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…
Entertaining
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…
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…
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…
The 5 best healthy French summer salad recipes
A trip to your local farmer’s market will show you – in North America everything is in season right now! Tomatoes are fragrant and juicy. Cucumbers are crisp and sweet. Peppers are crunchy and tangy. It is the best time of year to make salads – truly any single ingredient drizzled with a little olive…
Le Grand Aïoli, made simple
Le Grand Aïoli. This classic dish is everything I love about summer dining in the South of France. A sophisticated take on a dipping platter with summer vegetables, seafood and a delicious homemade garlicky mayonnaise. Each individual ingredient shines beautifully and the presentation is artful yet casual. Perfect for a luxurious picnic or a long…
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…
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…
