Salad Nicoise With A Legendary Photographer

My friend Michael Childers spent an entire life photographing the legends of Hollywood. First as photographer for Interview Magazine and then as a fine art photographer. Not satisfied with retiring, he now spends his days in the desert helping valuable non profit organizations raise much needed funds for their vital programs. For the last two years, he's produced ONE NIGHT ONLY for Jewish Family Services. The evening which takes place at the McCallum Theater features 18 performers from Hollywood and Broadway who donate time to do be a part of the good cause. As PR person for the event, I love our business meetings which are always around a lunch or dinner table in Michael's home with the best food. Yesterday, Michael's adorable dimpled assistant Rocky (who used to own a restaurant) made us an exquisite salad nicoise, slightly translated from the normal big and chunky version. A legendary salad from the annals of foodie class and elegance eaten while surrounded by photos of the great stars of cinematic glory like Natalie Wood and paintings by David Hockney! A very old school way to spend a desert afternoon in Fall.

Chef Rocky

Rocky's Nicoise

Ingredients:

Medium Sized Heirloom tomatoes, cut into small wedges

Albacore tuna packed in olive oil, shredded

Hard boiled eggs, cut into quarter wedges

Tiny black pitted olives

Your choice of Leafy Greens

Cucumbers sliced wafer thin

Baby new potatoes with yelllow colored flesh, boiled to preferred softness

Mix equal parts of all together and toss.

Dressing:

3 parts olive oil to one part dijon mustard and one egg yolk

(adjust per amount of servings)

Whisk together feverishly, and toss with salad.