Hokkaido scallops have a meaty texture and sweet flavour that make them particularly suitable for this raw preparation in which the lime juice does the “cooking.” Classic Mexican flavours of red onion, cilantro, and just a dash of heat from serrano pepper make this a fresh and scrumptious way to get a party started.
Hokkaido sea scallops, so called because of their origins in the Hokkaido region of Japan, are farm-raised and have earned both Ocean Wise and Marine Stewardship Council certification.
Choose commercially frozen scallops that are frozen quickly at a very low temperature. Thaw them overnight before using by removing them from the original packaging and placing them in one layer in a glass container with a cover. Drain off any liquid as it thaws.
When you add lime juice to your ceviche, the acid in the lime juice works to change the protein structure of the scallops, resulting in a firmer texture. You can see it working as the colour of the scallop changes from very pale pink to milky white.
Note: Consuming raw shellfish may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions. It’s recommended that pregnant and immunocompromised people avoid raw seafood.
Per serving:
In shallow, nonreactive bowl or glass container with fitted lid, add sea scallops, lime zest, and lime juice to completely cover scallops. Cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
To scallop bowl, add serrano pepper, mango, onion, cilantro, orange zest, orange juice, and salt to bowl and return it to refrigerator for a further 40 minutes.
Spoon into individual glasses and serve with a spoon.
Tourtière is, for me, the dish that best represents Québec. It can be traced back to the 1600s, and there’s no master recipe; every family has their own twist. Originally, it was made with game birds or game meat, like rabbit, pheasant, or moose; that’s one of the reasons why I prefer it with venison instead of beef or pork. Variation: If you prefer to make single servings, follow our lead at the restaurant, where we make individual tourtières in the form of a dome (pithivier) and fill them with 5 ounces (160 g) of the ground venison mixture. Variation: You can also use a food processor to make the dough. Place the flour, salt, and butter in the food processor and pulse about ten times, until the butter is incorporated—don’t overmix. It should look like wet sand, and a few little pieces of butter here and there is okay. With the motor running, through the feed tube, slowly add ice water until the dough forms a ball—again don’t overmix. Wrap, chill, and roll out as directed above.
My love of artichokes continues with this classic recipe, one of the best ways to eat this interesting, underrated, and strange vegetable. Frozen artichoke hearts are a time-saving substitute, though the flavour and texture of fresh artichokes are, by far, much superior and definitely preferred.
Cervelle de canut is basically the Boursin of France, an herbed fresh farmer’s cheese spread that’s a speciality of Lyon. The name is kind of weird, as it literally means “silk worker’s brain,” named after nineteenth-century Lyonnaise silk workers, who were called canuts. Sadly, the name reflects the low opinion of the people towards these workers. Happily for us, though, it’s delicious—creamy, fragrant, and fresh at the same time. Cervelle de canut is one of my family’s favourite dishes. It’s a great make-ahead appetizer that you can pop out of the fridge once your guests arrive. Use a full-fat cream cheese for the dish, or it will be too runny and less delicious.