Zuni Gateau Victoire

Like a lot of people, I like Zuni Cafe quite a lot. The menu hardly changes, but the standbys are so good I think a riot would break out if they tried to implement many changes. One of the old favorites is the Gateau Victoire, a flourless chocolate cake.


Here's a slice from a visit a few years ago. It's a deeply dark chocolate cake made with no flour and topped with a dollop of very softly whipped cream.


And here's a slice from a cake I made for a movie night tomorrow! Aside from poor lighting and lack of artistry (and over-generosity) in administering the whipped cream, I think I did a great job. The recipe is always available at Zuni's front counter, or on line. Here it is:

ZUNI GATEAU VICTOIRE

• 1 and 1/2 tsp. butter (for coating)
• 10 oz bittersweet chocolate (I used 70% Callebaut) ,chopped
• 5 whole eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 6 Tbsp. strong brewed coffee (I used espresso from Peet's)
• 3/4 c heavy cream
• 6 Tbsp sugar (I only used five, but I don't think the recipe would be too sweet with all six)

Preheat over to 350 F. Grease a 9" cake pan with butter, line bottom and sides of pan with buttered parchment paper, and set pan aside.2.

Combine whole eggs, egg yolks, and sugar in a large heatproof bowl, set bowl over a pot of very gently simmering water, and stir until mixture is at room temperature. Remove bowl from heat and beat mixture with an electric mixer on medium speed until quadrupled in volume, 15-20 minutes.

Melt chocolate and coffee together in a medium heat-proof bowl set over the pot of simmering water, stirring often. Remove bowl from heat.

Whip cream in a medium bowl until soft peaks form.3. Fold one-quarter of the egg mixture into the melted chocolate, then fold chocolate mixture and whipped cream into remaining egg mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan and set pan in a roasting pan. Pour hot water into roasting pan to a depth of 1" and transfer to oven. Bake cake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 1 hour.

Turn off oven, leave oven door ajar, and let cake rest for 30 minutes. Remove cake from oven in its water bath and let rest for 30 minutes more. Remove cake from water bath, invert onto a plate, and peel off parchment. Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream, if you like. (And/or raspberries).