• 5 to 6 plum tomatoes
  
• 1 clove garlic, minced
  
• Olive oil, to saute vegetables
  
• 1 onion, chopped
  
• 1/4 pound carrots, peeled and chopped
  
• 1 fennel bulb, chopped
  
• 1 to 2 cups chicken stock
  
• Salt and pepper
  
• 1 skinless fillet monkfish, coarsely chopped
  
• 3/4 pound fresh sea scallops
  
• 2 skinless fillets catfish, sliced
  
• Flour, for dredging
  
• 4 ounces Chardonnay
  
• 1 pound mussels
  
• Grilled garlic bread, recipe follows
  
• Chopped fresh parsley leaves, for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium sized pot, bring enough water, to cover 2 to 3 whole tomatoes, to a boil. Score the skin of the tomatoes and boil them until the tomato skin can be easily removed and the tomatoes are tender, about 30 seconds. Peel and chop the tomatoes and set aside.

In a large pot, slowly saute minced garlic and olive oil over low heat. Add the onion and the stewed tomatoes. Add the carrots, fennel, and chicken stock to the pot and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and cook until the carrots and fennel are tender, about 10 minutes.

In a large pan, heat a little olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the monkfish and sea scallops with salt and pepper and sear the fish in the pan, about 30 seconds per side. Once the fish has been seared, add it to the stew. Season the catfish fillets with salt and pepper, and then lightly dredge them in flour. Pan-sear the catfish in olive oil until both sides of the fish have browned. Using the wine, deglaze the pan and heat until a sauce forms. Add the sauce to the stew.

In another medium sized pot, heat the mussels over low heat until they open, in order to extract some of the water. Discard any unopened mussels.

To serve, begin with 2 slices of garlic bread on the plate, and top with 1 of the pan-seared catfish fillets. Ladle some of the seafood stew on top of the catfish and the bread and garnish the plate with the mussels and freshly chopped parsley.

A viewer, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. The FN chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.

Grilled Garlic Bread:

• 1 loaf Italian bread, sliced thinly
  
• Olive oil, for grilling
  
• 2 cloves of garlic
  

Slice the bread into 1/2-inch pieces. Brush both sides of the bread with olive oil and generously rub the garlic cloves on both sides of each piece. Heat a grill pan over medium heat and grill both sides of the bread until browned. Serve with the seafood stew.