Audrey

Next weekend, Marc and I will be in Paris! We’re staying only two days in the big city before heading home to Brittany for a week and then to London, England, for another week. And even though two days sounds very short for a stay in the French Capital, we’re determined to have ourselves a great Parisian food adventure. For any foodie, getting ready for a trip to Paris can be both exciting and overwhelming. The city’s food scene is one of the most iconic in the world (if not …

In France, Easter classically calls for the “Gigot d’Agneau” (leg of lamb), accompanied by roasted potatoes and an assortment of seasonal vegetables (such as a Jardinière de légumes, Vichy Carrots or Haricots Verts). But lesser known (even to most French people) is the traditional Easter Beef, a regional speciality served in the southern Massif Central of France.

With the arrival of an early Spring, I’m getting excited about asparagus! And for me, freshly crisp asparagus calls for a Sauce Gribiche. A great classic of French Cuisine, the Gribiche is a flavorsome mayonnaise-style sauce packed with capers, cornichons and fresh herbs. And while still today an utter classic, it is one of those concoctions that’s still hard to put a label on … Is it a sauce? A mayonnaise? A dip? A condiment? A relish? I like to think it can be any of them! (I mean, is …

We’re one week away from Easter weekend and I know a lot of us are getting excited about brunch! In France, Easter brunch habitually involves a freshly-baked brioche on the table, like a buttery Fallue in Normandie or the anise-flavoured Caccavellu in Corsica. But this year, I wanted to bring back a yesteryear recipe known in French as a “Pascade”. This wonderful French-style Dutch Baby Pancake (which in France falls under the “crepes” category) is generously puffy and versatile, and ideal as a last-minute brunch idea.

Although French baking is kind of my playground, I enjoy taking on a challenge once in a while. And this week, I decided it was time for me to tackle the infamous Chez Panisse Almond Caramel Tart.

They say Marseille is a city you either love, or hate. And for me, it was love at first sight. I fell hard for Marseille the first time I visited the city two years ago. And I have been bizarrely obsessed with it since then. Which, being a Brittany girl, was a bit against all odds – given how our two regions’ cultures, mentalities and lifestyles are so opposite (both on the French map and abstractly too). But somehow, for the past two years, there isn’t a day I haven’t …

Slightly tart, with a crisp crust and an intensely-flavoured filling, a lemon pie is one of the French’s most favourite desserts. Any bakery in France will have a “Tarte au Citron” to offer (with or without a meringue topping – although it seems French cooks tend to stay away from the fluffy-sugary topping lately).

Known in French as “Crêpes Vonnassiennes” or “Crêpes Parmentières”, these fluffy little Potato Pancakes are actually properly known as “Crêpes” and are a delicious specialty hailing from Vonnas, in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region of France. 

With Valentine’s Day coming up (actually, tomorrow), I am jumping on the occasion to share with you my new baking love – this Buttermilk Chocolate Fondant Cake! True to a Classic French Chocolate Fondant, this one is indulgent and intensely chocolatey. But the addition of tangy buttermilk cuts through the richness and makes it just a little bit more tender and moist. I have baked a lot of French Chocolate Fondant cakes in my life (some melty, some gooey, some firm), and this one has to be one of my …

Who knew that dark chocolate and honey mustard were a match made in heaven? The addition of honey mustard to this dark chocolate tart (in both the crust and the filling) brings out the sweetness of it all, in a very surprising, but elegant way. Best of all, it’s truly addictive!