Panisse, like polenta, is easy to make. The difference is chickpea flour instead of cornmeal. However, the culinary debate about whether panisse is a culinary creation of Marseille or Nice continues without resolution. Is the authentic version of panisse found at a snack bar on the beach in l’Estaque, where …

Dishes such as ratatouille, pan bagnat, panisse, soup au pistou, and salade Niçoise appear on menus throughout the South of France. Many cooks have time-tested variations on these recipes, which may be delicious, but don’t quite follow the Cuisine Nissarde traditions. Although ratatouille is known around the globe, the authentic …

Before I moved to France,  I had never seen a fresh fig. The only figs I knew were in that classic American cookie – Fig Newtons. Although, admittedly, it’s a pretty good choice in the grocery store cookie aisle. Discovering Figs When I moved to the south of France with …

Among Nice’s many attractions are its Mediterranean location and the fresh seafood. Octopus (la pouple) is one ingredient that often features in Niçoise dishes. La pouple à la Niçoise was a favourite of the local fisherman mentioned by Tobias Smollett in 1762. However, the recipe has likely evolved since that …

Clafoutis is a traditional Provencal dessert that is easy to prepare. Made with eggs and just a little almond flour, it is not quite flan or cake, but it is delicious when apricots are in season. I often create the recipe (below) for Stone Fruit Clafoutis with students in my …

Once again, I was awakened by a dream about food. This one, though, was even more specific than the one for Bistecca con Crema di Porcini. This dream was about a dessert and included all the parts of the recipe — the crust, the fruit layer, and the custard. I …

The problem with growing zucchini in your kitchen garden (potager) is that it often ripens all at the same time. When my garden produces more zucchini than I can possibly consume, the problem is what to do with the bounty. Thankfully I remembered trouchia, a favourite dish from Nice, France, …

Meeting that special someone on the French Riviera while studying in the South of France certainly sounds like a movie script base for Netflix series. Yet, that is precisely how it happened for Anina Belle and Sébastien Giannini. They met in Nice while she was on a university exchange program …

While panisse and socca include chickpea flour and water, the preparation and cooking for these typical Niçoise recipes are different. Like polenta, panisse starts with a dough cooked until it is thick. Then the dough is rolled or shaped and fried in a hot pan. Panisse is served hot and …

As you have probably gathered, I love French food and enjoy the simple formula associated with most recipes – fresh, seasonal and delicious. This recipe for Roasted Peppers stuffed with Goat Cheese is no exception. It is a simple dish with all the classic flavours of Provence hidden in the …