Serves 8

CHEF’S NOTES

For my Hollywood Bowl picnics, I love to make this delicious chicken liver mousse parfait, similar to the one I offer at Maude, because I can make it in advance and tuck it into my picnic basket as I head out for the concert. Serve it on a board with shaved prosciutto, salami, mortadella, capicola, and Comté cheese for a casual but elegant picnic. Sliced fresh ciabatta, my Pickled Onions and Mustards Seeds, Madeira Jelly (see the attached recipes), and wine, of course, all go great with my favorite picnic!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup brandy
• 1/2 cup Madeira
• 1/2 cup dry sherry
• 1/4 cup sliced shallots
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• 1 small bay leaf
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 8 ounces cleaned chicken livers, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon pink salt
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 8 ounces unsalted butter, gently heated until melted but still creamy, and cooled to room temperature
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

PROCEDURE

1. Preheat the oven to 155°F.
2. In a small saucepan, add the brandy, Madeira, sherry, shallots, thyme, bay leaf, and 3 grinds of fresh black pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat and cook for about 12 minutes, or until the liquids are reduced to a near glaze. Remove the thyme and bay leaf and set aside to cool to room temperature.
3. In a blender, blend the chicken livers, shallot reduction, and pink salt. Slowly add the eggs and blend. Slowly add the butter. Strain the mixture through a fine-meshed sieve and season with the kosher salt.
4. Transfer the mixture to two 8-ounce ramekins. Cover the ramekins tightly with plastic wrap. Set the ramekins in a square 8-inch baking pan. Add enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Cover the pan tightly with foil.
5. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until the mixture still moves slightly when the ramekins are gently shaken. Remove the ramekins from the water and set aside to cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to allow the parfait to set completely.

CHEF’S NOTE

These parfaits can be made up to 1 day ahead, covered tightly and refrigerated. Just bring them to room temperature before serving.

Madeira Jelly

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

• 2 gelatin sheets (silver)
• 2 cups good-quality Madeira
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar

PROCEDURE

1. In a medium bowl of ice cold water, soak the sheets for about 5 minutes, or until they soften.
2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the Madeira, salt, and sugar and cook for about 8 minutes, or until reduced by half. Remove from the heat.
3. Remove the softened gelatin sheets from the ice water and squeeze out any excess moisture. Whisk them into the Madeira mixture until they have dissolved.
4. Pour the mixture into a small heatproof bowl. Refrigerate for about 2 hours, or until the jelly has set. Using a spoon, break up the jelly and transfer it to jars or ramekins to serve or store.

CHEF’S NOTE

The jelly can be made up to 2 weeks ahead, covered and refrigerated, and has many uses.

Pickled Onions and Mustard Seeds

Makes 2 cups

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup yellow mustard seeds, rinsed
• 1/2 cup sherry vinegar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 12 each red pearl onions, halved
• 1 tarragon sprig
• 1 thyme sprig
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

PROCEDURE

1. In a small heavy saucepan, combine the mustard seeds and 2 cups of water. Set the pan over medium-high heat and bring to a rolling boil. Once it comes to a boil, turn off the heat, strain the mustard seeds through a fine-meshed sieve, and return the strained seeds to the pan. Cover with 2 fresh cups of water and repeat the process. Repeat the blanching process for a total of 10 times. This blanching, though tedious, is imperative to remove the bitterness from the mustard seeds.
2. In a heavy saucepan, combine the vinegar, sugar, oil, lemon juice, onions, tarragon, thyme, salt, and blanched mustard seeds. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer gently for 1 minute, then remove the pan from the heat. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

CHEF’S NOTE

The pickled onions and mustard seeds can be made up to 2 weeks ahead, covered and refrigerated.