Bruschetta with Borlotti Beans and Prosciutto di Parma

Preparation 1. Put the beans in a bowl or pot and add enough cold water to cover. Set aside to soak at room temperature for at least 8 hours. Change the water once or twice, if possible. 2. Drain the beans, transfer to a heavy-bottomed pot, and add water to cover by an inch or two. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, skim off any foam that rises to the surface, and simmer for about 1 hour, or until the beans are nearly tender. Check the water level during cooking and replenish it, if necessary. It's important to keep the beans submerged at all times during cooking. 3. Drain the beans and cool at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until needed. The cooked beans will keep for up to 2 days. 4. In a large pot, cook the bacon over medium-high heat for about 6 minutes, or until brown and the fat is rendered. Add the onion, celery, fennel, salt, cayenne, and black pepper and cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the onion softens. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds, then add the wine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a brisk simmer, and cook until reduced by half. 5. Add the tomatoes and their juices. Cook for about 2 minutes, then add the stock, vinegar, bay leaf, and beans. 6. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, season to taste with salt and pepper, cover, and simmer for 10 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add more stock if necessary to keep the beans well moistened. Stir in the butter until incorporated. 7. Remove the beans from the heat and let them cool in the liquid until warm or room temperature. 8. In a small bowl, mix together the basil and sage. 9. Using a slotted spoon, scoop some beans from the pot and put on top of each toast. Too much liquid will make the bruschetta soggy, so drain carefully when lifting the beans from the pot. 10. Garnish each bruschetta with 1 slice of prosciutto and a sprinkling of the herbs. Drizzle with olive oil and serve. From Fantastico by Rick Tramonto, Mary Goodbody, and Belinda Chang Copyright (c) 2007 by Rick Tramonto. Published by Broadway Books. Rick Tramonto, the executive chef/partner of Tru in Chicago, was named one of Food & Wine's Top Ten Best Chefs in the country in 1994 and selected as one of America's Rising Star Chefs by Robert Mondavi in 1995. He has also been nominated four times for the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Midwest, winning the award in 2002. Tru, which opened its doors in May 1999, was nominated for the 2000 James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant and named one of the Top 50 Best Restaurants in the World by Condé Nast Traveler. Tramonto is the coauthor, with his partner Gale Gand, of American Brasserie and Butter Sugar Flour Eggs. Mary Goodbody is a nationally known food writer and editor who has worked on more than forty-five books. Her most recent credits include Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Companion, The Garden Entertaining Cookbook, and Back to the Table. She is the editor of the IACP Food Forum Quarterly, was the first editor in chief of Cooks magazine, and is a senior contributing editor for Chocolatier magazine and Pastry Art & Design magazine. Tim Turner is a nationally acclaimed food and tabletop photographer. He is a two-time James Beard Award winner for Best Food Photography, winning most recently in 2002. His previous projects include Charlie Trotter's Recipes, Charlie Trotter's Meat and Game, The Inn at Little Washington, Norman's New World Cuisine (by Norman Van Aken), Jacques Pepin's Kitchen, and American Brasserie.

Preparation 1. Put the beans in a bowl or pot and add enough cold water to cover. Set aside to soak at room temperature for at least 8 hours. Change the water once or twice, if possible. 2. Drain the beans, transfer to a heavy-bottomed pot, and add water to cover by an inch or two. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, skim off any foam that rises to the surface, and simmer for about 1 hour, or until the beans are nearly tender. Check the water level during cooking and replenish it, if necessary. It's important to keep the beans submerged at all times during cooking. 3. Drain the beans and cool at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until needed. The cooked beans will keep for up to 2 days. 4. In a large pot, cook the bacon over medium-high heat for about 6 minutes, or until brown and the fat is rendered. Add the onion, celery, fennel, salt, cayenne, and black pepper and cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the onion softens. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds, then add the wine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a brisk simmer, and cook until reduced by half. 5. Add the tomatoes and their juices. Cook for about 2 minutes, then add the stock, vinegar, bay leaf, and beans. 6. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, season to taste with salt and pepper, cover, and simmer for 10 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add more stock if necessary to keep the beans well moistened. Stir in the butter until incorporated. 7. Remove the beans from the heat and let them cool in the liquid until warm or room temperature. 8. In a small bowl, mix together the basil and sage. 9. Using a slotted spoon, scoop some beans from the pot and put on top of each toast. Too much liquid will make the bruschetta soggy, so drain carefully when lifting the beans from the pot. 10. Garnish each bruschetta with 1 slice of prosciutto and a sprinkling of the herbs. Drizzle with olive oil and serve. From Fantastico by Rick Tramonto, Mary Goodbody, and Belinda Chang Copyright (c) 2007 by Rick Tramonto. Published by Broadway Books. Rick Tramonto, the executive chef/partner of Tru in Chicago, was named one of Food & Wine's Top Ten Best Chefs in the country in 1994 and selected as one of America's Rising Star Chefs by Robert Mondavi in 1995. He has also been nominated four times for the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Midwest, winning the award in 2002. Tru, which opened its doors in May 1999, was nominated for the 2000 James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant and named one of the Top 50 Best Restaurants in the World by Condé Nast Traveler. Tramonto is the coauthor, with his partner Gale Gand, of American Brasserie and Butter Sugar Flour Eggs. Mary Goodbody is a nationally known food writer and editor who has worked on more than forty-five books. Her most recent credits include Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Companion, The Garden Entertaining Cookbook, and Back to the Table. She is the editor of the IACP Food Forum Quarterly, was the first editor in chief of Cooks magazine, and is a senior contributing editor for Chocolatier magazine and Pastry Art & Design magazine. Tim Turner is a nationally acclaimed food and tabletop photographer. He is a two-time James Beard Award winner for Best Food Photography, winning most recently in 2002. His previous projects include Charlie Trotter's Recipes, Charlie Trotter's Meat and Game, The Inn at Little Washington, Norman's New World Cuisine (by Norman Van Aken), Jacques Pepin's Kitchen, and American Brasserie.