Like Water For Chocolate

Xocolati. A word most commonly used by Aztec upper class 700 years ago for a warm chocolate drink inherited from the Mayans. It was until the brutal armies of Cortez came and sadly wiped out the whole Aztec civilization that the wonderful chocolate was known to the rest of the world.
Its no big secret that chocolate has an effect on humans in some form or another, whether good or bad. There has been many studies on the effect of chocolate as an aphrodisiac. For some it is self evident.
There has been so many uses of chocolates, the most common used being used for sweets and hot drinks. In here we will explore the many different uses of chocolate in food.


Mequite Chocolate Beef Roast on Chipotle Chocolate Soba Noodles

Dont get put off by the extensive use of the word chocolate in this dish! The combination of chocolate with salty food adds a beautiful smoky body to dishes with contrasting strong flavors. This wonderfully roasted beef chuck has a nicely balanced smoky flavor which is complemented well with the chipotle chiles that impair a deep hot and smokey complexion.

For the Mesquite Chocolate Beef Roast

1 kg Chuck of Beef
1 teaspoon roasted cumin seed
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cocoa powder

Massage the chuck with olive oil. Mix the the spices into a rub. Create small criss cross cuts all over the chuck. Massage the the rub well into the beef. Place the chuck over smoking mesquite wood embers and cover for 1 hour. Flip occassionaly. When ready, rest for five minutes and carve thinly with knife.

Chipotle Chocolate Soba Noodles

1 package cooked Soba Noodles
1 cup cooking cream
3 finely chopped shalots
1 clove chopped garlic
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tbs apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup roasted pine nuts
1 tbs chopped cilantro
1 tsp. chipotle powder
1 tsp. cocoa powder
1 tbs lime juice
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt

Brown shallots and garlic in sauce pan with a bit of olive oil. glaze with cider vinegar. Add chipotle, black pepper and pine nuts. Stir until properly mixed. Add cooking cream and bring to a boil. add chicken stock and simmer for 10 minutes. Add salt and simmer for a further 5 minutes. Set aside and mix in fresh chopped cilantro and lime juice. Mix Soba noodles with the sauce in a bowl.

For presentation, create a nest of the noodles with a large fork. Place the carved slice on top on the side.

Serves 6.