The negative part first. I will fall on my sword in terms of presentation and I will tell you why. I had ever so carefully planned for the arrival of my scallop shells (my old ones having found a place in the dustbin of culinary history) but when cooking time came around my special package had yet to arrive and I can only imagine where it might be. As a disciple of the school of technically correct cooking, you can appreciate my pain – literally the stab in the back, Oh well such are the difficult moments of cooking life. Now for the good news. This little dish is not something one just “puts together” un, deux, trois. Non, this takes a little balancing and some quick wits – after all that’s what makes this so much fun. The cream sauce was to die for, almost. You felt like diving in. Yes that good. As the fat scallops were mixing it up with the white wine, tarragon and a few others, I was mixing it up on my own with the sauce. Challenging, as I said, but once finished, you stand there with your spoon taking just one more taste and probably looking fat dumb and happy – but what a way to go. I served the dish with a side of Linguine and the two went together like two peas in a pod. A little note, live dangerously and add some Muscadet to your cream sauce. You will think you have died and gone to culinary heaven. I know I did.
Let me add a word or two about the wine for this dish. Les Frères Couillaud, Château de la Ragotière 2008 Muscadet Sèvre et Marne Sure Lie. Built by the noble Loré de la Ragotiere family in the fourteenth century, Château de la Ragotière was purchased in 1979 by the Couillaud brothers. After acquiring the property, Bernard, François and Michel discovered an old cellar in the chapel housing vintages dating back to 1947. The Couillaud brothers strive, and successfully so, to carry on the tradition of making high quality, long-lasting Muscadets. I continue to search in my cellar in the possible event I may have missed some 1947 vintages but to date the only things I have found, I wish had remained hidden.