Well, this past Saturday was the last week for our Cannelé Bordelais (sigh!) -- we're starting a hot new Caribbean menu on Saturday. But I thought some parting thoughts were in order for this amazing confection...
I admit, I didn't even know what a cannelé was until last summer when I tasted my first one on Salt Spring Island at their amazing grower's market. One bite and I knew I had to have the recipe. Little did I know that the brotherhood of patissiers in Bordeaux had taken an oath in the 1980s to safe-guard the "true" recipe of the Canelé de Bordeax (they even dropped the second "n" in the name to distinguish their version from copy cats!).
No, we didn't use white beeswax; we couldn't afford to buy the individual copper molds (beautiful but eye-poppingly expensive!); and we didn't torch the cannelés on site (as they do at some French pastry shops) for fear of breaking fire codes! But I hope we did well by the brotherhood. Michele, who was at Saturday's market helping out the great guys at The Old Windmill Dairy, told us that when she took a bite, it brought back happy memories of her time in Bordeaux -- the highest compliment!
This week, to take the cannelé's place, we'll unveil our new Mojito Bar (as in cookie, not a drinking establishment!) -- lots of local mint with a tang of lime, and, twist my arm, a splash of rum! Can you picture the Caribbean now? Enjoy...
I admit, I didn't even know what a cannelé was until last summer when I tasted my first one on Salt Spring Island at their amazing grower's market. One bite and I knew I had to have the recipe. Little did I know that the brotherhood of patissiers in Bordeaux had taken an oath in the 1980s to safe-guard the "true" recipe of the Canelé de Bordeax (they even dropped the second "n" in the name to distinguish their version from copy cats!).
No, we didn't use white beeswax; we couldn't afford to buy the individual copper molds (beautiful but eye-poppingly expensive!); and we didn't torch the cannelés on site (as they do at some French pastry shops) for fear of breaking fire codes! But I hope we did well by the brotherhood. Michele, who was at Saturday's market helping out the great guys at The Old Windmill Dairy, told us that when she took a bite, it brought back happy memories of her time in Bordeaux -- the highest compliment!
This week, to take the cannelé's place, we'll unveil our new Mojito Bar (as in cookie, not a drinking establishment!) -- lots of local mint with a tang of lime, and, twist my arm, a splash of rum! Can you picture the Caribbean now? Enjoy...
3 comments:
Will you guys be there 7/5? What's on the menu?
We will be at the market 7/5 doing Caribbean again. We'll be serving the same baked goods but the savory dish will be a Cubano sandwich. I've been working on this one for a couple of weeks; spiced slow roasted pork with ham, pickles, swiss, and mustard all pressed flat and melty on the grill. I'll also have a veggie version with black beans that have been cooked with sofrito and Cuban spices. To get updates on our upcoming menus you can enter your email in the right-hand sidebar to receive posts via email.
Wow, Kei, I am so impressed. I have just finished reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Mineral, Miracle and now this! I am so proud of you. Hannah has been working for a green concern in LA, but is leaving to go to DC where she hopes to work for an environmentally focused publishing company. I'll be there as soon as I can. Good luck on this endeavor. It is wonderful! See you soon.
Linda
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