My wife and I enjoy the mussels appetizer at Bistro VG, and it would be fun to prepare them at home. I have tried to reproduce the dish using my own sense of taste, but have not yet been successful. Perhaps they will share the recipe with you. — Bill Garrett, Roswell
Michele Sedgwick, vice president of Sedgwick Restaurant Group, co-owner and mussel lover was happy to share the recipe for what she says is a not-to-miss dish at Bistro VG. “It’s a great dish to share, or not, and the combo of mussels and frites? Yummy!”
This is the recipe for the just the mussels. Sedgwick suggests serving them with homemade French fries or bread from Theo Brother’s Bakery. There are Theo Brother’s Bakeries in Alpharetta and West Cobb, both part of the Sedgwick Restaurant Group. Use the bread to sop up the delicious broth. You won’t want to waste a drop.
The fish stock at Bistro VG is housemade. If you don’t have your own fish stock, use a seafood stock base or purchase seafood, lobster or shrimp stock from grocery stores such as Publix. As for the white wine, Sedgwick says use any white wine you prefer. “Any white wine you have open in the fridge will work,” she wrote.
Bistro VG’s Mussels
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped shallots
1 tablespoon minced garlic
3 tablespoons white wine
1/2 cup fish stock
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon lime juice
Generous pinch saffron
Salt
1 pound mussels, scrubbed and beards, if any, removed (discard any that stay open)
Chopped parsley, for garnish
In a large saucepan, heat olive oil and add shallots and garlic. Cook until soft. Add the wine and cook until the liquid reduces by half. Add fish stock and bring mixture to a boil. Add cream. When mixture returns to a boil, add Dijon, dry mustard, lime juice and saffron. Add mussels and cook until they all pop open. Taste sauce for seasoning and serve immediately. Serves: 4
Per serving: 198 calories (percent of calories from fat, 57), 14 grams protein, 6 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, 12 grams fat (5 grams saturated), 54 milligrams cholesterol, 365 milligrams sodium.
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