Author Archives: Meg

Omelette soufflée

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Meg

Is it an omelet? Is it a soufflé? It’s both! Although more like an airy omelet that rises and browns delightfully in the oven to make a perfect brunch dish. This specialty of Alsace is generally served sweetened with powdered … Continue reading →

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Cordon bleu

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Meg

In these stay-at-home days, comfort food beckons. And this dish of chicken, ham and melted cheese answers the call. It’s fun to make — the whole family can take part. Chicken breasts are butterflied (sliced almost in two horizontally), filled … Continue reading →

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Gâteau basque

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Meg

This subtle and elegant cream-filled cake is hard to find outside the French Basque country — an incentive to make it yourself. Even in Paris, it’s rare to come across a pastry shop proposing gâteau basque, which is surprising because … Continue reading →

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Coques au satay

Posted on February 28, 2020 by Meg

This dynamite French-Asian fusion dish of cockles in satay sauce is the creation of John O’Shea, a young British chef at the Paris bistro JJ, which happily for me is located in my building. The menu changes twice a day, … Continue reading →

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Fondue savoyarde

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Meg

What’s not to like about cheese fondue? Over here it evokes memories of ski vacations in the French Alps, where after a day on the slopes it is enjoyed in cozy chalets before a crackling wood fire. But of course … Continue reading →

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Salade de haricots rouges aux noix

Posted on January 31, 2020 by Meg

I first tasted this knock-your-socks-off red-bean-and-walnut salad in Moscow in 1984. Russia was still part of the Soviet Union, and young people from other parts of the empire still flocked to the capital to study or work. A friend introduced … Continue reading →

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Daube de boeuf

Posted on January 17, 2020 by Meg

The French tend to rave about daube de boeuf, a flavorful beef stew from Provence, without it being clear exactly why. Like Proust’s madeleine, this dish must evoke memories of childhood. And indeed, daube harks back to a simpler time, … Continue reading →

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Chou-fleur sauce Mornay

Posted on January 3, 2020 by Meg

Hello and happy new year! After all the celebrating, this light but satisying dish of cauliflower in a velvety cheese sauce will hopefully help you get 2020 off to a good start. Don’t be put off by the fancy name … Continue reading →

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Galette des rois

Posted on December 21, 2019 by Meg

One of the charming traditions of France is the annual gathering of friends and family in early January to share the cake known as galette des rois, or kings cake — frangipane-filled puff pastry with a dried bean or token … Continue reading →

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Langouste beurre blanc Noilly

Posted on December 6, 2019 by Meg

Lobster is a rare treat in Paris, largely because of the price. At my local farmers market the other day, they were selling small live lobsters for 30 euros a piece — far more than you would pay in other … Continue reading →

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