May 15
Jakob Mayer Rothschild's Birthday
 

Jacob Rothschild, or James as he later called himself, became  became the most powerful banker in France and following the Napoleonic Wars,. He played a major role in financing the construction of railroads and the mining business that helped make France an industrial power. Along the way, he added to his fortune with investments in such things as the importation of tea and the purchase of a vineyard. A strong-willed and shrewd businessman, James de Rothschild amassed a fortune that made him one of the richest men in the world.

James matched his wealth with an extravagant lifestyle. The future Baron de Rothschild openly courted the rich, the powerful and the famous at his parties which were the center of Paris society. Shortly after he purchased the great Lafitte vineyards on a whim, James was able to snag Antoine
Carême   the greatest chef in Europe, and the man credited with establishing the framework of classic French cuisine. Rothschild gave Carême a blank checkbook and Carême created banquets that were the envy of all Europe.

James  Meyer de Rothschild          


Later in his career, Carême  wrote of his association with the Baron that "In this wealthy household, I could spend as much money as was necessary to prepare things as I wished. This is the only way that a creative cook can fully profit from his talents, for what good is talent if one doesn't have the money with which to buy the best possible provisions?"

Carême created several dishes named for his patron including Salmon Rothschild, but none was more suited to the Baron's personality than the Soufflé Rothschild, a dessert soufflé flavored with candied cherries and Danziger Goldwasser. Goldwasser is a clear, 80 proof orange-anise-flavored liqueur liqueur containing small flakes of 22 or 23 karat gold leaf in suspension. Goldwasser was original created as a medicinal since gold was a medieval panacea, although it is now sold primarily as a novelty. There are several different brands of goldwasser, some of which have alternate flavorings such as of Schwabacher Goldwasser, a Swiss cinnamon schnapps.

Serve this classic dessert to celebrate James's birthday while watching a DVD of 
The House of Rothschild (1934).
 

Soufflé Rothschild

 

Special Equipment
 
6-cup soufflé mold

Ingredients
 

4 TB Danziger goldwasser
1 cup finely grated candied cherries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
l&/2 cups half & half cream
5 egg yolks
 
1 tsp vanilla
butter
granulated sugar
6 egg whites
2 TB sugar

 
Instructions
 
  1. Soak cherries in goldwasser for 15 minutes.
  2. Mix sugar, flour and salt together in a saucepan. Add cream and whisk over low heat until mixture thickens. Remove from heat.
  3. Add a little of the heated sauce to egg yolks. Then whisk in yolk mixture to cream mixture. Add vanilla, cherries, and goldwasser. Let cool to room temperature.
  4. Butter a 6-cup soufflé mold and sprinkle it with sugar.
  5. Preheat oven to 400º F.
  6. Beat egg whites until they begin to froth. Gradually beat in 2 TB sugar until they form stiff peaks. Fold I cup of egg whites into custard. Then fold custard into remaining eggs whites. Fill soufflé mold with custard mixture.
  7. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until top of soufflé is golden.

© 2011 Gordon Nary and Tyler Stokes