Zazie
My friend Agnes and I met for breakfast at Zazie in the Cole Valley neighborhood of San Francsico. I really like the bohemian-style atmosphere of the place. The staff was very friendly, too. It was...
View ArticleThe Monk’s Kettle
For my husband’s birthday, I took him to The Monk’s Kettle in San Francisco. My husband is a beer fan and I had heard about this new restaurant that pairs beer and local, seasonal foods. When we...
View ArticleLe Jardin du Quai
I was very fortunate on my last trip to Provence to discover Le Jardin du Quai in the lovely village of Isle-sur-la-Sorge. The restaurant itself is in an old restored mansion across from the train...
View ArticlePatisserie Jouvaud
This patisserie in the town of Carpentras in Provence is a fantastic discovery. On my last trip, I had the pleasure to meet Pierre Jouvaud who is actively involved in managing this third-generation...
View ArticleFabulous French Wines from Chateauneuf du Pape
I just received my new shipment of wines from Cave de Verges des Papes in Chateauneuf du Pape. I tasted all of these wines when I was at my friend’s cave back in February. They are superb and I...
View ArticleLe Rove
This small, round, white goat’s milk cheese is named after the Rove breed of goats, believed to be one of the oldest breeds of goats in France. It is sold when it is only 2-3 days old. It is prized...
View ArticleLa Grande Epicerie au Bon Marche
This upscale gourmet shop in Paris is definitely worth a browse. Here you will find a huge array of fresh vegetables and fruits, olive oils, cheeses, meats, seafood, condiments, wines, spices,...
View ArticleRue Cler
Rue Cler is perhaps my favorite Market Street in Paris. It has a food market everyday and the street has wonderful cheese shops, charcuteries, butcher shops, olive oil shops, restaurants, bars,...
View ArticleMarche Raspail
Marche Raspail is a wonderful open air food market in the 6th Arrondissement that is open three times a week. This marketplace is filled with produce vendors, charcuterie stands, eggs, salts, meats,...
View ArticleFauchon
If you love fine upscale food that is exquisitely packaged, you won’t want to miss Fauchon. They have wonderful preserves and jams, mustards, teas, coffees, chocolates and wines. They ship worldwide,...
View ArticleCaramelized Root Vegetables
Ingredients 1/3 cup olive oil 10 sprigs English thyme 4 cups assorted root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips and turnips, cut into 1/2″ pieces 1 T. balsamic vinegar Sea salt to taste You will also...
View ArticleMashed Yukon Gold Potatoes with Roasted Chestnuts
This is one of my favorite dishes for the holidays. The roasted chestnuts add a little sweetness and a unique flavor to these already delicious mashed potatoes. I also add caramelized onions or...
View ArticlePotatoes Au Gratin with Truffles
Ingredients 2 T unsalted butter ¾ cup (175ml) whipping cream 2 T chopped truffles 2 lbs (1 kg) yellow waxy potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced ½ lb (250g) onions, thinly sliced Sea salt and pepper, to...
View ArticlePotato Gratin
Ingredients 3 pounds potatoes (You can use russets or a yellow waxy potato, such as Yukon Gold). 1 quart whole milk Freshly grated nutmeg Sea salt to taste 2 T butter 1 c heavy cream 2 c freshly grated...
View ArticleMashed Yukon Gold Potatoes with Mushrooms and Braised Leeks
This is one of my favorite side dishes. I have always loved soft, braised leeks, and they are plentiful right now in our Bay Area farmers markets. They are a perfect addition to mashed Yukon gold...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Vegetables with Fennel Flowers
Fennel flowers have a very pleasant spicy, licorice flavor. I harvested some from my garden to use with a pork tenderloin roast and vegetables. The flowers make a gorgeous garnish to serve with the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Potato Pancakes with Stewed Apples
Potato pancakes seem especially good on a cold, rainy day. These are made with yellow Finn potatoes, but Yukon Gold or russets will work fine. The key is to ring out the excess water that is in the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Rosemary-Scented Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Potatoes, Spring Onions and...
This is a meal in a baking dish. It is very easy to prepare and really delicious. The sweet and savory combination is perfect for a rustic summertime lunch or dinner. This dish pairs well with a...
View Article