As I stand in my Chicago kitchen, the aroma of sizzling butter and fragrant herbs transports me back to my childhood summers in Brittany. There, nestled in a quaint coastal town, I first encountered the magnificent Lobster Thermidor. This classic French dish, born in the heart of Paris in 1894, marries the opulence of succulent … Lire plus
A Sweet New Year’s Tradition: JP’s Vasilopita Cake As the clock strikes midnight and fireworks illuminate the sky, my mind always drifts back to my grandmother’s kitchen in New Orleans. The aroma of butter, citrus, and warm spices filled the air as she lovingly prepared our family’s New Year’s tradition – a golden, fragrant Vasilopita … Lire plus
As I stand in my Chicago kitchen, the aroma of sizzling beef and truffles transports me back to my childhood in Paris. My father, a celebrated chef, would prepare Tournedos Rossini for special occasions, and the memory of that first bite still lingers. This luxurious dish, named after the famous composer Gioachino Rossini, is the … Lire plus
The aroma of simmering beef and vegetables wafts through my kitchen, transporting me back to my childhood in New Orleans. My French father, a classically trained chef, would spend hours crafting his version of pot-au-feu, a rustic French stew that became the inspiration for my Beef Stew with Vegetables. This hearty dish marries the soul-warming … Lire plus
The aroma of caramelized sugar and citrus zest wafts through the kitchen, transporting me back to my childhood in New Orleans. My father, a French chef, would prepare Canard à l’Orange for special occasions, filling our home with the intoxicating scent of this classic dish. Today, I’m excited to share my take on this timeless … Lire plus
The Story Behind Eggplant Caviar (Caviar d’Aubergine) As a young chef in Paris, I vividly remember the first time I encountered caviar d’aubergine. It was a sweltering summer evening, and I had been invited to a colleague’s rooftop gathering. As the sun dipped below the Parisian skyline, a rustic earthenware bowl appeared, filled with a … Lire plus
As I stand in my Chicago kitchen, the aroma of simmering lamb and spring vegetables transports me back to my childhood in New Orleans, where my French father would prepare Navarin d’Agneau every Easter. This classic French lamb stew, with its roots in pastoral traditions, has evolved into a celebration of seasonal bounty. Today, I’m … Lire plus
As I stood in my Chicago kitchen, the aroma of caramelizing onions transported me back to my childhood in New Orleans. My French father, a chef, would spend hours perfecting his Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée, a dish that’s both humble and luxurious. Today, I’m excited to share my take on this classic French Onion Soup … Lire plus
The Story Behind Salmon Gravlax with Dill As I stand in my Chicago kitchen, the aroma of fresh dill transports me back to my childhood summers in Provence. My father, a French chef with a penchant for Nordic cuisine, would prepare Salmon Gravlax for our family picnics by the lavender fields. The memory of that … Lire plus
The aroma of herbs and slow-cooked meat wafting through my childhood home in New Orleans still transports me back to Sunday afternoons spent in the kitchen with my French father. As he carefully layered meats and aromatics into an earthenware terrine, he’d regale me with tales of his apprenticeship in Lyon, where he first learned … Lire plus