Sea Bass with Grapes
Credit: Jorg Brockmann
(Bar aux Raisins)
SERVES 4
Chef Philippe Téchoire serves this at Chez Philippe, one of his Bordeaux restaurants.
16 scallions, trimmed
2 cups Fish Stock
1 375-ml bottle sauternes
4 4-oz. skinless center-cut sea bass filets,
halved lengthwise
4 large white mushrooms, trimmed,
cleaned, and sliced
8 tbsp. butter, cut into small pieces
50 muscat or other white grapes, peeled,
halved, and seeded
1⁄2 lemon
Salt
1. Trim green parts off scallions, leaving 2" of the pale green parts attached to the white bulb; set white parts aside. Slice one-third of the green parts crosswise (discard remaining green parts); set aside. Bring stock and 1⁄4 cup of the wine to a simmer in a large skillet over medium heat. Poach fish, partially covered, until halfway cooked through, about 1 1⁄2 minutes. Turn fish and continue poaching until just cooked through, about 1 1⁄2 minutes more. Divide fish between 4 warm shallow bowls, leaving poaching liquid in skillet, and cover fish to keep warm.
2. Bring poaching liquid to a boil over high heat, add remaining wine, and boil until thick enough to just coat the back of a wooden spoon, about 15 minutes. Add scallions and mushrooms, reduce heat to medium, and cook until scallion bulbs are soft, 8–10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, divide scallion mixture between bowls with fish. Continue boiling sauce in skillet until syrupy, 1–2 minutes.
3. Remove skillet from heat and whisk in butter, 1 piece at a time, whisking thoroughly after each addition. Return skillet to heat and add grapes, a squeeze of lemon juice, and salt to taste. Heat sauce over medium-low heat until grapes are warmed through, about 1 minute. Pour sauce and grapes over fish and garnish with a sprig of chervil, if you like.
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