Elegant and chic holiday recipes

Have A
Chic HolidayThe holidays bring family and friends together to celebrate the festive season over delectable feast and drink. To help make your holiday dinner a mouthwateringly memorable holiday affair, Chef Jacques Haeringer of Washington DC’s legendary restaurant L’Auberge Chez Francois, shares his holiday feast philosophy and three elegant, yet easy, holiday recipes.An Elegant Holiday feast

Chef Jacques Haeringer, author of Two for Tonight, a collection of recipes that inspire romance through food and togetherness, and the Chez François Cookbook, the bible of classic Alsatian cuisine featuring some of the restaurant's most popular recipes, believes that combining great food and a warm, welcoming environment is the key to a memorable holiday evening.

"Unforgettable meals are a tradition at L'Auberge Chez François," explains Chef Jacques. "It's a tradition based on our philosophy that life's memorable moments are not complete without a festive meal – the ambience, the artful presentation and the anticipation of delightful tastes merge together to indulge the senses and help create a wonderful holiday experience."

You can create your own deliciously unforgettable feast by serving your holiday guests the following holiday recipes, courtesy of Chef Jacques.

Pumpkin Ginger Soup

Serves 6

The quintessential and humble holiday pumpkin soup gets an elegant update with the addition of succulent chunks of lobster. One delectable bite of this and your guests will never want plain ol' pumpkin soup again.

Ingredients1, 28-ounce can pure pumpkin2 cups chicken broth1 cup water1/4 cup pure maple syrup1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg1/2 teaspoon sea salt2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger1 cup half and half6 teaspoons raw, hulled pumpkin seeds1 (1-pound) lobster1 large pumpkin, top removed, seeds and membranes removed (for tureen)Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.In a large saucepan over medium high heat, combine pumpkin, broth, water, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and ginger. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.Meanwhile, fill a pot fitted with a steamer top with salted water and bring to a boil. Place the lobster in the steamer, cover, and cook for approximately 8 to 10 minutes or until the lobster is just cooked through. Remove and allow to cool.Crack the lobster claws to remove the meat. Split the lobster tail down the center and remove the meat. Reserve meat with the lobster claws.Remove pumpkin soup from heat and stir in the half and half. Divide the lobster meat between 6 warm serving bowls. Pour the hot soup into the pumpkin tureen and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds before serving. Ladle the soup into the warm serving bowls.

Roast Sea Bass Provencal

Serves 2

For an intimate holiday meal, serve this flavorful, tender sea bass swimming in a rich white sauce.

Ingredients2 pound sea bass, rinsed with cold water, patted drySea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste1 bulb fennel, trimmed and chopped3 branches dried fennel stalks2 bunches fresh tarragon, chopped1 tablespoon olive oil1 cup dry white vermouth, divided1/4 cup heavy cream, warmed, divided8 ounces butter, diced and chilledJuice of 2 lemonsCayenne pepper, to tasteDirections

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.Lay a large sheet of parchment paper on a sheet pan. Season the inside of the fish with salt and pepper. Stuff with fresh and dried fennel and half of the tarragon, and rub the outside of the fish with oil.Place the sea bass in the center of the parchment paper. Gather the edges of the parchment, partially close, and pour 1/4 cup vermouth over the fish. Seal the edges of the parchment paper.Roast fish for 18 minutes or to desired doneness. Remove from the heat and set aside, keeping warm.Meanwhile, in a medium saute pan, bring the remaining vermouth, tarragon, and 1 tablespoon black pepper to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, and simmer until reduced to one tablespoon. Remove from the heat, strain, and return to low heat. Into the vermouth mixture, whisk in half of the cream. Gradually whisk in the butter to form an emulsion. Add the remaining cream to desired consistency. Remove from the heat, add the lemon juice, and season with salt and cayenne to taste.

Champagne Mousse

Serves 4

No holiday meal is complete without a little bit of the "bubbly." Try this delightfully light mousse. For an extra elegant and sweet touch, garnish with fruit marinated in Champagne

Ingredients1/2 cup heavy whipping cream2 egg yolks3 tablespoons evaporated cane juice or sugar2/3 cup Champagne1/2 teaspoon powdered unflavored gelatin1 tablespoon waterIngredients

Whip the heavy cream to firm peaks and refrigerate.Combine egg yolks and evaporated cane juice or sugar in a heat-safe glass or stainless steel bowl and whisk until the mixture whitens. Whisk in the Champagne.Place the bowl over a pot of simmering water and cook, beating constantly until the mixture thickens to the consistency of a light hollandaise sauce. Remove from heat and continue whisking for about 1 minute. Set aside and allow to cool. Combine the gelatin and water in a small saucepan and let stand for 5 minutes to soften the gelatin. Heat the softened gelatin mixture until the gelatin dissolves and the liquid clears.Whisk the dissolved gelatin into the Champagne mixture. Fold in the whipped cream with the aid of a rubber spatula. Chill for 1 hour before piping the mousse into chilled Champagne flutes or dessert dishes.

Visit www.ChefJacques.com for video cooking demonstrations, the schedule for cooking classes, or to make a reservation at L'Auberge Chez Francois.

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