Porcini and Truffle and the Italian Feast

Posted on 2010/09/17 22:46:28 (September 2010).

[Saturday 28th August 2010]
We took Yuka to Borough Market in the morning. We managed to get there early (well, 10 o' clock) which was a big improvement as it seems much less busy at that time than I'm used to it being. Chie's friend Nagi-san would also be arriving from Japan this evening and I had been commissioned to make a welcome dinner. So naturally given the fact that we were at Borough Market, and it was the end of the summer, my mind drew me towards mushrooms.

I managed to find a stall selling some very genuine looking wild mushrooms (in a basket, still with the grass on, freshly picked in Kent that morning apparently). So I picked out some decent looking specimens (a couple of varieties of cep / porcini). Later on, Chie also spotted a stall very quietly selling black truffles from Northern Italy - the guy just had a little jar with a few in on the corner of his stall, no big fuss being made about it at all. I picked up what I thought was a pretty decent size truffle for a relatively reasonable £20.

Also at Borough market I bought a big handful of Samphire, and a bottle of Nyetimber - it's the English sparkling wine which has been winning lots of awards recently, and the one the Queen serves when entertaining foreign dignitaries (well, the French at least).

We headed back to the flat after that, by way of the Waitrose in Belgravia, where we picked up more things for dinner. In the afternoon, Chie went off to the airport to pick up Nagi-san, and I took Yuka out for a walk, through St. James's Park, into St. James's - and showed her some of my favourite places - Jermyn Street, Fortnum and Mason, the Royal Academy of Arts and so on.

Back at the flat I commenced work on what was probably one of the best meals I have ever made - a multiple course Italian feast. Rather idiotically we didn't take any pictures of any of it - I was too busy cooking, and Chie was too busy entertaining our guests. Anyway, here's the menu:

Mozzarella, tomato, fig and caperberry salad.

Bruschetta with Kent ceps in a light white wine, garlic and herb sauce.

Spinach and ricotta ravioli topped with samphire and truffle oil.

Black truffle risotto

It was, in no uncertain terms, spectacular. The stars were just all in alignment - even the risotto (which lacked the constant attention it normally requires as I was trying to make it at the same time as the previous course) came out perfectly. The Nyetimer was an excellent accompaniment too.

I think our guests were suitably impressed, even though I do say so myself.

'Even though you say so yourself' .... it does sound as you say a fantastic meal ... I could taste every bit through your description .... I trust that it ..'gladdened your heart' ....

Posted by revnick at 2010/09/19 08:31:37.

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