Kaitafi Fruit Napoleon Recipes

Steps:

• Use an offset spatula to spread a 1/8-inch-thick layer of tempered chocolate over a sheet of acetate. When the chocolate begins to set but is not yet hard, use a sharp paring knife or rolling cutter to cut 1-inch squares. When the chocolate is set, peel off the acetate and break apart the chocolate squares.
• Place the softened cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle. Add the chives, paprika, salt and pepper and turn the mixer on medium speed. Mix just until combined.
• Place the cream cheese mixture in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe a dollop of the cream cheese onto a chocolate square. Top with a square of chocolate. Pipe another dollop of cream cheese and cover with another square of chocolate. Viola!

Steps:

• For the pasta sheets: Preheat oil to 350 degrees F. Deep-fry the pasta until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle the top with sugar while still hot so the sugar sticks.
• For the chocolate sauce: Heat the heavy cream over medium-high heat so it comes to a simmer. Add the chocolate; remove from the heat and cover. After 10 minutes, whisk until smooth.
• For the coconut caramel: Place the sugar in a heavy-bottomed saucepan with 1 tablespoon water. Heat over medium heat, swirling the pan without using a spoon or whisk, and cook until golden. Add the coconut milk and cook on medium-high, whisking until smooth.
• For the pineapple mascarpone: Saute the pineapple in the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the vanilla, remove from the heat and cool for 5 minutes.
• Whip the mascarpone with the sugar until light and fluffy. Fold in the sauteed pineapple.
• To assemble: Top 1 pasta square with 3 tablespoons pineapple mascarpone and
• top with another pasta square. Drizzle the top with coconut caramel and chocolate sauce. Sprinkle the plate with lava salt/sugar mixture.

Steps:

• Cut 1/4 pound of the tuna against the grain into 12 thin slices. Finely chop the other 1/2 pound for the tartare.
• To prepare the tartare base, combine all the ingredients and mix well. Add the chopped fish and stir lightly to combine.
• To prepare the crispy wontons, in a saucepan, pour in the oil to a depth of 1-inch and heat to 375 degrees. Add the wonton skins and fry, turning once, for 8 to10 seconds on each side, until light golden brown. Keep the wontons flat by using tongs to uncurl them. Using a wire skimmer, transfer to paper towels to drain. Allow to cool.
• In a bowl, combine all the ingredients for the dressing and mix well.
• To assemble, first roll the tuna slices up into rose-shaped bundles. Reserving 2 tablespoons of the radish sprouts, stack in the following order: wonton skin, 1/6 of the tartare mixture, shiso leaf, wonton skin, 1/6 of the smoked salmon, radish sprouts, wonton skin, 2 tuna rolls.
• Sprinkle the top of the each napoleon with the reserved radish sprouts. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of the dressing around each plate. Garnish with pickled ginger and tobiko.
• To serve, cut through the entire stack with a knife, and smash the layers together with a fork to blend the flavors.

Steps:

• Make the pastry cream: Whisk 1/2 cup milk, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, the salt, egg yolks and cornstarch in a medium bowl. Combine the remaining 1 1/2 cups milk and 1/3 cup granulated sugar with the vanilla seeds and pod in a medium saucepan; bring to a low simmer over medium heat. Slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the bowl with the yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Return to the pan and bring to a simmer, whisking; cook, whisking, until thickened, 1 more minute. Transfer to a bowl and remove the vanilla pod. Lay plastic wrap directly on the surface and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour, 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, roast the peaches: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Combine the peaches, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla seeds and pod in a medium bowl; toss gently to coat. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and spread in a single layer. Roast, tossing once, until tender and glossy, about 30 minutes. Let cool.
• Cook the puff pastry: Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Unroll the puff pastry sheets on a generously floured surface and arrange them so they overlap by about 2 inches to make 1 large piece of pastry. Lightly flour a rolling pin and roll out the dough into a 17-by-12-inch rectangle. Carefully transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet and prick all over with a fork. Bake, pricking it again halfway through, until golden and crisp, 25 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheet, then transfer to a cutting board and cut crosswise into 3 equal pieces.
• Assemble the napoleon: Lay 1 piece of puff pastry on a platter. Spread with half of the pastry cream, then top with half of the roasted peaches. Repeat with another piece of puff pastry and the remaining pastry cream and peaches, reserving a few peach slices for topping. Top with the remaining piece of puff pastry and dust with confectioners' sugar. Top with the reserved peaches. Slice with a serrated knife.

Steps:

• CHOCOLATE SAUCE FOR GARNISH:
• Prepare the chocolate cream: The base of the chocolate cream is a creme anglaise, which is poured over chocolate to make a ganache.
• Pour half of the sugar into a small mixing bowl and set the remaining sugar aside. Add the egg yolks and whisk until well combined. The mixture should be thick, smooth, and homogenous.
• Pour the heavy cream, milk, and remaining sugar into a non-reactive 3-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan, place it over medium-high heat, and bring to a boil. Temper the egg mixture with the hot mixture by carefully pouring about 1/3 of the hot mixture into the egg mixture. Whisk immediately to keep the eggs from scrambling. Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan and place over medium heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula. The liquid will begin to thicken. When it reaches 182 degrees on a candy thermometer and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, it is finished and should be removed from the heat. If you do not have a thermometer, you can tell that it is finished by using the following method: In one quick motion, dip the spatula into the creme anglaise and hold it down horizontally in front of you. With the tip of your finger, wipe a clean line down the center of the spatula. If the trail keeps its shape, the creme anglaise is ready. If the trail fills with liquid, cook it for another minute and repeat the test. The objective is to remove the creme anglaise from the heat just before it boils. If the creme anglaise boils, the egg yolks will scramble. If this happens, you can still use it if you mix it with a hand-held immersion blender, food processor, or a blender. You will need a blade to liquefy the scrambled egg pieces. Remove from the heat.
• Place the chopped chocolate in a medium-size mixing bowl and make a ganache by pouring the creme anglaise over the chocolate in two or three additions. Use a hand whisk to incorporate fully after each addition. The ganache should be thick, shiny, and smooth. Whisk in the Grand Marnier. Place in the refrigerator to cool and set. As the cream cools, the cocoa butter in the chocolate will harden and hold everything together. The cream will also become more flavorful as it cools. If you have time, make this a day in advance to give the chocolate flavor time to develop. (The chocolate cream can be stored in the refrigerator, tightly covered with plastic wrap, for up to 3 days.)
• Prepare the tuiles: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine the coconut, sugar, eggs, and butter in a medium-size mixing bowl and mix with a hand whisk until well combined. Place a silicon mat on a baking sheet. (If you do not have a silicon mat, you can use a nonstick baking sheet.) Use a small offset spatula dipped in water to spread 4-inch circles of the tuile batter on the mat or baking sheet. Place in the oven and bake until evenly light golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Allow the tuiles to cool on a wire rack.
• Assemble the Napoleon: Place one tuile in the center of each plate. Dip a large spoon in hot water and roll it through the chocolate cream to form a quenelle, or egg-shaped scoop, of chocolate cream. Place the chocolate cream in the center of the tuile and repeat for the remaining plates. Top with a second tuile and another quenelle of chocolate cream. Top each with a third tuile. Garnish the plate with the chocolate sauce and creme anglaise. You could also use fresh berries in season or chocolate shavings. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Slice the portobellos into 3 pieces each, grill and keep warm. Heat garlic in 1-ounce olive oil. Add beans and season with salt and pepper. In a separate pan, heat the olive oil and saute the chard. Season and grill the tomatoes, reserve warm. Set rice in the center of the plate. Top with mushroom, red tomato, chard, portobello, yellow tomato, chard, portobello. Surround with the beans and top with Parmesan.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine the butter and cocoa to make "cocoa butter".
• Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Place 1 sheet of phyllo on the pan and brush with cocoa butter. Sprinkle evenly with 2 tablespoons of sugar, then place another sheet of phyllo on top. Brush with cocoa butter, sprinkle with sugar, lay another sheet of phyllo on top, brush with cocoa butter, and sprinkle with sugar. Cover the stack with parchment paper. Place another pan on top to weight it down. Then place another, empty sheet pan on the very top. (This is to keep the phyllo from buckling during baking).
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the phyllo is dark brown. It's very difficult to tell, as it's so chocolate-y looking as it is. Remove the whole stack of sheet pans and let cool (do not unstack the pans).
• To assemble the dessert, break the phyllo up into random pieces about 3-inches square. Place a dab of mascarpone on each of 4 plates and press 1 phyllo piece down on it. Spoon on a heaping tablespoon of mascarpone in the center and surround it with raspberries. Place another phyllo piece on top and repeat, topping off with a final phyllo piece. Garnish with a mint sprig, a dusting of powdered sugar, and raspberry puree, if desired.