Savory Port Wine Tarte Tartin

                      2nd Place Winner for Valley Fig Growers Photo Contest, 2012

 A tarte tartin is a beautiful way to showcase the fig's beautiful colors and shapes. This rustic, French, "Savory Port Wine Fig Tarte Tartin" coaxes luxury out of everyday ingredients you probably already have around the pantry. Poaching the halved, dry Calimyrna figs in Port Wine lends a little acidity to the figs and serves to cut through the richness of the goat cheese filling. The addictive combination of the figs, toasted walnuts, goat cheese, and French Bayonne ham is tucked into a rich, buttery puffed pastry crust and baked until golden brown. It's charm is a bit rustic and romantic, and this recipe bends readily to adaptation with the use of different cheeses, wines, or other add-ins. All of the components are thoughtfully balanced in flavor and texture, and compliment each other well, but the real stand-out is the flavor of the chewy, Calimyrna figs.