Tag Archives: French

Two Days in France

 

Well, not exactly but the next best thing. Denise of Chez spent the past weekend cooking, eating and tasting wine at Tante Marie .

I took a French Food and Wine Course over the weekend – which I highly recommend. The school is small, intimate and very professional with a casual and laid back feeling all rolled into one fantastic program. Mary Risley, the founder of Tante Marie is very personable and welcoming – as if we all just came to her home! Everyone taking the course was interesting (from all over the country as well as Bay Area) and we all enjoyed the same passion – COOKING and FOOD! The instructors, Jessica Lasky (food) and Shelley Lindgren (wine) are knowledgeable, fun and very personable. I can not say enough pleasant things about my experience – I will definitely go back!

We spent the entire weekend learning about the different regions of France with regards to food and wine as well as getting our hands dirty in the kitchen. We made everything from Pepper Gougeres (can you say super YUM), Salade Lyonnaise, Classic Bouillabaise, Beef Daube, Duck Cassoulet, Quail with Grapes, Celeryroot and Endive Salade, Fig Clafouti, Crepe Suzette, and the list goes on and one!

We tasted and drank wines from Champagne, Alace, Bordeaux, the Rhone and may other wonderful areas in France.

I wish I could give you all a nibble; but, I can’t. You can entice your taste buds here!

This is simply a wonderful way to spend a weekend!

We are so lucky to have great friends



The Purple Box does to me, what the Blue Box does for most women I know!

Our friends E & W just got back from Paris …. when they asked what we wanted all I could think of was a new copy of my beloved Plan de Paris par Arrondissement and French Macaroons.

Much to our surprise we got just that as well as extract goodies! Let me just say this … Salted Caramel, is to die for! Not to mention we were able to relive our holiday thru their memories!

When is the next plane leaving??!!!

Tomato and Olive Tart



I was pretty excited when I went to the grocery store today and saw two of my favorite summer time items: figs (and lots of them) and dry-farmed tomatoes! So tonight I was inspired to make this recipe that I saw in Food & wine. I did tweak it somewhat to give it my own personal flare & I must say, it was FANTASTIC! It will become a regular veggie dish our in our home! L. loved it as well, even though, he did say “it would be nice spicy!”

Goat Cheese and Tomato Baguette



One of my favorite meals when it is just me, is a nice glass of wine, some outstanding cheese & a nice baguette! We have a tendency to eat this way very often when we are in France but do not do it at home as a couple – Why, I ask myself?

L. is still out of town …. and maybe I was just missing him and our last trip to Paris; but, the two got me thinking and I whipped this up for dinner. A nice baguette with warm goat cheese & sliced tomatoes, I sprinkled some minced lavender over the top which added a very refreshing taste to this dish – bursting with flavor with the heirlooms and herbs! I also had an excellent glass of Malbec! Bon Appetite!

The Three Macarons





Labors of Love …….
Verbena with a basil buttercream filling

Lavender with a honey buttercream filling
Hibiscus with a strawberry rhubarb filling

Coq au Vin




It has been a long week, tonight we started with Tanqueray Tonics, which we never do especially during the week! The weather has been so gloomy, we wanted to pretend it was 90 outside and not cold & foggy! Then we moved to a nice meal of comfort food – my made up version of a french classic ~ Coq au Vin with a roasted Barley & Shallot dish. I served it with a wonderful 2005 Cotes du Rhone I found at Bi Rite Market (by the way, they have a wonderful wine collection & very reasonable).