An Open Faced Sandwich called Tartine

A tartine is an open faced sandwich. This is not just any sandwich. The ingredients are usually a little fancier than your average PB&J. Tartines are topped with beautiful components and always something spreadable, making them perfect for lovely picnics with someone special.

As the afternoon sun starts to set, turning the sky a beautiful blush pink, the palm trees sway in the warm coastal breeze and I am sitting out on the lanai with a crisp rosé and a few friends.

In my “someday”, I set out trays of little nibbles for my friends and I to pick upon while we sip our wine and solve the world’s problems…  before we head back inside to give that cheesecake a proper send off.

A sandwich called Tartine

A tartine is an open faced sandwich.  A single slice of bread, toasted and topped with whatever suits you.  It can be sweet or savory, eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack.  It is great for when friends pop over, because you can top it with anything you have in the house.
Cheese, meat, thinly sliced vegetables & eggs are all common toppings and most of us generally have these hanging around the kitchen which makes this a snap to put together.

Wine Poached Pear and Gorgonzola Dolce Tartine Sandwich

• Country or Sourdough bread, sliced (nothing too porous)
• 2 Bosc pears, peeled & cored
• 1/2 bottle (750 ml) red wine
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 piece cinnamon stick
• 1 star anise
• 1/2 tsp black peppercorns
• 1 inch piece ginger, peeled & thinly sliced
• 3 oz. gorgonzola dolce
• 3 tbsp. honey
• 1 oz. sliced almonds, toasted
• sprinkling of thyme leaves

1. Combine wine, cinnamon stick, star anise, peppercorn, ginger, sugar & pears in a medium saucepot.

2. Bring to a simmer and cook pears for about 15 – 20 minutes.   Let cool completely in liquid.
    (the longer they sit, the darker they will get)
3. Once pears are cooled completely, remove from poaching liquid.  Strain and put liquid back on heat to reduce down until thick and syrupy. 

4. Thinly slice pears and set aside.
5. Toast bread, top with gorgonzola, pears, honey, reduced poaching liquid and sliced almonds.

Prosciutto, Fig Jam & Parmesan Tartine

• prosciutto (about 3 slices per piece of bread)
• parmesan
• fig jam
• baby arugula

1. Toast bread, top with fig jam (homemade or store bought).

2. Arrange prosciutto on top of jam, add a sprinkling of baby arugula leaves and top with a smattering Parmesan curls.

Edit:  My “someday” has come.  I now have a lanai on which I sit and sip rosé.  Here’s to all the “somedays”.  xx