A little nostalgic corner to help me remember my time leaving Ferrandi and being hired as a kitchen commis at Lucas-Carton.
This was the signature dish at Lucas-Carton: woodcock left ungutted, flambéed with fine Cognac, with an intestine and foie gras mixture that becomes the sauce. Allow 15 minutes roasting to keep it rare. The secret: Burgundy reduced to a glaze at the start, then flambéeing with Champagne to burn off the alcohol and elevate the meat.
Woodcock flambéed our way for 2 or 4 people:
1 In a sauté pan, reduce to a glaze half a bottle of an Échézeaux or a fine Burgundy wine with a lemon zest, then set aside.
2 Roast beautiful undrawn woodcocks, well larded, for about fifteen minutes to keep them rare, then remove from pan. Season with salt and pepper.
3 In the same pan, add a little butter and lightly brown the bread croutons, then keep them warm.
4 Remove the intestines from the woodcocks with a spoon, chop them finely and mix with 100 g (3.5 oz) of foie gras purée and 100 g (3.5 oz) of softened butter, season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
5 Lift the breasts and legs from your woodcocks, then carefully arrange them in the sauté pan with the Burgundy glaze, heat gently, add about 15 cl (0.6 cup) of fine Napoléon or Champagne brandy, then flambé.
6 Quickly remove the breasts and let the legs cook a little longer, cut them in half, then arrange each half woodcock on a crouton surrounded by its larding strips and the heads split in two.
7 Pour the intestine and foie gras mixture into your sauté pan, heat until you have a light sauce consistency, then strain this masterpiece through a fine sieve over the woodcocks.
8 Serve with a garnish of potato chips, puffed potatoes, cocotte potatoes « in a nest » or gaufrette potatoes.
There you have this exceptional recipe that I entrust to you so it continues to live.
Patrick Asfaux, first commis under Chef Marc Soustelle, Lucas-Carton 1966.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your experience!
Help other cooks
Share a tip, your adaptation, your result. Every comment counts.