Sunday, October 24, 2010

Tuna-Mozzarella Pizzas for Dorie's Birthday Dinner!


Hi, Dorie!

Welcome to my humble home on the web! I'm pleased to be one of your hosts for the first course in our progressive dinner celebration in honor of your birthday.

Holly of Phe.MOM.enon noticed your birthday on your Facebook page and she wanted to find a way to celebrate your special day. She got Laurie of slush involved. You are such a wonderful supporter of both Tuesdays with Dorie and French Fridays with Dorie and it only seems fitting to invite you over for dinner. Given that the members of both groups are spread out around the world, a virtual progressive dinner party was Laurie's way of inviting you over to gather around our tables.

We were able to choose the course and recipe we'd prepare from Around My French Table. After you wrote about these tuna-mozzarella pizzas on your website (the post is here), I wanted to make them so badly. Your birthday gave me the special event I was saving them for.

This is one of those recipes that are so simple that using the very best ingredients is important. The tuna is heated only for a minute or two in the oven and should be the freshest possible sushi grade. The fresh mozzarella, tuna and tomatoes are sliced and layered on a circle of puff pastry which has been prebaked and topped with lightly sauteed spring onions. Garnished with basil leaves, sliced radishes, black olives, and a drizzle of olive oil, these were delicious. Perfect for a first course for Dorie's birthday celebration, or a weekend lunch for my sweetie.

Happy birthday, Dorie! I'm in the city you love, eating Pierre Herme croissants for breakfast, pastries for lunch and macarons for...any and no excuse at all. I hope your book tour is going well and I'm so happy for my Twitter and TWD/FFwD friends who are getting to meet you.

XO,
Leslie

20 comments:

natalia said...

Ciao Leslie ! You are closer than usual but still too far !! Hope next time you will decide to visit Rome ! Wonderful treats...

Di said...

That looks great, Leslie! I got to try these at my class with Dorie, and they're so delicious. I hope you're enjoying your vacation--I'm jealous. Someday I'll make it to France...and Italy... =)

Nancy/n.o.e said...

I love the way you wrote your post directly to Dorie - makes so much sense! Lucky girl (and hubs) to be in Paris - in Dorie's own neighborhood (hope you like it in the 6th).

Your little pizza looks delicious; I can see how the quality of the ingredients would make a huge difference with this recipe.

Anonymous said...

Lovely bday post Leslie! The pizza looks perfect. I am so glad you joined in on the birthday shenanigans. xo

Cristine said...

Wow... what a gorgeous picture!

Marthe said...

This looks perfect Leslie! I hope you're having a great time in Paris!

Anonymous said...

Leslie, this looks exquisite! Can't wait to see your vacation photos!

Torviewtoronto said...

lovely presentation

Unknown said...

Leslie, that tartlet is a work of art. Yum!

Mary said...

Your dish looks lovely. I am excited to try it out myself. How fun was it to cook along with all of our fellow TWD undercover bakers?!

Kayte said...

Very cool. Simple, elegant, pretty! What a fun thing to do. You are always so sweet.

AmyRuth said...

Oh you lucky girl! How wonderful that once again you are in Paris, and Dorie is knocking on your front door. he he have a great time and the Tuna Mozzarella pizzas are beautiful. I'm sure you enjoyed them as much as Dorie.

AmyRuth said...

Oh you lucky girl! How wonderful that once again you are in Paris, and Dorie is knocking on your front door. he he have a great time and the Tuna Mozzarella pizzas are beautiful. I'm sure you enjoyed them as much as Dorie.

Dorie said...

Oh, Leslie, thank you, thank you. You've made one of my favorite dishes as a first course! Merci lots for making my birthday so special. I know your time in Paris is almost over, but I hope you enjoyed every minute of it. Again, my thanks.

Katrina said...

That really looks good, Leslie. I've never eaten tuna like that, but I'd certainly be will to try it. Definitely great that we got to do this surprise for Dorie.

Spike said...

looks beautiful. Enjoy Paris!

Hanaâ said...

How elegant! That's a beautiful dish. I agree, when you have very few ingredients, every one of them counts so get the best you can afford. Hope you're having a great time in Paris.

Diana's Cocina said...

Hi Leslie! I must tell you I was with Dorie just yesterday!! She was in Dalls TX at Central Market with a cookbook signing and cooking class. And best of all, she made these beautiful tuna mozzarella pizza's!!! It was a blast! If you are on Facebook look me up, I have posted picture. By the way your tuna mozzarella pizza looks to die for!

Cakelaw said...

Love this dish Leslie. Hope you are enjoying Paris.

The Food Librarian said...

This looks great. What a great treat to celebrate Dorie's birthday! - mary