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Celebrity chefs share their private recipes

In his cookbook, David Nicholls collects dishes famous chefs prepare at home for their friends and families

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Cooking with celebrity chefs
March 20: Chefs David Nicholls and Gray Kunz cook up some dishes they make at home with the "Today" show's David Gregory.

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updated 1:55 p.m. ET March 20, 2006

David Nicholls, executive chef of the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel in London, asked world-renowned chefs and food writers to contribute their favorite recipes for his new cookbook, “Off Duty, The World's Greatest Chefs Cook at Home.” They include Daniel Boulud, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Thomas Keller, Alain Ducasse, Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsey, Nigella Lawson, Eric Ziebold, and Nobu Matsuhisa. Nicholls is publishing the book to raise funds for spinal cord injury research. In 2003, Nicholls’ son became paralyzed from the neck down, after a diving accident. Nicholls hopes research will enable son and others with spinal cord injuries to walk again. (For more on the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation, visit www.nichollsfoundation.org.uk.) Try these recipes in your kitchen:

Fillet of Beef Cooked in Herb Bread with Madeira Sauce
“Off Duty: The World’s Greatest Chefs Cook at Home” by David Nicholls

Serves four

Have a very sharp carving knife ready for the beef. The crust is extremely rich and delicate; simply a triumph when done well. Serve with mixed green vegetables.

INGREDIENTS

Beef:

18 ounces beef tenderloin
Oil for frying
Dijon mustard
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
4 eggs
4 tablespoons chopped green herbs
1 teaspoon crushed garlic or garlic purée
6 slices of medium-sliced white bread, crusts removed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Madeira Sauce:

2 ounces shallots, sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced
3 1/2 tablespoons Madeira (or port)
1 1/4 cups chicken stock
4 tablespoons heavy cream
1 1/2 sticks butter, diced

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

Season the beef fillet with salt and pepper. Pour just enough oil in a frying pan  to cover the base and place over a fairly high heat. When it is hot, add the beef fillet and cook until well browned on all sides. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. Brush liberally all over with Dijon mustard and season with salt and pepper again.

Generously oil a sheet of baking parchment paper, large enough to wrap round the beef. Lightly whisk the cream and eggs together, then add the chopped herbs and crushed garlic. Soak the bread in the cream and egg mixture until it absorbs some of the liquid (not too much, though). Drain off any excess liquid and lay four slices of the bread on the piece of baking parchment to form a square. Place the beef fillet on top and encase it in the bread, using the remaining two slices to form a crust around it. Roll up the meat in the parchment and tie the parcel with string, retaining the shape of the fillet. Bake for 30 minutes in an oven preheated to 400º.

Meanwhile, make the sauce. Put the shallots and mushrooms in a pan, add the Madeira and bring to the boil. Add the chicken stock and simmer until reduced to a tenth of its original volume. Add the cream, bring back to the boil and simmer gently until reduced by half. Over a low heat, gradually whisk in the butter, then season to taste.

When the beef is done, remove from the oven and leave to rest for five minutes. Remove the baking parchment and slice the beef into four servings. Place on serving plates, pour over the sauce and serve

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My Anything Salad
“Off Duty: The World’s Greatest Chefs Cook at Home” by David Nicholls

Serves four

I always plan to eat a main course and dessert, and seldom prepare a starter (appetizer). Then at the last minute, I raid the fridge and make a salad using anything that’s available. Either follow the recipe below or substitute ingredients as necessary. Instead of the dressing given below, you could use a dressing of your choice – Caesar would be ideal.

INGREDIENTS

Salad:

2 ounces sugar snap peas
2 ounces green beans
6 asparagus spears, cut into 2-inch lengths
4 tablespoons olive oil
2/3 cup button mushrooms, cut into quarters
1 red onion, sliced
2/3 cup new potatoes, boiled in their skins, then sliced
1 bunch of scallions, chopped
2 slices of toast, crusts removed and cut into 1/2-inch dices
10 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2 cooked chicken breasts (breast halves), either roasted, fried, or diced
3 eggs
1 ounce Parmesan cheese shavings
mixed salad leaves, such as curly endive, lollo rosso, arugula, spinach, romaine), or cress
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Dressing:

1/2 teaspoon garlic purée
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
4 1/2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
Worcestershire sauce to taste
3 tablespoons hot water, if necessary

DIRECTIONS

To make the dressing, whisk the garlic purée, egg yolk, mustard, cheese, and vinegar together, then gradually whisk in the oil. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Add the water, if necessary, to give the consistency of heavy cream.

Cook the sugar snaps, green beans, and asparagus in boiling salted water, then drain and refresh in cold water. Drain again and set aside.

Heat the olive oil in a pan, add the mushrooms and onion and cook until tender and lightly colored. Add the green vegetables, toss together and season to taste. Remove from the heat and add the potatoes, spring onions, toast croutons, cherry tomatoes, and diced roast chicken. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a large mixing bowl.

Boil the eggs for 3 minutes, then break them into the bowl and spoon into the mixture. Add the dressing, then add the mixed leaves and toss everything together. Finally add the Parmesan cheese shavings, adjust the seasoning and serve.

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