Audrey

Summer inevitably calls for Tapenade in France. This Provencal dark purple spread is a staple condiment made from black olives and capers that you’ll find at any market around the country. It is scrumptiously salty, and widely enjoyed as an appetizer often spread on crackers or crostini. It is so delicious, very moreish, and can also be used in many other applications: it makes a wonderful condiment to bring amazing flavors to any entrée (rub it on fish, poultry or roasts). I also love to use it in sandwiches. It …

If you are a crêpe lover like me and always look for different ways to enjoy them throughout the seasons, this recipe is a great one to add to your arsenal. This Summer-perfect dessert includes a luscious homemade Blueberry Balsamic Sauce poured on a big scoop of ice-cream and a few Classic French Crêpes underneath.  The marriage of the warm, tangy, sweet Blueberry Balsamic Sauce (made with White Balsamic Vinegar) with the smooth, cold vanilla ice cream is a match made in heaven. The tender, soft crêpes bring another level …

If you don’t know it, the French Pistou is a Provençal sauce made from cloves of garlic, fresh basil, olive oil (and Parmesan, occasionally). It is quite similar to Ligurian pesto, but it omits pine nuts, which makes it most affordable and lets the basil really shine. It is creamy and so fragrant, and has nothing to envy from its Italian counterpart. Only 4 ingredients, 10 minutes, and incredible flavors… this French Pistou sauce is a must to have in your French repertoire. Traditionally, Pistou sauce is used to garnish …

If you’re attending a barbecue or outdoor get-together in the thick of Summer in France, there’s a good chance you’ll stumble on these Provence-Style Tomatoes topped with Breadcrumbs and Herbs. Known as “Tomates à la Provençale”, this typical warm-weather dish from Provence calls for fresh, seasonal tomatoes slowly confit’d on the stove-top (meaning they’re slowly cooked in their own juice). The confit tomatoes are then finished off in the oven topped with breadcrumbs, garlic and Herbes de Provence, and cooked until crisp and golden. Like most rustic French recipes, it …

If you’ve ever gone grocery shopping in France and stumbled on our French  “Taboulé”, you may have raised an eyebrow… Yes, what the French call “Taboulé” is more of a loose-adaptation from the authentic Levantine “Tabbouleh” made of bulgur and a bounty of herbs – but trust me, it’s just as delicious.   Instead of bulgur, the French Taboulé is made with couscous that is often cooked in chicken stock for extra flavour, and studded with diced vegetables and raisins. It also uses less mint and other herbs which gives …

Out of the numerous little bites that came out of my kitchen so far this year, these have to be in my top 3. Inspired from Mediterranean cuisine where eggplant holds a prominent role, these Eggplant Slices with Goat Cheese and Walnuts are as simple to make as they are delicious. A great, delicious recipe to celebrate this late-Summer, plum purple vegetable. An appetizer, a salad topping or a side dish. This is a simple and versatile eggplant recipe, that can be on the table in less than 30 minutes. …

Floral, zesty, buttery. These Lavender Sablé Cookies are the perfect little Summer treat. They are very popular in Provence, in the South of France, a region known for its abundance of lavender fields and lavender-forward cooking repertoire. But first, if you’re unaware, Sablés are the king of French cookies. Their name refers to their sandy (sablé) texture, which is achieved by a fair amount of butter. I like to think of them as the French’s answer to shortbread, only a bit thinner and richer in taste. They come in so …

Tada! Here is the cover of my upcoming cookbook: Rustic French Cooking Made Easy.  I hope you like it! My opinion might definitely be a bit biased, but I love this cover – even more, as I know how much work went into designing it and taking the photos. It took a lot of deliberation to pick which font, colors, textures and photos were going to make it on the cover. Thankfully, my editor along with the designers and the publishing team at Page Street Publishing were a huge help. …

“Clafoutis” (pronounced kla-foo-tee) is one of those funny French words that makes a dish sound so fancy, while it’s actually so simple to make. Some fresh seasonal cherries and a few basic baking ingredients (flour, sugar, eggs and milk) is all you need to create this utterly delicious dessert in your own kitchen. So if you’ve never tried to make a Cherry Clafoutis at home before, stay with me – you’ll be amazed how easy it is to prepare it!

Summer is here, and what better way to make do with an abundance of Summer vegetables than with a layered vegetable Tian? This traditional dish from Provence alternates slices of tomatoes, zucchini, and eggplants to create a colorful, veggie-focused dish. In my take on this beloved French recipe, the Tian gets encased in a buttery shortcrust that is spiked with dried herbs and olive oil. This makes for a vibrant Summer dish that showcases seasonal vegetables in a perfect way, and that’s as pretty as it is tasty!