PROOF Dec 2018 | Page 49

TASTE | PROOF MAGAZINE 49 Favourite ‘all-Bajan’ recipe: Bread & Butter Pudding served with Guava & Mount Gay Caramel Sauce Meet Esther James Company: With Love By Esther James Esther’s cooking tip: “Enjoy the adventure that is cooking… you’re in control of the outcome so embrace the process” Ingredients: Method: Pudding 16 slices white bread of choice 4 large eggs 3/4 cup heavy cream 3/4 cup whole milk 4 Tbsp Mount Gay Rum 1 Tbsp vanilla essence 1 cup white sugar 1 tsp powdered cinnamon 1 tsp ground nutmeg 8 oz softened, salted butter 6 oz guava jam 1. Warm heavy cream, whole milk, vanilla essence and rum together in small saucepan. 5. Pour egg mixture over bread and let stand for one hour. Sprinkle soaked bread mixture with remaining sugar mixture. 2. Whisk eggs and temper by gradually adding hot cream mixture to cold eggs, whisking continuously. Set aside. 6. Heat oven to 400°F. Bake pudding until puffed and golden brown. Pudding should be set in about 45 minutes to 1 hour. 3. Mix together white sugar with cinnamon powder and ground nutmeg. 7. Meanwhile make Guava and Mount Gay Caramel sauce. Sauce 1 cup white sugar 4 oz unsalted butter 4 oz heavy cream 2 tbsp Mount Gay Rum 1 tbsp Guava Jam 4. Spread one slice of bread with generous amount of butter on one side and guava jam on the opposite side. In a rectangular loaf pan, fan overlapping slices in one layer. Sprinkle layer with sugar mixture. Continue this process until bread is to the top of the loaf pan. Restaurant Cocktail Kitchen Favourite ‘all-Bajan’ dish: Pudding & souse for sure!! Definitely is my favourite bajan dish Favourite dish I cook right now ch t Mee ian Lea Dam Ginger, coconut & cilantro crusted barracuda Pan seared Barracuda crusted with dehydrated coconut, ginger and coriander, vanilla braised plantain puree, ginger & scotch bonnet sweet potato mash, pickled pineapple THE SENSES ISSUE 8. In a heavy, medium saucepan over medium heat stir butter and sugar until melted and golden brown. Add cream, guava jam and rum carefully and whisk vigorously until smooth. Simmer until sauce thickens for about 5 minutes, stirring periodically. Serve warm over bread & butter pudding with fresh guava slices and vanilla ice cream. Fun fact: Damian tried and failed to make the Barbados culinary team 4 or 5 times before finally making the team in 2016 and then went to have a major winning streak: 2016 Barbados Chef of the year 2016 Caribbean Chef of the year 2016 NIFCA Chef of the year 2017 Taste of the Caribbean best seafood 2017 Taste of the Caribbean Team of the year