Bouillabaisse Magnifique A Provençal Seafood Dream

Ingredients

• 1 baguette slice (crust removed), soaked in milk for 10 minutes
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp saffron threads
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 leeks, white and light green parts only, sliced
• 2 fennel bulbs, chopped, fronds reserved
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 8 cups fish stock (or seafood broth)
• 1 tsp saffron threads
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried fennel seeds
• 1 pound firm white fish fillets (such as cod, halibut, or sea bass), cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 pound mussels, scrubbed and debearded
• 1 pound littleneck clams, scrubbed
• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 pound calamari, cleaned and cut into rings
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley