The Kir Royale Cocktail is chic and refreshing. My favorite cocktail, made with champagne and crème de cassis, as seen on the latest season of Emily in Paris. Most French Café menus feature this delicious cocktail, it is a favorite for an afterwork apéro (cocktail hour) with friends. I personally love to welcome guests to […]
Soup Sunday Challenge
Eating better, one pot of homemade soup per week at a time. Join me for year two of the Soup Sunday Challenge! You were hundreds to sign up and use the hashtag #soupsundaychallenge to share your weekly soups. "I LOVED the Soup Sunday Challenge! I looked forward to your live cooking demonstrations every week - […]
French Holiday Recipes
French Holiday Recipes to cook between Christmas and New Years. Looking for some inspiration for your holiday menu? Over the years I have written lots of recipes for Christmas eve and Christmas Day but what about that delicious expanse of time that is between Christmas Day and New Years? The one week in the year […]
Christmas Capon
This Christmas Capon Recipe is our holiday favorite. The Capon is tender and juicy and oh so flavorful, sprinkled with Herbes de Provence. Its size is impressive and perfect for feeding 8 guests. Served with a luxurious mushroom, white wine and cream sauce, the Christmas Capon is decadent and deliciously festive - perfect for the […]
Classic Beef Bourguignon
This Beef Bourguignon, or "Boeuf Bourguignon" dish is one of the grand classics of French Cuisine, for good reason. Tender chunks of braised beef that melt in your mouth. A rich, winey sauce that envelops the beef and the supple vegetables. A dish you can't resist saying "yum" after just one bite - just like […]
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 […]
Quick Easy French Baguettes (Baking Baguettes for Beginners)
This is the best quick, easy French Baguette recipe ever! Want to learn how to make the most beautiful, crusty French Baguettes even if you are a complete beginner at baking? This French Baguette recipe will immediately add a "je ne sais quoi" to your meal. The perfect accompaniement to a French cheese board or […]
French Cuisine Gift Box
I am so thrilled to introduce you to our French Cuisine Gift Box. The perfect gift for the Francophile Foodie. A collaboration between myself & Best French Forever, to bring a taste of Provence home. The French Cuisine Box is a curated selection of beautifully handcrafted, made in Provence items to enjoy in the kitchen. […]
Easy Hazelnut Brittle
This easy hazelnut brittle is a holiday favorite. A rich buttered caramel with the crunch of lightly toasted hazelnuts, this brittle is amazing on its own or as a decoration for your favorite desserts. I love to put this brittle in little sachets to give to neighbors and friends over the holidays or else use […]
The Best French Dark Chocolate Ganache
This recipe is for the best French dark chocolate Ganache you have ever tried. The surprising part? It is incredibly simple to make. The ganache is rich, not too sweet, and decadently unctuous. This recipe does not call for sugar. The cream and the chocolate make the ganache so velvety and smooth, no sugar is […]
Easy Roasted Duck Magret with Apples and Squash
This Duck Magret with apples and squash recipe tastes like Fall and is perfect for a dinner party. The duck breast is seared to perfection, tender and juicy. The sautéed apples and delicata squash melt in your mouth and bring a just the right level of sweetness to the dish. The combination of flavors will […]
The best Tomatoes Provençale Recipe
This Tomatoes Provençale recipe is incredible. Melt in your mouth, velvety tomatoes with a vibrant pesto, made from scratch. Even out-of-season tomatoes are rendered sublime with this recipe. The best part? No one would ever know they are vegan! You can make all of your friends happy with this festive Thanksgiving or holiday side dish […]
Lemon Thyme French Roast Chicken (Poulet Rôti)
This Lemon and Thyme French Roast Chicken Recipe (Poulet Rôti au thym et citron) with Roasted Garlic is one of our family's favorite dishes. The meat is juicy and tender with the delicate perfume from the lemons, garlic and thyme. The skin is crispy and flavorful. Simply exquisite as well as super easy to make! […]
Coq au Vin made simple
Coq au Vin sounds fancy but the dish can actually be made rather simply. The chicken is seared, then braised in a rich red wine sauce with bacon, mushrooms and beautiful pearl onions that infuses it with so much flavor, you will say, "mmmmm" with every bite. Elevated to a French Culinary superstar recipe by […]
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 […]
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 […]
25 Easy French Summer Dishes
Here are 25 Easy French Summer Dishes you can make at home. The dishes are light and colorful, filled with the flavors of the season. Whether you are celebrating Bastille Day with a Bastille day dinner party or simply want to journey to France for a light lunch, you will find all the French summer […]
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 […]
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 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
The authentic French Salade Niçoise recipe from the city of Nice, France made with tuna, hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, radishes, capers, olives & artichokes. One of my all-time favorite salads that is full of protein and with lots of fresh vegetables. It is simple to make yet impressive to serve and is perfect for picnics […]
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 […]
Tips for cooking with young kids
Cooking with your kids can be so much fun and a great way to keep them occupied while learning essential life skills. One of the most frequent requests I get on my instagram is for tips for cooking with young kids. If you are a frequent reader of this blog you know that our family […]
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 […]
Easy 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 […]
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 will love this healthy Ratatouille soup with homemade pesto that is chock full of veggies! 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 […]
La Soupe de Mamie - Grandmother's Vegetable Soup
La Soupe de Mamie (Grandmother in French) is one of the most comforting dishes ever. One bite and I am transported to her kitchen in Toulon, in the South of France. Fresh, seasonal vegetables from the market, blended with just a pinch of salt. The true flavor of the vegetables is elevated and you get […]
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 […]
Best Moelleux au Chocolat - Marry Me Chocolate Lava Cake
Also known as "Marry Me Chocolate Cake". A rich lava flow of dark chocolate is the best way to say "I love you". The absolute best Moelleux au chocolat recipe. Moelleux au chocolat is also known as a chocolate lava cake, fondant or as a mi-cuit au chocolat. This recipe, Le Chef's recipe, makes for […]
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 […]
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
Poule au Pot is the easiest way ever to cook a whole Chicken. It requires very little skill and it is nearly impossible to mess it up! The result is the most juicy, tender chicken meat that falls off the bone in a delicious, savory broth with big chunks of root vegetables that melt in […]
Magical Leek Soup
Magical Leek Soup is a delicious and healthy soup made with leeks. 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 […]
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 […]