1. BEEF BOURGUIGNON WITH BARLEY MISO
The French region of Burgundy is renowned for its wine, mustard and the distinguished Beef Bourguignon dish. This traditional French beef stew cooked in wine is as comforting as it gets and perfect for cosy Winter meals. Truthfully, the first time I tried Beef Bourguignon was when a foodie friend made it for my family. I couldn't believe how easy to make and delicious it was! Here, we have kept it simple and used the umami-packed flavours of barley miso to add depth and savour to this wonderfully rich and rustic dish.
2. COQ AU VIN WITH ROAST GRAPES
Any meat stew with a good dose of vino seems to result in a delicious recipe. Amongst those, Coq au Vin has won culinary acclaim and remains a firm favourite amongst the classic French repertoire. We’ve chosen to finish our Coq au Vin by roasting grapes over the chicken. The roast grapes add a lovely tart, sweetness to balance out the richness of the sauce as well as lending some of their sweet juices to the dish as they roast.
3. FRENCH ONION SOUP WITH MARMITE
From October to March, my mother would make soup for literally every single dinner without fail for as long as I can remember. Onion soup was not one of them, in fact, the first time I tried this delight was in a french restaurant in Cambridge! Très traditional! Found in many Parisian bistros, a well-executed, steamy French onion soup is truly a thing of beauty on a rainy day. A giant cheesy crouton unashamedly masquerading as a soup makes for a super hearty supper. We’ve added the salty and umami flavour of Marmite that is almost certainly treasonous to many a purist but really boosts the flavours and we think makes it taste even better!
4. POTATO GRATIN DAUPHINOIS WITH WALNUTS
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a traditional french restaurant that doesn’t have gratin dauphinoise on its menu. A potato gratin that comes from the French Alps where I grew up, it is delicious, easy to make and makes for a wonderful side dish to any meal. We have added to this otherwise traditional French recipe, another speciality of the region, walnuts. It adds a lovely nutty flavour to the tasty dish. A delight!
5. DUCK CONFIT WITH CARAWAY
The South-West region of France seems to know a thing or two about hearty food. It is one of my favourite parts of France, not just because of the food. Ok, maybe 90% because of the food. Few things feel quite as indulgent though as canard confit, which consists of duck legs cooked gently for hours bathed in duck fat. Drooling yet? We’ve opted to gently flavour our duck legs with caraway seed. It brings that gentle aniseed flavour that partners so well with duck whilst also adding a nutty, earthy savouriness. Accompanied by garlic and thyme, it’s a spell-binding combination.
6. TARTIFLETTE WITH TRUFFLE OIL
A proper comfort food dish, tartiflette is the best part of the ski season in France. Trust me, there is nothing better than digging into a hot cheese-heavy dish after a day spent outside in the cold. The mountain dish from Haute-Savoie is a wonderful mix of buttery potatoes, bacon and smelly Reblochon cheese. We’ve added some truffle oil which brings a subtle earthy aroma to the cheesy French winter staple.
7. GRILLED RATATOUILLE WITH HERB DRESSING
A wonderfully versatile dish from the South of France, Ratatouille is a celebration of exquisite Summer vegetables. Something I relished every year as my mum’s courgettes plants always over-delivered. In this variation to the classic Provençal vegetable stew, we have grilled the vegetables, giving a smoky charred flavour, and then combined them with a carrot and pepper sauce and herb dressing. A perfect summery incarnation of a classic.
8. QUICHE LORRAINE WITH CONFIT GARLIC
Whilst you’ll find Quiche Lorraine sold by the slice in bakeries all over France, the traditional tart hails from the North-East of France, in the Lorraine region. This easy french recipe is ready in no time and makes for a delicious make ahead lunch or picnic centrepiece. We’ve added a few sliced cloves of garlic confit to the party. The mellower, sweet garlic confit elevates this dish to an indulgent experience worthy of rivalling the very best quiches you’ve had.
9. SALADE NICOISE WITH WASABI & MISO TUNA
A classic Summer salad from, you guessed it, Nice, the Niçoise Salad makes for a healthy and tasty lunch. We have paired the flavours of Japan with the Mediterranean to breathe new life into the classic French Salad. Added wasabi brings zing to the dressing whilst miso and sesame add a nutty and sweet flavour to seared tuna. This refreshed salad will quickly become one of your summertime staples!
10. CHEESEBOARD CHEESE GOUGÈRES
Originating from Burgundy, Gougères are classic French appetisers of savoury baked choux pastry flavoured with cheese you’ll find served for most apéros in France. They are a wonderful way to use up the last odds and ends from your cheeseboard. These insanely moreish little balls of goodness are truly the perfect appetisers for your next get-together. When we serve them they are usually gone within minutes!
Comment