Pineau Charentes Australia

Sunday Feast: Fish Baked with Leeks & Pineau de Charentes ...

The last few days have been chaotic with Dad flying back in and out of Singapore, and my being the translator between Dad and Olav.  (Dad speaks Chinese and Vietnamese; Olav doesn't.  Dad doesn't speak Norwegian, English, or German.)

Our Sunday Feast was a very cheerful crowd (9 of us):  Dad, Olav, Mr. & Mrs. Lau, Gordon & Chew-Mee, Hock, and Janet.  Dad loves Chinese food, so we added Teochew as light courses to our Sunday French menu. 

While these are not French cuisine, you're probably curious what Chinese Teochew food we made.  Dad made the Chicken Soup with White Fungus, Lotus Seeds, and Mushroom.  I made the Taro Cake (julienned taro steamed with minced mushroom, dried shrimp, pork, and Chinese sausage in rice flour).  Dad is so excited to meet Teochew food vendors and shop owners wherever we stroll in Singapore.

was a big hit! The fish (red grouper, sea bass, cod) were fresh from the Tekka fish market; mussel from Australia; scallops (frozen) from the USA.  The baking dish was first layered braised leeks, which were wonderfully sweet, and then topped with fish fillets, scallop, mussel.  The sauce was naturally flavored with leek juice, seafood, dry white wine, and Pineau de Charentes.  Pineau de Charentes is an aperitif from the west coast of France; we purchased our bottle from Michel Forgeron Cognac Distillery during our visit to Cognac, France. I lightly topped the dish with a bit of cream quickly cooked with green peppercorns, tarragon, and chives.  A healthy and easy way to feed a large family!  We served it with a mixed salad.