Kosher can be elegant!

Kosher meals can be alot of fun, and not daunting. I don't specialize in Kosher cuisine on a regular basis (there are chefs out there who are real specialists for a standard kosher personal chef service), but on occasion, people will hire me for a dinner gift certificate for friends, and mention that they keep a kosher kitchen.

Here is a menu I did the other night that went over very well. The clients loved it, and I was able to tailor the menu to follow the rules. This was a meat meal, so I had to be sure not to include any dairy products. The Polenta is made without any cream or cheese (which actually makes it set up better to use as a building block for the Napoleons). The chocolate was a special "kosher for passover" chocolate, which doesn't have any milk in it.

Hors d’Oeuvre
Larp Gai: Thai Minced Chicken flavored with Lemongrass

and served on Endive leaves

(See recipe for Larp Gai below in another post)

Salad
Mediterranean Fennel, Orange and Zeshk Salad

(The berries here are Zeshk, which are Persian barberries, a tart berry similar to a currant)

Intermezzo
Polenta and Grilled Vegetable Napoleon
with Balsamic Glaze

Main Course
Bistecca Tartufata – Truffled Steak
with Purple Peruvian Fingerling Potatoes

(The steak is a kosher cut. I have used Rib Steak for this in the past, but this time I got a nicely marbled shoulder cut and formed it into a medallion with kitchen string. The potatoes were stemed, then lightly pan sauteed in truffle oil. The sauce is made from grated truffles in a jus reduction)

Dessert
Chocolate Fondue with Fresh Fruits

(I didn't get a picture of this!)