Courtesy Michael Toscano, chef/owner, Le Farfalle, Charleston, SC
At Charleston, South Carolina’s Le Farfalle, Chef/Owner Michael Toscano serves creative Italian cuisine interpreted with local ingredients, from white shrimp and hand-milled grains to the fennel showcased in this salad. Smaller, more tender bulbs of fennel, no larger than your fist, are preferred for this two-way treatment.
Published: February 21, 2018
Ingredients
Directions
In medium pot over high heat, boil wine and vinegar until reduced by two-thirds. Add cherries, and set aside.
Trim stalks from fennel, reserving fronds. Vertically slice 2 fennel bulbs into ½-inch-thick pieces. Using mandoline or very sharp knife, shave remaining bulbs as thin as possible.
In large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter with oil, sugar, salt and pepper. Add fennel slices in single layer and cook, without moving, until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Flip slices and repeat. Set aside.
In large bowl, toss lettuce with vinaigrette to lightly coat. Divide among 4 plates. In same bowl, toss raw and caramelized fennel in remaining vinaigrette, and arrange over lettuce. Divide blue cheese and cherries among the plates. Garnish with fennel fronds. Serves 4.
Champagne Vinaigrette
Directions for Champagne Vinaigrette
Whisk all ingredients together just before use.
Pair It
Vignobles Bulliat 2015 Nature (Morgon). “This organic Cru Beaujolais warms the heart and senses, and is a perfect complement to the savory elements of this salad,” says Cynthia Goddeau, sommelier at Le Farfalle. “Red plum and rose aromas start the juices flowing, while the palate of wild cherry, bright acidity and soft tannins allow the sweet fennel and the tang of the cheese to stand
at attention.”