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 …

Similar to Marseille’s bouillabaisse, Zarzuela from Catalan is hard to pin into a category it’s either a hearty soup or a stew with a tasty broth. And with both soup/stews, there are endless different recipes. The following recipe for Zarzuela Fish Stew comes from Emma Kershaw’s Taste of le Sud …

Where’s the beef, you ask? It’s cleverly wrapped like a little holiday gift for your table! I often think of Beef Wellington as a holiday dish but, really, it’s perfect for any special occasion. Including, my birthday which is in August! Now a French chef might put you through your …

There is no question that my heart is equally split between France and Italy, which is why I run small-group Goût et Voyage tours in both Provence and Tuscany. The scenery is similar, yet architectural and cultural differences make travel in both locations pure joy. However, when it comes to …

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 honestly hard to know what all the fuss is about. Once your tastebuds have made the connection between the earthy aroma and the intense flavour, you begin to comprehend why chefs refer to these fungi as “black diamonds,” …

A slow-cooked meat stew, Grillade Saint-Gilloise, might be the perfect winter recipe. A hearty meat dish, this recipe typically includes beef or bull (taureau) chuck, onions, anchovy fillets, and capers. Sometimes called agrillade, aigriade, in Arles broufade, in Provencal broufado.  The key to this recipe is the long marinating time. …

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 …

What’s for dinner? It is a question I have asked myself daily for the past 400 days. Yes, I have cooked every meal since mid-March 2020 at home. No restaurants, no take-out, nothing. But, if you know me, you know I rather enjoyed it, especially these cumin-roasted pork chops. In …