Champagne Brunch from Normandy for Special Days
Camembert and Apple Omelette with Champagne Normande
Feb 7, 2009
Beyond the D-Day invasion, Normandy may be best known for Camembert and their apples, some of which are lovingly transfigured into Calvados, their famous apple brandy.
Camembert is a soft, easily melted white cheese, similar to Brie, but with its own distinct flavor.
While Americans and others may associate omelettes with breakfast or brunch, the French serve omelettes as a starter course or even the focal point of a light supper.
A champagne cocktail elevates the meal in a delightfully decadent way. This one features Normandy's own Calvados for the usual brandy component. The states also make some worthy alternatives to Calvados. In the author's state of Oregon, Clear Creek Distillers make an Eau de Vie de Pomme that is barrel aged eight years in old Cognac casks made of limousin oak.
Camembert and Apple Omelette
Serves: 2
You Will Need: a good omelette pan (refer to Basic French Omelette How-to)
Ingredients:
- 1 apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
- 4 Tbsp butter
- 6 eggs, at room temperature
- 3 Tbsp cream
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 4 ounces Camembert (or Brie), diced
Method:
- In a large pan over medium heat, saute apple in butter until soft but not mushy.
- Beat together eggs, cream, and salt & pepper until well mixed, but not frothy.
- In omelette pan over high heat, melt butter until foam subsides, but has not started to brown. Pour in egg mixture and cook, lifting the edges to let the runny part go underneath.
- When the top is almost set (no longer runny) fill with sauteed apples and diced Brie cheese cubes. Fold or roll and slide out of pan onto a heated plate.
- Serve with Champagne Normande Cocktails (recipe follows).
Champagne Normande Cocktail
You will need: champagne flutes
Ingredients (for each serving)
- 1 sugar cube
- a dash of Angostura bitters
- a dash of Grenadine (optional, but adds great color)
- 1 shot (1½ oz) Calvados (or other apple brandy)
- Champagne (or other Méthode Champenoise. sparkler)
- Thin fresh slice of apple for garnish (optional)
Method:
- Place a sugar cube in the bottom of each champagne flute. Add the bitters, Grendaine (if using) and Calvados and let them soak into the sugar. The drinks can be made to this stage before you start the omelette.
- Top the glass with Champagne and add the garnish (if you want).
Presentation:
Flowers on the table always make a meal more festive. While roses might be an obvious choice for Valentines, consider a pot of crocus or early daffodils or paperwhites that may already be in season where you live.
More about Champagne.
More Breakfast and Brunch Recipes like:
- Champagne Cocktail Normande
- Bosun's Bloody Mary
- The World's Best French Toast (with Peaches)
- Caramel Apple French Toast
- Crepes Normande
- Camembert and Apple Omelette
- Asparagus Cordon Bleu Crepes
- Seafood Eggs Benedict with Shrimp, Nova Scotia Lox and Asparagus
- Sweet Potato Hash with Smoked Salmon and Fennel
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