Recipe - Le Trous Mouclade

3 qt Mussels, cleaned
6 tablespoon Unsalted butter (75g)
6 Shallots, chopped fine
Bouquet garni (celery, bay
leaf, thyme, parsley stems)
1 cup White wine (240ml)
One half teaspoon Saffron threads
1 cup Heavy cream (240ml)
1 tablespoon Fresh parsley, chopped
1 Clove garlic, mashed

This one is almost enough to get me off my duff and over to the coast
to gather some mussels.

Robert Reynolds, chef/owner of Le Trou Restaurant Francais in San
Francisco provides this recipe. He has used it as a vehicle for
teaching his students about saffron's special qualities. This recipe
originated in the French Bordeaux region.

Steep threads in wine for 30 minutes. Saute 6 shallots in butter
until limp. Add Bouquet garni and wine. Simmer for 1 minute. Add
cleaned mussels, cover pan with tightfitting lid, and steam mussels
open, shaking pan occasionally. Check after 3 minutes. Remove
opened mussels and set in colander over a bowl to catch their juices.
Discard any mussels not opened after 6 minutes. Saute remaining
shallots in butter until limp. Add mussel juice and cream and reduce
to desired consistency. Add parsley and garlic, then toss mussels in
sauce until well coated. Serve in soup bowls.

From "Wild About Saffron++A Contemporary Guide to an Ancient Spice",
by Ellen Szita. Published by Saffron Rose, 28 John Glenn Circle,
Daly City, Ca., 94105. 1987.

Posted by Stephen Ceideberg; March 30 1993.

File ftp://ftp.idiscover.co.uk/pub/food/mealmaster/recipes/cberg2.zip