Braising softens the slight bitterness in endive. In this preparation the endives are cooked until not only tender, but more importantly, until there has been a real exchange between the buttery lemony braising juices and the endives themselves.
serves 4 to 6
Ingredients
- 12 small, or 8 large belgian endives
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste
- ½ cup water, plus more as needed
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 4 tablespoon butter, sliced into ½ tablespoon pieces
- 2 tablespoon flat leaf parsley, minced as garnish, optional
Directions
Prepare the endive for cooking: Trim the root ends of the endive, being careful to ensure that the leaves remain attached. Remove any wilted leaves and cut out the brown portions. Wash under cool running water.
Braising the endive: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Arrange the endives in a single layer in a stove top and oven proof casserole or baking dish just large enough to accommodate them. Add the salt, water, lemon juice and butter. Cover the dish with a lid or foil and simmer on top of the stove, until just tender, about 20 minutes.
Remove the cover and lay a piece of parchment cut to size onto the surface of the vegetables. Place into the preheated oven and bake about 2 hours. Baste the endive several times during cooking with the liquid in the dish. You may need to add more water to assure that the liquid remain at about ¼‑inch deep. Taste the liquid about halfway through cooking and adjust seasoning if needed.
They are done when the endive is very tender and a pale golden color. Remove from the oven, discard parchment and garnish with parsley if using. Serve warm.
I confess to not being too engaged in the contest, I was teaching a class damn it and trying to keep ahead of the students, but the quick glances I stole at your work, it was just amazing. I am forever grateful for Chef E sending me your way, and now other people can see what a powerhouse of talent you are.
But then I am a little biased. I am privileged to have been the recipient of your wonderful hospitality and cooking over the years, and now through your blog I get to enjoy your terrific photography and writing as well. I think your mom would have been proud. Coincidentally, I just finished hanging a photo from you of pears bound by a red thread…so I guess that means you need d to come see my new place and cook dinner for me. We will both be very happy!
Big Hugs!
I thought you had it in the bag Greg. What one would call a shoe-in. You did a fabulous job and we’re all so proud of you. I just know your mother would have been too.
Sam
at the end of the day, you still did a good job and for all intents and purposes, you are a winner in your own right.
of all you accomplished here. Your posts were brilliantly conceived and executed, winning material in my book. Blogs (and blog contests) are indeed funny things. — S
You are the WINNER in my book!
Greg, you did an amazing job with the competition and I’m thankful that I got to know you a little better through it, too. It would be a travesty were Sippity-Sup to end, and you should be so proud of your achievements. You got to round 9!
Well done for all that you did, you are, as I said, wonderful.
Jax x
You do such a great job, I cannot imagine others being better. The ones that did not make it further earlier on were no where near your talent…also my feelings towards contest could keep us here all night, so I will back off…glad to be able to follow you!
sounds like a wonderful woman, and she raised a wonderful son…
I’m just now seeing this because my google reader decided to throw up last week and dump all of my feeds.
I’d say I’m sorry that you didn’t win but I know you don’t need consoling. Your words echo the essence of existence. One of your best posts ever.
Ah, Greg, you did an excellent job with pfb, I was shocked that you didn’t make it to final 3 but you should be really proud of yourself! This is a beautiful post, exactly why we all love your blog!
Congratulations on all your accomplishments. It takes an amazing person to be so gracious throughout the contest, you definately deserved to win!
Congratulations on the Food and Wine feature, I’ll be purchasing that issue tomorrow!
Greg — I was cheering you on to make it to the finish line. You must be proud of far you went with this contest. I think that for a lot of people, their mothers are the foundation and inspiration for cooking among many other things. I can hardly wait to get my January issue of Food and Wine. You do have a divine kitchen!!! Will always be a fan!
I have issues with this whole thing and not because I was eliminated so quickly but it all comes out in the wash.…and just so you know — I can boil eggs baby.…
Aw Greg, I was sure you’d win — you’re such a great blogger. No worries — you’ll get ’em next time! I really mean it.
I’m surprised you aren’t the grand prize winner. You’ve got a great blog, you’re a fabulous writer/photographer and completely entertaining. I’m so glad I found and follow your blog.
And by the way, just finished browsing through the new F&W. A big congratulations on being featured. Can I have your virtual autograph? 🙂
How did you see that? I have not seen it yet? It was a secret for Monday. But what a fun way to announce. GREG
You are a beautiful writer!!!! Your style regarding food should have gotten you into the final 3. I believe had the contest been based on food writing talent (Eh-hemmmm, take note mediocre food bloggers w/ lots of Yelping friends), you would have not only made it to top 3, but won. Can’t wait to meet you tonight.
Cheers
Without PFB, I might never have found your blog or met you in person, so for that I’m eternally grateful. You did absolutely amazing in the contest. Your last entry was spectacular — after I read it, I said to myself “Now THAT’S a restaurant review!” And then you upped the ante with this post. I foresee great things to come here on Sippity Sup and I can’t wait — happy writing, Greg!
As always, I’m never sure if I’m here because of the food you prepare or the words you write. You did an outstanding job in all of the rounds and being a mom myself, I know your mom would be very proud.
I love your blog and what it has become. It has been an inspiration to me. I actually became aware of food blogs through you and your blog in the first place, and have now read a several of them. Sippity Sup is still MY favorite food blog. A contest is just a contest…a point in time. But what you are sharing of yourself and your soul and your creativity is much more lasting.
Thanks for Sippity Sup.
When it comes down to it there can only be one winner. That doesn’t mean that many of the other bloggers didn’t deserve to move forward, deserve our praise, our gratitude, our admiration. You fall into all of these categories Greg. You cannot define yourself by others and follow their path there is only your own.
Thank you for so thoughtfully sharing your thoughts today. Though a reader prior to this contest, I followed your journey and I think your eloquent response only adds to those reasons. Disappointment is expected but your story of how you’ve decided to continue with your thread is telling and as a Mom not unlike yours…a decision I’m certain she is most proud of. And you should be proud too; very proud!
Greg — Your eagerness to take on new challenges is inspiring not only as an approach to food blogging but life. You make your momma and all who know you proud. I look forward to following your journey to come.
I seriously thought you deserved to make it all the way, you are such a well rounded and incredibly talented blogger. Some of us may shine at one thing or another, but you my friend… you’ve got it all! So keep that thread going baby!
I always thought you were the one to beat. I’m really surprised. And disappointed. But there’s no doubt you made a mark. You’ll probably get a book deal out of it! At least you gave your readers a wild ride. And your mom would be proud. Most definitely.
I read your whole, beautifully written post, and this sentence, in particular, made me pause, because I got that catch in the throat you get when something moves you:
“It takes time and requires some distance, but eventually you’ll understand that the thread was left for you to pick up and follow. If you are able to knit that thread into the fabric of your life then you’ll know what happiness is.”
A masterful, elegant, wise insight.
You did a great job, and I’m not sure who benefited more … you for your creative journey or all the new readers who have discovered your fabulous blog and are hooked as I am. Cheers to you!
I love this. Beautifully written, and I can totally relate to how you feel. It was a pleasure competing against you! On to bigger and better things.
I second Joan’s comment! You are as gracious now as you were through the whole process. And as they always say, when one door closes, another one opens. You can be sure this will happen for you. Now that you have all this free time…I think it’s time for that trip back East! 🙂
You are still a winner because a winner is not defined by the end of one contest. I watched Top Chef this week and one of the better chefs was eliminated in round 2. However, she is a total loser all the way because she was mouthy, arrogant, temperamental and I’m so glad to see her gone. Her food looked terrible and it was her reputation (from the past, as this is Top Chef all stars) that made it seem so shocking. But, for her good riddance and I would choke on her food.
But YOU my friend are a class act all the way around and even though you were eliminated. (I like to think you came in 4th), you are a winner. I am personally shocked at these results, but then again, I’m shocked at Rachel Ray’s popularity.
At any rate, you boosted your blog to star level and as soon as I change my software I’m right behind you. (I found someone who actually reads my blog in Nash that can help me go to wordpress).
Your tribute to your mother is touching, appropriate and please do the egg post. And, then do a whole bunch of egg posts. You know you want to.
Love you to my favorite blogger.
I am disappointed to hear that you are not going on. Well, I know who my favorite and #1 blog of 2010 is… and I don’t need FoodBuzz to tell me that!
…that you didn’t make it! My mother was an inspiration to me as well (passed last year), and what she taught me was to always reach a little further than what you think is possible (or what you think you are capable of). There are a few blogs out there that I would gladly award the 10 G’s for embodying this- and you’re one of them, buddy! …And this from a vegan who is against hard boiled eggs LOL! The contest may be over, but the ride only stops when you’re ready to get off. Hugs!
If it were not for PFB I would not have found your site. And believe me, I am so much richer for reading your blog, especially knowing that we are practically neighbors.
You are an extremely creative person, a gifted writer, a great cook, and a wonderful entertainer.
My mother was a great cook, willing to experiment and break out of the tradition, just like yours. We both owe a lot to the adventurous spirit of or dear mothers. I am so sorry you lost yours so early:(
Cannot wait to meet you in person on Sunday:)
I can undoubtedly relate to competing for the sake of competition. I can tell myself it’s not good for me, but I’m either addicted to or hard-wired for it. At some point, I think those two possibilities become impossible to separate. I appreciate seeing similar things in you, knowing that there’s integrity and decency in your approach. I also appreciate that you show yourself being vulnerable, which is not always a side I’ve seen in Sippity Sup. But one that allows us to know more about you.
I don’t for a second believe that you would have ended the blog, though I’m sure the emotion was there. I look forward to what follows.
and a classy, honest and eloquent exit.
I’d love to read it, to see the photos you would choose, to see your take on boiling an egg. With each Challenge, I always looked forward to your post the most. I’ll continue to look forward to seeing what you’re up to in the future!
Congratulations on a great run!
It goes without saying that I want you to pick up that thread and keep following, wherever it leads. I think my own thread unraveled a bit after crashing out in round 4. In some ways, I’ve been trying to pick up the stitches ever since, but I know the thread remains, as does yours. Who knows where they both will go.
Hi Greg — I love the story about your mother, I am so sorry for your loss, she must have been very young. I am hoping to be that kind of culinary inspiration to my nephews.
Your blog: original — imaginative — fresh — creative. Looking forward to what’s next! Congratulations on your achievement!
Your fan,
LL
I think I can safely say I voted for you and not get any eggs thrown at me. I thought for sure I pegged the final 3. Your writing is outstanding. I am glad the end of the contest does not mean the end of sippity sup because I still want to read it.
Greg, I’ve mentioned before that I considered you the leader of this contest, in more ways than one. I see in you what many others see and I have learned so much from following you. I was disappointed (in myself mostly) about being eliminated in Round 3 but you went so far! Your mother would be proud and for what it’s worth, I’m proud of you. Truly, I admire your work and having met you, I like who you are as a person, too. Please continue your good work–you bring a lot of light to the food blogging world. You’ve got a huge fan in me.
Have a great weekend. 🙂
P.S. I think I would have liked your mom. 🙂
This was a particularly touching post for me since today is the one year anniversary of my mother’s death and am feeling a bit sad. I have a pretty good feeling your mother would have loved your blog and would be very proud of her immensely talented and generous son. You made it to the top 12 out of 2,000 bloggers. You’re no chopped liver! (But foie gras, perhaps : )
I am speechless. I honestly don’t know what to say — which, if my husband is to be believed is an almost unheard of occurrence. This post proves not only why I love your blog but why, IMHO, you are a top blogger.
You have the whole package Greg — cooking talent, excellent photography and the far more elusive ability of gifted writing.
Bravo sir. Take a bow.
Now go write that post about the egg.. your public is waiting!!!!
I can’t wait to see where that thread leads because I love your writing and you always make me laugh. Well, almost always because like that egg you were talking about.…no one is PERFECT.
Greg, your mom would have been proud, I am certain. She is proud. I could completely identify with this post, with the excitement and sadness behind the contest, and with the realization that everything you have done, including this blog, comes from your mother. I lost mine around the same time you did, and I also credit her with my passions, particularly this one for food. Thank you for such a beautiful post. You are a talent, and were such a gentleman throughout PFB 🙂 I can’t wait to see what the future holds for SippitySup!
I like this phrase in your post, “Because like my mother, I cook to please people, I find it makes me happy. No matter how much I complain about it. It’s a bit’s dumb. It’s sentimental. It’s who I am and was always meant to be.” I can relate with it… Great reflection post! Good job on getting this far in the contest! I look forward to continually checking out your blog!!!
shared your story with us and wrote such an eloquent post about your influences. Funnily enough, my mother has the same kitchen pose too. Must’ve been all the rage in the 70s 😉
I’d still be interested in learning about the finer points of boiling an egg though…just sayin’…
makes me happy every time I read it. As corny as that sounds, it is very true.
A contest doesn’t make the man…A man makes the contest.