Whether you are going to a Michelin star restaurant or at a friend’s house in France, you will most likely be served gougères to accompany your aperitif drinks (drinks served before a meal). Gougères are traditional cheese puffs made with either Emmenthal, Comté or Gruyère cheese. These little luxuries are perfect with champagne or wine (they are often served during wine-tastings) – and so chic … Continue reading Gougères (traditional cheese puffs)
Most French people in my entourage know how to make a good quiche Lorraine – this dish is as classic as a baguette and is part of the french culinary heritage. I did find out recently that it was originally German, but somehow turned French when cheese was added to the recipe in the Lorraine region. It’s the perfect light lunch to have, some sort … Continue reading Quiche Lorraine
Whenever I make pancakes, I always think of my favourite ‘pancake’ movie scene in ‘Something’s gotta give’ with Diane Keaton. She makes late-night pancakes in her smashing kitchen with Jack Nicholson, and it’s simply a perfect moment. So here’s my ‘Something’s gotta give’ pancake recipe. This is always a real treat and the kids love it when I stack the pancakes like a tower and … Continue reading ‘Something’s gotta give’ pancakes
I love to make this desert for my friends when they come and visit. It’s so pretty, extremely delicious and very impressive! I had it for the first time at St John Bread and Wine (94-96 Commercial Street London, E1 6LZ), an English bistrot style eatery in London with amazing food. I can still remember the first bite, and couldn’t wait to have one again. … Continue reading Eton Mess
On week-ends we love having galettes. Galette is another word for savoury pancake made with buckwheat flour and served with savoury garnishing. If you go to a market and order a pancake, you will often be asked galette or crêpe. A crêpe today is referred to as a pancake made of wheat flour and served with sweet garnishing such as sugar, jam, chocolate. There really … Continue reading Galettes
This Italian pear cake is so elegant in its simplicity. This is why it is my husband’s favourite cake. He is not really a ‘cake’ person, but this one makes him very happy, especially with a perfect cup of espresso. My aunt gave me this recipe and I am ever so grateful. Her husband was Italian and she always has a magic touch in the … Continue reading Italian pear cake
Ingredients: 1 whole farm chicken A few rosemary and thyme sprigs 1 lemon (cut in quarters) 1 bay leaf 4 garlic cloves (skin on) olive oil Sea salt and pepper For the gravy: All the juices from the roasting pan Half glass white wine 1 tbsp plain flour Salt & pepper I roast a chicken at least once a week. In France, I always buy … Continue reading Roast chicken with rosemary, lemon and thyme
450 g ground beef 300 g ground veal (or pork) 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 eggs 100 g freshly grated Romano cheese 6 g chopped Italian flat leaf parsley salt and ground black pepper to taste 90 g stale Italian bread, crumbled 100 ml lukewarm water olive oil (makes approx 18-20 meatballs depending on size) I have tried so many meatball recipes, and this one … Continue reading Frank Sinatra meatballs
Ingredients: (for 6) 500 grs minced beef 1 onion (sliced) 2 cloves garlic (crushed) 1 tsp chilli powder (or more if you like it extra hot) 1 tsp thyme 2 tsp paprika 1 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp ground pepper 4 tbsp tomato concentrate paste 1 bay leaf 1 cinnamon stick 3 tomatoes (chopped) 400 grs canned tomatoes ( I like the chopped ones) 400 grs … Continue reading Chilli con carne
The ‘salade Piémontaise’ (Piedmontese salad) sounds very Italian but is in fact a classic French bistrot recipe. I loved buying this salad at my favourite local deli in Paris called ‘Davoli’ (Rue Cler, 7ème). Their’s was excellent and we loved having saucisson sec sandwiches with baguette bread, butter and crunchy pickles. Ingredients: (serves 4) 2 large potatoes 1 large carrot 100 grams peas 1 tomato … Continue reading Salade Piémontaise
