Jono & Jules do food & wine

While I was away in Hungary recently I found a stall in the markets selling fresh black truffles: I couldn’t resist!

Despite the look, the truffle had a great smell, so we invited some friends over for a truffle party. 🙂

Jules made retro prawn cocktail for starter and insisted on pink wine to go with it – “cause it looked pretty”.

Jules reckons Nigella’s recipe is best though it sounds rather disgusting (don’t leave out the pink peppercorns cause they look fab and taste good too).

450g cooked prawns, 200g salad cream, 3 tablespoons tomato ketchup, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, few drops Tabasco sauce (or more if you’re brave), and 1 tablespoon pink pepercorns, crushed.

Mix it all together and hey presto – told you it’s a bit gross!

The pink wine went a treat with it too. Domaine de Pellehaut Cotes de Gascogne (on offer for €8.50 in Mitchell’s). Bargain!

Jono then made Orecchiette with peas, pancetta and black truffle as inspired by Giorgio Locatelli.

Quite a simple recipe that takes 100g Pancetta and sweats it in a knob of butter. You then add 8 tablespoons of peas and continue to cook a bit, add some water and cook for 3-4 minutes until peas are tender enough to crush so they resemble mushy peas. While you’re doing this cook some orecchiette for one minute less than recommended then add to mushy peas and pancetta. toss for a couple of minutes to coat pasta, add a tablespoon of grated parmesan and toss again. Finally grate over 25-30g of truffle, toss for the final time and serve.

Simple really, but delicious with a real luxury feel and that something extra special to the taste

We finished the meal with plums and greengages baked in freshly squeezed orange juice, maple syrup and star anise. So tasty I forgot to take a photo!