Recipes

Recipes | Savory Dishes

Spring lamb sweetbreads with cream and leeks

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Living need the Pyrenees, where sheep’s milk cheese is king, inevitably means spring lamb.  Ewes need to have lambs to continue producing milk, and the male lambs are of very little use on a dairy farm. Thus in the spring, when they are between 30 and 50 days old, the male lambs are culled from […]

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Living need the Pyrenees, where sheep’s milk cheese is king, inevitably means spring lamb.  Ewes need to have lambs to continue producing milk, and the male lambs are of very little use on a dairy farm. Thus in the spring, when they are between 30 and 50 days old, the male lambs are culled from

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Recipes | Vegetables

Asparagus!

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Green asparagus from Les Landes were in the market for the first time this spring, a true cause for celebration.  The area of Les Landes is just north of the Béarn, and is known for its sandy soil (and in 2022, for its terrible forest fires!) that is perfect for asparagus. Les Landes asparagus is

Asparagus! Read More »

[portfolio_slideshow]

Green asparagus from Les Landes were in the market for the first time this spring, a true cause for celebration.  The area of Les Landes is just north of the Béarn, and is known for its sandy soil (and in 2022, for its terrible forest fires!) that is perfect for asparagus. Les Landes asparagus is

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Recipes | Soups

First signs of Spring

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After the longest of winters, spring always arrives…it just seems to take a long, long time years! So the first spring vegetables to grace the market tables are always a cause for celebration.  Last Saturday, I found spring green garlic, which I snapped up, along with last of the season Jerusalem artichokes.  The two ended

First signs of Spring Read More »

[portfolio_slideshow]

After the longest of winters, spring always arrives…it just seems to take a long, long time years! So the first spring vegetables to grace the market tables are always a cause for celebration.  Last Saturday, I found spring green garlic, which I snapped up, along with last of the season Jerusalem artichokes.  The two ended

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Recipes | Savory Dishes

Gratin of green chard

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Late winter-early spring is a lean time at the farmer’s market (wow, hearing myself say that, it is hard to believe that it is already turning toward spring!).  The last of the fall harvest – winter squashes, pears, apples, onions, garlic – are getting old and a little rough looking.  Spring veggies are still just

Gratin of green chard Read More »

[portfolio_slideshow]

Late winter-early spring is a lean time at the farmer’s market (wow, hearing myself say that, it is hard to believe that it is already turning toward spring!).  The last of the fall harvest – winter squashes, pears, apples, onions, garlic – are getting old and a little rough looking.  Spring veggies are still just

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Breads | Recipes

Buttermilk biscuits à la Café Septième

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This recipe came from my friend Richmond Tracy who was head baker at legendary Seattle Café Septième, now long departed.  The original location in Belltown was a tiny hole in the wall with three south-facing tables outside, where you could sit, back against the whitewashed wall, soaked in the morning sun and enjoy a big

Buttermilk biscuits à la Café Septième Read More »

[portfolio_slideshow]

This recipe came from my friend Richmond Tracy who was head baker at legendary Seattle Café Septième, now long departed.  The original location in Belltown was a tiny hole in the wall with three south-facing tables outside, where you could sit, back against the whitewashed wall, soaked in the morning sun and enjoy a big

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Recipes | Savory Dishes

Confit de canard – preserved duck legs

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Confit de canard, or preserved duck, is an indispensable dish of southwestern France and a warm, comforting dish on a cold winter evening. Its origin lies in the culture of duck farming that has shaped the entire region, from the Pays Basque in far southwest, north to Gascony and east to the area around Toulouse.

Confit de canard – preserved duck legs Read More »

[portfolio_slideshow]

Confit de canard, or preserved duck, is an indispensable dish of southwestern France and a warm, comforting dish on a cold winter evening. Its origin lies in the culture of duck farming that has shaped the entire region, from the Pays Basque in far southwest, north to Gascony and east to the area around Toulouse.

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Savory Dishes

Pigeon cooked two ways, roasted breast and legs simmered with red wine

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A pigeon purchased from a butcher in les Halles de Pau was the inspiration for this spring meal. This bird caught my eye because of its robust size (the butcher described it as assez pour deux, basically meaning it is a monster!) and because of its absolute freshness. Note that, when a bird still has

Pigeon cooked two ways, roasted breast and legs simmered with red wine Read More »

[portfolio_slideshow]

A pigeon purchased from a butcher in les Halles de Pau was the inspiration for this spring meal. This bird caught my eye because of its robust size (the butcher described it as assez pour deux, basically meaning it is a monster!) and because of its absolute freshness. Note that, when a bird still has

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Cafe Presse | Recipes

Bringing back the Salmis

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The February Chef’s Dinner at Cafe Presse is all about sparkling wine from the French countryside. Although many people think of sparkling wine for a toast, it can often be a struggle to find a place for bubbles during the actual meal.  With that in mind, I wanted to design a menu that highlights all

Bringing back the Salmis Read More »

[portfolio_slideshow]

The February Chef’s Dinner at Cafe Presse is all about sparkling wine from the French countryside. Although many people think of sparkling wine for a toast, it can often be a struggle to find a place for bubbles during the actual meal.  With that in mind, I wanted to design a menu that highlights all

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Salads

Local asparagus with Dijon cream, chives and crispy jambon

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This simple but delicious dish is featured on the Spring 2018 at Café Presse, but only as long as the local aspargus is in season.  Washington State asparagus is so good, why eat anything else? Warming the blanched asparagus with olive oil  before serving brings out its rich, herby flavor.

Local asparagus with Dijon cream, chives and crispy jambon Read More »

[portfolio_slideshow]

This simple but delicious dish is featured on the Spring 2018 at Café Presse, but only as long as the local aspargus is in season.  Washington State asparagus is so good, why eat anything else? Warming the blanched asparagus with olive oil  before serving brings out its rich, herby flavor.

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Desserts and Sweets

U Pastizza

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This classic dessert from the island of Corsica is basically a rustic crème caramel thickened with a bit of fine semolina flour.  While doing recipe research, I discovered versions that used day old bread or even cous-cous  for the thickener. I think that this version works the best. U Pastizza pairs very well with fresh

U Pastizza Read More »

[portfolio_slideshow]

This classic dessert from the island of Corsica is basically a rustic crème caramel thickened with a bit of fine semolina flour.  While doing recipe research, I discovered versions that used day old bread or even cous-cous  for the thickener. I think that this version works the best. U Pastizza pairs very well with fresh

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