Playing around with this recipe for paella (Arroz con Pollo) took me years to perfect. Paella is a Spanish dish from the Valencian Community but is often found in Provencal markets. The exact ingredients are up to the chef, but this version was inspired by Jacques Pépin’s Arroz con Pollo, …

The brining process makes these roast chicken legs extra succulent, and the zesty lemon and herbes de Provence sauce elevate the flavour. The citrusy notes from the lemon harmonize seamlessly with the aromatic herbs, infusing the chicken with a burst of freshness and complexity. The symphony of flavours transforms this …

Qunice, or coing in French, is a lemon-yellow coloured fruit that looks like a lumpy pear. Although it is a genetic relative to apples and pears, the only way to eat quince is to cook it.  One popular preparation is membrillo (pate de coing), a dense, sweet, sliceable paste often …

This recipe for Roast Chicken in a Mustard Sauce is quite honestly the definition of simple French cooking, there are only three (3) ingredients, and it takes under a minute to prepare the marinade. The idea for the recipe comes from the late Lydia Marshall’s book A Passion for My …

Poulet au Vinaigre, or chicken in vinegar, is a classic French preparation that you will find braising in homes as readily in restaurants. At the onset, it sounds kind of overpowering and maybe even unappetizing. Chicken in vinegar? Rarely do we think of vinegar as an ingredient other than maybe …

Apparently, when Alice B. Toklas went on a picnic, she did not fool around. I say “apparently” because I can find no evidence that today’s recipe was either taken on a picnic by Toklas or is actually her recipe. I have an uncredited magazine clipping — most likely from the …

Why does Mark get this 15 minutes of fame? Because even though it’s my birthday dinner, today’s recipe — his “Chicken Marccata” recipe — takes but 15 minutes to make and less time to eat, if you like it as much as I do. Yes, Mark can cook and could …

If you have never tried a dish with fresh black truffles, it’s hard to know what all the fuss is about. Once your tastebuds have connected the earthy aroma and the intense flavour, you begin to comprehend why chefs refer to these fungi as “black diamonds,” among other labels. To …

Once again, I am playing with a recipe from The NY Times. They had a roast chicken recipe that I liked… well, sort of. Honestly, it sounded like a mess on a plate, and I really like to present things with great eye appeal and great flavour. Well, that and …

The other day I got a text from my friend, Jill, that our local store had gooseberries, and did I want any? What a silly question! Of course, I wanted some gooseberries. Within seconds I was dreaming of the gooseberry-almond cake from my days in Heidelberg, Germany. When Jill arrived …