Rainbow brandade… and the beauty of food

Sharing an adaptation of a classic French dish today: the brandade. It has many variations, but
typically it is a mixture of cod fish and potato. To add a healthy twist with
some leafy greens, I mixed in Rainbow Chards.

Photographing produce and foods for this blog, I have been amazed to see how beautiful they can be.  I think it is an important part of the enjoyment of food and cuisine: the appreciation of the aesthetics, the beauty, the perfection of what nature has to offer. I heard on NPR / Splendid Table a fascinating interview with a man with no taste. In order to enjoy eating, he has to enjoy its other components, such as the aesthetics and the texture. Still thinking of food as a means to nurture other areas of development for our children, looking at the amazing colors of these chards with Pablo, at their veins, marveling with him at the intricate work of Mother Nature, was one sneaky little lesson in aesthetics, and in the value of seeing the beauty in the little things around us.

This is a dish I don’t freeze, it’s best made right before
serving. It’s about half an hour total prep time, with 20 minutes of free time
while it cooks. Well worth it though! This was so tasty we made some for
ourselves as well! The fish taste is very subtle, so it’s a good way to get a
toddler to eat fish if he/she has been resistant to it before.

Bon appétit!