Preparation:  

• The day before you want to eat, soak the dried morels in 2 litres of water.
• The next day, carefully lift them out, rinse them several times under running water and squeeze them well to remove all the grit from the chambers of the mushroom heads.
• Ladle 250ml of the mushroom soaking water into a measuring jug for preparing the sauce.
• For the sauce, heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, add the shallots and cook, stirring, until translucent. Increase the heat to high, add the moist morels and mix thoroughly.
• As soon as the water from the mushrooms has evaporated, add the Cognac, stir well, then pour in the port.
• Add a good ladleful of the soaking water, season with salt and simmer for about 30 minutes until the sauce has reduced and thickened.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil for the pasta. Preheat the oven to low (60C).
• Heat a large heavy-based pan over a high heat. When hot, add the remaining butter and the oil, then add the veal medallions and sear them briefly on both sides, turning 2–3 times so that they are lightly browned but still pink inside.
• Transfer the medallions to a plate and keep warm in the oven.
• When the morels in the sauce are nicely soft, pour in the cream and bubble gently until the volume is reduced by half.
• Taste and season with salt, adding more port wine if you like, then add the Madeira and stir in the veal stock, if using. Keep the sauce warm.
• Boil the noodles for two minutes then drain.
• To serve, place two medallions on each of four warmed plates. Stir any escaped meat juices into the morel sauce.
• Arrange the noodles next to the meat, spoon the morel sauce over the medallions and serve immediately.

Tip:

This feast cries out for Pinot Noir, the best one that you can afford!