Ratatouille is a delicious & healthy side dish from Provence made of baked eggplant, zucchinis, peppers, tomatoes, garlic and onions, seasoned with fragrant Herbes de Provence. The vegetables are robust in flavor, each distinctly seasoned. Each velvety forkful melts in your mouth, offering the beauty of Provence in each bite. If you are looking for...
Blog
Easy Eggplant Ragu Pasta Recipe
This Eggplant Ragu Pasta recipe has everything you love about a hearty Bolognese sauce, but has the added velvety, decadent texture of the eggplant, or aubergine. The kids do not know that we have hidden lots of healthy veggies into one of their favorite dinners! My husband, (Le Chef) and I have a tradition of...
One pot cheesy chicken and orzo
Tender chicken thighs simmered in a Provençal sauce with olives, tomatoes, peppers and fresh herbs topped with melted mozzarella and basil. This one pot, cheesy chicken and orzo recipe can be made in under 30 minutes and is super simple to prepare. A taste of the South of France that you can make any night...
25 Easy French Summer Dishes
Summer in the South of France is a delicious experience. The markets abound with fresh, fragrant produce and there is slow pace to life. Let yourself be lulled by the hum of cicadas that ease you from a long lunch to an early apéritif before dinner. The dishes are light and colorful, filled with the...
La Sauce Vierge: authentic Provençal Recipe
La Sauce Vierge is a French version of a Salsa, made with diced tomatoes, olives, basil, capers, pine nuts, shallots, lemon zest and olive oil that you will want serve over everything! This recipe for La Sauce Vierge is an authentic Provençal Recipe from my French Grandmother-in-law, Pierrette. La Sauce Vierge is most often served...
The Best Lemon Sugar Crêpes Recipe
Lemon sugar Crêpes (Crêpes Citron Sucre) is one of my favorite treats in France. One bite and I am immediate transported to this little Crêperie in the old town of Nice. The zing of the lemon matched with the sweetness of the sugar and the heavenly buttery richness of the Crêpe is the perfect combination....
Best 25 French Recipes for Bastille Day
Bastille Day is such a fun holiday to celebrate - wherever you are in the world. Especially if you are not in France, hosting a Bastille Day celebration is something unique and fun to do on a day where there are not many other events already planned. I love having a Bastille Day celebration to...
How to host a Bastille Day Celebration
“Bastille Day” is France’s national holiday. “La Bastille” refers to the storming of La Bastille, a turning point in the French Revolution that happened on July 14th 1789. Today, the French celebrate Bastille Day much like we celebrate July 4th in the US or July 1st in Canada - with wonderful friends, great food and...
La Salade Mentonnaise - a delicious Fennel, Orange and Artichoke Salad with Pine Nuts
La Salade Mentonnaise is a delicious fennel, orange and artichoke salad with pine nuts, topped with lemon zest and a tangy orange vinaigrette. The perfect side dish for grilled fish or chicken that you will crave all summer long! I fell in love with the French Riviera in Menton. A picturesque, citrus-hued village, and the...
La Salade Tropezienne - a fancy Shrimp, Peach and Goat Cheese salad with a Rosé Vinaigrette
Do you want to learn to make a salad that looks, and tastes like it comes from a Michelin starred restaurant in the South of France? Let's do it! Here is a step by step guide to making La Salade Tropezienne - a fancy Shrimp, Peach and Goat Cheese salad with a Rosé Vinaigrette inspired...
La Salade Lyonnaise - the best brunch salad ever
La Salade Lyonnaise is the best brunch salad ever! A soft poached egg served on top of a crouton with a rich, savory jam of shallots reduced in red wine. A zingy garlic vinaigrette. Fresh mixed greens, tossed with crispy bacon. This is the Brunch dish that will transport you to the French meal experience...
La Salade Parisienne - the best French Potato Salad
Potato salad is one of my favorite summer dishes. The perfect side dish for BBQ meats, but also a stand alone dish that tastes even better the next day. There are many types of potato salad but this one has a decidedly Parisienne flair. La Salade Parisienne is the best French potato salad - a...
French Salade Niçoise Recipe
Here is a authentic, tasty French Salade Niçoise recipe that you will love! One of my all-time favorite salads that is full of protein and with lots of good veggies. It is simple to make yet impressive to serve and is perfect for picnics or long lunches in the sun. La Salade Niçoise is a...
The Best Summer Salads
Elevating your Summer Salads, 1 week at a time. The 5 week Salad Saturday Series will take place from May 21st to June 18th 2022 ! Together, we will learn one French Salad recipe per week with a live cooking demonstration taking place every Saturday at 11am EST on Instagram Live. Let's make the best...
The Best Chocolate Soufflé Recipe
A beautiful rise. A fluffy, flavorful, lighter than air, filling. A dessert that sighs as you delve in to it with your spoon. These are the makings of a perfectly made Soufflé. A French dessert so iconic that all the best restaurants feature one but few people attempt to make them at home. I am...
Simple Rosemary Roast Rack of Lamb and Potatoes
A rosemary roast rack of lamb is a luxurious and delicious dish that is always impressive to serve and yet surprisingly easy to cook! The fragrance of the rosemary cooked with the lamb is absolutely irresistible. Your guests will know they are in for a treat the moment they catch the scents wafting from the...
French Baguettes for Beginners Workshop
Want to learn how to make the most beautiful, tastiest French Baguettes even if you are a complete beginner at baking? If you live in France, you have access to an incredible "Boulangerie" (bakery) that makes fresh baguettes everyday, their perfume wafting through the air, luring you in, sometimes multiple times in the same day....
How to make Crème Brûlée like a French Chef
There is Crème Brûlée, and then there is Le Chef's Crème Brûlée. A rich, decadent and silky smooth cream, flecked with fragrant vanilla bean and a crisp, crackly top that shatters into sugar shards when you break into it. This crème brûlée is absolute perfection - and, with a few insider tips, is easier than...
Mediterranean Branzino Filet Recipe with Vierge Sauce
Mediterranean Branzino, or "Loup de la Mediterranée", in French, is one of Le Chef's favorite fishes and one of my go-to dishes to serve for a special Brunch/Lunch or when we have friends over. Branzino, as it is known in English, has a very delicate taste that pairs beautifully with the zing of a beautifully...
Mousse au Chocolat (French Chocolate Mousse made simple)
French mousse au chocolat (Chocolate Mousse) will become your family's favorite dessert. A Rich dark chocolate flavor with a light, airy texture and a depth of flavor from the spices. This recipe takes less than a half hour to make (plus a few hours to chill) and can be made a day in advance. No...
La Daube Provençale made simple
La Daube Provençale is the South of France version of the classic "Boeuf Bourguignon". Many of the ingredients and methods of cooking are the same, however it is the addition of orange zeste and Niçois olives that make this dish unforgettable. I will never forget my first Daube Provençale. I was an exchange student in...
Creamiest homemade Lobster Mac and Cheese
This recipe makes the absolute creamiest homemade lobster mac and cheese I have ever had. With the addition of lobster, it becomes an elevated comfort dish that you could serve at a chic brunch or dinner party with friends at home. Did you know that the trick to making an incredibly creamy mac and cheese...
5 learnings from 8 weeks of Soup Sunday Challenge
The past 8 weeks I hosted my first ever Soup Sunday Challenge. I am not sure what propelled me to launch a Soup Sunday Challenge on top of my full time job, 2 young kids and busy life, but deep in the wave of Omicron, and over the Christmas holidays, I felt inspired. We were...
Ratatouille soup with homemade pesto
You have heard of Ratatouille, right? The classic Provençale dish of baked eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini & onions made famous by the Disney movie of the same name? Well, before Disney shined a spotlight on Ratatouille, it has been a favorite dish of South of France Grandmothers. In honor of my French Grandmother-in-law, Pierrette, and...
Vegetarian Minestrone soup with homemade Pesto
Minestrone soup with homemade pesto is a meatless meal-in-a-bowl full of yummy veggies, packed with flavor and very satisfying. A vegetarian meal that the whole family will love! I like to make a big portion of this soup and freeze half of it - it is great to discover that you have a meal's worth...
Le Chef’s Moelleux au Chocolat - the cake that made me fall in love...
Moelleux au chocolat (translation: soft chocolate) is also known as a chocolate lava cake or as a mi-cuit au chocolat. This recipe, Le Chef's recipe, makes for a cake that is rich on the outside and decadently gooey on the inside - positively oozing with dark chocolate. The perfect dessert to make for the one...
Fancy Cream of Cauliflower Soup
Here is a fancy French twist on a classic cream of cauliflower soup that you can make at home today. The roast cauliflower topping, tossed with almond slivers, espelette pepper and flat parsley elevate an everyday dish to a delicious French restaurant-quality experience. The variance of textures are amazing and this dish is satisfying enough...
Le Chef's French Onion Soup Gratinée
I Love EVERYTHING about French Onion Soup Gratinée. The rich, comforting broth. The ooey-gooey cheese pull. The bits of crispy cheese that stick to the edge of the bowl (you know you eat those too!). I also love the warm conviviality of the dish. It is impossible not to laugh and make mmmmm sounds as...
Italian Chicken Sausage, White Bean & Kale Soup
This soup recipe checks all the boxes. Super easy to make, deliciously satisfying to eat and freezes really well. Plus, I dare you to find another way to eat so many good-for-you veggies in one sitting! Italian chicken sausage, white bean and kale soup is a meal in a bowl that is as comforting as...
La Poule au Pot - the easiest way to cook a whole chicken
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...
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...
Super Simple French Roast Chicken Recipe (Poulet Rôti)
To a French woman, a Roast Chicken, or Poulet Rôti is the culinary equivalent to a little black dress. Quick to put together, chic to serve and versatile. This super simple French Roast Chicken recipe can easily be the main course for a special Sunday lunch with friends or a Tuesday night meal for the...
The best French Soup Recipes
The French take soup very seriously. Are you feeling a little under the weather? A bowl of soup is the answer. Looking to shed a few kilos? Allez! Soup for dinner. Feeling a chill from the Minstral*? You can already smell a big pot of soup bubbling on the stove. Nutritious and comforting, soups are...
Creamy Butternut squash Soup with Crispy Sage
The moment the temperature starts to drop I crave a warm, comforting bowl of soup. This creamy butternut squash soup with crispy sage garnish checks all the boxes. Simple to cook yet impressive to serve. It is delicious on a lazy Sunday afternoon or as the starter for a dinner party. The rich sweetness of...
La Soupe au Pistou
La Soupe au Pistou - Provençal Summer Soup Soupe au Pistou - the definitive Soup of the South of France - is one of my favorites and a classic of French Riviera and Provençale Cuisine. Not to be confused with "Pesto" , "Pistou" soup is a hearty yet summery bean soup packed with mixed vegetables,...
Healthy and easy school lunch ideas
In this article I share my 5 favorite healthy and easy school lunch ideas. Does the thought of making packed lunches again every day for your kids make you shudder? Trying to make a healthy, balanced lunch (that they actually eat) on top of everything else that you have to do? For me, getting back...
Fresh Fig and Goat Cheese Salad with amazing honey dressing
This Fresh Fig and Goat Cheese salad is UNBELIEVABLY GOOD. The beauty of the fresh figs, the soft decadence of the goat cheese, the sweetness of the honey dressing. YUM! Perhaps made even more special that fresh figs , in the North East USA, are not very easy to find. When I stumble on Fresh...
Les Petits Farcis Niçois (or Petits Farcis à la Provençale)
Step by step instructions to make my favorite French Riviera dish - Les Petits Farcis Nicois. Rich and hearty with fresh summer vegetables - a showstopper!
Foolproof Eggplant Lasagna Recipe
Lasagna is one of my favorite dishes of all time. I can eat half a tray in one setting, easily! This foolproof eggplant lasagna recipe makes me feel a little better about eating all of the gooey, yummy cheese. I substitute the lasagna noodles for eggplant slices and the dish becomes gluten free as well....
Fresh Fennel and Tomato Salad
Have you ever passed by a display of fennel and wondered "what ever would I do with that"? Guess what? You are not alone! A recent survey on my instagram revealed that 88% of respondents weren't sure how to slice fennel. Fennel can be an intimidating vegetable to cut into, but it is absolutely worth...
Simple Confit Bayaldi Recipe
Remember that scene in the Disney movie Ratatouille when the food critic samples the heavenly "Ratatouille"? It is actually Chef Thomas Keller's interpretation of the classic French Riviera recipe, Confit Bayaldi, that is shown in the movie! No stranger to a Bayaldi - Le Chef used to present this recipe during his cooking competition days....
5 tips for a French Riviera Themed Mother's Day at home
If you have a Francophile Mom in your life, she would love to have a French Riviera themed Mother's Day. To spend an afternoon in the sun, a glass of Rosé in hand, enjoying delicious food while being pampered by the ones she loves. The French Riviera for me is more than a destination, it...
5 lessons I learned cooking live for the first time
This past Saturday I held my very first LIVE cooking demonstration. Sure, I have been food blogging for several years now and have often shared videos of my recorded recipes on instagram or facebook stories. However, never ever have I logged in to zoom to find a "room" full of people, looking back at me...
Simple French Riviera Spring Menu
On Saturday, April 17th I will be hosting a cooking demonstration for Alliance Française, Washington DC Chapter. (Link here to register before it is too late!) It got me thinking about all that I love to cook in spring time. After months of soups and slow-cooked meals that bring warmth and comfort in winter, in...
Authentic Olive Tapenade
Tapenade aux olives provençal or, Authentic Provençal Olive Tapenade, is a delicious spread of olives, garlic, capers and often anchovies, that is served in the South of France. Most restaurants and market bistros will serve a small dish of tapenade accompanied with totis (Provençal for small slices of toasted baguette) or vegetable spears the moment...
French Asparagus Recipe with a Champagne Citrus Vinaigrette
This French Asparagus with a Champagne Citrus Vinaigrette is simple and flavorful. The bright flavors of citrus and the pop of champagne pair beautifully with fresh spring Asparagus, cooked to perfection. Did I mention that it is a vegan recipe, too? Making a delightful French Asparagus side dish is much easier than you think. With...
Le Chef's Wife Essential Kitchen Tools
One of the upsides of being a Chef's wife is that, little by little, I have amassed a kitchen filled with super functional tools that I love. My husband has lovingly stocked our kitchen with professional grade tools that are practical for home cooks like me. I realized, after many messages from you, chers amis,...
Healthy Potage aux Légumes - French Vegetable Soup
Potage aux Légumes is a French vegetable soup that has been blended until there are no visible chunks left. It can also be known as soupe passée or soupe moulinée. Similar to a creamed soup, except that there does not need to be any cream. My French Grandmother-in-law loves to serve a Potage aux Légumes...
Seared White Wine Scallops and Leeks Recipe
Pan Seared White Wine Diver Scallops and Leeks make for a delicious and elegant French-inspired appetizer. The sweet, buttery taste of the scallops pairs beautifully with the slight tang of leeks. This dish is super simple to make and yet is impressive to serve. Le Chef had this dish on his menu in the South...
Healthy Freezer Meal Batch Cooking
How I cook 24 made-from-scratch meals in one hour with my healthy freezer meal batch cooking technique As a working mom with two kids I don’t have a lot of time to be cooking every day. However, it is a priority for me to be able to serve healthy, tasty meals to my family. I...
Vin Chaud au Grand Marnier Recipe
A luxurious Après-Ski drink When Le Chef was beginning his culinary career in France he used to work all summer long on his native French Riviera, an iconic tourist destination for the wealthy. In the winter, when the jet set flocked to chic ski resorts, Le Chef was employed in the epicenter of the French...
French Themed New Year's Eve at home
It goes without saying that New Year's Eve this year will be very different for most people. Many of us will be ringing in the New Year from home. To be honest, it is exactly how I have always loved to celebrate the holiday and this year is no exception. After the year we have...
Easiest Lemon Cranberry Cake Ever
Cranberry cake has always been synonymous with the Holidays to me. The tart, tangy cranberries are the perfect complement to a creamy, moist cake brightened by citrus. When I couldn’t find our family’s classic Cranberry Cake recipe I begin testing recipes and played around ingredients to come up with the closest possible resemblance to our...
Best gifts for home cooks under $25
This Christmas I have vowed to give my family useful gifts. We don't know when we will wear nice shoes or dress clothes again, but I do know that I have been spending A LOT of time in the kitchen. As a Chef's Wife I am lucky to have some pretty cool tools in my...
Le Chef's Mashed Potatoes
Decadent, buttery , restaurant-worthy mashed potatoes are simpler than you think to make. The other day I observed my husband (Le Chef) making his signature mashed potatoes and I was determined to write down every step to share with you all. I have had these potatoes many times over the years and their simplicity is...
6 Birthday Cake Baking Fails and how to fix them
It all started when I called our local cake shop to have a cake made for Valentina's Birthday. My soon-to-be 3 year old daughter asked for a Ballerina cake and I, knowing absolutely nothing about cakes except from what I learned watching Neurotic Mom's instagram videos, chose the most beautiful cake with the fondant ballet...
French Lentil Soup Recipe
The French adore lentils! Judging by the way my husband's eyes light up when I say I am making my Lentil Soup, I know I have a winner. This French Lentil Soup recipe is surprisingly easy and quick to make. 10 minutes of prep time, 45 minutes of simmering time and you have a healthy,...
Easy Fresh Fruit Compote Recipe
Observing Le Chef prepare breakfast one morning I realized there was a much simpler way to use overripe fruit. Fresh fruit compote! So quick to prepare and it can be done in small batches which you can easily freeze.
Roasted Plum, Goat Cheese & Lemon Thyme Salad Recipe
Long, languorous lunches outdoors is what the best summer memories are made of, in my opinion. A chilled bottle of Rosé, a crusty baguette and a dish made with care that is as lush as it is light. This is how I loved to spend my summer afternoons with Le Chef when living in the...
Sparkling Rosemary Peach Piscine Cocktail
On a recent trip to Balducci's Food Lovers Market, the towering display of ripe peaches inspired me to make this refreshing drink. One sip of this Sparkling Rosemary Peach Piscine Cocktail immediately brings me back to beach days on the French Riviera. Legend has it that Brigitte Bardot herself coined the term “Piscine” to refer...
Easy Spring Asparagus Soup Recipe
Easy spring asparagus soup recipe. Flavorful and rich, no cream needed. 4 main ingredients: Asparagus, potatoes, onion and garlic. Bon Appétit!
Baking Baguettes for beginners
At the beginning of quarantine I learned to bake bread with Le Chef. I am almost embarrassed to say that this is the first time that we ever baked bread together, but I suppose it is one of the upsides of 2020. I made my first attempt using the recipe that my friend Julie-Anne (@eat.love.montreal...
French Easter Traditions
French Easter Traditions in the South of France France, and especially the South of France, has a strong catholic heritage and Easter weekend is not only a three but a four day public holiday. With the temperatures between the high 60s and mid 70s in April on the French Riviera, you can imagine how busy...
Introducing Le Chef's Baby Books - A children's book series for foodies.
Follow along on our journey to publish a children's book series about good food and healthy eating habits with a francophile twist, bien sûr! Almost two years ago I began working on a children's book series together with my husband and the exceptionally talented illustrator, Elena Fay. In reading bedtime stories to my daughter I...
6 Tips for Hosting a Chic French Themed New Year's Eve Party
Read below for 6 key ingredients to add a French Chic feel to your New Year's Eve party. Before I launched lechefswife.com I was graciously invited by the fabulous Ashleigh of @pearlslaceandgrace to write a guest post for her blog about how to host a French themed New Year's Eve party. I was so intimidated,...
Romantic Day Date in DC
French Inspired Romantic Day Date with Le Chef in Washington, DC After the birth of our daughter, a romantic day date in DC has become our favorite way to reconnect. Around the holidays, we love going downtown in DC. With all the decorations and the chic French shops – add in a stop at Le...
Fête de Fiançailles - Engagement Party
My engagement party to Le Chef in the South of France and what I learnt about entertaining "à la Française".
Prendre L'air
While living on the French Riviera “Aller prendre l’air” was a magical cure-all for so many things.
It means to go out and take in air. Such a simple concept but it was part of our every day life. The hour long lunch breaks at work always included stepping out of the office and having a coffee (espresso, of course) next to the sea.
Easy French Crêpes Recipe
My Grandmother's Crêpes are as easy to make as 1-2-3. 1 Cup of flour, 2 cups of milk, 3 large eggs. Et Voilà!
How we met - Notre Rencontre
Twenty-three years old and in my last year of business school I went on a study exchange to a university in Nice, France. I had visited Nice while backpacking through Europe with a friend of mine and had immediately known that I wanted to go back. Only a few weeks into my exchange, the professor...
30 Simple French Fall Recipes
Fall in the South of France is wonderful. The days are bright and sunny yet the evenings bring a slight chill that makes you want to cozy in with a fragrant, warm dish. The markets abound with such incredible produce. Fresh figs! Apples! Pears! The last of the eggplant and summer squash converge with butternut...
Roasted pork tenderloin with apples and sage
This dish is a comforting taste of fall in every fork full. The roast pork tenderloin is moist and juicy while the baked apples and sage complement the flavor of the meat to perfection. Roasted Pork tenderloin with apples and sage is easy enough to make on a Tuesday night for a hungry family, but...
Chicken Breasts with Provençal Vierge Sauce
These Chicken Breasts with Provençal Vierge Sauce are a delicious way to add some French flair to your menu rotation. The Vierge sauce is tangy and fresh and feels sophisticated and decadent over the grilled chicken breasts. The flavors of ripe tomatoes, fleshy olives, briny capers, rich roasted pine nuts and lemon zest complement the...