The aroma of caramelized sugar and citrus zest wafts through the kitchen, transporting me back to my childhood in New Orleans. My father, a French chef, would prepare Canard à l’Orange for special occasions, filling our home with the intoxicating scent of this classic dish. Today, I’m excited to share my take on this timeless … Lire plus
The Story Behind Eggplant Caviar (Caviar d’Aubergine) As a young chef in Paris, I vividly remember the first time I encountered caviar d’aubergine. It was a sweltering summer evening, and I had been invited to a colleague’s rooftop gathering. As the sun dipped below the Parisian skyline, a rustic earthenware bowl appeared, filled with a … Lire plus
As I stand in my Chicago kitchen, the aroma of simmering lamb and spring vegetables transports me back to my childhood in New Orleans, where my French father would prepare Navarin d’Agneau every Easter. This classic French lamb stew, with its roots in pastoral traditions, has evolved into a celebration of seasonal bounty. Today, I’m … Lire plus
As I stood in my Chicago kitchen, the aroma of caramelizing onions transported me back to my childhood in New Orleans. My French father, a chef, would spend hours perfecting his Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée, a dish that’s both humble and luxurious. Today, I’m excited to share my take on this classic French Onion Soup … Lire plus
The Story Behind Salmon Gravlax with Dill As I stand in my Chicago kitchen, the aroma of fresh dill transports me back to my childhood summers in Provence. My father, a French chef with a penchant for Nordic cuisine, would prepare Salmon Gravlax for our family picnics by the lavender fields. The memory of that … Lire plus
The aroma of herbs and slow-cooked meat wafting through my childhood home in New Orleans still transports me back to Sunday afternoons spent in the kitchen with my French father. As he carefully layered meats and aromatics into an earthenware terrine, he’d regale me with tales of his apprenticeship in Lyon, where he first learned … Lire plus
The aroma of simmering pork and fragrant herbs wafts through my kitchen, instantly transporting me back to my childhood summers in Burgundy. As I prepare Jambon Persillé, or Parsleyed Ham Terrine, I’m reminded of lazy Sunday lunches at my grandmother’s farmhouse, where this rustic delicacy always graced the table. This traditional Burgundian dish, dating back … Lire plus
As I stood in my grandmother’s kitchen in New Orleans, the rich aroma of simmering beef and vegetables filled the air. It was a chilly autumn evening, and Mémé was teaching me the art of pot-au-feu, a dish that bridged our French heritage with our American home. The steam rising from the pot carried with … Lire plus
As I stood in my Chicago kitchen, the aroma of garlic and saffron transported me back to a sun-drenched afternoon in Marseille. It was there, in a tiny seaside bistro, that I first tasted bourride – a Provençal fish stew that would forever change my approach to seafood. This humble yet luxurious dish, with its … Lire plus
The aroma of bubbling cream and garlic wafts through the kitchen, transporting me back to my childhood summers in the French countryside. As I slice into the golden crust of my Gratin Dauphinois, revealing layers of perfectly tender potatoes, I’m reminded why this dish has been a cornerstone of French cuisine for centuries. Today, I’m … Lire plus