My very first mother in law was one of the owners of Stephanie's Restaurant (with Stephanie Alexander). Practically, for me, this meant that we were often inundated with the very best leftovers most days of the week. Dure would come around with containers full of all kinds of stuff : brandade, potatoes cooked in duck fat, white chocolate eggs filled with nougat ice cream and cumquat sorbet, Elizabeth David chocolate cake, Sabrina's bread sticks... the list goes on.
Back in the day (in the late 80s/early 90s) Stephanie's used to have a centre table lunch during the week. The chefs (and Stephanie!) would cook whatever was delicious and in season. The Vitello Tonnato was one of my very favourite things. It's veal, poached til it's tender and then sliced thinly and smothered in tuna mayonnaise. It takes a couple of days to pull together so I don't really make it at home very often. But I did make it yesterday, slicing the meat after poaching it the day before that and then finishing it off with the tuna mayo.
I don't know much about buying veal. Someone suggested my veal might not even be veal on Instagram. I don't know if they were right or not, but it was still super delicious. And super nice to take some time to cook something that takes a long time (and not feel rushed about it.) It was not quite as good as Stephanie's one, but I am going to keep revisiting this (find a better butcher) til I get it right.
Some people on Instagram remarked that they thought I was a vegetarian, too. I am not, but I did to a 30 day vegetarian challenge last year. And mostly I eat vegetables. But I'm not a vegetarian.
Are you a vegetarian? Do you like vitello tonnato? Do you like to make things that take a long time or revisit dishes from your past?
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Good Thing : Cooking something from my past
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Sounds delicious, Pip. The best veal in Melbourne can be bought at Brenta's butcher in Station Street, Fairfield. Tell them that a De Petro sent you.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Kaye xoxox
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I am GOING TO GO THERE! Thanks so much for the tip! xx
ReplyDeleteI Love to cook things that take a long time. Today is a friends birthday and I am going to bake a blueberry crumble with the blueberries I froze last summer. Unfortunately it is going to follow take-away-pizza, best-in-town pizza, but still take-away.
ReplyDeleteI love vitello tonnato. We affectionately call it Mel Tormae. My mother in law makes it, mostly at Christmas. I married into an Italian family and she has the most fabulous recipe (not written down anywhere, just in her head). I must watch her make it one year and write it down so the recipe won't be forgotten in years to come. Mmmm hungry now!
ReplyDeleteI've never had vitello tonnato before but it sounds glorious. I might just say it over and over again just to hear the sound of it a bit more.
ReplyDelete... vitello tonnato ... vitello tonnato ... vitello tonnato ...
Yep. Still sounds glorious.
You are welcome, Pip - you won't be disappointed in the veal, it just melts in the mouth. But I have to warn you - it is not cheap.
ReplyDeleteHugs, kaye xoxox