
Duck Soup with Foie Gras Ravioli with Alfred Portale
Special | 24m 54sVideo has Closed Captions
Chef Alfred Portale cooks Julia's favorite, duck.
Chef Alfred Portale cooks Julia's favorite, duck.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback

Duck Soup with Foie Gras Ravioli with Alfred Portale
Special | 24m 54sVideo has Closed Captions
Chef Alfred Portale cooks Julia's favorite, duck.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch In Julia's Kitchen With Master Chefs
In Julia's Kitchen With Master Chefs is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, LG TV, and Vizio.

Visit the Julia Child Experience
Get recipes, watch hundreds of episodes of her classic shows, read tributes from celebrity chefs, and more. Bon appetit!HELLO, I'M JULIA CHILD.
WELCOME TO MY HOUSE AND TO MY KITCHEN AND TO ANOTHER CULINARY ADVENTURE WITH ONE OF AMERICA'S MASTER CHEFS.
FROM NEW YORK CITY'S GOTHAM BAR & GRILL ALFRED PORTALE SHOWS US THE VERSATILITY OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE FOODS-DUCK.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A REAL CULINARY ADVENTURE BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT DUCKS.
AND JUST LOOK AT ALL OF THESE DUCKS.
AND CHEF PORTALE'S GOING TO TELL US ALL ABOUT THEM.
GREAT.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH FIRST THIS SMALL DUCK.
THIS IS A MALLARD DUCK, A WILD DUCK.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT HAS A DARKER FLESH.
NOW IT'S VERY LEAN AND A LITTLE TOUGHER.
SO WE'D WANT TO BRAISE THIS DUCK.
THIS IS, MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH IS YOUR PEKING OR LONG ISLAND DUCKLING.
YEAH, THAT'S THE ONE- ABOUT ALL WE CAN GET AS PEOPLE.
THIS THING IS A MONSTER.
THIS IS THE MOULARD DUCK.
NOW, THE MOULARD DUCK IT'S BRED WORLDWIDE TO PRODUCE FOIE GRAS.
NOW THIS DUCK COMES FROM HUDSON VALLEY, NEW YORK.
OH YES.
AND PRODUCES FOIE GRAS.
CAN YOU EAT THE BREAST OF IT?
ABSOLUTELY.
THE BREAST, THE FRENCH CALL THE MAGRET.
IT'S A VERY LARGE BREAST.
IT TASTES KIND OF LIKE A PIECE OF BEEF.
EXACTLY, YES IT DOES.
I SHOULD SAY THAT THE MOULARD IS A CROSS BETWEEN THE PEKING AND THE MUSCOVY.
AND I'M USING A MUSCOVY DUCK BECAUSE IT'S, WELL IT'S DUCKY.
IT HAS A VERY RICH FLAVOR.
YEAH, IT LOOKS LESS FATTY.
I THINK IT HAS A GREATER RELATIONSHIP OF MEAT TO FAT.
MORE INTERESTING IN FLAVOR IT HAS LARGER BREASTS.
AS YOU'LL SEE, WE CAN SAUTE THIS AND BRAISE IT AND IT'S A VERSATILE DUCK.
I'VE NEVER SEEN THESE IN OUR SUPERMARKETS.
THESE DUCKS ARE CERTAINLY AVAILABLE MAIL ORDER.
I'M FROM MANHATTAN AND WE HAVE NO TROUBLE FINDING THEM.
BUT ANY OF THESE RECIPES CAN BE DONE WITH THE LONG ISLAND DUCKLING.
YEAH.
NOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO A BONED DUCK.
ARE YOU GOING TO TEACH US ALL EXACTLY HOW YOU DO IT?
YES.
WELL, THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO BONE A DUCK.
THIS IS THE SIMPLEST.
WE FIND WHERE THE LEG JOINTS ARE HERE AND WE CUT THROUGH TO THE SKIN.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT OPENS RIGHT UP.
YEAH.
AND WE JUST SORT OF FOLLOW THE DOTTED LINE AND WE MAKE A CUT THERE.
WE'LL REPEAT THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE OPEN IT UP.
IT JUST SEPARATES OUT, THERE'S NO... YEAH, JUST THE NATURAL MUSCLE SEPARATION.
YES.
NOW I'LL PICK IT UP LIKE THIS AND POP THE JOINTS OUT VERY SIMPLY LIKE THAT.
AND THEY'RE JUST ATTACHED TO THE SMALL OF THE BACK.
I'LL JUST CUT THROUGH, BE CAREFUL HERE.
YEAH.
AND WE TAKE OFF THE FIRST THIGH.
THAT'S EASY ENOUGH.
AND THE SECOND HERE.
AGAIN, YOU CAN... ONCE YOU HAVE THOSE JOINTS FREE, IT'S VERY EASY.
YES.
SO THAT'S THAT.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO FURTHER BONE THIS BY SEPARATING THE THIGH FROM THE LEG.
AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO CUT.
THEY'RE SEARCHING FOR THAT SPOT BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A LITTLE CLUE HERE.
ON EACH THIGH THERE'S A LITTLE SEAM THAT SORT OF TELLS YOU WHERE YOU CAN PUT YOUR KNIFE.
WELL THAT'S NICE AND EASY.
AND YOU JUST CUT THROUGH.
SIMPLY.
YES YOU CAN.
YEAH, YOU CAN SEE THAT.
YES.
ALL CHEFS KNOW THAT BUT THEY NEVER TELL ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THOSE CHEF'S SECRETS.
THEY WANT TO KEEP IT.
THERE WE GO.
AND WE'RE GOING TO SAVE THIS FOR OUR SOUP.
AND THE LEGS WILL GO INTO OUR BROTH.
WE SEPARATE THE SKIN.
WE FEEL HERE THIS IS, I THINK THE KEEL BONE OR THE BREAST BONE.
WE'RE GOING TO JUST RUN OUR KNIFE DOWN EITHER SIDE AND MAKE A CUT.
WE OPEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
NOW DOWN HERE WE CUT IN AND THERE'S THE WISHBONE.
SO WE'RE RUNNING OUR KNIFE JUST ALONG THERE.
YOU'RE SCRAPING RIGHT AGAINST THE BONE THERE.
AND THAT'S IT.
SO NOW, JUST SEPARATE IT OFF.
VERY SIMPLE.
AND THAT'S EASY AND YOU CAN SEE IT ALL.
IT'S VERY EASY.
I'VE CUT OVER THE WING HERE RATHER THAN THROUGH IT BECAUSE... YES.
AGAIN, I WANT TO USE THE WING AS PART OF OUR STOCK.
YOU KNOW, I ENJOY THIS AT HOME BUT I'M SURE THAT YOUR BUTCHER IF YOU HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM WOULD GLADLY BONE THIS ALL UP AND PUT EVERYTHING... I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD LEARN HOW TO DO IT ONE'S SELF BECAUSE HOW CAN YOU CARVE A ROAST DUCK IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S BUILT.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THE BONES ARE EXACTLY, RIGHT.
AND THE LAST THING I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO TAKE SOME OF THIS EXTRA FAT OFF WHICH I DON'T WANT IN MY STOCK.
AND WE'RE GOING TO SAVE THAT ALONG WITH THE NECK AND THE GIBLETS AND THE LIVER, ALL WHICH CAN BE USED.
BUT THE FAT, IF YOU WANT TO YOU COULD RENDER THAT AND USE IT TO SAUTE WITH.
DUCK FAT HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FLAVOR.
AND THE BONES AND REST OF THE GIBLETS HERE WILL BE USED FOR OUR BROTH.
WE BEGIN BY BONING THE BREAST AND THE THIGHS AND RESERVING THEM.
AND CHOPPING UP THE CARCASS THE NECK AND THE BONES FOR THE BROTH.
GOOD.
WITH A HEAVY CHEF'S KNIFE OR CLEAVER WE FINELY CHOP THE BONES WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO BROWN EVENLY AND RELEASE ALL THEIR FLAVORS QUICKLY.
SO WE BEGIN BY HEATING A LITTLE BIT OF OIL IN A SAUTE PAN.
WE ADD OUR BONES.
AND STIRRING OFTEN WE BEGIN TO BROWN THEM SLOWLY.
ONCE THE BONES ARE NICELY BROWNED WE POUR OFF THE EXCESS FAT.
AND WE DEGLAZE THE PAN WITH SOME DRY RED WINE BEING CAREFUL TO SCRAPE UP ALL THE BROWN BITS THAT HAVE CLUNG TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN.
MEANWHILE, WE HAVE OUR VEGETABLES A SMALL MIREPOIX - SHALLOTS, GARLIC, LEEK AND WE LIGHTLY CARAMELIZE THEM AND ADD THAT TO YOUR STOCK POT.
YOU TOP OFF THE POT WITH WATER YOU BRING IT SLOWLY TO A BOIL.
REDUCE IT TO A SIMMER AND CAREFULLY SKIM OFF ANY FAT THAT COMES TO THE SURFACE.
YOU SIMMER THE STOCK FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS OR UNTIL IT'S RICHLY FLAVORED.
AT THAT POINT, WE'LL STRAIN THE STOCK THROUGH A FINE-MESHED STRAINER.
AND WE MAY WANT TO RETURN THE STOCK TO THE FIRE AND REDUCE IT DOWN IF NECESSARY TO CONCENTRATE THE FLAVORS.
FINALLY, WE'LL COOL IT DOWN AND REFRIGERATE IT UNTIL WE'RE READY TO USE IT.
SO NOW, LET'S MAKE OUR RAVIOLIS.
HERE I HAVE SOME MADE.
THESE ARE FOIE GRAS RAVIOLIS.
OH, BOY.
AND WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS RECIPE I THOUGHT, YOU CAN DO A VERY SIMPLE DUCK BROTH WITH TURNIPS AND BEANS AND A LITTLE BIT OF MUSHROOM- ALL THE FLAVORS THAT I ASSOCIATE WITH DUCK.
AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN DRESS IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
AND SO, WE'VE ADDED THE FOIE GRAS RAVIOLIS AND SOME BLACK TRUFFLES WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER.
I'M MAKING THESE RAVIOLIS USING WONTON SKINS.
THEY'RE VERY SIMPLE, VERY FAST, AND VERY VERSATILE.
YOU CAN FILL THEM WITH JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.
YOU CAN MAKE THEM WITH ENOUGH IN A FEW MINUTES BEFORE EATING.
TO GET THESE DO I HAVE TO GO TO CHINATOWN?
YES, IN AN ASIAN MARKET.
THEY'RE NOT DIFFICULT TO FIND.
WE BEGIN BY LAYING OUT SOME WONTON SKINS.
AND WE'LL NEED THREE FOR THE TOPS.
SO THE RAVIOLIS ARE QUITE SIMPLE.
WE BEGIN BY PUTTING A LITTLE BIT OF MASHED BEANS.
THE SAME BEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE USING IN THE SOUP WE'VE MASHED A LITTLE BIT UP.
GOOD.
SEASONED THEM, A BIT OF GARLIC SOME SALT AND PEPPER.
THESE ARE RATHER LARGE- THEY'RE CALLED "WHITE RUNNERS".
THIS IS AN HEIRLOOM VARIETY.
YEAP.
YOU COULD USED CANNED CANNELLINIS, I GUESS.
YOU CAN USE ANY BEAN YOU'D LIKE.
AND, IN FACT, MASHED POTATOES LEFTOVER MASHED POTATOES WORK VERY WELL.
WE JUST START BY PUTTING A LITTLE TEASPOON OF OUR BEAN PUREE ON EACH SKIN.
THIS IS A TERRINE THAT WE'VE MADE- IT'S A FOIE GRAS TERRINE.
VERY SIMPLE- SALT, PEPPER.
WE'VE MARINATED IT IN A LITTLE ARMAGNAC.
AND IT'S COOKED QUITE SIMPLY, AND THEN PRESSED.
GREAT.
I ALSO HAVE A MOUSSE DE FOIE GRAS THAT IS READILY AVAILABLE.
THIS SOUP IS EXCELLENT WITH ANY TYPE OF RAVIOLI.
YOU CAN PUT A LITTLE MUSHROOM RAVIOLI IN IT.
AGAIN, WE'RE DRESSING IT UP A BIT.
SO, I'LL CUT A SLICE OF THIS AND WE'LL PUT A LITTLE CHUNK ON EACH.
WE'LL DO IT THAT WAY.
EVERY HOUSE SHOULD HAVE FOIE GRAS IN IT, DON'T YOU THINK?
IT'S SO GOOD.
I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
OOPS.
THIS IS VERY SIMPLE.
JUST A TINY BIT, YES.
SO NOW WE'VE DONE THIS.
AND I HAVE A LITTLE EGG WASH OR BEATEN EGG WHICH I'VE ADDED A LITTLE WATER TO IT.
THIS IS GOING TO ACT TO STICK THE TWO SKINS TOGETHER SO THEY DON'T OPEN DURING THE COOKING.
YOU COULD ADD A LITTLE WATER HERE.
BUT I FIND THAT THE EGG WORKS.
YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO OPEN?
A LITTLE BIT BETTER, YES.
SO YOU SIMPLY JUST PUT THIS OVER IT.
PICK IT UP AND PRESS THE EDGES TOGETHER.
HAVE YOU MADE LITTLE RAVIOLIS WITH WONTON SKINS?
I NEVER HAVE, I'VE JUST EATEN THEM; THEY'RE SO DELICIOUS.
A RELATIVELY NEW IDEA.
WE JUST PRESS THEM LIKE THAT AS WELL.
IT'S INTERESTING HOW IDEAS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE NOW INCORPORATED IN COOKING.
THE INGENUITY OF THESE YOUNG AMERICAN CHEFS; YOU KNOW, OUR CUISINE IS SO YOUNG AND WE REALLY HAVE NO PRECONCEIVED IDEAS OF WHAT TO DO, SO... WHICH IS GREAT.
SO VERY INVENTIVE, VERY CREATIVE.
IT'S WONDERFUL.
WELL THAT'S, WE'VE STUCK THOSE TOGETHER NICELY.
AND I'M USING A LITTLE CIRCLE CUTTER YEAH.
TO TRIM THE EDGES JUST TO GIVE THEM A NICE FINISHED LOOK.
WE'RE GOING TO, ALSO JUST TO BE SURE WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH AND... THIS WAS MY JOB AS A CHILD WHEN MY MOTHER MADE RAVIOLI.
I HAD TO SEAL THEM BY HAND.
WAS SHE ITALIAN?
YES.
THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD BACKGROUND FOR LOVE OF FOOD.
YES, FOR RAVIOLIS.
I HAVE A TRAY THAT I'VE SPRINKLED WITH A LITTLE CORNMEAL.
THAT WILL PREVENT THEM FROM STICKING WHILE THEY'RE IN THE REFRIGERATOR.
WELL THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
AND WE'LL PUT THESE AWAY WHILE WE SAUTE THE DUCK THIGHS.
DO YOU COVER THEM WITH PLASTIC?
YES, COVER THEM TIGHTLY WITH PLASTIC IN THE REFRIGERATOR.
YEAP.
SO WE'RE USING FOUR THIGHS FOR THE RECIPE.
AND I'LL TURN ON THE PAN HERE.
I'M GOING TO ADD JUST A DROP OF IN THIS CASE, OLIVE OIL.
I'M SEASONING THE DUCK WITH SALT AND FRESH GROUND PEPPER.
AND WE'LL PUT THEM... SKIN-SIDE DOWN.
NOW WE WANT THE... I SEE IT'S SEIZING UP RIGHT AWAY.
...THE SKIN TO CRISP.
I LEFT THIS THIGH BONE IN HERE.
YES.
IT HELPS PREVENT THE DUCK FROM SHRINKING AND SHRIVELING AND IT ALLOWS US TO REMOVE THE BONE LATER AND IT ALLOWS US TO CARVE IT.
THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, YES.
THESE COOK SLOWLY.
I WOULD COOK THEM ABOUT TEN MINUTES TEN TO 15 MINUTES IN ALL.
WE WANT TO TURN THEM WHEN THE SKIN IS VERY CRISP.
SO, JULIA, WE'VE COOKED THESE ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES ON A MEDIUM FIRE.
YEAH.
AND WE WANT TO TURN THESE WHEN THE SKIN IS CRISP AND NICELY GOLDEN-BROWN.
JUST ABOUT ALL THE FAT HAS RENDERED OUT?
THAT'S RIGHT, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S ALL IN THE PAN.
SO THESE ARE GOING TO NOW CONTINUE COOKING SLOWLY FOR ABOUT ANOTHER EIGHT MINUTES.
YOU WANT TO COOK THIS MEDIUM AS OPPOSED TO THE BREAST WHICH IS SO NICE COOKED MEDIUM RARE, OR RARE.
THIS WOULD BE A LITTLE CHEWY IF WE UNDERCOOKED IT.
JULIA, THESE LOOK ABOUT READY.
THEY COOKED ABOUT 15 MINUTES.
WE'LL TAKE THEM OUT OF OUR PAN.
I'M GOING TO PUT THESE ASIDE TO REST.
LET'S MAKE OUR SOUP.
GOOD.
I HAVE SOME VERY YOUNG BABY TURNIPS HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO USE THE WHOLE TURNIP.
WE CUT THE TOPS OFF LIKE THIS.
THESE ARE WONDERFUL TO USE BECAUSE THEY'RE... TURNIPS CAN BE SOMETIMES BITTER.
YEAH.
BUT YOU'LL NEVER FIND THESE BEING BITTER.
THE BONUS IS THESE LOVELY GREEN TOPS- YOU CAN USE THEM IN YOUR SOUP.
WE'LL JUST KIND OF CLEAN OFF THE HEAVIER STEMS.
THESE WERE WASHED.
WE'RE GOING TO JUST SIMPLY WILT THESE INTO THE HOT BROTH AT THE LAST MOMENT.
NOW, TO BOIL THE TURNIPS THEY TAKE ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES AND I HAVE SOME THAT HAVE BEEN COOKING HERE.
AND THE OTHER BONUS ABOUT THESE IS YOU'LL NOTICE I DIDN'T PEEL THEM.
YEAH.
AND THAT IS AND I WAS SO PLEASED WHEN I FIGURED THIS OUT THAT YOU CAN SIMPLY, USING A CLOTH SIMPLY RUB THE SKIN OFF.
AND IT COMES OFF JUST LIKE THAT.
THAT'S A NICE IDEA.
I THINK WHEN VEGETABLES ARE VERY FRESH AND SIMPLY PREPARED I MEAN THERE'S JUST A, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO MUCH.
THERE'S A NATURAL BEAUTY TO THAT.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN LOVELY FLAVOR.
FOR THE SOUP I JUST WANT TO CUT THESE INTO ROUNDS BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, YOU EAT SOUP WITH A SPOON.
AND WE WANT THE GARNISH TO FIT NICELY ONTO THE SPOON.
THICKLY SLICE THEM.
I LOVE THE FLAVOR OF TURNIPS.
THE FLAVOR, WITH DUCK, IT'S A CLASSIC TASTE.
WE COULD DO THIS SOUP WITH TURNIP RAVIOLIS AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
WE'LL PUT THESE ASIDE FOR A MOMENT AND LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR MUSHROOMS.
YES.
WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TODAY TO HAVE SOME CHANTERELLES WHICH ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
THEY'RE VERY COLORFUL AND DELICIOUS MUSHROOMS.
AT LEAST THEY'RE ONES THAT ARE EASY TO RECOGNIZE.
YES.
THESE ARE WILD MUSHROOMS THEY WERE NOT CULTIVATED.
AND, THEY'LL BE SIMPLY SAUTEED.
THESE ARE AMERICAN MUSHROOMS FROM THE WEST COAST AND THEY'RE GATHERED THERE.
UP AROUND OREGON AND WASHINGTON?
THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE CHANTERELLES USE ANY OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSHROOMS.
I THINK THAT THE LITTLE WHITE BUTTON MUSHROOMS WILL WORK JUST FINE.
THEN A MUSHROOM THAT'S BECOMING VERY EASY TO FIND IS CALLED A "CREMINI" OR SORT OF A BROWN MUSHROOM.
AND THAT'S REALLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE MUSHROOMS.
IT HAS A TREMENDOUS FLAVOR.
AND THEY'RE INEXPENSIVE AND THEY'RE VERY EASY TO FIND.
NOW, AGAIN, I WANT TO THICKLY SLICE THESE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SAUTE THEM BRIEFLY.
THEY'LL LATER BE HEATED UP IN THE SOUP.
DO YOU WASH THEM OR DO YOU BRUSH THEM?
WHAT YOU CAN DO IS, IF THEY'RE A LITTLE DIRTY YOU WANT TO TRIM AT THE VERY BIT OF THE ROOT THERE.
AND THEN SIMPLY SCRAPE THE STEM DOWN LIKE THAT.
NOW THESE ARE PERFECTLY CLEAN.
YEAP.
BUT IF YOU HAD A LITTLE BIT OF DIRT... AND THE OTHER THING IS IF THE CAP HAD A BIT OF DIRT ON IT A LITTLE BRUSH THEY ACTUALLY MAKE LITTLE MUSHROOM BRUSHES.
I KNOW.
A LITTLE DAMP CLOTH WILL GET OFF THE DIRT.
YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO WASH THEM IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
RIGHT.
IF YOU DO, OF COURSE, THEY'LL ABSORB WATER.
IF YOU HAVE TO WASH THEM THE BEST WAY IS TO FILL UP A SINK WITH WATER THROW THEM IN AND VIGOROUSLY TOSS THEM AROUND AND THEN QUICKLY LIFT THEM OUT.
AND YOU'LL BE ALRIGHT.
BUT, YOU DON'T WANT TO WASH THEM.
I'VE HEATED A SMALL AMOUNT OF OLIVE OIL IN THE PAN AND WE'RE GOING TO ADD THE MUSHROOMS.
WE WANT SOME HIGH HEAT HERE.
WE JUST WANT TO SEAR THE MUSHROOMS FOR THIS RECIPE.
PRODUCE A LITTLE COLOR.
AND SORT OF TRAP ALL THE WONDERFUL FLAVORS IN.
WHICH WILL GIVE THE MOST FLAVOR IN THE SOUP, I GUESS.
THAT'S RIGHT.
WHEN WE HEAT THEM AGAIN IN THE BROTH THEY'LL RELEASE TO FLAVOR THE SOUP.
SALT, AND FRESH GROUND WHITE PEPPER.
THESE WILL COOK JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
SO THESE ARE BEGINNING TO BROWN A LITTLE BIT.
THESE ARE JUST... THE SMELL OF SAUTEING CHANTERELLES IS JUST ONE OF MY FAVORITE... WOULD YOU LIKE TO TASTE THE MUSHROOM?
I WOULD.
NOW, IT MAY BE HOT, SO... I THINK THEY'RE WELL SEASONED.
THEY ARE.
THEY'RE JUST A DELICIOUS MUSHROOM.
I'M PUTTING THESE TO THE SIDE.
AND IN A MOMENT WE'LL ADD THEM TO THE WARM BROTH WHICH WE HAVE OVER HERE.
HERE'S OUR DUCK BROTH WHICH I'D LIKE TO TASTE.
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.
IF YOU SAY SO YOURSELF.
WELL JULIA, IT'S VERY GOOD, TASTE IT.
WE'LL RE-SEASON IT ONCE WE ADD ALL OF OUR GARNISH.
THAT IS DELICIOUS.
YOU MAY... IT'S VERY CONCENTRATED ISN'T IT?
IT'S VERY GOOD EXTRACT OF FLAVORS, VERY CONCENTRATED.
I'M GOING TO GET THIS DOWN TO A BARE SIMMER.
I DON'T WANT IT REDUCING ON US.
NOW I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE THIS COULD BE A VERY HMMBLE SOUP.
YEAH.
WITH WHITE BEANS AND TURNIPS, TURNIP GREENS OR WE COULD JAZZ IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
GOOD.
THE TRUFFLES.
THESE ARE FRESH, BLACK TRUFFLES.
FRESH.
WOW!
WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?
FRANCE, AS DID THIS LITTLE MACHINE.
NOW THIS IS A TRUFFLE SLICER.
AND THIS ALLOWS YOU TO SLICE THE TRUFFLES.
BOY, THAT'S SO HEAVY.
VERY, VERY THINLY.
GOSH.
PRESUMABLY, WHAT YOU PAY FOR THIS YOU MAKE UP IN THE THINNESS OF YOUR TRUFFLE SLICES.
HOW MUCH WOULD ONE LIKE THAT COST, SAY TO ME NOT TO A RESTAURATEUR.
WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY CLOSE TO A HUNDRED DOLLARS HERE.
WE TAKE A HMMBLE SOUP OF TURNIPS AND DUCK BROTH.
PUT A HUNDRED DOLLAR TRUFFLE IN THERE.
THAT'S GREAT.
WE MAKE IT INTO A SPECTACULAR NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION.
YEAH.
THIS WORKS LIKE A LITTLE MANDOLINE AND YOU SIMPLY... AT THAT PRICE YOU WANT TO DO IT VERY THIN, DON'T YOU?
WELL, THAT'S RIGHT.
AND THIS SLICES THEM VERY, VERY THIN.
AND, OF COURSE, WE DON'T... ALL THESE LITTLE CRUMBS WILL ALL GO INTO OUR SOUP.
AND WE'RE GOING TO ADD THESE NOW FIRST... SO WE'LL GET ALL THAT LOVELY TASTE.
WE'LL GET THAT LOVELY TASTE, EXACTLY.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT UNDERNEATH THERE.
LET ME DO ANOTHER ONE.
LET'S BE EXTRAVAGANT.
ALRIGHT.
SAY WHEN, THERE WE GO.
AGAIN, THIS IS SUCH A TREAT.
THAT'S A WONDERFUL INSTRUMENT.
IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN DRESS UP ANY DISH.
POACHED EGG IF YOU WANT TO.
YOU CAN FLOAT A LITTLE CAVIAR IN HERE IF WE WANTED TO REALLY GET CRAZY.
I'M GOING TO CARVE THE DUCK MEAT NOW.
WE'VE COOKED IT LEAVING THE BONE IN.
THAT PREVENTS IT FROM SHRINKING AND CURLING.
WE NOW NEED TO LIFT THAT OUT WHICH IS VERY SIMPLE.
IT JUST PULLS OUT LIKE THAT.
I WANT TO CUT THIS INTO THIN SLICES.
YOU'RE LEAVING THE SKIN RIGHT ON?
YES.
AT THIS... WELL IT LOOKS LOVELY IT LOOKS JUST RIGHT, DOESN'T IT?
YES, AT THIS POINT IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE OFF THE SKIN I WOULD REMOVE IT NOW RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW BECAUSE IT'S MUCH SIMPLER THAN REMOVING IT BEFORE YOU COOK IT.
YEAH.
SO, VERY THIN SLICES HERE.
I THINK WE'RE READY TO ADD OUR GARNISH.
GOOD.
OUR CHANTERELLES THAT ARE... AND ANY OF THAT JUICE THAT HAS ACCUMULATED IN THE PAN.
TURNIPS.
THOSE LOVELY LITTLE TURNIPS.
THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL, SWEET.
THE WHITE RUNNERS.
THESE ARE CLOSE TO THE ITALIAN GIGANTE BEANS.
THEY'RE VERY CREAMY AND... BECAUSE I KNOW IN FRANCE I'VE SEEN ONES THAT ARE VERY WHITE, IT'S DELICIOUS.
AND LAST, WE HAVE OUR TURNIP TOPS THAT I'M JUST GOING TO CUT THEM LIKE THAT.
AND WE ADD THESE.
AND I'M GOING TO STIR THIS AND I'M GOING TO TURN UP OUR HEAT BRIEFLY.
AND WHILE THIS IS HEATING THROUGH WE'LL PUT OUR DUCK MEAT IN.
AND WE HAVE OUR FOIE GRAS RAVIOLIS.
THEY TAKE ABOUT TEN TO 15 SECONDS TO COOK IN BOILING WATER.
WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR OUR WATER TO BOIL LET'S QUICKLY MINCE SOME CHIVE.
YOU WANT TO SLICE THESE THINLY.
I HAVE SOME HERE THAT I'VE SLICED.
OKAY, I THINK WE'RE READY.
OH.
HERE WE HAVE ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL... I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A GIGANTIC PLATE.
THIS IS AN OVERSIZED SOUP PLATE, YOU MEAN.
YEAP.
THIS IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL, COLORFUL... HMM, SMELLS SO GOOD, NUM NUM.
YOU DON'T WANT TO... THERE ARE THOSE LITTLE TRUFFLES.
...FORGET THE TRUFFLE.
AND A LITTLE BIT OF THE BROTH.
SO WE'RE GOING TO COOK OUR RAVIOLIS TEN SECONDS, NO LONGER.
THE SKINS COOK VERY QUICKLY.
WE WANT TO WARM THE CENTER OF THE FOIE GRAS AND THE BEANS.
BUT WE DON'T WANT TO MELT IT ALL.
WE DON'T WANT TO BURST ANYTHING.
IS THAT SALTED OR JUST PLAIN WATER?
SALTED.
SALTED WATER.
YES.
THESE ARE JUST ABOUT READY AND YOU WANT TO FLOAT THEM IN OUR SOUP.
THEY'RE VERY ELEGANT.
A BIT OF CHIVE.
LOVELY.
AND OUR CHERVIL.
I LOVE CHERVIL I DO TOO, IT'S SUCH A DELICATE... IT HAS A LITTLE FAINT TARRAGON TASTE.
THIS SOUP DOESN'T NEED MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
I WOULDN'T THINK.
THERE YOU HAVE IT.
WE JUST NEED A BIG SPOON.
WELL, THAT'S LOVELY.
THANK YOU.
ALFRED, THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING.
THAT WAS VERY KIND OF YOU AND WE REALLY LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT DUCK.
JULIA, IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE.
I'VE ENJOYED COOKING IN YOUR HOME.
YOU'VE BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO ME AND TO ALL OF US.
WE THINK YOU'RE WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Portale: BEFORE GOING TO FRANCE I THOUGHT COOKING NEEDED TO BE INCREDIBLY COMPLEX AND VERY COMPLICATED.
AND EACH OF THE RECIPES NEEDED MANY, MANY STEPS.
AND THEN I'VE FOUND THAT WASN'T REALLY TRUE.
THAT IT WAS A LOT SIMPLER THAN I HAD EXPECTED.
AND THAT WAS EYE-OPENING.
BUT I LEARNED A GREAT DEAL IN FRANCE.
BON APPETIT.


- Food
Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Television
Transform home cooking with the editors of Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Magazine.












Support for PBS provided by:
