In celebration of National Pi Day approaching, here are some tasty pies, from savory recipes to an apple pie cocktail found at hotels around the world recipes to enjoy π.
Gariguette Strawberries in a Crunchy Pastry — MUSE Saint-Tropez
Encapsulating the laid-back glamour of the French Riviera, the MUSE Saint-Tropez is the ultimate secluded retreat. The property is perched atop a rocky cliff top in the picturesque medieval village of Ramatuelle, providing guests with an oasis of serenity amongst a variety of flora and fauna. During their stay, guests can enjoy sitting by the main pool on the luxurious cabanas and at the poolside bar, explore Ramatuelle on one of the MUSE’s custom-made bicycles, and indulge in a sumptuous meal at the property's restaurant, M. Landing somewhere between a strawberry shortcake and a pie, M's Gariguette Strawberries in a Crunchy Pastry is a fan-favorite of guests of the hotel. Here's how to make the dish at home:
Pastry Ingredients
2 cups Gariguette strawberries
3 tablespoons whipped cream
1 1/2 vanilla bean pods
3/4 cup powdered sugar
6 thin slices flaky pastry
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
6 mint leaves for garnish
Coulis Ingredients
1/2 cup Gariguette strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
4 tablespoons water
1/2 vanilla bean pod
Preparation
Clean and slice the strawberries. Set aside 1/2 cup for the coulis. Melt the butter and pour on top of the slices of pastry. Pile the six slices on top of each other. Then cut into six portions and bake at 350 F for 8 minutes until crispy and golden brown in color. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. While the pastry is cooling, make the coulis. Mix the 1/2 cup of strawberries with the sugar, water and half a vanilla pod, then warm over a low heat for 10 minutes. Remove the pod, transfer to a blender, and zap until all is liquid and frothy. Put in the fridge for a minimum of one hour. Whip the cream and 1 1⁄2 vanilla pods together, adding the sugar at the end. Do not stop whipping until a soft, creamy whipped consistency is achieved, Remove the pods. Put a slice of pastry on the plate, then a layer of strawberries, then the cream. Repeat, so there are three layers in total. Repeat for the other five portions, then place on separate plates and serve with the coulis on the side and a mint leaf on the top for garnish.
The recipe can also be found in the YTL Hotels cookbook, A Perennial Feast.
Bobotie (South African Meat Pie)
Cape Town’s iconic hotel, Ellerman House features a culinary philosophy that treasures, preserves and continually revives South Africa’s rich food heritage with contemporary flair. Ellerman House has shared their Bobotie recipe, a national South African dish and Cape-Malay creation consisting of a delicious mixture of curried flavor minced meat and a creamy golden topping. Bobotie is a hearty and comforting dish similar to meatloaf in the USA.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 onions, peeled and chopped
2lbs lean ground beef
1 thick slice of white bread
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 ½ tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
freshly cracked pepper
¾ teaspoons turmeric
1 ½ tablespoons vinegar
½ cup seedless raisins
2 tablespoons Chutney
2 bay leaves
2 medium eggs
almond flakes (optional)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F
Heat the oil in a medium pan and sauté the onions before adding the ground beef. Cook the meat until lightly browned and crumbly. Soak the bread in half the milk and squeeze out the excess milk. Mash the bread with a fork and be sure to keep the excess milk with the remaining milk. Add bread to the meat in the pan. Add curry, sugar, salt, pepper, turmeric, vinegar, raisins and chutney to the beef. Spoon the mixture into a greased baking dish and place the bay leaves on top. Bake in the oven for 50-60 minutes. While the meat is baking, beat the egg with the remaining milk and pour over beef about 25-30 minutes before removing from the oven. Serve with steamed rice, with added turmeric to make it yellow, and extra chutney.
Quiche — The Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa, Johannesburg, South Africa
The Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa features Qunu, an elegant dining experience offering a modern African table where local and international flavors meet to inspire unique, vibrant and entertaining culinary experiences. The restaurant serves locally inspired culinary delights with Qunu’s bold flavors, homegrown seasonal ingredients and honest approach to cuisine. Qunu Head Chef, Trevor Chikaura, shared this delicious Saxon Quiche recipe — perfect for breakfast, brunch or any time of day meal.
Pastry ingredients
1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter cold cut into pieces
1/2 cup water
Filling ingredients
Oyster mushrooms
Bacon diced
Caramelized onions
Cherry tomatoes halved
4 eggs
1/2 cup cream
1/2 cup milk
Grated cheese (optional)
Preparation for Pastry
Sift flour and a pinch of salt into a bowl, with fingertips work butter into the flour until it resembles fine breadcrumbs, then add water bit by bit to form a soft dough. Let the dough rest in the fridge for 30min. Then roll the dough onto a floured surface and place into 9inch pie-dish. Blind bake for 12 min in a preheated oven at 350°F, then remove rice or beans that you used to blind bake and bake for a further 8 min.
Preparation for Filling
Cook bacon and mushrooms then add the cooked bacon, mushrooms, caramelized onions and cherry tomatoes onto the baked base. Blend eggs, cream and milk together and season with salt and pepper. Add the egg mix to the baked base and filling, then add grated cheese on top and bake in the oven at 320°F for 25-30 min. Allow to rest for 5 min then serve.
Apple Pie in the Sky Cocktail — Carlton Hotel St. Moritz
Situated in St. Moritz, the Carlton Hotel St. Moritz is a classic example of the destination’s renowned elegance and exclusivity. While it boasts 60 suites, a lavish penthouse and 4,155 square foot spa and wellness center, the place to be is the Carlton Bel Etage and sun terrace with the their signature Apple Pie in the Sky cocktail in hand. Here's how to recreate the fabulous drink at home to celebrate Pi Day with a twist:
Ingredients
3/4 oz Etter Vieille Pomme Royale
1/3 oz cinnamon liqueur
1 1/3 oz unfiltered natural apple juice
1/3 oz chestnut honey
Preparation
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and mix until chilled. Strain into a martini glass. Top with Louis Roederer champagne brut.
Melktert (South African Milk Tart) — Singita
Melktert, also known as South African Milk Tart, is a delicate but decadent dessert. With a flaky crust and topped with a generous dusting of cinnamon, this tart is often served at Singita’s South African lodges.
Ingredients
1/3 cup icing sugar
3/4 cup soft butter
3 eggs
1 cup wheat flour
4 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 oz cornflour
ground cinnamon for dusting
Preparation In a stand mixer fitted with the flat beater, combine icing sugar and butter, and mix until light in color. Add eggs one by one, making sure all get fully incorporated into the mixture. Fold in the flour, taking care not to overwork the dough. Cover pastry dough with cling wrap and chill in the fridge until firm. On a floured surface, roll out pastry dough to 5 mm thick and slighter larger than the tart pan. Press into a tart pan lined with baking paper, then place in the fridge and allow to rest for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Using baking beans, bake the pastry case blind for 10 minutes, then remove the baking beans and bake for a further 5 minutes or until golden brown. To make the filling, heat milk to scalding point. In a bowl, whisk together sugar, cornflour and eggs. Slowly pour the hot milk into the sugar mixture while whisking. Return the mixture to the stove and continue to whisk until thickened, then pour into the tart case. Dust with ground cinnamon and chill in the fridge.
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