French Garlic Prawns

French, prawns, garlic, olive oil, butter, parsley..... what a delightful combination.

This dish is not for the faint hearted with the artery-clogging amount of butter and olive oil.

This is also not a dish that you want to cook for your date. And if you are dating Edward Cullen, he will "love" you for the smell of garlic on your breath! :p

There is this little gem hiding in the quiet suburb of Balgowlah, a well guarded secret among the locals - Chez Maurice Et Linda. A French bistro. Not far from the famous Manly beach.

Speaking of Manly Beach, did I tell you that I spotted Bridget Marquardt from The Girls of The Playboy Mansion shooting her travel show - Bridget's Sexiest Beaches - at Manly Beach a few months ago? In case if you were wondering..... YES, she was wearing bikinis :)

I was only 2" away from her when she walked past me and I had no idea who she was. Not until another beach goer asked the camera crews, "Is she Bridget?" that I realised she was 'The Bridget'. I should have known.... She was wearing a PINK Juicy Couture beach robe after they wrapped up the shot, although not as PINK as the sweater Bill Granger wore when he appeared on MasterChef Australia yesterday.

Back to the restaurant - Chez Maurice Et Linda. Lovely little French Bistro. Classic French fair. Their garlic prawn dish is to die for. I have always wanted to cook it at home but not until I have found a recipe from The Food of France Cook Book that is close enough to reassemble the original dish.

French Garlic Prawns Recipe
(Adapted from The Food of France)
Serves 4

Ingredients

24 large prawns
6 garlic cloves, crushed
1-2 small red chillies, very finely chopped
250 ml olive oil
60 g butter
2 tbps chopped parsley

Method

1. Peel and devein the prawns, leaving the tails intact.
2. Preheat the oven to 220C (425F). Sprinkle the garlic and chilli into four cast iron or gratin dishes. Divide the oil and butter among the dishes.
3. Put the dishes on a baking tray in the oven and heat for about 6 minutes, or until the butter has melted.
4. Divide the prawns among the dishes (put them in carefully, without splashing yourself with hot oil) and bake for about 7 minutes, or until the prawns are pink and tender.
5. Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately with crusty bread.