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Feast on this exquisite meal from top chefs

Try these delicious recipes from Bon Appetit and Las Vegas restaurants

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updated 11:19 a.m. ET May 4, 2008

Bon Appetit magazine and world-renowned chefs from the top Las Vegas restaurants teamed up to make a delicious meal exclusively for TODAY. On the menu: Parmesan pudding, Kobe sirloin and penne with ragu.


Parmesan pudding with morel vinaigrette
Chef Todd English, Bellagio

INGREDIENTS

Pudding

1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
2 cups cream
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 egg yolks
1 whole egg
Pepper to taste

Pea sauce

1 1/2 cups fresh or defrosted frozen sweet peas
3/4 cup chicken broth
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Pea shoots, for garnish (optional)

Morel vinaigrette

3 oz. fresh morels, thoroughly cleaned, sliced in half lengthwise
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 branches thyme
1 clove garlic
Zest of 1 lemon
Whole parsley leaves
1 shallot, finely diced
2 tsp butter
2 tsp sherry vinegar

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 250°. Butter a miniature (3 "x 6") bread pan and line it with parchment paper.  

Melt butter in a medium-size saucepan and whisk in the flour. Continue whisking until the mixture is bubbling and has the consistency of mashed potatoes. Slowly whisk in the light cream.

Off the heat, slowly add the milk, heavy cream, egg and egg yolks, whisking well after each addition. Add the Parmesan cheese, stirring until fully incorporated. Stir in the salt and pepper.
         
Pour the pudding into the prepared pan and place the pan in a larger pan filled with enough water to come halfway up the sides of the bread pan. Cover with aluminum foil, gently place in the oven, and bake for about 2 hours. When the pudding is done, it will be somewhat firm and a knife inserted in the center will come out clean. Let cool, then cover and refrigerate overnight.
         
To make the pea sauce: place the peas, chicken broth, cream, salt and pepper in a blender and blend until smooth. Place in a small saucepan over very low heat and cook until warm — about 2 minutes.

For the vinaigrette, in a stockpot over medium heat, add morels and cover with chicken stock. Add thyme, garlic, salt and pepper, and cover with foil and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, strain out mushrooms and place on tray. Reserve broth for stock. In a saute pan melt 1 teaspoon butter and add cooled morels, diced shallot, and saute for 2 minutes. Deglaze with sherry vinegar. Add a half tablespoon of mushroom stock. Tighten sauce with remaining butter and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Finish with lemon zest and parsley leaves.

TIPS

To serve, unmold the pudding onto a cutting board. Cut into 6 to 8 slices. First place some of the pea sauce on each heatproof plate. Then place a slice of pudding in the center of each plate. Place plates in the oven and heat until the pudding is just warm, about 2 to 3 minutes. Spoon the vinaigrette over the pudding slices and garnish with the pea tendrils, mache and grilled sourdough bread on the side of the plate.

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Kobe sirloin with bittersweet chocolate rub and cocoa braised oxtail impanato
Bon Appétit executive chef Cat Cora

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS

Beef sirloin

(3 1/2 lbs) Kobe beef, cut into 3-inch-long strips
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons cocoa-chile spice blend
1 teaspoon sea salt

Oxtail impanato

2 oxtails
3 sprigs parsley, chopped
3 sprigs thyme
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper
Dash cayenne
1 egg, beaten
1 cup sifted dry bread crumbs
2 oz cocoa nibs, crushed

DIRECTIONS

Beef sirloin: Rub the tenderloin with salt and pepper first so that it stays on the beef. Then rub the beef with the Cocoa-Chile Blend and 1 teaspoon salt until well coated. Let sit for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the grill. Skewer the tenderloin over licorice root sticks that have been soaking in water. Place the skewers on an area of the hot grill with no direct flame. Grill on both sides until browned and caramelized, about 4-5 minutes per side.

Oxtail impanato:  Wash oxtails and cut into 4-inch-length strips. Cover with boiling water.  Add parsley, thyme, bay leaf, salt, pepper, and cayenne; simmer until tails are tender, 2-3 hours. Let cool in the stock. Drain meat, dip into beaten egg mixture and roll in chocolate/bread crumbs. Fry in hot deep oil at 375 degrees F until brown. Serve alongside Kobe licorice skewers immediately.

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