Page 258 - Bridget Jones's Diary - by Helen FIELDING
P. 258
Friday 3 November
9st2 (humph), alcohol units 2, cigarettes 8, Smoothies 13, calories 5245.
11 a.m. V. excited about dinner party. Have bought marvelous new recipe book
by Marco Pierre White. At last understand the simple difference between home
cooking and restaurant food. As Marco says, it is all to do with concentration of
taste. The secret of sauces, of course, apart from taste concentration, lies in real
stock. One must boil up large pans of fish bones, chicken carcasses, etc., then
freeze them in form of ice-stockcubes. Then cooking to Michelin star standard
becomes as easy as making shepherd's pie: easier, in fact, as do not need to peel
potatoes, merely confit them in goose fat. Cannot believe have not realized this
before.
This will be the menu: Velouté of Celery (v. simple and cheap when have
made stock).
Chargrilled Tuna on Velouté of Cherry Tomatoes Coulis with Confit of Garlic
and Fondant Potatoes.
Confit of Oranges. Grand Marnier Creme Anglaise.
Will be marvelous. Will become known as brilliant but apparently effortless
cook.
People will flock to my dinner parties, enthusing, 'It's really great going to
