Bonjour, mes amis! Happy Bastille Day! July 14th marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789 — a dramatic turning point that lit the spark for the French Revolution and the birth of the Republic’s rallying cry: liberté, égalité, fraternité.
Known across France as la Fête Nationale, it’s a day of parades, fireworks, music, and good cheer from Paris to Provence — and we’re joining the festivities in delicious style by serving Canard rôti, paired with a bright lemon-tarragon sauce, fresh peas and asparagus, and a generous flourish of bold, creamy Roquefort. Vive la France!
Restaurant Style
Pasta with Scallops, Lobster
Asparagus, Sage Truffle Butter
A most memorable meal at Ferraro’s inspired me to recreate one of their many fabulous menu items: the Pappardelle Mimmo. This seafood pasta, a favorite of the chef, was simply outstanding. We shared all our dishes at dinner and agreed that the pappardelle is now one of our favorites too.
Established in 1985, Ferraro’s Ristorante is located near the Las Vegas Strip. It is a family-owned business that prides itself on offering authentic Italian cuisine with a focus on traditional methods and recipes, high-quality seasonal ingredients, and homemade “everything” including sausage, meatballs, pastas, breads, desserts and more.
The restaurant is especially noted for its warm inviting atmosphere, superb service, and extensive wine list that features a wide selection of Italian and international wines. It’s no wonder that Ferraro’s has garnered a loyal following among Las Vegas locals and visitors alike…and that Gambero Rosso recently recognized them as one of the top Italian restaurants in the world.
Taste With The Eyes re-creation of Pappardelle Mimmo
Ferraro’s Ristorante Las Vegas
Ferraro’s Antipasti
Burrata con Zucchine
Burrata with grilled zucchini and herb oil
Carne Battuta
Prime beef tartare, Reggiano truffle reduction, black truffle crostini, hazelnuts
🌿🌼🌿 Cabillaud aux Asperges 🌿🌼🌿
(Cod with Asparagus)
Asparagus Cream Sauce, Balsamic Reduction
This lovely fish and asparagus dish was inspired by one of several fabulous courses we enjoyed at Picasso Restaurant by Chef Julian Serrano in Las Vegas.
The Chef’s menu is drawn from his own background in the regional cuisines of Spain and France, and in honor of Pablo Picasso’s Spanish heritage and years the master artist spent living in France.
The fish course was particularly memorable for its simplicity, harmony, and quality. A beautiful fillet of seared Chilean Sea Bass sat on a raft of perfectly cooked asparagus spears, covered with a light blanket of sauce hollandaise. The brilliant element of the dish was the Chef’s addition of a balsamic reduction, which juxtaposed intense sweet and tangy notes with the rich fish and buttery sauce.
For my version, I serve a pan-seared Wild Alaska Pacific Cod with its pleasant, slightly sweet, mild clean taste and lean flaky texture. And here, hollandaise is replaced by an Asparagus Cream Sauce made from the surplus of my Asparagus Soup for a delightful springtime dish.
“An excellent light supper need be no more than a good soup, a salad, cheese and fruit. And combined according to your own taste, a good homemade soup in these days of the can opener is almost a unique and always a satisfying experience,” so says Julia Child in Mastering the Art of French Cooking Volume One, Fortieth Anniversary Edition published by Alfred A. Knopf 2006.
And the beauty of this soup is that it is equally excellent served either hot or cold. Depending on the occasion, the weather, your menu, your mood… whatever it may be – choose the hot or cold version for your delicious soup-centric supper.
The month of May is the perfect time to serve this super-easy, seasonal asparagus soup! The color is quite spring-y. It has a lovely mild, grassy flavor with earthy and nutty undertones plus an exquisite creamy texture. It’s simultaneously simple and elegant, suitable for a weeknight supper or a weekend gala.
It’s a fish soup that is creamy but not overly rich nor fishy, and chock-full of vegetables …asparagus, peas, and fennel. Fresh dill and lemon add herby and bright citrusy notes respectively. Wild Alaska Pacific Cod is a wonderful fish for light soups and stews as it is slightly sweet and has a mild clean taste with a lean flaky texture.
♥ Extending a heartfelt thank you to the small-boat Alaskan fishermen aboard F/V Fortune who responsibly harvested the pristine fish used in this recipe.
