Friday, November 22, 2013

TOW (& Answer)...

The week’s question was:  what is a consommé?  A consommé is a perfectly clear broth. 
Book Jacket for: The professional chef“Consommés are exceptionally rich in flavor and are crystal clear, an effect achieved by combining a high-quality stock or broth with a clarification mixture.  To assure a high-quality consommé, the chef must choose ingredients carefully, keep the clarification mixture very cold until it is time to cook the consommé, and monitor the temperature of the consommé as it cooks at a slow simmer.  Once the consommé has developed a rich flavor and color, it must be carefully strained and degreased to produce a crystal-clear soup, with no traces of fat, and an intense and satisfying flavor.”

The question (& answer) were taken from p. 298 of The Professional Chef published by John Wiley & Sons in 2002.