Thursday, December 10, 2009

I am a Pork eater and I Love Pork Belly...

My first day in Catechism class, I was seven years old and learn that, all that God created, he create it with Love and Charity. God himself is the personification of Charity means nothing that he created can be unclean. That being said, Deuteronomy chapter fourteen, Leviticus chapter eleven the question of clean and unclean I am not an ecclesiastic or some sort of Scriptures philosopher. I am a pork eater and Pork belly lover. My question is how can God be Charity and create some of his impure or unclean? As Christian, I truly believe that Jesus Mission wasn't to destroy Moses Law because, he revered it, obeyed and loved it. I also believe that the meaning of his Mission was the fulfillment of Moses law and he did it. (Gal. chapter 3:10 and Luke 24:44). to not believe in that fulfillment it's to say that Jesus failed to accomplish what it was his fundamental Mission and my Christianity will be a nonsense.Base on my believe, Jesus has accomplish his Mission so as today my believe are not bound by Moses Law even though I respect and obey it.
Do I have anything from the new Testament that will prevent me from eating pork? I will make a quick return to the Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that live shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things...The above verse is after the flood when Noah was told that all animals were to be meat for him.I believe one thing, when carefully exploring the Bible, God laws are mostly practical and can be amended when things become good for us. When I was kid, my grandmother had a pig she named "the fire of the heart" I am not sure if the English translation will mean what it's means in my "Eton" tribe. I saw that pig one day swallowed a whole snake alive. I was shocked and ask my grandfather told me this:" A snake cannot kill a pig because any poison that pork will ingest will just be stored in his fat under his skin. So, my ancestors refused to eat pork for that reason and for a religious reason".
About the pork nowadays,rising animals is so methodical and safe that it is almost unthinkable that the supposed unclean animal will carry the same risk as one raised in the past.
St Paul in 1 Cor 10:23-33 is consistent about what is lawful according to him. Even all things are lawful, he would not offend anybody, he would undermine his own feeling to makes others comfortable. He would eat any food presented to him.
Another point submitted by Paul is in Rom 14:2-3: God will look after your good spirit rather than what you eat.
Mark 7:19-23 Jesus is telling us that nothing that goes into a man can defile him but what comes out of his mouth can be destructive for him and others.
The best of all is Acts 10: 9-17 "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate"
Not only Peter will eat common and unclean food he will be eating it with a gentile man,a non Jews Cornelius. It's there the signification of the universality of Christianity also the ultimate proof that God is looking for the good of each of us instead of what we are eating.
Once again, I am not here to lecture anyone about the scriptures but to say it aloud how good is the pork and specially pork belly.
here one of my ways to prepare it. I like the front belly as opposed to the back for a good balance of meat and fat. The separation between the meat and the fat is so clear and well layered, 50/50 fat and meat will be the best the slab should be trimmed both sides. the slab without skin is my favorite and a black Berkshire pork will be the most.
Recipe for a spiced slow-roasted Pork Belly

2 lbs pork belly, skin off
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 tablespoon nutmeg
2 tablespoon dark brown sugar
4 medium onions.

Directions
1-rub the pork belly with vanilla, cinnamon,thyme, salt, sugar and Nutmeg.
2-let it seat for about 30 minutes in room temperature up until the fat start to melt.
3-preheat the oven at 325F, cut the onion lenghtwise and lay them in the roasting pan.

4-embed the belly on top of the onion and cook for 3 1/2 hours without turning the meat or basting it.
The onion should be well comfit and almost pureed.Reserve them until the warm.
Chop them with Pommery mustard, creme fraiche and Horsradish.
A little mashed sweet potato will be the best accompaniment for this wonderful dish.

Monday, November 16, 2009

I love Vegan but can never be one!!!

African naturally are vegetarian and eventually “Vegan”. Back in the days, we did not know about milk and cream. Domestic meats was very rare and of course very expensive. Hunting was a question of luck. Some family did not have a single piece of meat on their table for months. My grandmother use to serve groundnuts stew with cepe mushrooms to please us every time we went to visit her. That dish, believed it or not was and still one of the best meal I ever had. She will serve it with cardamom rice, quite a delice. I can talk about this type of dish over and over. I just want to mention that being vegetarian or vegan will never be difficult for us African. Is it a reason for me to adopt the concept of veganism no! But a suggestion for a new way to eat without using some excuses that can lead to some extremism. As a Chef, I enjoy cooking for vegan adept as I love to cook for the non vegan. Animal activists are Vegan and or aspiring becomes vegan. They are very strong believers that any one shouldn’t eat meat, fish and the derivatives product. I truly believe that a natural life recommend us to eat meat, fish… with charity and love because, it was given to us with love and charity.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Quiche oh my God!!!I love it.

The word quiche has his origin from German Kuchen which means cake. The first quiche as we know it now ie: savory tart like has his origin in Lorraine. It is a very old traditional recipe (16 century). Lorraine is a beautiful region in North East of France, the Capital city is Nancy known also for his Bergamot.Supposedly, The Duke of Lorraine Charles the third had it for his dinner,love it very much and decided to name it the Lorraine Kuchen in another word Quiche Lorraine.
The first quiche recipe was made with La pate levee (bread dough style), eggs, lean bacon and cream. Later,the quiche Lorraine recipe was widespread and extends far beyond Lorraine borders, the dough was replaced by the butter crust and eventually the pouf pastry.
In Lorraine,the quiche filling is called Migaine and has to be done only with heavy cream and eggs. Anything else is almost a deadly sin!!!The result of the Migaine has to tremble.
Butter Crust Recipe
Ingredients for 9 inches shell.
10oz Flour about 2 cups
8oz very cold butter diced
1/4 ice water
1 tsp salt more or less

Directions
1. mix flour with salt in a large stainless still bowl. add butter and mix rapidly until it's sand like.Add the water and Mix quickly until well combine. Wrap the dough in a plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour to a day.
2. Dust the pastry on both sides with flour. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the pastry. I can't tell you inches wise what will be the thickness and what will be the circumference but,your dough should be the length of your rolling pin.
Roll the pastry around the rolling pin and transfer to a 9" spring form pan. press it firmly around the ring and on top.Make sure they are no cracks otherwise, use the the trimmings to close any cracks. Freeze the shell for about 15 to 25 minutes.
You can precook your dough or fill it directly.
For the filling.
1 lb Lardons (Bacon Slab diced)
1 medium sweet onion finely diced
6 large eggs beaten
4 cups Heavy cream
Salt to taste
Nutmeg to taste

1. Sauteed Bacon with onion about 10 minutes
2. Mix eggs, salt, nutmeg and heavy cream.
3. Add the bacon mix
4. Pour the filling into the crust and bake for 3 hours in a very slow oven (325 to 350F)

Monday, November 9, 2009

The mystic of the food: Previous before a good dinner with very good friend


My dearest friend
What a wonderful menu, I have already a mouth watering. I have nothing to say about your choice.
I'll be glad to assist you. Please let me know the necessary ingredients I shall bring to make our dinner the most and the best of all.
I have to entertain you about the beauty of your choice. I don't know how much you think about the ingredients that you choose to use for our dinner but the symbolism of the food is one of my great passion.
Very funny, most of the ingredients are bitter but, they all have one symbolic link: being roughly the symbol of fertility, abundance, strength and passion.
The Saffron in certain point of view is the symbol of Trinity. Three flowers alike in size, beauty, fragrance and others properties. All the extremism is vices because they go too far beyond the center, the virtue will be in between.
I named it the path of Saffron: Temperance and moderation, the simple beauty, tenderness and passion in a noble way to love: seeing other not in your way but the he been created by God (Love, Beauty and Spirituality).
Ouaa!!!!!! Arugula!!!!!!! Oh God!!!! In French his really name is Roquette: (little stone, difficult to break, abundant and protective) what a better way to explain Fertility, Abundance, Strength and Passion.
Sacre Bleu!!!!! Les Cerneaux de Noix (Walnut in French). Walnut, both as a tree and fruit, the symbol of protection against Dracula and others evils in Rumania, The conservation of tradition, the longevity as the beautiful tree can leave up to 4 centuries. China made with walnut wood so beautiful. The shell is strong and tough like armor, a place to save all our treasure like our friendship!!!
I want to keep talking about all these beautiful ingredients but mister Time telling me to let it go Lol!!!!
For the dessert why not a Mi-Cuit of a dark chocolate serves hot with a spiced Crème Anglaise. My Grand Father use to say that, Chocolate is the nourishment of the Gods. He was so in love with the chocolate. He told me this one day: <>.
Let us try a glass of very good Cabernet Franc (maybe a little too strong for our dinner) but, how sensuous with a dark chocolate.
My beloved friend, I am a lucky man for having a sweet friend as you.
Take care of yourself, my thoughts and prayers always to protect you. I can't wait until Saturday.