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Simple French Riviera Spring Menu

April 14, 2021

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…

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Filed Under: Entertaining, Recipes, Riviera Recipes Tagged With: brunch menu, french food, French lifestyle, french menu, french riviera, lunch menu

Authentic Olive Tapenade

April 12, 2021

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…

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Filed Under: Entertaining, Recipes, Riviera Recipes, Starters Tagged With: Apéro, apperitif, french cooking, french food, french starters, happy hour, Olive tapenade, tapenade

Easy Branzino with Vierge Sauce

April 11, 2021

“Loup de la Mediterranée” 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 balanced Vierge Sauce. Juicy cherry…

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Filed Under: Entertaining, Recipes, Riviera Recipes Tagged With: branzino, fish recipe, french riviera, healthy recipes, loup de mer, mediterranean diet, Sauce Vierge, Vierge sauce

Spring Asparagus Recipe with a Champagne Citrus Vinaigrette

April 7, 2021

This article and recipe for Spring Asparagus with a Champagne Citrus Vinaigrette first appeared in the Spring 2020 issue of Edible DC Magazine. Photography by Jennifer Chase. Words and recipe by Anina Belle Giannini. Le Chef, as I lovingly refer to my husband, and I used to live in his native South of France. We…

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Filed Under: Entertaining, Featured, Recipes, Riviera Recipes Tagged With: asparagus, asparagus recipe, french cooking, french food, french recipe, french recipes, vegan recipe

Le Chef’s Wife Essential Kitchen Tools

March 11, 2021

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,…

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Filed Under: Featured, Food, Lifestyle Tagged With: chef tips, chef tools, french cooking, french food, kitchen essentials

Healthy Potage aux Légumes – French Vegetable Soup

February 21, 2021

Potage aux légumes

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…

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Filed Under: Family Meals, Food, Main Courses, Recipes, Starters Tagged With: french soup, healthy eating, soup, soup recipe, vegetable soup, weight loss

Seared Scallops and Leeks in White Wine Recipe

February 12, 2021

Chef's scallops

Noix de St. Jaques poêlées Sifflés de Poireaux au Vin Blanc Pan Seared Diver Scallops and Leeks in White Wine 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…

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Filed Under: Entertaining, Food, Recipes, Starters Tagged With: french food, french wine, leeks, scallops, seared scallops, white wine

Healthy Freezer Meal Batch Cooking

January 27, 2021

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…

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Filed Under: Family, Family Meals, Food, Recipes Tagged With: batch cooking, Chef life, freezer meal batch cooking, freezer meals, healthy meals, meal prep

Vin Chaud au Grand Marnier Recipe

January 17, 2021

vin chaud au grand marnier

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…

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Filed Under: Drinks, Entertaining, Recipes Tagged With: french drinks, french entertaining, French lifestyle, grand marnier recipe, mulled wine, vin chaud, winter drinks

French Themed New Year’s Eve at home

December 30, 2020

Krug Champagne

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…

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Filed Under: Entertaining, Lifestyle Tagged With: French themed New year's eve, french themed party, New Year's Eve at home, New Years eve

Easiest Lemon Cranberry Cake Ever

December 19, 2020

Lemon Cranberry Cake

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…

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Filed Under: Baking, Breads, Desserts, Recipes Tagged With: easy baking, easy cake recipe, easy christmas baking, easy cranberry cake, Holiday baking, simple cake recipe, simple cranberry cake

Best gifts for home cooks under $25

December 13, 2020

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…

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Filed Under: Inspiration, Lifestyle Tagged With: cooking essentials, cooking tools, french cooking, gift guide, gifts for cooks, kitchen tools

Le Chef’s Mashed Potatoes

November 24, 2020

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…

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Filed Under: Food, Main Courses, Recipes, Starters Tagged With: best mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes, perfect mashed potatoes, whipped potatoes

Le Chef’s French Onion Soup Gratinée

November 19, 2020

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…

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Filed Under: Family Meals, Food, Main Courses, Starters Tagged With: apres ski, french onion, french onion gratinée, French onion soup, holiday, social distancing, socially distanced dinner, socially distanced meal

6 Birthday Cake Baking Fails and how to fix them

November 12, 2020

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…

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Filed Under: Baking, Desserts, Entertaining Tagged With: amateur baker, birthday cake, cake, cake baking, cake decorating, cake icing, homemade birthday cake, three layer cake

French Lentil Soup Recipe

October 24, 2020

French Lentil Soup

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,…

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Filed Under: Food, Main Courses, Recipes, Starters Tagged With: family meal, french cooking, french food, french lentil soup, french recipe, lentil soup, meal prep, soup, soup recipe

Foolproof Eggplant Lasagna Recipe

September 29, 2020

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….

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Filed Under: Family Meals, Main Courses, Recipes Tagged With: comfort food, eggplant, eggplant recipe, family meal, lasagna, lasagna recipe

Easy Fresh Fruit Compote Recipe

August 5, 2020

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.

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Filed Under: Desserts, Food, Recipes Tagged With: farm to fork, farmers market, french food, french recipes, fruit compote, fruit jam, seasonal recipes, stone fruit recipe, strawberry recipe

Roasted Plum, Goat Cheese & Lemon Thyme Salad Recipe

July 23, 2020

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…

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Filed Under: Entertaining, Food, Main Courses, Recipes, Starters Tagged With: french food, French lifestyle, french recipes, healthy recipes, plum recipe, plums, recipe, vegetarian recipe

Sparkling Rosemary Peach Piscine Cocktail

July 23, 2020

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…

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Filed Under: Drinks, Entertaining, Food, Recipes, Riviera Recipes Tagged With: cocktail recipe, french recipes, peach cocktail, rosemary, summer recipe

Les Petits Farcis Niçois (or Petits Farcis à la Provençale)

July 14, 2020

Petits Farcis Niçois

Step by step instructions to make my favorite French Riviera dish – Les Petits Farcis Nicois. Rich and hearty with fresh summer vegetables – a showstopper!

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Filed Under: Food, Main Courses, Recipes, Riviera Recipes Tagged With: french food, French lifestyle, french recipe, french recipes, petits farcis, petits farcis a la provencale, petits farcis nicois

La Soupe au Pistou

June 17, 2020

La Soupe au Pistou – Provençal Summer Soup Those who follow me know that I love my soups, regardless of the season. I love making a BIG pot and portion it out to eat for the rest of the week; I then freeze the leftovers. As a working mom with a baby on the way,…

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Filed Under: Food, Main Courses, Recipes, Riviera Recipes, Starters Tagged With: bean soup, french food, french recipes, french riviera, pistou soup, provence, soup recipe

French Salade Niçoise Recipe

May 22, 2020

Here is a simple, tasty French Salade Niçoise recipe. One of my all-time favorite salads that is full of protein and with lots of good veggies. Perfect for picnics or long lunches in the sun. It is a guilt-free lunch that represents the French Riviera. With each bite I can imagine myself back in Nice,…

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Filed Under: Food, Main Courses, Recipes, Riviera Recipes, Starters Tagged With: french food, french riviera, healthy recipes, nicois salad, recipes, salade nicoise, summer recipe

Easy Spring Asparagus Soup Recipe

May 1, 2020

Asparagus Soup

Easy spring asparagus soup recipe. Flavorful and rich, no cream needed. 4 main ingredients: Asparagus, potatoes, onion and garlic. Bon Appétit!

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Filed Under: Food, Main Courses, Recipes, Starters Tagged With: asparagus, asparagus recipe, Chef recommended, easy recipes, recipes, soup recipe

Baking Baguettes for beginners

April 20, 2020

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…

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Filed Under: Baking, Breads, Featured, Food, Recipes, Riviera Recipes, Starters Tagged With: baguette, baguette recipe, baguettes for beginners, baking at home, baking baguette, bread, easy baguette, french bread, french cooking, quarantine baking

French Easter Traditions

April 8, 2020

Ladurée Easter Egg

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…

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Filed Under: Dining, Entertaining, Family, Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: Chef life, cooking at home, Easter menu, Easter traditions, french Easter, French lifestyle, Pâques

Introducing Le Chef’s Baby Books – A children’s book series for foodies.

January 5, 2020

Le Chefs Baby peaches

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…

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Filed Under: Family, Le Chef's Baby, Recipes, Stories, Uncategorized Tagged With: author, baby books, Chef recommended, foodies, francophile, kids books, publishing

6 Tips for Hosting a Chic French Themed New Year’s Eve Party

December 31, 2019

Krug Champagne

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,…

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Filed Under: Entertaining, Family, Food, Lifestyle, Uncategorized Tagged With: champagne, dinner party, entertaining, french chic, french food, French lifestyle, french themed party, New Year's Eve

Romantic Day Date in DC

December 27, 2019

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…

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Filed Under: Family, Lifestyle, Uncategorized Tagged With: City Center DC, Date ideas, DC, francophile, French lifestyle, french restaurant, le diplomate, romance, washington

How to host a Bastille Day Celebration

July 7, 2019

Ladurée Bastille Day Pastry

La Fête de la Bastille – le 14 Juillet How to host a French Riviera-style Bastille Day celebration.  This year, Bastille Day falls on a Sunday so there is no better excuse to hang on to your red, white and blue decorations for a little longer and throw a French Riviera-style chic summer soirée! “Bastille…

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Filed Under: Entertaining, Food, Lifestyle, Uncategorized Tagged With: Bastille, Bastille Day, French lifestyle, French party, French picnic, french riviera

Fête de Fiançailles – Engagement Party

June 19, 2019

La Vie en Rose

My engagement party to Le Chef in the South of France and what I learnt about entertaining “à la Française”.

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Filed Under: Entertaining, Lifestyle, Stories, Travel

Prendre L’air

June 11, 2019

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.

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Filed Under: Family, Lifestyle, Travel Tagged With: french riviera

Easy French Crêpes Recipe

June 1, 2019

Crepes 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!

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Filed Under: Baking, Desserts, Family, Family Meals, Food, Recipes, Riviera Recipes Tagged With: brunch, crepes, easy recipes, french crepes, recipes

How we met – Notre Rencontre

March 27, 2018

Les Amoureux

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…

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Filed Under: Family, Featured, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Travel

Simple Provençal Tomato Soup with Goat Cheese Tartines

March 28, 2021

Few things are as comforting as a rich tomato soup on a rainy day. This Simple Provençal Tomato Soup with Goat Cheese Tartines is a family favorite and gives a South of France spin to the American Classic. Adding basil pesto (or fresh basil if it is in season) to the soup at the last…

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Filed Under: Recipes, Starters Tagged With: comfort food, goat cheese, soup, soup recipe, tartine, tomato soup

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a Romantic French Menu

February 13, 2021

Valentine's Day Menu

Are you cooking at home for Valentine’s Day? As a Chef’s wife I have gotten used to not celebrating Valentine’s Day on the actual day. Instead, Le Chef and I enjoy cooking a romantic meal together at home the day before or after Valentine’s. We plan ahead for a restaurant-worthy meal that will feel special….

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Filed Under: Entertaining, Family, Food, Lifestyle Tagged With: Date ideas, date night, french menu, menu, romantic menu, three course menu, valentine's day

How to cook Filet Mignon like a Chef

February 12, 2021

Medium rare steak

Filet Mignon et Purée de Pomme de Terre : Filet Mignon and Mashed Potatoes It is hard to go wrong with a Filet Mignon Steak. One of the most tender cuts of steak and when cooked properly at home feels very luxurious. Le Chef and I enjoy serving steak at home because, like with the…

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Filed Under: Family Meals, Food, Main Courses, Recipes Tagged With: chefs tips, filet mignon, french food, steak dinner

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Le Chef's Wife

Bonjour! My name is Anina Belle. I am a Canadian/American working mom who went on a study exchange to the South of France in my early twenties and fell in love with a French Chef. We were married in Nice and now live in Washington, DC with our toddler daughter with another baby on the way! Our time in France gave me a deep appreciation for French food and the French joie de vivre. Read More

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lechefswife

lechefswife
« Pocher » as in « Asperges vertes pochées, « Pocher » as in « Asperges vertes pochées, accompagnées d’une petite vinaigrette au Champagne et citron » or « poached asparagus with a Champagne Citrus Vinaigrette »that I will be cooking for Saturday’s cooking demonstration with @afwashington_dc . There is still time to register (link in bio), participation is only $5 and all proceeds go to Alliance Française. Who is joining me? #cookingdemonstration #cookingclass #frenchcooking #frenchwords
A question for all you Mamas - at what age did you A question for all you Mamas - at what age did you move your babies to their own rooms? Our pediatrician suggested 9 months old, but I would give anything for a full night’s sleep at this point... #4monthsleepregression #stillregressing #motherhood #sotired
Super simple recipe for oven baked Branzino with s Super simple recipe for oven baked Branzino with sauce Vierge is now up on le blog (link in bio). 25 minutes total for a delicious, light meal with flavors of the French Riviera 🇫🇷💙🍋. Bon Appétit mes amis. #branzino #loupdemer #ovenbaked #mediterraneandiet #frenchriviera
The Poached Asparagus with a Champagne Citrus Vina The Poached Asparagus with a Champagne Citrus Vinaigrette recipe @lechefsebastien and I created for @edible_dc last year is up on the blog. If you are joining us for the cooking demonstration with @afwashington_dc , we will be opening with this dish! I am so in love with these photos by the talented @thejenchase 💙 Link in bio #springrecipes #asparagus #frenchcooking #foodiefriday #francophile
Want to learn to cook this menu? I am hosting a vi Want to learn to cook this menu? I am hosting a virtual French Riviera Spring themed cooking demonstration, Saturday April 17th, 3pm. Registration is $5, all benefits go to @afwashington_dc . Reservation link is in their bio. @lechefsebastien will, very gratefully, be lending me a hand. ❤️Who is ready for a taste of the South of France ? 🇫🇷 🍋 🥖 🥂 #cookingclass #frenchriviera #frenchcooking #cookinginfrench #francophile #frenchfood
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