Jamie Oliver's (Naked Chef) Chocolate Pot

Are you sure you don't bake your mixture before cooling, like pots de creme? Otherwise you have raw egg chocolate pudding...

 

Ooh, I don't want to be pushie, but that is a bad method and shouldn't be used due to the danger it poises to people. Raw eggs MUST be put back on the heat and brought up to 170 degrees. Sometimes raw eggs are needed, then you should use pasturized eggs to be safer. You'll see some recipes for chocolate mousse that add yolks in this fashion for the richness, but you better know each persons health before you serve them this.

Basicly his recipes is pretty close to a ganche with raw yolk added to keep the mixture from firming up. There are much better methods for making pots de creme' or chocolate pudding. I'm sure it tastes good and there are many people who think we are overly cautious. But food born illnesses can really hurt certain groups of people and our industry.

my two cents...

 

I like Joanne Chang's method. Is she still the pastry chef at Payard Pâtisserie in NYC?




David:

Eggs in Canada are definitely safer; so are eggs in the UK most probably.

Here are a few facts about eggs and salmonella in the US:

No Yolking Matter...!

 

It's a hard call, your job is on the line if someone makes a complaint, god forbid they file a law suit. Then how do you answer to your boss, "I didn't know?"? I think about that alot, I think most pastry chefs do.

I've heard similar points....we over use anti-bacterial soaps etc... I'm always dissapointed when a freind tells me their using anti-biotics for a cold. I do agree with the basic point, definately. It's just when it invades someone elses health that I worry. I personally taste what ever worries me. I figure if I don't get samonella, then I probably haven't hurt anyone else. But I'm not sick........and that's stupid.


I'm still using raw whites in my mousses (who doesn't). So I'm certainly quilty! I feel like I'm waiting for the day that something happens, the odds have to be against me with the volume of eggs I use.

For me I draw the line and look for another recipe when the raw egg is gratuitous vs necessary, period. That's my line in the sand. That's why I spoke up on this particular recipe.

 

David,
In a country where you could face a lawsuit, the salmonella issue is important, and you should never impose your views on the matter to your guests. I agree with you and have no problem eating a raw egg yolk on my tartare, but I wouldn't serve it in a restaurant (not unless my clients would sign a waiver!! )

As for the 'hundreds of years' that we've been salmonella-free, that is unfounded. You must realize that the life expectancy of people until relatively recently was a third of what we know today, due to a large degree because people died of illness they could not identify. That means raw eggs undoubtedly killed a great many people. Salmonella is NOT something that we can build a resistance to, and using that logic with respect to food-borne illness is very dangerous.

 

Rich heavy chocolate dessert ideas to replace the raw egg dessert previously mentioned....

Chocolate pots de creme

Chocolate creme brulee'

Any dense flourless chocolate cake

Chocolate fondue

Truffles

Chocolate pate'

All of these can be adjusted using any flavor liqours, extracts, nuts in them.

 

Wendy, how do you make your chocolate pate? Is it based on a marquise?


All of a sudden I have a craving for chocolate, I wonder why....

 

It's been about 10 years since I've made a choc. pate'. I can't remember my exact recipe off hand but it certainly could be made a couple different ways. I think it was a bombe with choc., I can look it up if you want?

 

Click here... for the basic recipes

1. Crème Caramel
2. Crème Brûlée
3. Pot de crème[/list=1]
   
   
   For chocolate truffles, here are some nifty ones,
   
   
   :lips:just click here You can make them also with a simple ganache. I also have a recipe for "fried" chocolate truffles from Michel Richard. It's published in Cooking with Master Chefs (Julia Child). I'm getting my books out of storage soon. Let me know if you are interested.

 

I was just curious about it Wendy. I recall one using a marquise as a base, with different kind of nuts and and dried fruits. It was served in slices with a creme Anglaise I think.


I think Hub would be really disappointed if you didn't post it.

 

I've been working on putting all my (regular) recipes in a recipe program, so my computor area is a bit messy. I found my chocolate file, but the recipe wasn't there...I sort out items I don't use regularly to a different file so it doesn't supprise it's not at my fingertips. It will take me a bit, but when I come across it I promise to post it.

Several people have published chocolate pate's. I kind of think the one I used was from the book Chocolat by Alice Medrich....it will be easier to locate, in the morning.

HubUk, I work from all the same books and magazines everyone else has excess to. Try this:

Chocolate Pots de Creme'

2 c. milk
8 oz. chopped semi sweet choc. or bittersweet (depending on your tastes)
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tbsp. brandy or any liqour
7 yolks


whip cream for garnish

325F oven. Heat milk and sugar until hot. Pour over chocolate, whisk to melt, add vanilla and liqour. Whisk hot chocolate mixture into yolks, strain. Pour custard into ramekins or coffee cups. Bake in a water bath until set. Cool room temp. then refridgerate covered. Serve with some whipped cream and fruit or any other favorite accompaniment to chocolate.