Ingredients

  • Zest of 2 lemons, roughly chopped
  • Zest of 1 orange, roughly chopped
  • 4 ounces thyme leaves
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more if necessary to make a paste.
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 fresh bass fillets, skin on, bones removed, cut into 4 portions
  • 2 shallots, julienned
  • 2 ounces julienned fennel
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 3 .5 ounces Belgian wheat beer
  • 3 .5 ounces Champagne vinegar
  • Spash of water or fish stock
  • 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
  • 2 potatoes, cut into large 1/2-inch dice
  • Salt
  • 2 shallots, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1 carrot, finely diced
  • 1 stalk celery, finely diced
  • 1 bulb fennel, finely diced, plus fennel fronds for garnish, optional
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Juice of 1 lemon

Method

  • For the loup de mer: Put the thyme and lemon and orange zest together in a bowl and, while stirring, slowly drizzle in enough olive oil a little at a time to form a paste; it should not be runny, just moist.
  • Salt the fish and cover it with the citrus paste; let sit in the refrigerator until the other components have been completed.
  • For the beer blanc: Fill a medium pot about 3/4 full with water and place over low heat.
  • The water should be warm to the touch but not hot.
  • Sweat the shallots, fennel and olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat until the shallots are transparent, about 3 minutes.
  • Pour in just enough canola oil to coat them, and then add the salt.
  • This will ensure the vegetables don't brown as the salt pulls moisture out of them and creates a steaming effect.
  • After about 1 minute, add the beer and vinegar and stir to combine.
  • Simmer the mixture until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
  • Add a splash of water or fish stock and reduce the heat to low.
  • Whisk in 12 tablespoons of the butter, one cube at a time, waiting until it is completely incorporated before adding more.
  • Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve.
  • Discard the solids and transfer the liquid to a powerful blender (or use an immersion blender set to high) and process while adding the remaining 4 tablespoons butter a little at a time.
  • The emulsion will not be stable for long, so transfer the mixture to a heat-proof bowl and place it over the pot of warm water on the stove to keep it warm.
  • The sauce does not hold in the refrigerator, so discard after use.
  • For the potato and fennel hash: Put the potatoes in a pot and cover with cold salted water.
  • Bring to a boil and remove from the heat.
  • Let the potatoes sit in the water until soft, about 10 minutes.
  • Strain off the water and spread out in a single layer on a flat surface to cool.
  • Sweat the shallots, garlic, carrot, celery and fennel with the oil in a saute pan over medium heat until soft but not colored.
  • Add the cooled potatoes, the chicken broth, butter and pinch of salt.
  • Reduce over medium heat until there is only enough liquid to glaze the vegetables.
  • Remove from the heat, add the lemon juice and taste for salt, adding more if necessary.
  • To serve: When the beer blanc sauce and potato and fennel hash are completed and holding, heat a grill or grill pan to high and and grill the fish skin-side down, until 70 percent cooked, 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Carefully turn over the fish and cook on the flesh side for only about a minute or so.
  • Place some beer blanc on 4 plates.
  • Place some potato and fennel hash in the middle of each plate.
  • Top with the fish skin-side up.
  • Garnish with the fennel fronds if desired.