Vive La France! The country that brought us Parisienne bistro classics and lesser-known regional dishes from the sunny Provençe through Spanish-influenced Basque and the Germanic Alsace. Here are some of my favourite French recipes.
Tarte Flambee (Flammekueche) This traditional flatbread from Alsace is very similar to pizza. My Alsatian friend Isabelle, who serves it whenever friends gather at her house for drinks, doesn’t use a written recipe – but this one was inspired by watching her make it. It’s best to get everything prepared ahead of time, in fact […]
Chicken & Mushroom Crepes Serve these delicious chicken and mushroom crepes as a main course with a herb salad (I like butter lettuce and chervil) or individually as a starter. The filling can be made the day before, as can the batter or even the crepes, which makes this an easy dish to assemble and […]
There’s nothing like bubbles to get everyone in a party mood. While Champagne is the traditional fizz of choice, sparkling wines from other French regions, Italy, Australia and New Zealand can also do the job – often at a fraction of the cost – especially in these five popular cocktails. Keep the snacks French by […]
Warm Duck & Orange Salad I started out wanting to make duck a l’orange, but it was too hot to have the oven on for long, so my recipe morphed into this warm salad, which is just as delicious! Duck breasts are surprisingly easy to cook, or pick some up from a Chinese barbecue shop. […]
Goat Cheese & Chive Omelette I love this versatile goat cheese and chive omelette as it makes a simple and delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner. Goat cheese and chives are my go to, but you can use almost any cheese and any herbs, or skip the cheese and just stir some herbs through the egg […]
Orange Pots de Crème Isn’t nature clever, making citrus fruit abundant in winter when we need its vitamin C most? These easy custard pots are a great way to use excess oranges; the recipe is inspired by one from Stephanie Alexander’s Cooks Companion using mandarins. Tahbilk Cane Cut Marsanne is a fabulous wine match for […]
Strawberries in Cointreau So simple, it’s hardly a recipe at all, strawberries in Cointreau is my go-to dish when I want a super-quick delicious finish to a meal. It’s perfect for a night in for two, and just as easily multiplied for a casual dinner party. In summer, when it’s easier to get full-flavoured strawberries, […]
Chocolate Mousse Three Ways Chocolate mousse has never gone out of fashion because it simply tastes so good (and is so easy to make). For something a bit different, I developed this two-tone version, but use this recipe to make just one colour if you prefer. If serving the white chocolate mousse on its own, […]
Crepes Suzette For a touch of indulgence, try the classic – but very easy – French dessert crêpes Suzette. Microplane graters have virtually replaced old-fashioned citrus zesters, but I prefer long thin strips of orange zest in my crêpes Suzette sauce; zesting the oranges over the pan means you collect all the aromatic oil from […]
Apple & Almond Pies These simple apple and almond pies looks impressive because of the plaited pastry (a trick I learnt years ago from an Australian Women’s Weekly cookbook), but are quick and easy and can be assembled up to a day ahead. Butter puff pastry makes a big difference to the flavour and mouth-feel; […]
