décembre 2007

A. and I wish you another year of great fun, fantastic food and, more importantly good health, to come !!A et moi-même vous souhaitons une nouvelle année remplie de joie, de fins gueuletons et surtout une santé à toute épreuve !!

  Another « first time » for me, thanks to the Daring Bakers: A Yule Log! When I read December Challenge’s theme, I thought: “Yule log??? But wat eez eet?? (Yes, even when I think, I have a French accent). Some kind of Scandinavian cake? I had never heard those strange words before. Then I realized that it simply was the very popular (at least, here, in France) Bûche de Noël. OK, never made a genoise nor rolled a cake before, but I’ll try…And you know what, it was quite easy, actually. The most difficult part for me was the... [Lire la suite]

  A British Christmas : the Menu Noël Anglais : le Menu(click on the picture to read the recipe, cliquez sur la photo pour la recette)The cocktail/Le cocktailPomegranate Bellini/Bellini à la GrenadeAperitive snacks/Amuse-gueulesCucumber and eggs Finger sandwiches/Cep and Stilton Tartlets/Smoked SalmonBlinisMini sandwiches anglais, mini tartelettes aux cèpes et Stilton et blinis au saumon écossaisStarter/EntréeIndian Style crusted Foie Gras and Mango ChutneyFoie gras pané à l'indienne et Chutney de Mangue Main dish/Plat... [Lire la suite]

Left : Tea House, Neal Street, London From the very beginning of this English saga, I knew the dessert would be a trifle. Yum, yum, I am so fond of layered creamy desserts! The great advantage is that it can be prepared a day ahead, which will save some of your precious time on an extremely busy day in the kitchen.According to the great Pierre Hermé, passion fruit makes a perfect pairing with milk and also white chocolate, but an awful couple with dark chocolate! Well, I think we can trust him on that one. After all,... [Lire la suite]

Left : Neal Yard's Dairy Shop, Neal Street, London. Choosing a main dish for my British Christmas menu was quite a hard decision. The only thing I was certain about was that it had to be fish. After the very rich crusted foie gras as a starter, it was necessary to balance with some lightness and "iodine". But apart from « fish and chips », I had no English fish recipe in my tablets !! It is at that moment of intense perplexity that I stumbled upon a Beef Wellington picture in a magazine. But yes, of ... [Lire la suite]

                                                                  Left : Food Hall at Harrod's, London I could not decently propose to you a British Christmas without mentioning Indian Gastronomy, which, according to some restaurant critics, has been the only decent food in Great-Britain until very recently... [Lire la suite]

Finger sandwiches : Cucumber & cream cheese / egg & chivesMini blinis with Scottish Smoked salmon and horseradish sour creamStilton and Porcini Mushroom bite-size pies  Mini sandwiches : Concombre & St moret / oeufs & cibouletteMini blinis et Saumon Fumé d’EcosseMini tartelettes au fromage Stilton et Cèpes     I am lucky enough to spend all my Christmas vacations in the French Alps, in my parents’ warm and cozy chalet. I particularly enjoy that moment, when, you know, on the 24th of December, we... [Lire la suite]

  Left : Christmas window at Fortnum&Mason. Click to enlarge. Still in a « London State of Mind »… I think I am having a serious PLD (Post London Depression). As a remedy, I have decided to celebrate a British Christmas. Menus and decorations will be of English Inspiration (with a slight french twist, If I may do so). So, if you are whether a London addict or just interested in this theme, keep an eye on my blog on the next few days : you will learn everything you always wanted to know about…festive UK food. I am... [Lire la suite]

A recipe that has already been posted (in february 2007), but it is so good and so seasonal that I wanted  you  to have an opportunity to see it if you were not a reader of my blog at that time...OK, OK, the real reason is that I am just back from a fabulous week-end in London and my soul and heart are still there : too busy thinking of the wonderful moments we had to cook !!! Une recette publiée en... [Lire la suite]