Touring Hungary, several years ago, I had to laugh as we passed Lake Balaton. Even being used to flowery Hungarian exaggerations, the fact that Hungary is a landlocked nation, and that Lake Balaton is the largest lake in central Europe, Balaton, didn’t seem to be “the great inland sea” that I had always heard it called. What passed as Hungary’s “ocean” just seemed like myriads of lakes in New York or Ontario
What tragedy, and good fortune, had Marianne flee Hungary across the Atlantic and be welcomed into the mouth of the Hudson River? She first settled by the shores of the brackish Hudson in Manhattan and now, next to the Atlantic in Palm Beach. A woman, who as a child, never even saw a body of salt water, now wakes up each morning to the sound of the waves of the ocean at her apartment in Palm Beach, Florida.
It was there, in Florida, sitting on her balcony that the plans were hatched to celebrate her upcoming birthday of a “certain age.” Other than the guest list, of her closest relatives and friends, my Mother would have no inkling of what was to come. I picked the sea horse theme because of her fascination with these piscatorial equestrian creatures and is a symbol of her favorite vacation, a Crystal Cruise.
On a rainy November night, she was surprised to arrive at an enchanting carriage house perched over the Hudson, in Manhattan’s Fort Tryon Park, www.newleafcafe.com. As she opened the pocket doors, she was delighted by a warm vista of sea horses and smiling faces. Main among them the co host, my brother Rony, and Carla, who helped so much with getting supplies and putting the cake back together after its long trip from Toronto, and all four grandchildren.
Centerpieces with seahorses
We feasted on the restaurant’s extraordinary food. I had the 5 spice duck. when I requested the recipe, the chef , Scott Campbell one upped himself and gave me a recipe for 6 spice duck!
Cocoa Spiced Duck Breast With Local Baby Turnips In a Piquant Valrhona Chocolate Jus
4 Duck Steak (Filet)
To Taste Chili-Cocoa 6 Spice
To Taste Sea Salt, Maldon
To Taste Black Pepper, Freshly Ground
2 – Ounces Extra Virgin Olive Oil
8 – Ounces Sliced Onions
16 – Ounces Chicken Or Duck Stock
2 – Ounces Veal Or Beef Essence
2 Bay Leaves, Fresh
6 Branches Thyme, of
1 Bunch Cilantro Sprigs, of
1-Teaspoon Chipotle In Adobo
4 – Ounces Sweet Butter
2 – Ounces Valrhona Chocolate 72% Guanaja
8 – Ounces Miniature Turnips, Peeled
8 – Ounces Miniature Thumbelina Carrots, Peeled
8 – Ounces Celery Root Cubes – Peeled
8 – Ounces Butternut Squash Cubes – Peeled
Garnish
4 – Ounces Frizzled Tortillas
1 -Teaspoon Coriander Seeds
1 – Ounce Micro Purple Shiso
1 – Ounce Pumpkin Seeds
Heat one ounce of olive oil and one ounce of butter in a medium saucepot, when butter starts to bubble and then dissipate add onions and cook at a medium heat. Sauté the onion for a long period until the onions become a dark brown, about 30 or so minutes until the look like what’s called tobacco onions, (if necessary lower heat).
Add one ounce of chili-cocoa 6 spice and sauté with the onions and if necessary add more olive oil if to dry and sauté the spices with the onions for about 1 to 2 minutes more.
Add duck stock, veal essence, bay leaf, thyme and cilantro sprigs. Simmer jus for 30 to 45 minutes strain mixture through a chinoise, add chipolte in adobo, and grate Valrhona chocolate with a rasper and wisk in and butter to jus and season with salt and pepper, set aside.
Season duck steak with chili-cocoa 6 spice and seasonings, in the meantime heat a large sauté pan to medium high heat, when hot add seasoned duck steaks to pan skin side down and render fat about 7 – 12 minutes basting with duck fat intermittently until skin is crisp. Turn over the steaks to lightly cook the other side, for a minute. Let duck rest for 5 minutes and trim ends off and cut into to medallions.
Blanch vegetables in salted water until cooked to desired texture, toss in sweet butter, season and disperse equally in four bowls. Add jus to bowls, duck medallions and garnish with frizzled tortillas, coriander seeds, shiso, and pumpkin seeds. Lightly grate Valrhona chocolate over the duck to complete the dish.