Annecy is not unknown to me as I used to live there for more than a year after getting my first job nearby. Annecy is a beautiful city and it is easy to get caught up in the beauty of the old town, the canals, and the famous lake. Yet, just a few minutes away lies Annecy-le-Vieux, a quieter neighborhood with plenty of charm and some excellent dining options. During our last trip to France, we stopped for lunch at Le Clocher, a restaurant that perfectly combines history, tradition, and modern French cuisine. Located in…
One of the things I always love about traveling through France is that every region manages to embrace specialties from somewhere else. During our time in Grenoble, we stopped for lunch at Crêperie Grand Maman, a cozy spot dedicated to one of France's greatest comfort foods: crêpes and galettes. If you've ever ordered a savory crêpe in Brittany, you'll know that it is actually called a galette. Unlike sweet crêpes, galettes are made with buckwheat flour, giving…
During our trip to Grenoble in 2024, we discovered a restaurant that perfectly captures the spirit of traditional French dining: Le Bouillon des Archers. While bouillons have become trendy again in recent years, they are actually deeply rooted in French culinary history. The concept dates back to the 19th century when Parisian butcher Adolphe-Baptiste Duval opened restaurants serving affordable, hearty meals made from cuts of meat that were not sold in his butcher shop. The idea was simple:…
Listen to the last episode: A discussion with Vincent Todarello aka Johnny Prime Carnivore Connoisseur, foodie and meat expert.
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President Cheese sent me a Brie to come up with a recipe and of course baked Brie is what comes immediately to mind. I mean Brie with a good bread is fine, but I often get Brie bites or baked Brie in restaurants, so, why not make my own? It is an easy recipe that will make for a great appetizer and takes less than 30 minutes to make.
A while back, I published a recipe of vegetarian chili, made with tofu. Since then, I discovered a meatless product at Trader Joe’s (I am not paid for this nor was I asked by this company to promote their product!) that really looks like ground beef and has the same texture, but is made with soy.
Ratatouille is a Provencal dish that originated in Nice, in the South of France. Needless to say that this dish became popular after the Disney movie of the same name and it is now not uncommon to see it on menus in New York. Comforting, this is the kind of dish where every family has its own recipe. Some cook the vegetables separately. others together. Even the way the vegetables are cut can differ, some preferring them grossly cut and others, like myself, small. Know that it has to cook for a long time and you will surely get a fantastic smell in your apartment.
When I was a kid, the only soufflé I knew was the cheese soufflé that my Mom was making. We never heard about sweet soufflés and it is only much later in my life that variations on soufflés started to appear, like the cauliflower soufflé we made one time with my sister. Then I discovered chocolate soufflés, and one time, banana soufflés. The latter is fantastic; well, if you like bananas! So, the recipe below is my take on a recipe I learned at the Institute of Culinary Education few years ago.
I love ramen and New York is a perfect city to try different ones, having so many places proposing that delicious Japanese dish. And my favorite moment to eat that soup is now, as I like it hot and was never really impressed by cold versions of it. This recipe requires a bit of work, but it is worth it!
I discovered S'Mores in this country, this treat not being known at all in France. Even roasting marshmallows, that we call chamallows, is pretty uncommon there. So, I decided to make my own version of a S'Mores pie, layering a Graham cracker crust, a fudgy brownie and some torched marshmallow. An easy recipe that will satisfy adults and kids!
I discovered olive oil cake a couple of years ago, eating in an Italian restaurant. Since then, I never hesitate to order it for dessert, often preferring it to the popular tiramisu. And in fact the best olive cake I ate, that inspires this recipe, was at Maialino. So, I decided to make my own: an easy recipe for a succulent cake...
This is a simple recipe for a dish that is very comforting: meatballs with orzo (that we call in French langues d'oiseaux or birds' tongues because of their shape).
I remember that when I was a kid, I used to see TV series or movies where people were making pancakes, wondering what it was, as we did not have that in France. In all cases, I would definitely not say that crepes are like pancakes and it makes me cringe when I hear people comparing the two as they are totally different!
Anyway, here is the way I make pancakes at home.
I love BAO, these steamed buns of all sorts of shapes that you can find in Chinese restaurants. I love it so much that I was curious to know how to make it and decided to try myself. I made two versions: pork belly for me and tofu for Jodi (not entirely vegetarian as it contains fish sauce). It is not that this recipe is complicated, but it takes some time.
During our trip to Florence, we had some amazing Tuscan white bean soup. This recipe is inspired from it. Enjoy (I did)! and bon appétit!
Bugnes are some sort of beignets that are popular in Central-Eastern France, the most known being the bugnes de Lyon. There are two sorts: the soft and the crunchy, the difference between the two being the presence of yeast (soft) or not (crunchy). It is not difficult to make, but takes a bit of time as the dough has to rise.
I love paella and tried to recreate my own version, made with meat and seafood and cooked for long enough so the rice gets very soft and flavorful. In this recipe, I have replaced the saffron by turmeric, to give to the rice this nice yellow color, saffron being expensive. Here is the recipe:
Check out this recipe to make some delicious butternut squash ravioli with taleggio cream. In this recipe you will learn how to make homemade pasta! Yum!
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A few weeks ago, during our stay in Grenoble, we stopped at Le Beaulieu for lunch. The menu offered a nice selection of salads and classic French desserts, making it an easy choice for a relaxed midday meal. Before even looking at the food menu, Jodi already knew what she wanted to drink. She ordered an Orangina, a beverage she absolutely loves and never misses when traveling to France. There is something about that iconic orange-flavored drink that immediately says "vacation in France" to her. Then,…