I was 11 and on a week-long ‘boot-knock’ school trip to Paris when I had the oppo to try this legend of the French culinary universe. I wandered whimpering into the kitchen of the hotel we were holed up in and the one of the chefs took pity on me…I had a black eye and a bloodied nose, I had just had my arse handed to me by a few 6th formers due to a cigarette theft or more accurately the case of mistaken identity in said cigarette theft incident!
“Hey you, why you here, you face all bust up….here try theez zoup”….really good zoup…..try eet”…it looked nothing at all like any ‘zoup’ I’d ever seen what with a cheesy baguette stickin’ out the top but it blew my 11 year old mind sideways! No more robbing blunts for me – Onion soup is my new vice baby!
INGREDIENTS – makes 2 crocks
3 medium white onions
50mls great port
50 mls quality Balsamic vinegar
1 big French baguette
Gruyere cheese
1 ltr chicken stock
Step 1
Thinly slice the onions. Now, here’s what you need to know about preventing crying when working with onions – you need a viciously sharp knife. That’s all, no goggles or running water – that rubbish. You cry because you use a blunt knife this causes the onion to send its liquid sky-high when you cut it – use a good sharp knife and it will reduce the spray when you cut.
Step 2
In a big knob of butter brown the onions really, really well – 20 minutes at least. This produces a wonderful dark colour and an intense yet soft onion flavour
Step 3
Transfer the onions to a pot and add the port, vinegar and stock – bring to a boil and simmer gently for 45 minutes
Step 4
After 45 minutes check the seasoning and adjust as to your own preference – then ladle the French Onion Soup into crocks to about 3/4 full
Step 5
Thickly slice the baguette and have a toast up
Step 6
Stick the 2 croutons into the soup crock which is really what makes this French Onion Soup and liberally top with the grated cheese – sling under a screaming hot grill until melty and serve immediately
The Bicycle Thief 
I cooked a version last week. I will write it up and we can compare methods. Lovely soup and great tale.
Perhaps a new title for the blog “Recipes from the wrongly accused.”
Brilliant – love to see how you spin yours together! That trip by the way also saw me being suspended for a week when we got home for…get this…’flirting with an older female student’……….emmm Paris, hello!!!!
Oh yumm, nothing like a good crock of French Onion Soup! And what a bunch of crock for your mistaken identity!
Tell me about it 🙂 very bruised ego aswell!