French Crepes at work

Even in a country and city with delicious Chinese food from different regions, special treats from home are often yearned for. At a leaving lunch, crepes were prepared in the office. The actual crepe was prepared the night before and was to be filled with a savory and sweet filling right before lunch.

Typically French, butter was used. A lot of it.The first crepe had mushrooms, ham, emmental cheese, and a fried egg. The mushrooms were probably sauteed in a lot of butter as well. The pan was prepared with a nob of butter melted and coating the entire pan. The crepe was gently placed on top and the filling was carefully distributed in one quarter. After this perfect quarter section of the crepe was covered, the crepe was folded over to cover the quarter. In order for everyone to eat at once, they were placed in the oven to keep warm. ::gasp:: This place had an oven - in China!


The sweet crepe was a classic crepe suzette. As really lovely fresh oranges were not found at the fruit vendors, orange marmalade was used and mixed with a lot of butter. This orange marmalade butter was melted in the pan in large portions. About 3/4 cup first. Then pre-folded crepes were placed in the pan in quarters and more of the orange marmalade butter was melted on top, about another 1/2 cup. Midway through the cooking, the crepes were unfolded and refolded to soak up more of this melted buttery mixture. The Cointreau was prepared in a second pot, simmering to reduce. After part of the reduction, a flame was held against the fumes to burn off the remaining alcohol and also provide a show as well as the possibility of burning the kitchen. The Cointrieau was then poured on top of the crepes bubbling in the pan. These were definitely more decadent in taste from the buttery richness and tartness from the orange flavors.


It was nice to have something decidedly French in a palate primarily taken over by Chinese food as of late. All were left full and unable to move. Just don't think about the amount of butter used.

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