This is my favorite recipe for Christmas dinner. My grandmother has made the same thing for 30 yrs , passed on to my mother and to me. I advise you to start preparations 1 day in before so it could be better. However, don't tell my grandma that I've given you this recipe. It's a family secret!

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

Approx 16 lobster tails

2-3 Carrots, finely chopped

1 small Zucchini, finely cut

1 handful of fresh or frozen Onions

1 or 2 slices of Ham

2 glasses of Armagnac

1 tbsp of Butter

1 tsp of of Tomato paste

4 forks of Flour

3/4 of a bottle of dry white wine

1 zest of Orange

1 small Sweet red pepper, pressed

Basmati rice with butter

Olive oil

Instructions:

1.    With shell on, cut lobster tails down the middle of the underside of the tail. In a casserole, with a bit of oil, place the cut side of the lobster tails, facing down, into the pot and cook until meat is white. Turn over and cook on shell side until red. Remove and keep tails warm without cooking.

2.    The Base of the Sauce: Use the same pot but replace the oil. Begin by cooking the onions until they are transparent.

3.    Add carrots and lastly zucchinis. After a few minutes of cooking, add ham to mixture. Slightly caramelize the bottom of the casserole and add the lobster tails at low heat. Stir and turn off heat.

4.   In a pan, heat 2 glasses on Armagnac, then ignite and add it to the lobster tails. Stir.

5.   Remove the tails (but keep their tops ) from pot. Add butter and tomato paste. With a spatula, remove bottoms. On low heat, add flour and stir.

6.   Add the white wine and mix while removing the bottoms. Add a bowl of water with a bit of vinegar to thicken sauce. Add the zest, black pepper, red pepper and leave on low heat for about 5 mins. Taste to season.

7. Add lobster tails still in their shells.

8. Place in fridge and reheat when read to server. Compliment the tails with rice and serve.

VINI VERGANI recommends: Sauvignon DOC Zuc di Volpe 2006,

Producer: Volpe Pasini, Togliano die Torreano, 100% Sauvignon

Degustation notes: Viridescent yellow color. Delicate, fruity scent with an appeal to grapefruit, gooseberry and grass. Dry on the palate, soft and elegant with a fine nerve. A great Sauvignon.

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