Although the warm sunny days of summer are behind us, delicious summery salads can continue late into the fall. Jam-packed with layered flavors and textures, my twist on the classic Salade niçoise trades cannellini beans for eggs and skips artichokes, anchovies, and olives for a lighter texture, letting summery heirloom tomatoes, string beans, radicchio, lettuce, […]
Hard to believe last Tuesday was the first day of Spring, with some parts of the country still getting pounded by record snowstorms. While I’m anxious for the arrival of warm spring days, I fully intend to savor the last of the cold weather with the help of a few more pots of soup. With […]
Who doesn’t love cheese? I’ve had great cheeses from all over, but my favorites tend to be French. I love creamy camembert, nutty salty hard aged Mimolette, and the deep savory earthiness of blue veined brie. For us there was a bit of a learning curve, an acquiring of taste to really enjoy strongly flavored […]
Over the last several months I have been rigorously testing some cookware from legendary French maker Mauviel, and it has totally changed the way I cook. From searing meats to simmering velvety sauces or baking perfectly golden desserts, nothing cooks like copper. Even a thick steak won’t chill a hot copper skillet, and perfectly even […]
Local foods, and particularly street foods, connect us deeply with the places we live. Often consisting of humble ingredients and prepared in an efficient manner, they straddle a line between convenience and fine dining, often relying on a powerful punch of flavor from a key ingredient or special condiment for authenticity, and delivered in an […]
Spring has arrived at last, the trees are full of leaves again and the days are getting longer. Local farmer’s markets are just starting up again and though its still early in the season, the first summer vegetables are starting to appear. Deep red tomatoes, golden yellow squash, dark green zucchini, and violet eggplant are […]
Nestled at the heart of the Burgundy region lies the ancient city of Dijon, capital of Côte-d’Or. Settled in the neolithic period, to the Romans it was known as Divio (sacred fountain); today it is a city of 150,000 and known internationally for the distinctive style of mustard which originated there. From the 11th century […]
The widow Mathilde-Emilie Perrier first launched Ultra Brut in 1889, the same year that the Eiffel Tower was completed. For nearly a century Laurent-Perrier was renowned for its ‘Grand Vin Sans Sucre’ or unsweetened wine; champagne in its purest, most natural form. Then in 1981, Bernard de Nonancourt reintroduced Ultra Brut in 1981 made with […]
The delightfully balanced and elegant Brut NV is the signature House Champagne of Laurent-Perrier. Designated non-vintage because it contains grapes from more than one single harvest, this Champagne has been expertly blended from several excellent vintages, each lending unique characteristics. Containing 50% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier and comprising more than 55 individual […]
Fresh, vibrant, crunchy radishes with a generous scoop of fresh butter and a sprinkle of crunchy sea salt accompanied by fresh baguette is a simple, classic French summer dish. Stop in at Le Café Français on 3 Place de la Bastille (4th arrondissement) in Paris order this as a light lunch with a chilled glass […]
A Cook's Canvas 