David's Favorite Recipes

  • Breakfast
    • Breakfast Home
    • Heather’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls
    • Sunday Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes
    • Sarah Hooker’s Family Olympics Breakfast Casserole
    • My Bermudian Mother’s Caramelized Bananas and Bacon
  • Appetizers
    • Appetizers Home
    • Ollie’s Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail With Two Sauces
    • Mike Gilbert’s Roasted Beet Hummus
    • Spring Vegetable Platter With Rolling Rock Dip
    • St. James Clam’s Casino
    • Jeanne Cook’s Hot Artichoke Dip
    • Smoked Salmon With Shallot & Dill Cream Cheese
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Maine Crab Cocktail Dip
  • Soups
    • Soups Home
    • The Essential Homemade Chicken Stock
    • Dick Viall’s Chilled Melon Soup
    • Summer Gazpacho With Ripe Red Cherries
    • Homemade Tomato Basil Soup
    • Chef King’s Crab Bisque
    • New England Jumbo Shrimp Chowder
    • Hearty Lentil Soup With Cream Sherry
    • The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Broccoli Cheddar Soup
    • Ruthie’s Maine Fish Chowder
    • Barbara Wickwire’s Chilled Pea Soup
  • Salads
    • Salads Home
    • Mediterranean Salad With Sculley House Vinaigrette
    • David’s Special Albacore Tuna Salad
    • Spinach and Bacon Salad With Soy Ginger Dressing
    • Bob Smith’s Signature Tableside Caeser Salad
    • Curried Chicken Salad With Chutney Mayonnaise
    • Jane West’s Famous Bermuda Chicken Salad
    • Howard’s Goat Cheese & Pear Salad
    • Teriyaki Strip Steak Salad
    • Jumbo Shrimp Salad With Pineapple Vinaigrette
  • Sandwiches
    • Sandwiches Home
    • Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Asian Slaw
    • Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Fajita
    • Asian Minced Pork and Lettuce Flatbread Wrap
    • Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich “Croque Monsieur”
    • Ground Lamb Flatbread Gyro with Tzatziki Sauce
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Margot’s Pulled Pork Sandwich With Two Sauces
  • Main Dishes
    • Main Dishes Home
    • Swedish Meatballs With Buttered Egg Noodles
    • Sweet Sausage Chili
    • D. Sculley’s Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Jeb’s Juicy Gourmet Meatloaf
    • Port Wine Braised Beef Pot Pie
    • Bunny’s Football Pool Jose Dinner Casserole
    • Susan’s Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
    • Emerson’s Grilled Butterflied Lamb
    • Sylvia’s Sauteed Quail With Dates
    • Reedy Family Barbecued Spare Ribs
    • Peter Soderberg’s Grilled Brined Pork Chops
    • David’s Chicken Pot Pie
    • Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs
    • Jessica’s Famous Chicken
    • John Pelkan’s Grilled Butterflied Cornish Game Hens
    • Eric’s Chicken Enchilada Casserole
    • Heather’s Butter Poached Chicken
    • Margot’s Buttermilk and Thyme Marinated Chicken Thigh
    • Jonathan’s Middle Eastern Chicken Kabobs
    • Fiona’s Yummy Bermuda Baked Chicken
    • Classic Roast Chicken With White Wine Pan Sauce
    • Wolfgang Puck’s Chicken Marsala With Mushrooms
    • Asian Sesame Chicken Stir Fry
    • The World’s Best Cheese Souffle
    • Grilled Oregano, Lemon & Garlic Chicken Thighs
    • Sauteed Chicken Piccata
  • Seafood
    • Seafood Home
    • Sauteed Sea Scallops With White Wine Cream Sauce
    • Crispy Jumbo Shrimp Scampi
    • Rosemary Shrimp With Parmesan Risotto
    • Shrimp Linguine With Marinara Cream Sauce
    • Mike McGrath’s Cod Provencal
    • David’s Baked Fish Fillets With Buttered Bread Crumbs
    • Lemon Butter Salmon In Foil Packs With Dill Sauce
    • Nantucket Bay Scallops
  • Pizza/Pasta
    • Pizza & Pasta Home
    • Sour Cream Flatbread Pepperoni Pizza
    • David’s Famous Italian Ragu
    • Dinner Party Lasagna
    • Fettuccine Parmesan With Shallots, Pine Nuts & Sun Dried Tomatoes
    • Christa’s Ricotta Gnocchi With Parmesan Cream Sauce
    • Barbara South’s Pappardelle With Fennel, Sausage & Ricotta
    • Norman’s Signature Pesto Sauce on Open Faced Lasagna
  • Side Dishes
    • Side Dishes Home
    • Sweet Summer Corn With Leek & Shallot Butter
    • Baked Summer Tomatoes Au Gratin
    • Grilled Summer Vegetables With Balsamic Glaze
    • Honey Glazed Carrots With Parsley
    • David’s Creamed Spinach
    • David’s Wild Rice With Toasted Pecans & Cranberries
    • Brad’s Cauliflower Bake
    • Vermouth Braised Fennel With Parmesan
    • Potato & Leek Gratin
    • Elsa’s Leek & Gruyere Bread Pudding
    • Pan Seared Brussel Sprouts
    • Homemade Rice Pilaf
    • Heather’s Sauteed Green Beans With Honey Butter & Ginger
  • Bakery
    • Bakery Home
    • Parmesan Thyme Shortbread Biscuits
    • Heather’s Rosemary Focaccia Bread
    • David Genter’s Homemade Olive Bread
    • Sheila Gosling’s Bermuda Banana Bread
    • Clare’s Harvest Spice Muffins
  • Desserts
    • Desserts Home
    • Heather’s Signature Apple Crostata
    • Vienna Squares
    • Christa’s Outrageous Brownies
    • Paula’s Fabulous Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Christa’s Pavlova With Raspberry Coulis
    • Elise’s Ricotta Cheesecake
    • The Duquesne Club’s Famous Macaroons
  • Holiday
    • Holiday Home
    • Thanksgiving Friday Turkey Tetrazzini
    • Paula’s Christmas Eve Manicotti
    • Christmas Hownie Cookies
    • Christa’s Holiday Beef Tenderloin With Bearnaise Sauce
    • Theresa’s Easter Bunny Cake
Menu
  • Breakfast
    • Breakfast Home
    • Heather’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls
    • Sunday Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes
    • Sarah Hooker’s Family Olympics Breakfast Casserole
    • My Bermudian Mother’s Caramelized Bananas and Bacon
  • Appetizers
    • Appetizers Home
    • Ollie’s Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail With Two Sauces
    • Mike Gilbert’s Roasted Beet Hummus
    • Spring Vegetable Platter With Rolling Rock Dip
    • St. James Clam’s Casino
    • Jeanne Cook’s Hot Artichoke Dip
    • Smoked Salmon With Shallot & Dill Cream Cheese
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Maine Crab Cocktail Dip
  • Soups
    • Soups Home
    • The Essential Homemade Chicken Stock
    • Dick Viall’s Chilled Melon Soup
    • Summer Gazpacho With Ripe Red Cherries
    • Homemade Tomato Basil Soup
    • Chef King’s Crab Bisque
    • New England Jumbo Shrimp Chowder
    • Hearty Lentil Soup With Cream Sherry
    • The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Broccoli Cheddar Soup
    • Ruthie’s Maine Fish Chowder
    • Barbara Wickwire’s Chilled Pea Soup
  • Salads
    • Salads Home
    • Mediterranean Salad With Sculley House Vinaigrette
    • David’s Special Albacore Tuna Salad
    • Spinach and Bacon Salad With Soy Ginger Dressing
    • Bob Smith’s Signature Tableside Caeser Salad
    • Curried Chicken Salad With Chutney Mayonnaise
    • Jane West’s Famous Bermuda Chicken Salad
    • Howard’s Goat Cheese & Pear Salad
    • Teriyaki Strip Steak Salad
    • Jumbo Shrimp Salad With Pineapple Vinaigrette
  • Sandwiches
    • Sandwiches Home
    • Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Asian Slaw
    • Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Fajita
    • Asian Minced Pork and Lettuce Flatbread Wrap
    • Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich “Croque Monsieur”
    • Ground Lamb Flatbread Gyro with Tzatziki Sauce
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Margot’s Pulled Pork Sandwich With Two Sauces
  • Main Dishes
    • Main Dishes Home
    • Swedish Meatballs With Buttered Egg Noodles
    • Sweet Sausage Chili
    • D. Sculley’s Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Jeb’s Juicy Gourmet Meatloaf
    • Port Wine Braised Beef Pot Pie
    • Bunny’s Football Pool Jose Dinner Casserole
    • Susan’s Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
    • Emerson’s Grilled Butterflied Lamb
    • Sylvia’s Sauteed Quail With Dates
    • Reedy Family Barbecued Spare Ribs
    • Peter Soderberg’s Grilled Brined Pork Chops
    • David’s Chicken Pot Pie
    • Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs
    • Jessica’s Famous Chicken
    • John Pelkan’s Grilled Butterflied Cornish Game Hens
    • Eric’s Chicken Enchilada Casserole
    • Heather’s Butter Poached Chicken
    • Margot’s Buttermilk and Thyme Marinated Chicken Thigh
    • Jonathan’s Middle Eastern Chicken Kabobs
    • Fiona’s Yummy Bermuda Baked Chicken
    • Classic Roast Chicken With White Wine Pan Sauce
    • Wolfgang Puck’s Chicken Marsala With Mushrooms
    • Asian Sesame Chicken Stir Fry
    • The World’s Best Cheese Souffle
    • Grilled Oregano, Lemon & Garlic Chicken Thighs
    • Sauteed Chicken Piccata
  • Seafood
    • Seafood Home
    • Sauteed Sea Scallops With White Wine Cream Sauce
    • Crispy Jumbo Shrimp Scampi
    • Rosemary Shrimp With Parmesan Risotto
    • Shrimp Linguine With Marinara Cream Sauce
    • Mike McGrath’s Cod Provencal
    • David’s Baked Fish Fillets With Buttered Bread Crumbs
    • Lemon Butter Salmon In Foil Packs With Dill Sauce
    • Nantucket Bay Scallops
  • Pizza/Pasta
    • Pizza & Pasta Home
    • Sour Cream Flatbread Pepperoni Pizza
    • David’s Famous Italian Ragu
    • Dinner Party Lasagna
    • Fettuccine Parmesan With Shallots, Pine Nuts & Sun Dried Tomatoes
    • Christa’s Ricotta Gnocchi With Parmesan Cream Sauce
    • Barbara South’s Pappardelle With Fennel, Sausage & Ricotta
    • Norman’s Signature Pesto Sauce on Open Faced Lasagna
  • Side Dishes
    • Side Dishes Home
    • Sweet Summer Corn With Leek & Shallot Butter
    • Baked Summer Tomatoes Au Gratin
    • Grilled Summer Vegetables With Balsamic Glaze
    • Honey Glazed Carrots With Parsley
    • David’s Creamed Spinach
    • David’s Wild Rice With Toasted Pecans & Cranberries
    • Brad’s Cauliflower Bake
    • Vermouth Braised Fennel With Parmesan
    • Potato & Leek Gratin
    • Elsa’s Leek & Gruyere Bread Pudding
    • Pan Seared Brussel Sprouts
    • Homemade Rice Pilaf
    • Heather’s Sauteed Green Beans With Honey Butter & Ginger
  • Bakery
    • Bakery Home
    • Parmesan Thyme Shortbread Biscuits
    • Heather’s Rosemary Focaccia Bread
    • David Genter’s Homemade Olive Bread
    • Sheila Gosling’s Bermuda Banana Bread
    • Clare’s Harvest Spice Muffins
  • Desserts
    • Desserts Home
    • Heather’s Signature Apple Crostata
    • Vienna Squares
    • Christa’s Outrageous Brownies
    • Paula’s Fabulous Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Christa’s Pavlova With Raspberry Coulis
    • Elise’s Ricotta Cheesecake
    • The Duquesne Club’s Famous Macaroons
  • Holiday
    • Holiday Home
    • Thanksgiving Friday Turkey Tetrazzini
    • Paula’s Christmas Eve Manicotti
    • Christmas Hownie Cookies
    • Christa’s Holiday Beef Tenderloin With Bearnaise Sauce
    • Theresa’s Easter Bunny Cake

Potato & Leek Gratin

SERVES 6 TO 8

Even though I have strong Irish roots, I cook potatoes at home infrequently. When I do, this is my favorite dish, a popular recipe from the New York Times that I have modified with more leeks and more Gruyère cheese. I now consider it the perfect side dish for any kind of roast.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing the casserole
3 large leeks, trimmed, halved lengthwise, and thoroughly washed to remove all grit
3 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 fresh thyme sprigs
1½ cups heavy cream
1 bay leaf
Pinch of nutmeg
1½ cups shredded Gruyère cheese

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 3-quart glass casserole. Slice the leeks thinly lengthwise. Using a mandoline or sharp knife, cut the potatoes crosswise into round slices about 1/8 inch thick.

Place 1 layer of potato slices on the bottom of the dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Melt the 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add the thyme sprigs and leeks and sauté until the leeks are tender and golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Discard the thyme and scatter half the leeks and half the Gruyère over the potatoes. Drizzle with half of the cream.

Add the remaining cream and the bay leaf to the skillet with the remaining leeks and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the nutmeg. Layer the remaining potatoes in the casserole. Discard the bay leaf and spoon the leek-cream mixture evenly over the second layer of potatoes. Top with the remaining Gruyère and cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil.

Bake 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the cheese is bubbling and golden, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.