Venez avec moi: Monet’s Giverny

July 26th, 2013

chef morgan GIverny

I am often asked for recommendations of what to do and where to eat while in France. When I am asked about day trips outside Paris my first suggestion is always the same: go to Monet’s home in Giverny. It is an easy train ride to a magical place that is beyond peaceful and beautiful. It was restored to it’s prior appearance (designed and planned by the artist himself). A visit to Monet’s Giverny is like stepping into one of the artist’s paintings. Until you can get there in person, let me take you there via post. Venez avec moi à Monet’s Giverny (La Maison de Claude Monet en Giverny).  Read the rest of this entry »

home for Valentine’s Day

January 29th, 2013

 

black and white, girl in wedding dress with artichoke bouquet

 

home for Valentine’s Day;
cooking for the important person or people in your life:

“ la blanquette d’amour”

 

In honor of  Saint Valentine’s Day (a little early), I share something with you beyond a great recipe, the words of author Leo Tolstoy. It is Tolstoy’s “pursuit of life” which inspired this week’s simple pleasure: la blanquette de veau (veal stew in a white wine-crème fraîche sauce with mushrooms, pearl onions, and artichoke hearts served on garlic-rubbed toasted French bread). I also call it “blanquette d’amour” because cooking is all about what you put in the cocotte, namely, a little love with hand-chosen ingredients. Read on.

 

 black and white, girl in wedding dress with artichoke bouquet

  

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la blanquette de veau

January 29th, 2013

la blanquette de veau (veal stew in a white wine-crème fraîche sauce with mushrooms, pearl onions, and artichoke hearts on garlic-rubbed toasted French Bread)

la blanquette de veau


(veal stew in a white wine-crème fraîche sauce with mushrooms, pearl onions,
and artichoke hearts on garlic-rubbed toasted French Bread) 

 (a/k/a “la blanquette d’amour” for Valentine’s Day 2013)

 

 

serves 4-6

preparation time: 10 minutes
oven time: 1 hour
stove time: 30 minutes

what you need:

veal
2 pounds veal shoulder (or beef or chicken breast), cut into 1 ½ -2″ cubes (fat discarded)
all-purpose flour (as needed)
kosher salt (as needed)
freshly ground black pepper (as needed)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter Read the rest of this entry »

fingerling potato gratin dauphinoise with sunchokes and artichokes

April 21st, 2011

fingerling potato gratin dauphinoise with sunchokes and artichokes

stats:

yield: makes  1  10” gratin pie

what you need:

1 1/2 pound fingerling potatoes (i.e., Peruvian, French fingerlings, Rose Finn, Red Thumb), thinly sliced
1/2 pound sunchokes, peeled and thinly sliced
3 large beautiful artichoke hearts, steamed, cooled, and thinly sliced rondelle
olive oil (as needed)

grapeseed oil (as needed)|
4 garlic cloves, smashed and minced
2 shallots, thinly sliced
1/8 cup dry white wine
1 bouquet garni (fresh sage, fresh thyme sprigs, 1 bay leaf, and Italian parsley)
2 cups heavy cream
freshly ground black pepper (as needed)
kosher salt (as needed)

2 ounces grated parmesan cheese
5 ounces grated Gruyère cheese Read the rest of this entry »

Spring vegetable and flower savory tart with goat cheese

March 3rd, 2011

Spring vegetable and flower savory tart with goat cheese

spring vegetable and flower savory tart with goat cheese

 

makes 4 tarts (4” by 4”)

what you need:

pastry

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, defrosted and cut into 4 squares (4 by 4 inches)
2 ounces young goat cheese
1 egg, mixed

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