Audrey

Although French baking is kind of my playground, I enjoy taking on a challenge once in a while. And this week, I decided it was time for me to tackle the infamous Chez Panisse Almond Caramel Tart.

They say Marseille is a city you either love, or hate. And for me, it was love at first sight. I fell hard for Marseille the first time I visited the city two years ago. And I have been bizarrely obsessed with it since then. Which, being a Brittany girl, was a bit against all odds – given how our two regions’ cultures, mentalities and lifestyles are so opposite (both on the French map and abstractly too). But somehow, for the past two years, there isn’t a day I haven’t …

Slightly tart, with a crisp crust and an intensely-flavoured filling, a lemon pie is one of the French’s most favourite desserts. Any bakery in France will have a “Tarte au Citron” to offer (with or without a meringue topping – although it seems French cooks tend to stay away from the fluffy-sugary topping lately).

Known in French as “Crêpes Vonnassiennes” or “Crêpes Parmentières”, these fluffy little Potato Pancakes are actually properly known as “Crêpes” and are a delicious specialty hailing from Vonnas, in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region of France. 

With Valentine’s Day coming up (actually, tomorrow), I am jumping on the occasion to share with you my new baking love – this Buttermilk Chocolate Fondant Cake! True to a Classic French Chocolate Fondant, this one is indulgent and intensely chocolatey. But the addition of tangy buttermilk cuts through the richness and makes it just a little bit more tender and moist. I have baked a lot of French Chocolate Fondant cakes in my life (some melty, some gooey, some firm), and this one has to be one of my …

Who knew that dark chocolate and honey mustard were a match made in heaven? The addition of honey mustard to this dark chocolate tart (in both the crust and the filling) brings out the sweetness of it all, in a very surprising, but elegant way. Best of all, it’s truly addictive!

All crumb, with little crust. I know this might not be the idea you have of a classic French bread, but it is the best way to describe this Pain de mie, which is a delicious French household staple in France. If you’re looking for a delicious homemade sandwich bread, with a list of ingredients you can almost count on one hand, the Classic Pain de Mie is it. Perfect for making toast in the morning, this every so slightly sweetened bread makes for the perfect canvas for both savory …

For anybody who doesn’t know Kig Ha Farz, this recipe will probably sound very unusual. But truth is, behind the funny name “Kig Ha Farz” (meaning “meat-and-flour,” in Breton) is actually just that – slow-simmered meats served with dumplings made from two different flours (white and buckwheat).

Horseradish, known in French as “raifort”, is particularly loved in the Alsace-Lorraine Region, where people enjoy it to accompany charcuteries, a pot-au-feu (stew) and of course the famous Choucroute garnie (“dressed sauerkraut”). Hot, spicy and peppery, horseradish has everything to please the French’s palates, who are fond of all nose-itching condiments (like mustards and vinaigrettes).

Whenever I yearn for a cake that beautifully showcases seasonal fruit (in this case, persimmon), a French Tatin Cake is usually my way to go. Not only does it taste delicious, but it truly allows the fruit to shine – visually – which usually makes it a dessert that your guests will lean towards.