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    Home » Recipes » Food

    Published: Jun 30, 2019 · Modified: Aug 24, 2020 by Anina Belle Giannini

    Weekend Breakfast Ritual à la Française

    Le Petit-Déjeuner

    Promenade des Anglais
    Promenade des Anglais

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    Weekend breakfasts while living on the French Riviera were one my favorite little luxuries. We would often enjoy a weekend breakfast ritual à la Française. Le Chef and I would take our dog,  Heidi, for a long walk along The Promenade des Anglais and then sit down on a terrace to enjoy a frothy cappuccino, a basket of viennoiseries and flip through the Nice-Matin and L’Equipe papers while people watching along the seaside. 

    Petit Déjeuner
    Very frothy Cappucino in France

    Starting a weekend off with a leisurely breakfast is such a treat now because we rarely have time for breakfast during the week. Between getting ready for work, dropping off our toddler at daycare and walking the dog, “breakfast” is often an apple eaten at my desk.

    While there is no Promenade des Anglais in the Washington DC Area, (quel dommage!) Le Chef and I have found ways to mix our French Riviera tradition into our American lives.

    Weekend Breakfast Ritual

    Going out:

    Petit Déjeuner
    Coloring books and café au lait

    Bébé wakes us up early and within a  few moments we are already out the door. We walk slowly up the hill from where we live to our neighborhood Le Pain Quotidien . It is a good 20 minutes walk and we talk as we go. We are often the first on the patio. Coloring books have replaced newspapers and we order our cappuccinos as we peruse the menu and Heidi rests under our chair. A basket of croissants or a Dragon fruit smoothie bowl (yes, Le Chef makes superfood choices too!) and we delight in seeing our toddler color and play at the table.

    Le Pain Quotidien
    Le Pain Quotidien Clarendon

    For parents, LPQ has a great toddler menu that Valentina really enjoys. They put multiple small dishes together in healthy combinations for bébé at a small price, which we appreciate.

    Staying in:

    When the weather is not optimal or Valentina is napping, we try to create the Café terrace experience at home.

    All it requires is a little preparation - it is all about the “mise-en-place”. Prepare your breakfast and put everything you need on a tray (cutlery, napkins, everything!)  Popping up and down for forgotten items is a surefire way to break the peace you receive in a restaurant. Then go to your favorite spot in the house with soft ambient light. It doesn’t have to be the kitchen or the dining room - it could be the balcony, the living room or even back to bed for a laid back lounge feel to your breakfast.

    An example of a French Café Breakfast tray:

    Viennoiseries
    Panier de viennoiseries
    • baguette or croissants if you have them; if not hot buttered toast works well too
    • 1 jar of your favorite jam ( I love Bonne Maman Peach or Apricot jam)
    • A large pat of butter 
    • a pot of coffee/tea
    • a small bowl of cut up fruit
    • glass of juice (orange, grapefruit or whatever you choose!) 
    petit déjeuner
    Petit Déjeuner

    C’est tout! Keep it simple, you will appreciate it so much more. Place everything out and allow yourself a good half hour of down time. Turn on soft music, put away your phone and enjoy your weekend breakfast ritual à la Française.

    Au plaisir,

    Le Chef's Wife

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    Bonjour. If you are looking for French Recipes, made simple, you are in the right place! I translate the fancy cooking of my French Chef husband into easy-to-follow recipes that busy people with no culinary training, like me, can cook. From French Baguettes to French Riviera classic recipes, I invite you to learn French cooking with me.

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