He attended the hotel school in Paris, and has studied under world renowned chefs Michel Guerard, Jacques Chibois, Gaston Lenôtre and Le Coze. He is also a Champion on The Food Network’s “Chopped.” We asked Chef for a quick Q&A about lamb and French cuisine:
What makes lamb a great match with French cooking?
Almost every protein works with French cuisine, but I love that lamb brings a little something different to the plate. Lamb has a fine-grained texture that’s beautiful, and the various cuts are all so different too – from shank to loin or rack, you cook and serve them in their own ways with delicious results.
What do you like about Australian lamb?
For me it’s the unbeatable consistency. I know I will get a high-quality meat that’s always tender, the same size and same taste every time, all year-long; it’s so important.
How do guests respond to lamb at your restaurant Caribou Cafe?
Lamb is always on the menu for us, I couldn’t take it off if I wanted to! The slow-cooked lamb shank is always popular, and we often do loin or rack for special occasions. I find our female guests especially love the lamb – just this mother’s day we sold 54 lamb burgers, a huge amount for a restaurant of our size.
Speaking of special occasions, you recently did a dish with lamb saddle, celeriac puree and truffle sauce in Toronto. Tell us about that!
I wanted to do something that represented my background and French cuisine, and this is a classic example par excellence! I used the Aussie lamb loin or saddle, keeping it pure and simple to let it shine just the way it is. It’s simply seasoned, seared, allowed to rest, then put back in the oven for a couple of minutes before slicing medium rare. I made a mousseline of celeriac, potato, and cauliflower, that silky texture and mild but interesting flavor really supports the lamb. Then a lamb jus with a hint of truffle for a bit of luxury and robustness, and a little asparagus for that fresh green flavor and because it's a classic where I’m from in France.
Voila! Love it chef, can’t wait to see what you cook up next!