GOOD TASTES.COOKBOOK: ``Daniel's Dish,'' by New York chef Daniel Boulud (Filipachi; $39.95), is subtitled ``entertaining at home with a four-star chef,'' and it's all about the food. Boulud writes a home-cooking column for Elle Decor magazine, and some of those recipes are reprinted here, along with new ones written for the book. Despite Boulud's formidable reputation, these are recipes well within the reach of the home cook. They have a stylish flair, but they sound disarmingly like family favorites: shrimp cakes, Daniel's casual cassoulet cas·sou·let n. A casserole of white beans, various meats, vegetables, and herbs, slowly simmered or baked in a slow oven. [French, stove dish, diminutive of cassolo, earthenware vessel , marinated lamb chops and chocolate bread pudding. In his introduction, Boulud says his recipes reflect his own way of home entertaining, ``giving readers insight into how I prepare meals for friends and family - the people I most love to cook for.'' That means planning that allows cooks to enjoy the time they have with their guests. Unfortunately some of the color photos look dated and are uninspiring uninspiring Adjective not likely to make people interested or excited Adj. 1. uninspiring - depressing to the spirit; "a villa of uninspiring design" inspiring - stimulating or exalting to the spirit . But don't let that stand in the way of your cooking some of these creations. - Staff and Wire Services NEW ICE CREAM FLAVOR: To celebrate Valentine's Day, Baskin-Robbins' new flavor of the month is Box of Chocolates. It features a creamy milk chocolate ice cream with white, milk and dark chocolate cups and hearts filled with caramel, fudge, marshmallow marshmallow /marsh·mal·low/ (mahrsh´mel?o) (-mal?o) a perennial Eurasian herb, Althaea officinalis, and raspberry - so you get a surprise in every bite. Another Valentine-themed flavor, though not new, is Love Potion No. 31, featuring white chocolate and raspberry ice cream swirled with a raspberry ribbon and topped off with raspberry-filled chocolate cups and chocolate chips. Baskin-Robbins stores are also offering Freeze Frame heart-shaped ice cream cakes topped with edible portraits of loved ones, friends or family along with other Valentine-inspired cakes. Be sure to order well in advance of Feb. 14. - Natalie Haughton TEMPTING DESIGNER CHOCOLATES: For a luxurious Valentine gift, opt for a unique box of chocolates from the MarieBelle Valentine Collection. The chocolates, notes the founder and visionary behind them, Maribel Lieberman, are like semiprecious jewels carefully tucked in special boxes. Unlike most chocolates, these have creative, novel designs on top transferred by using a silk-screening technique on cocoa butter. The collection offers 22 exotic flavors - including pineapple, espresso, cinnamon, saffron, lavender, raspberry, cardamom cardamom (kär`dəməm): see ginger. cardamom Spice consisting of whole or ground dried fruit, or seeds, of Elettaria cardamomum, a perennial herb of the ginger family. - paired with chocolate to make rather flat squares. We liked some (espresso, pineapple and dulce de leche Dulce de leche in Spanish, dolç de llet in Catalan, or doce de leite in Portuguese ("milk candy"), is a milk-based syrup. Found as both a sauce and a caramel-like candy, it is popular in Argentina. ) better than others (passion fruit, cinnamon and champagne). When ordering, you can select the flavors desired. These elegant, special chocolates are definitely pricey but something very different. For Valentine's Day a nine-piece red box is $21; 16-piece, $34; 25-piece, $47; 36-piece, $65. Other configurations are also available. Call (866) 925-8800 to order or go to www.mariebelle.com. If you're visiting New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , stop by the MarieBelle stores at 484 Broome St. or 25 Prince St. The company also offers Aztec Hot Chocolate (in four flavors), a line of loose teas, gift baskets and other items. Locally, look for the chocolates at Neiman Marcus, Beverly Hills. - N.H. GOVERNORS BALL MENU Chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck will celebrate his 10th year serving a multicourse sit-down meal at this year's 76th Academy Awards Governors Ball. He has designed a very elegant, Versaille-like menu for the 1,650 guests. Truffles, which are still in season (because the ceremony has been moved to February this year), will be featured in the entree. Among the antipasti Antipasti can refer to:
n. pl. pro·sciut·ti or pro·sciut·tos An aged, dry-cured, spiced Italian ham that is usually sliced thin and served without cooking. , Marinated Artichoke artichoke, name for two different plants of the family Asteraceae (aster family), both having edible parts. The French, or globe, artichoke (Cynara scolymus Salad; Bruschetta-Olive Tapenade ta·pé·nade n. A spread of Provençal origin consisting of capers, black olives, and anchovies puréed with olive oil. [French, from Provençal tapéno, capers.] Noun 1. With Goat Cheese; Tomato Confit con·fit n. 1. Meat, such as duck, that has been salted and then cooked and preserved in its own fat. 2. A condiment made by cooking seasoned fruit or vegetables, usually to a jamlike consistency. With Arugula arugula or rocket Yellowish-flowered European herbaceous plant (Eruca vesicaria sativa), of the mustard family, cultivated for its foliage, which is used especially in salads. and Shaved Parmesan; and Roasted Peppers and White Anchovies anchovies a cause of diarrhea, vomiting, salivation, lacrimation, depression, miosis, polypnea, tachycardia, hypothermia in cats. . The first-course offering is Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes (wrapped in gold foil) With Creme Fraiche and Osetra Caviar. For the entree, Puck has selected Roasted Filet Mignon and Maine Lobster With Celery Root Puree and Two Truffle truffle (trŭf`əl) [Fr.], subterranean edible fungus that forms a mutually beneficial (symbiotic) relationship with the roots of certain trees and plants. The part of the fungus used as food is the ascoma, the fruiting body of the fungus. Sauces. For the dinner finale, guests will enjoy Viennese Chocolate Dobos Torte With Espresso Glace - and of course chocolate-shaped Oscars. - N.H. DINING OUT You have to dine there pretty early these days to enjoy the sunset, but the appropriately named Sunset restaurant in Malibu (previously the home of Monroe's and Splash) appears to be the perfect place for romantics, being about as close to the beach as you can get. Recently opened by new owners Rodolfo Costella and Franco Simplicio, who between them also operate Ca' del Sole in North Hollywood, Frascati in Redondo Beach, and Allegria and Moonshadows in Malibu, Sunset is a two-story building featuring an intimate cocktail bar downstairs and dining rooms upstairs, entered by elevator. Consequently, the ocean view is better from the restaurant's second-story window tables. Food is mainly new American with some obvious Asian hints. There's a New England clam chowder New England clam chowder n. A thick soup made with clams, onions, salt pork, potatoes, and milk. Noun 1. New England clam chowder - a thick chowder made with clams and potatoes and onions and salt pork and milk ($6.50) as a starter along with chicken lettuce wraps ($8.75), Santa Barbara mussels in a Thai green curry broth ($9.50) and a seafood napoleon ($11.75). There are several salads ($5.75 to $11.50) and a wide range of main courses, from a penne pasta dish with caramelized onion and bacon ($11.50) to a prime ribeye steak ($28.50). The Sunset kitchen pan-roasts striped bass ($19.75), grills mahi mahi ($20), braises both beef short ribs in pinot noir ($17) and lamb shank ($18.75) and offers a carb-less Kobe beef burger platter for $15. Desserts ($6 to $8) change nightly, though there's a tarte tatin recipe that's becoming a regular favorite, according to managing partner Vito Roberto. Sunset at 6800 Westward Beach Road, Malibu, is open for dinners only from 4 to 9:30 p.m. nightly except Monday, to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Information and reservations: (310) 589-1007. - Larry Lipson CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1) no caption (book: ``Daniel's Dish'') (2) no caption (Freeze Frame heart-shaped ice cream cake) (3) no caption (box of chocolates from the MarieBelle Valentine Collection) |
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