Remote Cooking for our Advanced Chefs during the Lockdown 2021

Almost 2 weeks into the Lockdown and here is what we have achieved.

With some rapid planning, we managed to transform our programme to online cooking demonstrations with the students preparing their own dishes at their homes. The flow of our timetable has pivoted to the mainly the patisserie module as the ingredients are easier for the students to purchase at the supermarket (we are reimbursing them for this cost).

Apart from this, they have also been working on their Nutrition module and Menu costing assignment where they plan a dinner party for 12 guests.

Level 4 - Remote Cooking

During the lockdown week, our Advanced student chefs prepared the following dishes from their own homes -

Chocolate cake
Macarons with raspberry and chocolate
Cheesecake with berry coulis
Poached pear with creme Anglaise, meringue, tuilles Amandine
Chicken corn soup and stock
Coq au Vin with mash potatoes
Chicken Kiev served with sautée potatoes and cucumber
Stir fry chicken with ginger and chicken
Marinated pork salad
Sweet and sour pork
Vegetable fried spring rolls
Sole au paupiette poached in court boullion
Prawn bisque and prawn Laksa

Chef Finn demonstrating to the students Live as the students watch on.

Chef Finn demonstrating a chicken recipe to the Advanced students.

Here are some photos from our students who cooked at their own home.

Chocolate cake by Samuel.

Beautifully presented chocolate cake by Martin.

Macarons with raspberry and chocolate by Reesha.

Cheesecake with berry coulis topped with dried raspberries by Timmika.

Poached pear with creme Anglaise, meringue, tuilles Amandine by Chloe.

Stylish and refined serving of meringue dusted with passionfruit powder by Timmika.

Chicken corn soup by May.

Chicken corn soup by Reesha.

Coq au vin is a French dish of chicken braised with red wine, onions, mushrooms, and garlic served with mashed potatoes by Timmika.

Coq au vin with mashed potatoes by May.

Chicken Kiev served with sautée potatoes and cucumber by Sam.

Chicken Kiev served with sautée potatoes and cucumber by Timmika.

Stir fry chicken with ginger and chicken by Reesha.

Stir fry chicken with ginger and chicken by Timmika.

Marinated pork salad by May.

Marinated pork salad by Chloe.

Sweet and sour pork by Reesha.

Sweet and sour pork by Timmika.

Vegetable fried spring rolls by Chloe.

Club sandwiches by Timmika.

Sole au paupiette poached in court boullion by Timmika.

Salmon in Filo Pastry with Lemon Beurre Blanc by Reesha.

Prawn bisque by Chloe.

Prawn Laksa by Timmika.

Recipe: Coq au vin with mashed potatoes.

Coq au vin with mashed potatoes preprared by Reesha at home during the recent Lockdown.

Coq au vin is a hearty French stew of chicken braised in red wine with mushrooms and crisp bacon. Rich and brimming with flavor this dish is perfect for a hearty winter dinner.

Ingredients

25g rind less bacon (thick is good) 1⁄2 large carrot
2 tablespoons shallots
500g button mushrooms
2 large cloves garlic
30g butter
250g chicken thighs (with bone)
1 tablespoons flour
Salt and pepper
75ml red wine
200ml chicken stock, sufficient to cover the chicken
1 bay leaf

Method

Cut the bacon in small dice or pieces about 1cm square.
Peel the carrot and slice into 1cm chunks. Peel the shallots. Wipe the mushrooms.
Peel the garlic and roughly chop.
In a heavy, ovenproof, lidded saucepan, melt the butter. Sauté the bacon until brown and
remove. Retain the fat.
In the same saucepan, sauté the shallots until brown and mushrooms until tender.
Remove the skin from the chicken thighs and pat dry.
Coat the chicken lightly in the flour.
Brown the chicken in the same pan. Add the garlic and carrots. Season with salt and pepper. Turn and repeat.
When the chicken is brown on both sides pour over the red wine.
Return the bacon, mushrooms and shallots to the pan. Gradually bring to the boil.
Pour over sufficient stock to cover the ingredients.
Using a wooden spoon, stir the mixture around to make sure that all the sediment has been loosened from the bottom of the pan.
Add the bay leaf. Season.
Cover and simmer for 45 minutes or until the chicken and onions are cooked.

To serve:

Place mashed potato in a warmed soup plate and spoon over the chicken, vegetables and sauce. Additional green vegetables such as broad beans (with skin removed) or Brussels sprouts will complement the dish.