Cream of Artichoke Soup & Mushroom Toasts

This cool, sophisticated soup comes from Etienne Krebs of Restaurant l'Ermitage in Clarens. The wild mushroom toasts are a lovely foil for the soup's silkiness.

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 6
• Yields: 4 Toasts

Ingredients

• 1  lemon, halved
• 4  large  firm artichokes
• 2  cups  chicken stock or 2  cups low sodium chicken broth
• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1⁄4 cup dry white wine
• 2  fresh thyme sprigs
• 1  shallot, chopped
• 1  garlic clove, chopped
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1  cup milk
• 1⁄4 cup heavy cream

• Mushroom Toasts

• 1  teaspoon olive oil
• 1⁄2 lb  mixed fresh  wild mushroom, thinly sliced
• 1  tablespoon  minced shallot
• 1  teaspoon  minced garlic
• 1⁄4 cup  chicken stock or 1⁄4 cup low sodium chicken broth
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 3  tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 4  slices  white  peasant bread, cut 1/2 inch thick

Directions

1. Squeeze the lemon into a bowl of cold water; add the halves to the bowl. Trim 1 inch off the stem ends of the artichokes. Using a sharp stainless steel knife, halve the artichokes crosswise. Pull off all of the green outer leaves until you reach the yellow leaves. Peel the tough skin off the bottoms and stems. With a teaspoon, scrape out the hairy chokes. Add the artichokes to the bowl of lemon water as they are trimmed.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine the stock with the olive oil, wine, thyme sprigs, shallot and garlic. Add the artichokes and season lightly with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook over low heat until the artichokes are very tender, about 40 minutes. Remove and discard the thyme sprigs.
3. Working in batches, transfer the contents of the saucepan to a blender and puree until completely smooth. Transfer the soup to a bowl and let cool, then refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
4. Just before serving, stir the milk and cream into the soup and season with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into shallow bowls and serve the Mushroom Toasts on the side.
5. Mushroom Toasts: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the mushrooms and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the stock, season with salt and pepper and simmer until evaporated, about 3 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
6. Transfer the mushrooms to a blender and puree. Blend in the butter.
7. Toast the bread and spread with the mushroom butter. Serve warm.