How to cook your asparagus? my Tips !

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Green British asparagus, with its intense, complex

flavour, is considered – by the British, at least – to be the finest in the world. It’s deep, verdant flavour is attributed in large part to Britain’s cool growing conditions. ( The green asparagus are better served hot with chicken, veal and soup).

White asparagus preferred in Europe ( France and Germany) has a delicate flavour and must first be peeled before use. Trim the woody ends and starting from the bottom and using a vegetable peeler, peel a very thin strip toward the tip. Often, only the lower half need to be peeled. (The white asparagus are better served warm or cold with hollandaise & mayonnaise sauce.

My Tips!

Blanched

When cooking asparagus, you can tie them into little bundles, which makes them easier to remove. Drop these bundles or individual spears into some boiling water, cover and cook for three to five minutes, depending on the thickness of the spears. Take them out, drain and plunge into some ice-cold water, or serve straight away.

Steamed

To steam, place the spears in a steaming basket with a little water underneath. Cover and cook for three minutes.

Griddled

Asparagus loves to be griddled in a pan – simply drizzle with a little olive oil and turn occasionally or try Jamie’s recipe for griddled asparagus with olive oil, lemon and Parmesan.

Stir fried

Asparagus is often used in Asian cooking, either in salads or in stir-fries. It needs only a minute or so in a hot wok, so always remember to add it in towards the end of cooking the rest of your dish. A splash of soy and a sprinkle of sesame seeds work well.

My favorite !  is It would be a crime not to mention hollandaise – a classic French sauce made of melted butter, fresh egg yolks, lemon juice and a little mustard or a pinch of cayenne – the pairing of which with asparagus is simply heavenly.

enjoy!! Also see selection of my delicious  cold and hot starter https://www.bertrandmunier.co.uk/online_shop/starters

a bientot

chef Bertrand Munier

The French Beignets Recipe, a French classic to share with family and friends

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What is a beignet?

The beignet is a French -style, square donut, decked in powdered sugar. And it is delicious! Beignet means fried dough in French and is similar to fritter in English.

Beignets originate from France and, depending on the region, can be prepared  in many different ways, hence carrying a variety of names: bugnes, merveilles, oreillettes, corchevets, vautes, etc.

My beignet  recipe is so easy to make and you can enjoy it with so many different dips flavour, cinnamon, chocolate or raspberry Jam .

Ingredients

Serves: 12

• 125ml water

• 1 tablespoon yeast

• 50g butter or lard

• 100g caster sugar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 250ml boiling water

• 250ml evaporated milk

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 950g plain flour

• 1L vegetable oil for frying

• 125g icing sugar for dusting

Preparation method

Prep: 30 mins | Cook: 30 mins

1.Pour 125ml room temperature water into a small bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over the water and let stand for about 5 minutes to dissolve.

2.Combine the butter or lard, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Pour the boiling water over the butter mixture and then stir in the evaporated milk. Wait for the mixture to cool down until it is lukewarm. Then, add the yeast and water mixture and beaten eggs.

3.Slowly mix in the flour until the dough forms a ball. Cover the dough with clingfilm and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

4.Working with a small portion (a little larger than a baseball) at a time, roll out the dough 3mm thick. Cut the rolled out dough into strips 5 to 8cm wide, then cut again in the opposite direction and at an angle, making diamond shapes.

5.Heat your oil for frying in a deep and wide, heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium-high heat to 180 degrees C.

6.Slide dough slowly into the oil to avoid splattering and deep fry until they puff up and are golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully remove onto a rack with kitchen roll underneath and allow to cool until you can handle them. Place in a clean paper bag with icing sugar and shake gently until covered generously or, use a sifter to dust the beignets with powdered sugar.

enjoy!! Also see selection of my delicious Desserts https://www.bertrandmunier.co.uk/online_shop/desserts/dessert 

Chef Bertrand Munier

Have you ever dreamed of visiting a chocolate factory?

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Visiting Switzerland always brings me good memories of my childhood. Chocolate, of course, is one of them.  When travelling to the Swiss Alps with my parents, we would always bring lots of chocolate.  I have to say that the Swiss milk chocolate is, in my opinion, the best. I have trained as a chef and during my career, I had the opportunity to work for the Swiss Embassy as an executive chef for the Ambassador where I have learnt about the delightful Swiss specialities.

I would like today to share with you on my blog the fantastic Callier chocolate factory located in Gruyère in the heart of the Swiss Alps. The finest chocolate creations continue to be produced at Maison Callier with fresh milk from local dairies, sustainable cocoa, fine select ingredients and in-depth knowledge of the art of chocolate-making.

I invite you to discover the process of chocolate manufacturing and the smell which come from the famous Maison Callier chocolate factory.

My  journey begins with the Aztec cocoa ceremonies and takes you through to today’s chocolate innovations. Touch roasted cocoa beans and follow your nose towards the irresistible scent of freshly made chocolate. Our chocolate tasting will titillate your taste buds with the aromas of exquisite cocoa, fresh Alpine milk and the best ingredients.

A sweet adventure awaits visitors at Maison Callier. The interactive visitor experience is a unique museum that leads you through the history of cocoa to the present day. Discover how Maison Callier use exquisite cocoa beans and high-quality ingredients to make the finest chocolate creations and indulge your palate with the amazing variety of flavours of cocoa.

you can order our chocolate speciality like sweet chocolate canapes and chocolate dessert ! free delivery in london

thank you to read my blog

a bientot

Chef Bertrand

My favorite Winter Treat ! Italian Hot Chocolate

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Hot chocolate Recipe

Italy is famous for their Cioccolato Caldo, especially during the fall and winter months. This hot chocolate is sometimes served so thick (like a pudding), that you need a spoon to actually eat it! this recipe doesn’t make it that thick. The luxurious richness comes from using top-quality chocolate.

What You Will Need:

  1. 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate 70% or higher
  2. 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  3. 2 tablespoons sugar
  4. 2 teaspoons corn starch

What To Do:

  1. Into a saucepan over LOW heat add chocolate and a drop of milk. Stir with a wooden spoon until melted.
  2. SLOWLY add remaining milk until it’s well combined. Add sugar. Mix to combine. Whisk in corn starch.
  3. Continue cooking over LOW heat until it becomes thick, creamy and coats the back of the wooden spoon.

Hot chocolate Italian-style is one of the most amazing treats in the world! You have to try this pudding-like chocolate decadence! Add some Irish cream, cinnamon, and whipped cream for a fun variation, or create your own!”

I suggest some petit four or sweet canapes and  sandwich to serve your afternoon tea

a delice !!!

for Chocolate lover watch the chocolat movie you will like it !!

Chocolat trailer

enjoy!! Also, see our selection of my delicious Desserts https://www.bertrandmunier.co.uk/online_shop/desserts/dessert  by Chef Bertrand Munier

www.bertrandmunier.co.uk 

bertrand munier

My French recipe of the Orange Drizzle Cake.

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The orange drizzle is an English institution in the UK and I love it! I’m pleased to share my home recipe with a touch of French flavour. In France, we have the same cake that we call  Le gateau a l’orange . The recipe is from Lyon in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. 

The Orange Drizzle is perfect for an afternoon tea or for a Picnic . 

Ingredients

4 orange 

4 eggs (large ) 

300g of butter unsalted 

300g of sugar 

10g  baking powder 

230g  white flour 

Icing 

250g icing sugar

3 large spoon of orange juice 

1 cake ring for  about 10 people 

Preparation time 30 minutes

Cooking time 20 mins

Serves 10 t0 12 people 

1/ Wash the orange, With a zester burner, 4 oranges zest keeping the 4 oranges for the juice 

2/ Melt 300g of unsalted  butter in a pan 

3/ Flour and butter the cake pan

4/ In a mixer, add  300g of sugar and 300g melted butter. Mix until Creamy.

5/ Chop the Orange zest in very small bites

6/ Add the juice of 4 oranges to 2 eggs 

7/ Sift in the flour, baking powder and add the zest of the orange. Mix until well combined.

8/ Add the last 2 eggs, one at a time,

9 / Line a loaf tin with grease-proof paper, spoon in the mixture and level the top.

10/ Preheat the oven to 180C/Fan/Gas Mark 4. 

Bake for 15-20 minutes until a thin skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

11/ While the cake is cooling in its tin , pour over the juice of 3 oranges on  the cake.

12 / For the icing, mix the orange juice  with the icing sugar.

Prick the warm cake all over with a fork and  drizzle the glaze over the top of the cake, and top with candied orange 

enjoy!! Also see selection of my delicious Desserts https://www.bertrandmunier.co.uk/online_shop/desserts/dessert  by Chef Bertrand Munier

How to Have a Romantic St Valentine’s At Home! Special menu for 2 for £98.00

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The best way to show your love? A romantic meal for two.

Impress your significant other with one of these Valentine’s Day dinner menu for 2 will ensure you have a delicious evening to remember.

Browse our individual menu below to discover our unique Valentine’s Day menus. The menu include canapes, starter, main course and dessert.

The menu is a cold delivery and instruction how to warm up the main course is clearly labelled on the packaging .   Order now

Menu for 2 people at £98.00 

Assortment of canapes  

( mini beef burger, mini vegetarian samosas, mini sweet Potatoes tart ) 

starter 

Sweet Heart tomatoes confit and Goat cheese  (suitable For Vegetarian) 

or 

Plaisir of gravlax salmon tarte, sweet mustard and fine salad 

Main course

Red wine beef casserole a la Bourguignone, vegetable Primeur 

or 

Monk fish and vegetable Tagine with couscous  

Dessert 

assortment of mini dessert 4 per person 

Mini Raspberry heart shortbread 

Mini Chocolate Dome tartelette

Mini Sweet choux of rose cream 

Mini quince crumble with custard in shot glass 

To order please send an Email to chef@bertrandmunier.com for availability,  48h notice is the minimum required and Free delivery in London 

How to organise a romantic and original Valentine’s day at home !

Valentine day is always for me a special night for many people,  frankly, I’d rather stay at home and wait for it all to blow over. But a cozy night at home with your valentine can be pretty special if you take a few extra steps to make it more of an event than your regular weeknight dinners.

1/Prepare the House

2/ don’t exhaust yourself with cooking preparation !  

3/ order a nice meal to your cater 

4/ set up the table with candle 

6/ Pick Up a Great Bottle of Wine

7/ Make a Romantic Playlist

8/ never forget a nice dessert with champagne 

Wshing you a happy st valentine Day ! 

Chef Bertrand Munier 



Tips For Organising An Unforgettable Private Party

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There is a tremendous amount of planning and organisation that goes into a successful private party, which can make them very daunting to plan. Fortunately, there are a few simple tips and tricks to reduce stress whilst also ensuring that it is a fun and memorable night for everyone in attendance.

There is no greater way to celebrate than a private party. Whether it is a birthday, anniversary, graduation or any other reason to celebrate, a private party allows you to do so with all of your friends and family in an intimate setting. These parties often end up being one of the social highlights of the year, but they can also be extremely stressful to plan because there is so much that needs to be organised. Here are a few top tips for organising an unforgettable private party.

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Establish a budget :

The very first thing to do is to set how much money you want to spend on the party. You should come up with a price and write this down and then do everything to stay on budget. You will need to factor in the cost of the venue, catering, drinks and entertainment.

Guest list :

It is also crucial that you assemble a guest list and send out invitations as soon as possible. People’s calendars get booked up quickly, so you will want to give them plenty of warning, plus it is also helpful to have a list of how many people will be attending as this can help you to decide on the venue, catering, etc.

House party :

If space permits, it is a fantastic idea to host the party at your home. This will save you an enormous sum and can be much more comfortable than at a private venue. If you have a house party, you must inform your neighbours and be prepared to do a lot of preparing beforehand and tidying after the event.

Catering :

It may be tempting to save some money by preparing the food yourself, but this can be an enormous and very stressful task. Instead, it is best to opt for private party catering from an established catering company. They can provide you with a talented professional chef that will be able to prepare delicious fresh food at the venue for your entire party.

Entertainment :

If your budget permits, it is worth hiring a band or DJ to play the event as this will keep your guests entertained. If you have musical friends, you could ask them to play as this will be more personal and it could cost less. If your budget does not permit this, then you could simply create a playlist and connect your MP3 player to the venue’s sound system.

As fun and enjoyable as private parties usually are, they can also be extremely stressful and arduous events to organise. The above tips will help any host to throw an unforgettable party that your guests are sure to love.

Visit http://www.bertrandmunier.co.uk/parties for more info!

Impress your guests with your own private caterer

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There is an enormous amount of planning and organisation that goes into a private party. One of the most important aspects is the food. It is vital that you provide your guests with food, but this is an enormous task. It is for this reason that it is worth enlisting the services of a catering company.

Chef Bertrand Munier

Food is an essential ingredient for any private party. Providing your guests with food allows people to stay at the party for long periods, relax and enjoy themselves. Food can bring people together, so it is also an excellent tool for helping people to socialise and mingle.
Whether it is a birthday party, cocktail party or anniversary, you should always make food one of the top priorities. Usually, finger food in a buffet is the best type to serve. It allows people to eat as much or as little as they like and choose when they eat. It is also light and easy so people can socialise while they eat. A few great options for a private party include canapés, sandwiches, cheeses, brochette and quiche.
Preparing food for a large group can be stressful and time-consuming. With this in mind, it is worth using a professional catering company. The best private catering London companies can even provide you with a chef to cook the food at the venue. Taking assistance of a catering service ensures that everything is fresh, hot and delicious and certainly impresses your guests. Using a catering company also reduces a lot of stress for the host and frees up time to focus on other areas of the party.

ideal party food by chef munier

Private parties are always fantastic events and a great way to celebrate. They can also be stressful to organise and especially when it comes to the food, so using a caterer is an excellent solution to this problem.

Get These Canapés Delivered In London For Your Next Event

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When it comes to organising an event, one of the taxing tasks is to arrange food for the attendees, isn’t it? So, let’s decrease that stress from your shoulders and introduce you to different types of canapés that you can order in London. Let’s have a look at this article.

https://www.bertrandmunier.co.uk/online_shop/canapes

Canapés, also famous as tidbits, are treated as appetisers and are served before the main course. These dishes compliment almost every drink and are perfect for every event or a party of short duration. One of the best things about them is they don’t demand enough time for preparation; hence, giving you another reason to select them.

So, if you are going to organise any event very soon, you can easily get Canapés in London. If you are dubious about what to choose, then different types of Canapés can gel well with the theme of your event. Read on and find out which one is going to suit your requirements best:

1.Cold Canapés:

When it comes to organising appetisers that would go perfectly with drinks at the event, Cold Canapés should be your choice. Regardless of the duration of your event, get an abundance of Canapés Delivered in London and offer something unique to your guests to taste. Be it a wedding or a business event; they can be a precise fit everywhere.

2.Shot Glass Canapés:

Also known as Verrine, these shot glass canapés can fill the void of stylish food items. With each layer, these appetisers just become more delicious. One of the best things about shot glass canapés is their structured presentation. They come in short glasses and are quite easy to assemble; hence, perfect for cocktail or bachelor parties.

3.Hot Canapés:

You have to prepare these hot canapés with fish, vegetables, or meat, just before the start of your event. Delicious and tempting in taste, this variety of canapés is surely going to allure your guests. Not just that, but they also come in distinct variants, such as mini pudding, mini burgers, and more. They just need a little warming up and then are good to serve.

4.Sweet Canapés:

These delicious canapés are prepared by using French recipe. These canapés can satiate the craving for a dessert after a happy meal as they are made with finest and handpicked ingredients. Be it Tart, Chocolate, Macarons, or something else that you want; these canapés prove out to be an amazing thing at any event.

canapes from ideal party

To sum it up, these are the top acknowledged canapés that you can order whenever you are hosting an event. Along with several benefits, these canapés save your time as well as money. So, if there is an event coming around and you are the sole manager of it, these different types of Canapés can lower down your burden of arranging food for your guests. Order them and treat your guests to something new and delicious. However, make sure you choose the right shop to get good quality canapés right at your doorstep.

Visit http://www.bertrandmunier.co.uk/online_shop/canapes

Ensure your party is a hit with food catering services

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When putting on a party you will want your guests to relax and enjoy themselves, and this can be achieved through providing a range of delicious food. Professional caterers are able to provide you with all kinds of delicious, well presented food, all delivered straight to your door in time for the event.

canapes from ideal party

The food that you serve at a party will have direct impact on how enjoyable and successful it is. You will want to impress your guests, and the right kind of food will also allow guests to continue to socialise whilst they eat. This is why finger food is the best type of food to serve at all kinds of parties, and in many cases it can even work as a conversation piece to get people talking too.

In order to impress your guests, and reduce stress, it is worthwhile using a catering company for the party. This way you get a wide range of options and can have it delivered directly to your doorstep.

You will want the best food catering services so you know that you are in good hands, so it is worth finding trusted and established caterers. Amongst the starters, cold canapes are an excellent party snack as they look great and are full of flavour. With the best caterers around, you can also get all kinds of cold canapes delivered in London. This will help to impress your guests, and it could even help your event to be a huge hit.

Thanks for reading

Chef B.Munier