet Cooking Class In 1978 And Again In 1991.

Claude Patry and Serge Chollet.

Claude Patry

Translating for Roger Verge and his Chef de Cuisine Serge Chollet in a cooking class in Palm Springs California. The bottom photos were taken in Verge's cooking school in the south of France  I translated for the class as most of the students were Americans or English. There is about 30 years difference between these two instances.

Chef Claude Patry

The  photo on top is of the retirement party of my good friend Claude. We share many happy memories together. This group consists of a huge talent of French chefs including Daniel Boulud from New York and Serge Chollet who was the chef at Roger Verge's Moulin de Mougins. This shows the scope of Claude's vast and international collection of professional and personal acquaintances  I should have been there but, much to my regret, I couldn't make it. My thoughts were with them.
The bottom photo is of one of his cooking classes.

Rosario Resort Orcas Island Washington State

More on this anon.

Publicity Shot For Esmeralda Resort California

Brekkers

Two Great Films

These are two excellent films. They do not go into as much as detail as Elizabeth R with Glenda Jackson or A Man For All Seasons with Paul Scofield but they give a great rendition of the times and the conflicts between Mary Queen Of Scots and Queen Elizabeth 1. I watch these very often and always enjoy them. Great performances , great price and great entertainment even for the casual student of history.

Spaghetti / Meat Sauce / Slightly Out Of Focus

SW"s Lamb,Cabbage And Potato Casserole.

Barbecued Salmon Steak / Cauliflower Polonaise .

A Few Good Films

Some good stuff I have watched over the past few days. Worth re-watching now and then.

Chicken And Root Vegetable Couscous With Preserved Lemons.

These photos are a little out of sequence but you get the general idea and this is not the first post on couscous. There are a million and one ways to make this dish and every cook has his own little secrets. The best thing to do is get a basic recipe and through networking, research or trial and effort find the one you like best and stick to it.

Appetizer.

Small appetizer plate  of hard boiled egg, tomato salad with shallots and beetroot vinaigrette. These are not tinned beetroots by the way. I cook them myself in a slow cooker with garlic, bay leaf, whole peppercorns and jalapenos. They are delicious. You strain the juice when they are cooked, then you peel the beetroots and put them in a bowl with the juice and a good measure of red wine vinegar. You can cook a huge batch of them at the same time and keep them in the 'fridge.

Braised Korean Short Ribs

Claude's Mushrooms

My friend Claude went out collecting mushrooms in France and this is what he  came home with. Wow !

JP In All His Glory In Brasil Around 1976

Chicken Breast Filled With Tapenade / Crushed Tomato Sauce / Couscous

Tapenade Recipe
1/2 pound of pitted kalamata olives
3 anchovy filets
Minced garlic to taste
2 tablespoons of capers
2 or 3 basil leaves
Juice of 1 lemon
Extra virgin olive oil

Place all ingredients into a food processor and turn this mix into a paste. Add the olive oil at the end to get a proper consistency. I usually add a few white breadcrumbs to give it a little body, especially if I am going to put in in something like a piece of fish or chicken.
This is also used as a spread for appetizer and can be served on toast or crackers. Be sure to make a lot of it as people usually love it.
It is a dish from Nice and the south of France and is very popular there where it is also know as ' Caviar Nicoise'.
As an ingredient it works very well with chicken of fish.

1

Leftovers

Baked Beans On Toast / A Holdover From The Poor Days In London

This was a staple from my days in London when I was an apprentice and had absolutely no money to spare. It was easy and it was filling. One slice of toast , one small can of Heinz baked beans and two poached eggs with a large pot of tea. It is still a tasty breakfast , lunch or snack.

A Few Excellent Films I've Watched Over The Past Few Days

This was a wonderful film and one I will watch regularly.