How to make a culture for homemade bread

 My Friends from Santa Monica an amazing Chef from 

The Gourmandise School   of Sweets and Savories Santa Monica, CA

                                               post a recipe for bread starter. 

This bring me back when we own our bakery in Montreal  and make all theses cultures fro sponge polish, sourdough... easy to make and to maintain, give it a try. 

It is a good time as well to plan some wheat in your garden .

Establishing your own Culture (no knead to visit the Opera) This may take 3-4 days and may stink.  It's all good, though.  Keep in a draft-free space somewhere in your house.  Remember to always use a container much larger than you think you might need.  I always wash my hands with hot water and no soap before doing this; the antibacterial properties, even in natural soaps, can harm the process. 2.5 lbs all-purpose flour  2.5 lbs. whole wheat flour about 1 cup lukewarm spring water 1) Place the water halfway up your bowl (use about 1 cup) .   2) In a separate bowl or bag, combine your two flours. 3) Pour enough flour into the water create a thick, pancake-like consistency.  You need to do this part with your finger.  Set the remaining flour aside for step 4. -Use a metal offset spatula or knife to clean the dough off your hands and back into the container. 3) Cover with a towel or dinner napkin and leave it alone for at least 3 days. 4) Scrape off the crusty stuff toss half of the culture.  Now you are ready to feed it!  Keep remaining flour on hand to feed it a bit every day with equal parts room temperature water, again forming a paste each time. Wishing you a delicious day, Clémence and Hadley

It is time to plan your garden Chayote grow very well in Vancouver but you have to start it from a fresh fruits  so easy

 Beans are always fun but change spot every year as rotation is very important

 No spaces, well be creative

 this is what you could grow and harvest

This Great heirloom Tomatoes Pic is from my Friend Yu in Hong Kong  Zen Organic Farm

El Bulli Cooking in Progress

I wish  I was in Hong kong 

Maison Cote Avocado & tomatoes serve on bread

Simple pleasures 

4 ripe organic avocado from Organic acres Granville Island

1 onion mince 

2 fresh chili of your choice 

1 lime

one Peasant organic sprouted beans & grains bread

 from La Baguette et L'echalote Granville Island Bakery

& Maison Cote Aged balsamic vinegar

a wonderful warm caramel onions, tomatoes & fresh cheese with basil olive oil and my aged balsamic vinegar

Maison Cote At the Granville Island Public Market

Maison Cote Sea to Sky Sea Salt (TM)

a perfect blend of Ocean Pacific sea salt & Bolivian mountain pink salt

We will be at the Granville Island Public Market this week end 

Friday March 23 true Sunday March 25

Space B1 

Have a great day 

Maison Cote easy home made gnudi's

 Yummy ricotta gnudi's

950 Gr ricotta

1 cup of shaved parmigiana 

2 1/2 cup unbleached flour

6 Organic free range farmer market egg

a pinch of mace or nutmeg, salt & pepper

 Let it all blend in the blender  I do have a 13 cup  so lot of space  then add  in a pastry bag and let drop in boiling salted water

 served sautéed with mushroom caramel onion ... Could be made a day before, 

Maison Cote Little Duck Magret

 I love Duck and do not cook it often enough 

 I purchase it on Granville Island at Jackson's

 Let it defrost over night in the fridge

 Score it, seasoned it heavily with maison Cote Pepper, sea salt and lot of my herbes de Provence 

 Let it crust very well in it fat and then finish it in the oven 

 I like it almost blue, sushi style  

I let it rest before cutting it 10 min under fold

The crust was so good Bon Appetit

Simple without heavy sauce  just the taste of the duck, steam rice and green vegetables 

Maison Cote New 100Ml aged balsamic vinegar

As on Granville Island, we have more and more of the Jet setter Traveling from LA or San Francisco for a week end with a cary on, we created a new size of our fantastic age balsamic vinegar in 100ML following the American rule of air traveling.

We offer our Estate Vinegar 

Cranberry

Blackberry

Raspberry

Pomegranate 

Maple

Gold balsamic

Aged Balsamic 

#12 & #15

Original

Yuzu

Mission Figs

White Peach

White Truffle