La Poule au Pot, or Chicken in a Pot, is one of the first dinners I learned to make in France when Le Chef and I moved in together. We were 23 years old and rented this tiny apartment in Antibes on the French Riviera with nothing but 2 electric burners, a tiny bar sink…
Magical Leek Soup
Were you intrigued when watching the last season of “Emily in Paris” on Netflix? What is this Magical Leek Soup that Sylvie talks about? Is this a real thing? Magical Leek Soup is not a new trend but a generations old weight management trick from French women. Leeks, of the onion family, are very good…
Soup Sunday Challenge
Eating better, one pot of homemade soup per week at a time. Join me for a Soup Sunday Challenge! Are you looking to eat better in the New Year? Less convenience food, more whole foods? More vegetables and less processed food? Perhaps, like me, you have a busy schedule but would like to make a…
French Christmas Traditions: The French Riviera
Have you ever been to France at Christmastime? There is something so incredibly magical about French Christmas Traditions. The French Riviera, in particular, does Christmas so well. The backdrop of the mediterranean sea, the convergence of cultures, (Provence! Italy! North Africa!) and the glitter of the Riviera makes for a stunning month of December. That…
La Pompe à L’huile: Provençal Olive Oil Brioche
La Pompe à l’huile is a sweet, flat, brioche-style bread that, especially when hot out of the oven, is one of the tastiest, “can I have another piece?”, treats that you will ever try! The delicate aroma of orange blossom is so festive and enticing, it brings me back to Christmas in the South of…
The 13 Desserts: A Provençal Christmas Tradition
This is one French Christmas tradition that is easier to create than it sounds. The 13 Desserts are a Provençal Christmas tradition that have much more to do with laying out a sweet spread for your family and guests to pick from then making thirteen intricate desserts. A sweet grazing board, if you will, that…
Three Cheese Croque Madame
Cheese pull? Check! Runny Egg yolk? Check! Layers of Brioche bread baked with ham and a creamy cheese sauce? Check, check! The Croque Madame is the perfect brunch dish. It is impressive to serve and relatively easy to make – I will walk you through it, step by step. I love that it can also…
A cook’s look inside Julia Child’s Georgetown home
Are you curious to see what the inside of Julia Child’s Georgetown home looks like? Very recently, I learned the location of Julia and Paul Child’s Georgetown row house, located on the most idyllic street just one block off M street. To be honest, I had no idea that Julia Child had lived in Georgetown…
Turkey au Vin
A creative French take on the traditional Thanksgiving Meal, this recipe for Turkey au Vin, based on the French Classic, Coq au Vin, makes for a meal to remember. The turkey meat is juicy and flavorful, slow cooked in a rich, red wine sauce. The pearl onions glisten and the mushrooms are tender and succulent….
French Fall Dinner Party Menu
The temperature dips, leaves start to fall and my dining tastes switch from outdoor BBQs and salads to warm, comforting meals served on nice tableware. The flicker of candlelight, the smell of something delicious coming from the kitchen and soft music in the air. I long for the cozy feel of a neighborhood French Bistro…
