Provençal Dinner

I hate to write about events the day after, but seeing as our dinner with friends didn't wrap up until almost one o'clock this morning, I figure yesterday's news is still fair game.

We hosted friends for dinner last night, and decided to go with a Provençal theme. To start, we made a tapenade which Gus hand pounded with a mortar and pestle we bought in Montreal. It used black Provençal olives, anchovies, garlic, capers, thyme and a little tuna, to which olive oil is added to make a paste. I made an onion tart that starts with a dough which calls for lemon zest. On top of this you add slowly fried onions, olives, garlic and capers. It was absolutely delicious! I also prepared some beautiful purple-tinged asparagus from the Bryn Mawr Farmers Market which I served cold topped with olive oil, lemon zest and chive blossoms from our garden. Here is a photo of the tart just before we warmed it up for our guests:

For the main course, we had our second go at making Soupe de Poissons à la Provençale, a pureed fish soup we first had in France and absolutely fell in love with. It starts with making fish stock (thanks for the fish heads Whole Foods!) to which is added fish chunks, leeks, garlic, tomatoes and a bouquet garni. Once fully cooked, this is run through a food processor, then strained, producing a silky smooth finished product. Thin slices of baguette are spread with a layer of fat and baked and a homemade spiced mayonnaise (Sauce Rouille) was also prepared. The soup is served with the rouille spread on the croûtes, which are then floated on top and sprinkled with Gruyere cheese. It is absolutely heavenly! Here is a photo of the soup pot, full of its fishy goodness:

For dessert, a simple fruit and cheese plate. I served early strawberries, again from the market, sliced apple and globe grapes alongside a true Roquefort, Manchego with rosemary and a goat cheese crotin from Berry, as well as some honey toasted pecans.

Just before our guests arrived, I picked a beautiful bouquet, all from our garden. My Sweet William is blooming, along with a rosebush and some peonies.

What a fun evening!