Friday 31 May 2013

CHARLIE TIME ! : PISTOUNADE DIP AND MELON WITH MARSALA GRANITE









71 comments:

  1. Sixte, pistounade dip sounds very good. Melon and wine granite can be used as a dessert. Am I right? Anne

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    1. You are absolutely right Anne. You can serve it with a piece of cheese as well, (French cheese or a nice mature Cheddar). Best, Sixte

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  2. I like the dip. I have no much room in my freezer, so I can't do granite for tomorrow's party. I will make fruit salads you suggested earlier. Thanks. Penny

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    1. Are you sure Penny ? Not even a tiny plastic one which can go under something else perhaps (as long as it is covered)? It is so easy to make... Best, Sixte

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  3. Fruit salads, dip and granite are great choices for the buffet party I organise tomorrow. Thank you. You have a standing invitation Sixte. Eliza

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    1. I will be then, thank you Eliza. Sixte

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    2. I don't think you made it to my buffet party, but your food was present there. My friends enjoyed the salads and your dip. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Eliza

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    3. I was there through the recipes... I am happy your friends enjoyed your buffet. Thank you Eliza. Sixte

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  4. Good weather is back! ... We hope. I usually buy dips, but this time I will make one myself ( with a little help from Sixte). Cheers! Rebecca

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    1. Yes Rebecca, you will love this one. It comes from the South of France and is terribly easy to make. Cheers, Sixte

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    2. Yes, Sixte, you were right. The dip was fairly easy to make. It was delicious. Thanks. Rebecca

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    3. Good. Thank you Rebecca. Sixte

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  5. Is it possible to do different flavours of granite? It sounds fun. Gloria

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    1. Of course Gloria, absolutely anything. As soon as you can eat it, then you can granite it... Yes, even Sardines or salmon, yes, yes, yes... Best, Sixte

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  6. Hello Sixte, your recipes from yesterday and today brought much warmer weather ( I hope it lasts longer). If the warm weather stays with us I will invite some friends for the b-b-que tomorrow. Your salads and the dip will come handy. Let the sun shine! Best, Marion

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    1. It will shine Marion. Have a really good b-b-que! Sixte

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    2. Hey Sixte, the weather was great and my friends enjoyed my b-b-que ( I hope). They definitely liked your salads and the dip (they left nothing). Cheers, Marion

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  7. Just to let you know I like reading your blog. My mother never taught me to cook, so you are my educator. Thanks. Charlotte

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    1. That's good Charlotte. I am sure you will surprise your mother one day with some fabulous cooking. Sixte

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  8. Hey Sixte, you are a ray of hope in my preparations to my tomorrow's 42 birthday. I am praying for the sun to stay up. I would like my guests to be in the garden. It is so much better and tidier. Your salads, dip and granite will be the star guests. Thank you very much. Anita

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  9. Joyeux anniversaire Anita! Thank you for the ray (of hope and light). Fingers crossed, it is going to be marvelous and the sun will be the star guest as well... Sixte

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  10. May I borrow your recipes as well, please? Pat

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    1. Sure, but which one Pat ? Sixte

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    2. 3 salads: teriyaki, Aberdeen and sweet... for my buffet this coming Sunday, please. I may use your fruit salads as well. You are very helpful Sixte. Thanks a lot. Pat

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    3. Of course Pat, help yourself...Sixte

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  11. My question is about the granite. Does it become as hard as ice-cream or it is of a different consistency, please? Do you eat it with the spoon or one can use ice-cream cones? Thanks. Mel

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    1. No, it is different Mel. It has a "granulated" texture compare with an ice-cream which has a smooth texture. Do not forget to stir your granite with a fork every 20-30 minutes otherwise it will not be possible to take it off from the recipient. You do not use conse only little "verrines" (use shot glass for example) and cappuccino's spoons (if possible). Sixte

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  12. Thank you for your advise Sixte. Mel

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  13. My friend told me about your blog. I can't believe how good it is. Congratulations Sixte. Jasmine

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    1. Thank you so much Jasmine (and your friend), it's really kind. Sixte

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  14. Dear Sixte, I was looking for an interesting food sites. Yours is above the board, uniquely directed towards the families with young children. This is why it is so popular. Well done! Sarah Kellett

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    1. Thank you ever so much Sarah. Best, Sixte

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  15. Oh, Sixte, we have French friends coming to dinner tomorrow evening. What would be the best dishes I can impress them with, please? They are in their forties and they always boast about the superiority of French food. I agree there is a long history of dining in France. I don't want them to think we can't prepare a decent meal here in Britain. With your help I hope this is possible. Thank you. Jennifer

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    1. Hi Jennifer. Yes, I know what you mean. You will impress them by the quality of your food.
      Begin with an apéritif : my coupe champenoise and do some parmesan lollypop, my pistounade dip and then in litte verrines, serve some fresh crab (from your fishmonger, I go to Elystan place, Chelsea),above a cumin-chilli guacamole.

      For starter, do a tomato-basil-mozzarella crumble (60g of four, 60g of melted butter, 60g of oat flakes for the crumble). Cook the tomatoes in a pan with garlic and a little bit of sugar for few minutes. Add them in a tin with fresh basil and mozza. Then add the crumble mixture.
      Cook for 15mn in your oven at 180.

      Then you can do some salmon and tapenade "papillotes". In a square foil, put 150g of salmon and above it some tapenade (garlic, capers olive oil and black olives smooth blitz). Drizzle with thyme and olive oil.
      Close the foil and cook in the oven for 15mn at 200.

      Then THE CHEESE BOARD.
      It is SO important with French people.
      Rippon Cheese shop, in Pimlico, London SW1V 1SW is the BEST ever.
      Buy 3 Rocamadour cheese,
      a slice of 24month Comté,
      a slice of Cantal très vieux,
      one Époisses au Marc,
      one Laguiole fermier,
      one Selles sur chair.
      Buy some really good bread to serve with (cereals, walnuts, etc).

      You will finish buy the Lemon cake from Pierre Hermé and normally, after all that, your French friends will be terribly pleased by your "French cooking with a Brit twist!"
      Let me know how it was.
      Best, Sixte

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    2. Hi Sixte, thank you ever so much for taking a trouble of helping me. I will do as you told me. I feel much more at ease now. I will tell tomorrow about it. Jennifer

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    3. I am happy if you feel at ease now! You will see, everything is going to be all right Jennifer. Best, Sixte

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    4. Sixte and Jennifer, I hope you don't mind me borrowing these ideas for my dinner party. I am very impressed by the subtlety and elegance of the menu. Jennifer, don't worry, my guests are from Canada (French speaking though). Julia

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    5. No, I do not mind, please help yourself Julia. I wish you a nice dinner party. Best, Sixte
      ERRATUM : For the Pierre Hermé cake, you have to read, "then by" and not "buy"...Obviously you will make the cake...

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    6. Hi Sixte, it was so nice. They were clearly impressed by the choice of food. In fact, they couldn't believe how good it was. I can't thank you enough, Sixte. You saved my reputation. You are the STAR!!! Jennifer

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    7. Thank you SO much Jennifer. I am so touched... But well done YOU too! You prepared the dinner yourself! Now you can relax and enjoy this perfect (oh, so sunny) day. Sixte

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  16. Have a lovely weekend Sixte. You deserve it after helping us every day of the week. Now we will have to do the work, bringing your recipes into the real, hungry world. Yours, Amanda

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    1. Thank you so much Amanda. Have a lovely (sunny???) week-end as well. Yours, Sixte

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  17. Gosh, the weather is not too bad! Time for the buffet! Mel

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    1. Heu, quick though... Sixte

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    2. Thank you Sixte for your inspiring blog. My buffet went very well. Thanks again. Mel

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    3. Super Mel. I am really happy for you (even the sun was there, wasn't it)? Sixte

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  18. Sixte, your dip was a total success. Thank you. Martha

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  19. Charlie time! Food promoted by you is "bravo". We couldn't have enough of it. Cora

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    1. Perfect Cora, I am really pleased... Sixte

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  20. I deeply admire your dip. Your Marsala Granite gravitated me directly to Mars. You are sensational Sixte. Stephanie

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    1. Merci beaucoup Stephanie. I am touched by your words... Sixte

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  21. Thank you Sixte for helping my buffet party to be a success. Liz

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    1. I am really happy your buffet went well Liz. Well done you! Best, Sixte

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  22. Sixte I can't express how grateful I am for helping me. I talk about your blog with my friends. I always check it for new ideas. Grace

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    1. Thank you so much Grace. I am so pleased to know I can help! Best, Sixte

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  23. Great blog! Even mu husband thinks it is fab. Eliza

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    1. Thank you very much Eliza (and your husband of course)! Best, Sixte

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  24. Great weather for the outdoor buffet! Mary

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    1. Yes Mary, with a nice breeze as well. Sixte

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  25. Hey Sixte, your granite made a lasting impression on our guests. Thanks. Linda

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  26. Thank you Sixte. Your recipes helped a lot. Pauline

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  27. Weather is a good match for the salads and granite. Louise

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  28. Sixte, more recipes for the hot weather, please. When you post them hot weather returns. Best, Olga

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    1. Yes, careful though. This sunny guy is quite susceptible... Sixte

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  29. My friend told me about your blog. I must say there is a wealth of useful recipes and tips. I am impressed. Elizabeth

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    1. Thank you so much Elizabeth. Best, Sixte

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