Dinner en homage Honor Blackman

Cafe Drake's constantly TiVo'd channel BBCA recently turned up on a morning chat program - cheekily titled Loose Women - an interview with the 78-year old Honor Blackman, former Avenger, Bond girl and Swinging 60s and Rollicking 70s It Girl. Turns out - shocking! - Honor is a grandmother twice over and living single in London (after 4 failed marriages) and quite the health nut. Might explain her still extraordinary figure and aged, but glowingly healthy, visage. We thought it high time to honor here one of our all-time favorite actors and Cafe Drake icon, so thus below we present in Honor's honor, an uber-healthy meal of whole foods we'd be honored (sorry, we can't resist working the pun) to serve Ms. Blackman should she ever venture across the pond to Brooklyn. Fat chance it seems as Honor, in her racy interview, declares herself an adamant Londoner too attached to her various paramours to leave the British Isles.

DINNER EN HOMAGE HONOR BLACKMAN

White Wine Spritzers (low cal/low alcohol)

Cheese Straws

Toasted Brazil Nuts (antioxidant powerhouses)

Broiled Dover Sole with Caper Sauce (crazy Omega-3s)

Wheat Berry Salad

(recipe)

Cafe Drake loves this salad year round, but especially in the warmer months. Leave in the fridge for a day or two and the flavors magnify to a glorious intensity. Strict vegetarians would do well to serve a mound under tofu kebabs or a thick vegetable stew.

2 cups wheat berries / 6 cups water / salt / grated zest and juice of 1 orange / 1 T. fresh lemon juice / 1 minced shallot / 1/2 cup olive oil / salt and pepper / 2 cups chopped fresh spinach / 1 cup toasted pine nuts or pecans / about 1/2 cup or so crumbled feta cheese

1. Boil the wheat berries in highly salted water for about 45 minutes, then drain well in a colander. They will retain a characteristic, pleasant chewiness.
   
2. Make the dressing: combine orange zest and juice, lemon juice and shallots. Whisk in olive oil and season with salt and a few grindings of black pepper.


3. Toss still-warm berries with spinach, nuts and citrus dressing. Adjust seasoning, adding more salt if required. Serve topped with feta cheese.

Dairy-Free Chocolate Mousse

Almost as rich and delectable as the real thing. We promise!

1/2 cup vanilla or chocolate soy milk / 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips / 12 oz. SILKEN tofu (no other variety will suffice) / 1/4 cup amaretto or other almond liqueur / 1/4 t. almond extract / pinch of salt

1. Bring soymilk to a simmer, then cool and set aside.


2. Slowly melt chocolate in a double boiler, or failing that, a smaller saucepan set inside a larger one filled with water.


3. Add soy milk and tofu to melted chocolate.


4. Blend in blender until velvet smooth.


5. Stir in remaining ingredients.


6. Chill in individual serving bowls for 2 hours. The mousse will set up nicely.