Mediterranean Fish Stew

[Basically Julia Child's recipe, modified over the years to suit me better.]

Saute in a large kettle

    1c minced onions

    3/4c minced leeks (one leek)

    1/2 c olive oil

for 5 minutes; add

    4 chopped cloves garlic

    1 lb ripe tomatoes OR 30 oz can of crushed tomatoes

and cook 5 more minutes. Add

    2.5 q water

    6 sprigs parsley

    1 bay leaf

    1.8t fennel

    1/4t pepper, ground

    saffron, about 1/2t - 1t uncompressed

    1/2t thyme

    2t lobster base, better than bouillon brand)

and cook 30 min to blend everything. 

Add

    1 lb potatoes, cut into 1/2" cubes

and cook 5 more minutes.

Add

    2-3 lbs white fish of various kinds (fluke, cod, haddock)

and cook until just heated through. 

Serve with 

    Toasted rounds of french bread ("broil 1" setting; 60 seconds each side, roughly)

    Aioli