Medlar Jelly
My medlar jelly journey began with a lone, wild medlar tree growing by a cliffside field near my home in Cancale. I clocked it (inveterate forager that I’ve become), tasted o [...]
Quince Newtons
Once, when I was in my 20’s, I tried to make my own fig bars. They were a whole lotta work for precious little pay-off because they didn’t look or taste anywhere near as good [...]
Mashed Potatoes with Preserved Lemon
I first tasted this combo at Le Coquillage restaurant in Cancale/Saint-Méloir. The restaurant’s écrasé de pommes de terre was redolent with butter and was served alongside 2 [...]
Devil’s Food Cupcakes
I loathe beets. But I absolutely love what they do for these cupcakes. Luckily, it’s easy to buy cooked beets at farmers’ markets and supermarkets in France, so my contact wi [...]
4-Ingredient Fennel Soup
Fresh fennel’s distinctive, delicate flavor makes this soup taste a lot more sophisticated than it actually is. You can always doctor it up with crême fraiche, yogurt, or a s [...]
Green beans almondine
When I came to France for the first time as a teenager, I thought green beans almondine were the quintessence of French culinary sophistication. They’re still pretty fab. I a [...]
Wild Garlic Pesto
This stuff is GOOD. It’s probably the best way to preserve wild garlic. I chose to use walnuts here because their flavor wouldn’t overpower the rest the way other nuts might [...]
Creamy Artichoke Soup
Brittany is known for its artichokes, and they are in season here during all but the coldest and hottest times of year. When they aren’t, I turn to frozen artichoke bottoms ( [...]
Savory Pumpkin Bread with Chestnuts
My friend Claire challenged me to come up with recipes that call for kari gosse, a spicy curry powder blend devised by a Breton apothecary in Lorient, a city in southern Britt [...]