If you enjoy creating classic sauces at home, then you might be interested in the Classic French Demi-Glace from More Than Gourmet. Rich in color and taste, this concentrated base easily transformsbasic ingredientsinto rich foils for meats and other savory creations.
Last night, I was inspired to buy a package because I was testing a dish that I tried at the Southside Bistro while in Anchorage, Alaska. At the suggestion of a friend while dining at the lovely restaurant, I ordered their Blue Cheese Custard. Baked in a bain marie and served with aPortwinereduction and housemade Norwegian-style flatbread, the dish wowed me. After some schmoozing with the waiter, I convinced them to give me the recipe. (He probably just got tired of answering my technical questions as to how they made it! In a blender? In a food processor? How did they get the flatbread so flat? In a bain marie? Isthe dishpopular?) Eventually, the very simple custardrecipe was graciouslyhanded to me that evening. Itis writtenin restaurant proportions, so I am in the process of testing and tweaking it. One thing that had me a little baffled was how to make the Port wine reduction. Clearly, it was an important component to the dish, but I knew I wasn't going to start creating my own.
So, when I saw these little packets near the cheese section at Shoreline's Central Market last night, I was inspired to grab one and make the dish with those. The demi-glace was soooo easy to use. Per the instructions on the package, I took a little scoop and added four times the amount of water. In my Le Creuset saucier, I simmered the mixture, whisking, and then reduced it to thicken it a bit. Much to my delight, it worked perfectly with theblue cheese dish! On my next testing session, I think I'll add a little Port to the mix, too.
It might still be a little too warm in your region to start thinking about rich Frenchsauces, but if you like to concoct such things during the colder snowiermonths of the year, add this demi-glace to your shopping list. At the supermarket here in Seattle, I paid $5.99 for a 1.5 ounce package. Here on Amazon, you can purchase six 1.5 ounce packages for about $19. A significant savings for sure.
--Melissa A. Trainer
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