Fabulous fish stew

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 small pinch saffron, optional
• sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 250 ml low-fat mayonnaise, made with free-range eggs
• lemon juice
• 12 mussels, from
• , ask your fishmonger
• 20 clams, from
• olive oil
• 1 small wineglass white wine
• 400 g good-quality tinned plum tomatoes
• 2 small fillets of seabass or bream, from
• , ask your fishmonger, cut in half
• 2 small fillets of red mullet or snapper, from
• 2 small fillets of monkfish or other firm white fish, from
• 4 langoustines or tiger prawns, from
• , ask your fishmonger, shell on
• 2 thick slices crusty bread
• 1 small handful fennel tops
• extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small bunch fresh basil, leaves picked and stalks chopped