French
Happy Hour: 2004 Château Clarke Listrac-Médoc
Although one normally thinks of pairing a burger or hot dog with an ice cold beer, when grilling other meats, like tri tip, chicken, or pork, don't be afraid to pour wine. When selecting a wine, take into consideration the meat's type of sauce (is it spicy, sweet, herby, etc.?) or seasoning.
I recently enjoyed this 2004 red Bordeaux ($27), by Château Clarke, with grilled boneless pork ribs.
Yummy Links: From Roast Chicken Lunches to Cinnamon Rolls
- Make five well-balanced bag lunches out of one roasted chicken. — Chow
- Watch Stephan Colbert eat New York City's most expensive dishes. — Eat Me Daily
- Should adult diners be allowed to wear bibs?
Go French With Savory Crepe Ratatouille
After making a scrumptious ratatouille sandwich, I couldn't get the tasty French dish out of my mind. This time, I opted to serve the cooked vegetables in a more traditional way: in a classic French crepe. Considering the prep work, ratatouille is a time-consuming dish, but once the veggies are cooking it's pretty fast and effortless.
Fab Read: Entre Nous, A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl
OK, I think I have finally found the book of my dreams: Entre Nouse: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl ($12) by Debra Ollivier. It's a must-have for any non-French woman (present) who seeks that je ne sais quois that French women possess (present). The author herself is American but is married to a Frenchman, and insists that you too can attain the glamor and mysteriousness of the French with the help of her insider tips and must-dos.
Definition: Ganache
Ganache
A chocolate sauce made from a mixture of chocolate and cream, ganache may be used to fill a pastry, add a glossy glaze to a cake, or form the center of a traditional chocolate truffle. Ganache is typically created by pouring heated cream over chopped dark chocolate, then blending until smooth, although it may also be enhanced with liqueurs or extracts. Cream-to-chocolate ratios vary depending on the application; less cream results in a firmer ganache.
Home Away From Home: le 33
Whenever I feel overwhelmed by my urban life, I like to daydream about living in a country village — perhaps in France. Well, I may not be able to live that dream full-time, but thanks to the beautiful bed and breakfast le 33, located in the tiny village of south Picardie, I may be able to visit it sometime.
Operated by Florence Michon, le 33 provides elegant lodging for visitors to the region.
Must-Read: The Balthazar Cookbook
Even for those of us who don't live in New York, it's hard to ignore the accolades of Balthazar, Keith McNally's world-famous SoHo brasserie that's been perennially packed since it opened over a decade ago.
New Yorkers may think it's still hard to book a rez, but those of us on the West Coast really can't snag a seat for brunch. That's why I was psyched to get my hands on a copy of The Balthazar Cookbook ($24.75).
Etsy Find: French Blue Chandelier
I don't normally think of Etsy as the go-to place for chandeliers. But, having found this French Blue Chandelier ($58) treasure, I think I'll reconsider. This antique-style fixture is utterly charming, and its curved arms would add interest to any room.
Happy Hour: High Flyer 2007 Viognier
If you've got the urge to travel, but the poor economy's holding you back, consider taking a trip with High Flyer's 2007 Viognier ($17). It's a lovely, easy-drinking white wine with roots in France and California. The grapes are grown at the Borra Family Vineyard in Lodi, CA — a location whose climate and terrior bears an extraordinary resemblance to France's Rhone Valley.
Do You Mise en Place?
Mise en place is a French culinary term that refers to the gathering and prepping of ingredients before starting the cooking process. It's standard practice in restaurant kitchens, but I'm wondering how many of you do it at home?
Do You Mise en Place?
People
Instyle
Jul 06 2009
Marion Cotillard
WHAT SHE WORE
A '50s-inspired silk faille dress from Dior, accessorized with diamond strands, platform pumps and a snakeskin clutch
WHERE
The Paris premiere of Public Enemies
WHY WE LOVE IT
Cotillard added edge to her delicate blush cocktail dress with daring burgundy velvet platforms. Pump up a prd_id=845524446216292&site_refer=AFF001&site_refer=AFF001&siteID=KSqIQ6SzPUQ-cc3x1r_xWWJXJ8WPIefk.A" target="NEW">pastel design with shoes in a darker shade of the same hue.
• Add to Twitter