French (European) crayfish tastes exactly the same as Louisiana crayfish. The only difference is that the American ones are easier to peal (their shell is much softer) and they are red once they are cooked when ours are kind of a dark orange.
My dad likes them boiled then chilled and dipped in mayo. I like them hot and spicaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
Mimi from Chef Mimi Blog came to spend a short holiday in My French Heaven with her lovely daughter Emma. We had only 4 days together so I wanted to design the perfect itinerary for them. So much to see, so much to taste and so much to share… Four farmers’ markets and 8 meals together. We focused on cheese and seafood as they are Emma’s favorites.
I call days I spend touring Bordeaux and cooking with my guests: Foodie Days. A few weeks back, Nancy and Emerson spent two Foodie Days with me. One was centered around local history; the other one, on Sunday, was all about food. That Sunday, I picked the couple at their hotel in Bordeaux and we headed for my home town of Libourne to go to the farmers’ market. We picked-up some seafood, artichokes, lots of cheese and lots of cakes and then went to my favorite bakery to get fresh bread. The bread just came out of the oven and was so hot I could barely hold it…
Besides the oyster and the best wines and Champagne we could find, the menu included rillettes, patés, kilos and kilos of the most amazing beef, my very own gratin Dauphinois, then the cheese, tarte tatin (apple pie) and a chocolate cake we’d made with Belgium chocolate and salted butter from Guérande
This is a call for help my friends. I love old enamel dishes and I have NONE. They would be the perfect props to display French dishes and fresh produce. I have looked for them in every antique store and brocante I could think of and have always come back empty handed. I think the…
When we cook for others, we simply show we care. I believe that the thing people want most in this world is to know for sure that they matter… that at least one other person genuinely cares about them. Kind people who actually give a shit about others are ALWAYS significant and remembered
Cured duck breast – Wine tours in Bordeaux – Food and photography workshops – Food photography – Food and lifestyle photography
There is a blue fog in our vineyards, a soft yet heavy halo that I was never able to find nor feel anywhere else. And when I walk from the vineyard to the river on cold Winter dawns, the fog brings me peace.
I was about to post around 4pm this afternoon (3.5 hours ago) about canola oil. But then I started to search the net for more information and kept on reading until now. The end result is TMI! Too much information. In addition, several readers added comments that really opened my eyes on the pros and…
In France, scallops are fished in the “English” channel from October through May. It is considered an absolute delicacy and is often part of Christmas or New Year’s dinner menus. I prepare them in many different ways,
First let me apologize for the splash of color today. It is quite loud and quite out of character for My French Heaven. Spring is here and with it the sun, the birds and the primroses on my lawn. I just feel happy and couldn’t resist… I also wanted to share with you the incredible…
Strange title I know. Let me explain: I have 6 nephews and nieces as well as 8 grand nephews and nieces. Well, I had 8 that is, because a ninth was born this past week in Japan. Her mom and dad named her Violette; and yes, you guessed it, her big sister’s name is Madeleine….
This is so easy, fast (super fast), juicy and so delicious; and like with my salmon tartare or my olive chicken, this is one of those dishes that everyone loves! I’ve been cooking this for dinner parties for as long as I can remember. Actually, I must confess that I often make this dish just…
This was supposed to be a short post, but then, as usual, it turned into a novel. I do apologize and please excuse the poor grammar :0) Some people have the wonderful ability to be able to throw dinner parties at the very last minute and make them a great success. THIS IS NOT MY…
There is nothing I love more than roasted/baked chicken! Great lobster doesn’t even come close for me. But please note that there is an absolute must for this dish to be as delicious as it should be: the quality of the produce. Your chicken must be free range and corn-fed! An easy way to know…
(En Français plus bas) Between my house in town and the river Dordogne, lies a beautiful stretch of countryside with woods, meadows and swamps. I take my daily walks there. On my way, I have to go through a hamlet called Condat. In the middle ages, there was a grand castle in Condat. It was…
I have been using Instagram for almost a year now. I am mad about it… I thought I’d share some of my favorite picture posts as a way to recap 2013 here in my French heaven. So, from Bordeaux to the Dordogne and from my kitchen to the Farmers’ market, here is my French heaven…
(En Français plus bas) This is such a simple “recipe”, that I will only need one sentence to tell it to you. So we have a little room here to go over what REAL Camembert is. In 1790, a law is adopted by the republicans, placing the French catholic church under government control. A few…
MY FRENCH HEAVEN 