Over the years, workshop chefs have devised many memorable hors d’oeuvres with chèvre because of Cakebread’s long friendship with two wine-country goat cheese producers: Laura Chenel and Skyhill. This one-bite appetizer, featuring soft herbed goat cheese spread on a potato slice with a dollop of tapenade, comes from chef Pascal Olhats, who prepared it during the 1993 Workshop. If you have a small food processor, you can halve the tapenade recipe, as you need only a small amount for this dish. Then again, tapenade keeps well in the refrigerator, and you will be happy to have some on hand. Use it as a sandwich condiment or spread for crostini, slather it on grilled tuna, or toss it with pasta.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 8
Ingredients
Tapenade
Preparation
Step 1
Put the potatoes in a small saucepan with salted water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, adjust the heat to maintain a simmer, and cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced, about 15 minutes. Drain and let cool. Slice the potatoes about 1/4 inch thick, discarding the rounded ends. You should get 3 or 4 slices from each potato.
Step 2
In a small bowl, combine the cheese, bread crumbs, olive oil, and thyme.
Step 3
For the tapenade: Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.
Step 4
Preheat a broiler. Spread each potato slice with some of the cheese mixture, dividing it evenly, then put the slices on a tray and broil until the cheese melts and colors slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Top each slice with about 1/4 teaspoon tapenade and garnish with the tip of a thyme sprig. Serve immediately.
Step 5
Enjoy with Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc or another refreshing white wine or rosé.
