Charlie Hibbert at Thyme Sea Bream en Papillote © Kirsty Young
The Tray Chic series comes to us from brother and sister team, Charlie and Milly Hibbert, at the helm of Cotswolds’ gem, Thyme. Milly has chosen the movies and dressed the trays with Bertioli by Thyme linens designed by the siblings’ mother, Thyme’s founder Caryn. Charlie is in charge of all things food at Thyme and has put together these quick simple and delicious recipes.
Serves 2
Prep & cooking time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Ingredients
2 fillets of sea bream
1 head of fennel
1 lemon zest and juice
A pinch of chilli flakes
2 tbsp butter
160ml dry white wine
8 pink fir potatoes
Salsa verde
Large handful of parsley, chopped
4 anchovies, chopped
2 tbsp capers, chopped
2 small cloves garlic, peeled and grated
Olive oil to cover
Salt & pepper
SEA BREAM EN PAPILLOTE
By Thyme’s Head Chef, Charlie Hibbert
The term ‘en papillote’ is a technique where food is enclosed in paper or foil and cooked in the oven, where it steams whilst being enveloped in flavour and juices.
Method
- Place the potatoes into cold, salted water. bring to the boil and cook for 15 minutes or until they are cooked through. Drain and peel when cool enough; keep to one side. Slice the fennel into thin strips and blanch in boiling water for 4-5 minutes, drain and set to one side. Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan or gas mark 6. Tear off 2 squares of tinfoil large enough to encompass each fillet and lay them flat on your worktop. Tear off a couple of slightly smaller squares of baking parchment and lay on top. Place the fish fillets onto the squares and season with salt and pepper. Divide the fennel, lemon, chilli and butter between the two, and then fold up the sides of the foil to form a bag, leaving a little spout to then pour in the wine. Place into a preheated oven and cook for 15 minutes.
- Make the salsa verde by combining all the ingredients. Dress the potatoes with the salsa and serve alongside the fish.
MOVIE RECOMMENDATION: JFK (1991)
The technique of cooking in paper has been present in cultures through out history. However, the term ‘en papillote’, meaning 'in parchment' originates from the French Quarter of New Orleans, specifically to Antoine's - the oldest family run restaurant in the world. The original founder, Antoine Alciatore, developed the fish dish ‘pompano Mongolfier’, in honour of the Montgolfier brothers who had created the first balloons. His son Jules coined the phrase ‘pompano en papillote’ because the steam puffing up the parchment is reminiscent of a hot air balloon. The establishment features twice in Oliver Stone's 1991 film JFK, with a cameo from Antoine's very own Maitre d'!
TRAYSCAPE: Wild Chicory napkin and tablemat; tall, woody and wild, this herbaceous plant lives on the edge of fields and hedgerows. This everyday weed outshines its sibling, the commonplace dandelion, with its prolific and multifunctional output. It’s used in many Mediterranean countries as a herbal medicine and from roots to leaves, cultivates a natural larder for any chef. Wild chicory complements many of our dishes at the Thyme Ox Barn during meadow season.
