One of the finest treats in life is the toasted special. It’s a uniquely Irish thing, like Taytos. There’s nothing fancy in it, you could even ask what gives it the right to be so special? After all, the ingredients are somewhat mundane – ham, Cheddar cheese, tomato and onion.
Yet, in the right place at the right time, there is nothing nicer. I’d crawl over a mountain of nouveau-riche club sandwiches to get to a nice toastie.
This week’s piece is an homage to things on bread. I discovered what a trencher is through British chef Fergus Henderson. He plonks a roast piece of beef on a hunk of bread while it rests. The soppy delicious goo that results is almost better than the meat itself. His roasted bone marrow starter has travelled the world and caused a sensation. He offsets the marrow’s morbid richness with a salad of flat parsley, shallot and capers. Coarse sea salt gives texture. I am a magpie, so I’m combining the two, for a hybrid of deliciousness.
Bruschetta, Crostoni and Crostini was published in 1995 by another food hero of mine, Franco Taruschio from the Walnut Tree in Abergavenny, Wales. It was a seminal restaurant in the UK. It's still there, run by another master, Shaun Hill. Go, if you ever can, it will bring tears to your eyes.
Lentils on toast is a surprising delight. I’ve added cream and salami for a bottom-widening effect. Have it by the fire with a glass of red and think of me. I’m using tinned lentils because they are pretty brilliant. If you can’t find them, cook your own. Puy lentils are best.
I had a version of the goat’s cheese on toast in The French House in Soho in January, in another world, another life. They used half a roasted new season’s garlic bulb that loomed over the bread. You prised the golden cloves out and spread them sinfully over the goat’s cheese-covered sourdough. It was one of the best starters I’ve ever eaten.
STEAK TRENCHER, PARSLEY, CAPERS AND SHALLOTS
Serves two
Ingredients
1 tbsp sunflower oil
1 x 250g rib-eye steak
Salt and pepper
Soft butter
2 thick slices of white bread from a good soft loaf
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Drizzle of olive oil
20 leaves of flat parsley
1 large banana shallot or 2 small shallots, peeled and very thinly sliced
½ tbsp small capers
Sea salt
Method
1 Heat the oil in a pan until gently smoking.
2 Season your steak and carefully put in the pan over a high heat.
3 Cook for three minutes then turn and cook on the other side for another two.
4 The time will entirely be determined by how you like your steak and how thick it's cut. I like mine medium rare.
5 Remove the steak from the pan and put it on a plate.
6 Cover with foil and keep in a warm place for 10 minutes to rest.
7 Meanwhile, butter the bread and tip the steak juices into a large bowl.
8 Whisk the mustard into the juices, then add the oil, parsley, shallots and capers to the bowl.
9 Slice the steak into strips and add to the parsley mixture, then divide on to the buttered bread.
10 Top with a sprinkling of coarse sea salt.
BRUSCHETTA OF LENTILS, BALSAMIC CREAM AND SALAMI
Serves four
Ingredients
250ml cream
1 tin of lentils (390g), drained
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
A sprig of thyme
100g sliced salami, shredded
Salt and black pepper
4 thick slices of country loaf
1 clove of garlic, peeled and cut in half
A drizzle of olive oil
Method
1 Put the cream into a pot and slowly reduce by one third, taking care that it doesn't boil over.
2 Add the lentils, balsamic, thyme and salami to the cream. Season and keep warm.
3 Toast the bread and rub thoroughly with the garlic. Put on warm plates then drizzle over the olive oil.
4 Spoon the lentil mixture on top and serve.
GOAT’S CHEESE AND CONFIT GARLIC ON TOASTED SOURDOUGH
Serves two
Ingredients
1 head of garlic, peeled, yes all of it
50mls olive oil
Sprig of thyme
Small pinch of sugar
Salt and pepper
150ml pot of soft goat's cheese
2 slices of sourdough bread
Method
1 Set your oven to 160 degrees.
2 Put the garlic and thyme on some foil. Season and add the sugar. Make a parcel and just before sealing, add the olive oil.
3 Bake for 20-25 minutes, until soft and golden. Keep this warm.
4 Toast the sourdough then brush with the garlic oil.
5 Smear the goat's cheese on the toast and dot the mellow golden garlic on top.
