Photos: Vic Chin, Video: Vic Chin and Peter Ruocco
I moved to Paris when I was 26 after attending culinary school and working in French restaurants in Manhattan. I wanted to see and experience the real thing after learning about food in school. I loved being in Paris but was disappointed that everyone didn’t walk around the narrow streets of the 10th arrondissement wearing a beret and carrying a baguette under their arm! Oh, and I did gain a few pounds along with gaining a respect for the way Europeans shop, eat and appreciate what they have. Their regard for food and its presentation is much higher than ours. I ate all of the classic, traditional dishes including rich braises and stews cooked long and slow in little bistros throughout the City.
Short ribs are one of my favorite things to eat and this recipe brings together a Provençal classic, Beef Daube, and a Mexican mole. Its creation evolved from my time living in Paris, my experience cooking in French restaurants, particularly a beef cheek recipe that I made a lot at COCO5OO and then living in the Mission district where I was introduced to moles. I like mole a lot so when we opened Shakewell I added coffee, chocolate and dried chilies to my classic recipe to impart the mole flavors into this deliciously savory, complex dish. The ingredients are available in the Bay Area and it’s simple to make and tastes even better if made the day before.
Ancho Chili and Chocolate Braised Short Ribs
Makes 6 - 8 servings
Ingredients:
- 5 pounds beef short ribs
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 bottle red wine
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, cut into large pieces
- 1 fennel, cut into quarters
- 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed
- 6 branches of fresh thyme
- 2 dried ancho chilies, torn into pieces
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ¼ cup chopped bittersweet chocolate
- 1 tablespoon ground coffee
- 2 quarts veal or chicken stock
- Cauliflower Puree (see recipe below)
- Citrus Gremolata (see recipe below)
Instructions:
- Trim any excess fat from the short ribs. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and set in a shallow dish; pour over red wine and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside to marinate for 2 hours or refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat; pour in oil and swirl to coat. Add the short ribs in a single layer, browning on all sides.
- Add the wine from the marinade and reduce by half.
- Add the onions, fennel, carrots, garlic, fresh thyme, chilies, tomato paste, chocolate, coffee and stock. Bring to a lazy simmer and cover.
- Transfer to the oven and cook until the ribs are tender, 1/12 to 2 hours. If the sauce is a little thin you can remove the meat and vegetables and reduce the sauce by one third then strain through a fine strainer.
- To serve: Spoon a dollop of the Cauliflower Puree in the center of 8 plates. Set the short rib on top and spoon over some of the sauce. Arrange the Citrus Gremolata on the short rib, drizzle with a little additional extra virgin olive oil and serve.
Cauliflower Puree
Makes 8 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into florets
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ cup heavy cream, heated
- 4 tablespoons butter
- Salt and white pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a medium saucepan, combine cauliflower with enough water and the milk to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until very tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and allow to dry.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the florets to a food processor and process until pureed.
- Slowly add the hot cream and butter and process until smooth. Season with salt and white pepper to taste.
Citrus Gremolata
Makes 8 servings
Ingredients:
- Zest of 2 lemons
- Zest of 2 oranges
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons Lilliput capers
- 2 cups arugula
- ½ cup flat leaf parsley
- ½ cup thinly sliced, pickled Fresno chili
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the lemon and orange zest, garlic, capers, arugula, parsley and Fresno chili.
- Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil.
