Monday 16 January 2017

A Vine Romance

Fanny Cradock loves a mould. They are so useful to transport the simplest of dishes to a whole new level, into a whole new shape and often in a whole new way. Fanny has lots of moulds in her amply furnished kitchen, many which she has collected over the years from the many fantastic places she has visited. She likes to show them off. At. Every. Opportunity. She never misses a chance to demonstrate her one-up-(wo)man-ship, thinly disguised as educational, inspirational and aspirational.

Fanny Cradock Tomato Ice Cream

She's clearly rubbed off on me, as I can barely resist eyeing-up and then buying-up a mould myself. I have them hidden in every available nook and cranny of my rather limited kitchen. I even have some on display. I know that I will never compete with Fanny. However, she continues to rub it in. She's making moulded ice creams, and shamelessly displays her multi-flavoured Bombes in all their glory, moulded in eighteenth century pewter moulds that she 'happened' to pick up for a measly £1.50 ten years earlier. In Halifax. I'm clearly searching the wrong fantastic places.

Fanny Cradock Tomato Ice Cream

Fanny recognises that I am unlikely to have the same kind of moulds as she has. She's not wrong. She knows she has all the good stuff stashed away. Fanny doesn't think this is important. She obviously is overlooking my burgeoning obsessive collection tendencies that she herself has encouraged. The reason however that she thinks I shouldn't be too bothered is that I am likely to have the perfect mould already in my kitchen. Has she seen my paltry collection of everyday animals, traditional shapes and almost fancy-pants contours? No, dear old Fanny has another altogether more organic idea.

Fanny Cradock Tomato Ice Cream

A melon. I don't need to travel to the heady heights of Halifax to obtain one of those. It hardly adds much glamour to my mould collection. A melon? Fanny suggests scooping it out so that it is hollow, which seems reasonable to me. Fanny, always concerned with food waste, has a delightful idea of what to do with the flesh. I'm imagining something fantastic that my neighbours will never even have thought about. No. Fanny's idea? Eat it. How terribly inventive.

Fanny Cradock Tomato Ice Cream

More innovative, imaginative and perhaps ingenious is her idea for the ice cream. She calls it a Bombe Anglaise. It's actually Tomato Ice Cream. Savoury. It sounds avant-garde to me. Fanny makes it from what-she-calls Tomato Purée, but what I-would-call Passata. Fanny makes a savoury custard, which is like a sweet one but without any sugar. Fanny whips up some double cream. Fanny adds a range of Bloody Mary seasonings. Fanny beats them all together. Fanny fills the scooped out melons. Fanny freezes them. Fanny then un-moulds them and 'claps' them together to look like a giant tomato. With a mint leaf garnish. Fanny is incredible. Fanny is inspired. Fanny is impressive. The ice cream is 'Da Bombe'. I've almost forgotten about those antique moulds that I've yet to obtain. Almost.

Fanny Cradock Tomato Ice Cream

8 comments:

  1. Its bombtastic! I agree with you tomato puree to me is tomato passata :) But it looks impressive, do hope you find those antique moulds, but i think its quite nifty using the melon bowls as moulds - clever and economical.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hmmm - tomato ice cream, what would one serve that with would you suggest?? (Love the robin red breasts)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's actually lovely, would be a great summer-y starter - it tasted like cream of Tomato soup! So I'd serve it alone I think. Might also be great with a Risotto though! Yes, still got the Christmas table runner on!

      Delete
  3. So like a gazpacho but taken one step further and without all those nasty bits in. Looks fab. Melon sorbet served in a melon half would be way too obvious for Fanny.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah kind of a creamy one! Melon Sorbet just wouldn't impress your neighbours... Thanks!

      Delete
  4. That looks... interesting. 'Savoury tomato custard ice cream' isn't completely convincing me. Though I can imagine mini ones making a fun summer starter, perhaps served with potato waffles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sounds good, I totally fancy a potato waffle now! Thanks!

      Delete