Something about a succulent roasted farmhouse chicken pleases my whole family. Cooking chicken in a cocotte is a traditional French method. The French word cocotte denotes a covered casserole usually made from clay, but a Dutch oven works well for this recipe. Here is the original Simple French Cooking recipe …

Growing up, the beginning of winter was marked by the first pot au feu appearing on our table. My mother’s version is more traditional and typical of what you would find in most homes. It is made with different cuts of beef that are slowly simmered together. The vegetables are …

What is a daube? It’s a slow-cooked beef stew served in Southern France, especially Provence. When I look at daube recipes and compare them to other beef stew recipes or bœuf bourguignon, there are a lot of similarities, but daube has a lighter body, more like a soup. For me, …

This recipe for Cremoso de Mote is my soft wheat berry risotto variation. It is a dish that we ate twice while visiting Easter Island in 2019. Soft wheat berries (trigo mote) are cooked risotto-style, then sautéed vegetables are added. I didn’t get an exact recipe from the chef, but …

When the sun sets early on cold days, nothing is quite like the inviting aroma of Sisteron braised lamb simmered in the oven. Orange and fennel combine with the meat for a warm, zesty flavour. In Provence, lamb from Sisteron in the Alpes de Haute Provence is considered some of …

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 …

La daube provençale – A provençal specialty with beef (or other meats) that you may try during your French immersion program with me in Provence Hello everyone. Today I’m talking to you about one of the most typical dishes of Provence. Here, everyone knows this specialty. That doesn’t mean everyone …

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 …

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 …

Today’s recipe is inspired by a meal I had years ago in Italy’s wine country – Montalcino. However, it could just as easily appear on a menu in Provence, where grapes are grown locally, and meatballs (boulettes de viande) are popular. The Italian dish, Polpettine con le Uve, not only …