ALMOND-CRUSTED HALIBUT WITH BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• For beurre blanc: In a small heavy saucepan boil wine, vinegar, shallot, thyme, bay leaf and pepper to taste until liquid is evaporated.
• Add crème fraîche and boil until reduced by half.
• Reduce heat to low and whisk in butter, 1 piece at a time, lifting pan off heat occasionally to cool mixture and adding each new piece before previous one has melted completely. (Do not allow sauce to simmer; it should not get hot enough to separate.)
• Strain sauce through a fine sieve into a heatproof bowl and add chives, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Keep beurre blanc warm by setting bowl in a larger pan of very warm water.
• For the halibut: Preheat broiler.
• Pat halibut fillets dry and season with salt and pepper.
• In a large non-stick skillet heat oil and 1 tablespoon butter over moderately high heat until foam subsides and sauté fillets in 2 batches 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden and just cooked through.
• Transfer fillets as cooked with a slotted spatula to a baking sheet and cool 5 minutes.
• In a small bowl with a fork stir together breadcrumbs, almonds and remaining tablespoon butter.
• Brush tops of fillets with egg and spread with almond mixture.
• Broil fillets about 3 inches from heat 1 to 2 minutes, or until browned.
• Arrange a fillet on each of 6 plates and spoon beurre blanc around it.