Wednesday, December 26, 2012

#40: French food - November 2012

French cookoff was held at Blühaus on the 15th of November. It was somewhat sparsely attended; perhaps people were intimidated by the prospect of French cooking? Regardless, there were some delicious dishes and a respectable amount of wine.

COMPETITORS AND ENTRIES
Sarah: "tasses de confort" French onion soup with faux beef broth, caramelized onions, black pepper, and melted mozza
French onion soup
Jeff*: "Remy's ratatouille" roasted aubergine, zucchini, tomato, and yellow squash with bell peppers, in a mushroom & port demi-glace
Remy's ratatouille
Chris: "tarte d'Alsace deconstruit entre breton galette avec duxelle aux champaignons, sur salade rougette avec herbes et moutarde" cheesy tarragon mushrooms with brandied thyme fried onions, topped with a buckwheat crêpe; on a bed of arugula salad in mustard dressing
tarte d'Alsace deconstruit
Malloreigh: "speak Niçard to me, baby" chickpea socca with caramelized onions, dulce pissalat (anchovy-like salty sauce), roasted garlic, and green olives
Niçoise pissaladière
Hayley: "the crêpes popped Suzette's cherry" spelt crêpes with oranges and brandy-cherry sauce, with a homemade brandied cherry garnish
crèpes Suzette
Jen: "poire some sugar on me" cognac-caramelized pears with Dauphinoise-style bittersweet chocolate & cognac truffles
poire some sugar on me

*Jeff's was an absentee entry; he had to work but still wanted to compete.
Also in attendance were Kristina, Steph, and Bronwen.

CATEGORIES AND WINNERS
seconds: Jeff
presentation: Jeff/Chris
le plus Français: Malloreigh
creativity: Chris/Malloreigh
overall favourite: Sarah

overall winner: Chris

best name: (unscored category) Jen