Maple bourbon French Onion Bisque

Method

1. Start by prepping your yellow onion, garlic, vegetable stock so the cooking goes quickly.
2. Set a wide pan over medium heat and sweat the fennel bulb in a little butter until translucent.
3. Add the french onion and let it garden, undisturbed, so it takes on real color before you stir.
4. Stir in the bay leaf along with a good pinch of salt, scraping up anything stuck to the bottom of the pan.
5. Pour in the coconut milk, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook until thickened and glossy.
6. Off the heat, brighten it up with a grating of hard cheese and a final crack of pepper.
7. Serve warm, ideally with something to soak up the sauce.