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Your Own Little French Bistro

  • Writer: CAN Girl
    CAN Girl
  • Aug 18, 2024
  • 3 min read

By anyone's measure, French cuisine is the ultimate culinary achievement. It has been said that real cooking originated in the French style dating back to medieval times. French chefs are artisans of their craft. Working with only the freshest ingredients, capitalizing on simplistic flavors, and laboring over the presentation accepting that only the most beautiful dishes emerge from the kitchen.


Well, I can't claim that I am anywhere close to Mastering the Art of French Cooking (salute to Julia Child - Wikipedia). However, I can say with complete certainty that I enjoyed every minute of crafting the menu, cutting, cooking, baking (and yes sometimes burning), and finally indulging in the end product. This menu has by far been my favorite. So, I hope you like it too!


The inspiration for my menu was the beautiful afternoon that I spent with my husband and parents at the foot of the Eiffle Tower. Basking in the sunshine and enjoying delicious/delectable French wine. Bon Appetite!



Le Menu

Breakfast

(Le Petit-déjeuner)

Who doesn't want to start their morning with a warm soft crêpe? Not only are they delicious but versatile. I am a sucker for sweet, but we also threw in a savory one as well. One absolute must while making crêpes...try the pan flip. Trust me. Even if it doesn't work right the first try it is so much fun!


History: "Le Jour des Crêpes" ("The Day of the Crêpes") - Crêpe - Wikipedia




Lunch

(Déjeuner)

French Onion Soup. Even just saying the words makes my mouth water. Sweet caramelized onions, the velvety gruyere cheese, and the warm scent of lightly toasted French bread; comfort at its core. One of my absolute favorite French dishes.

And, of course, after our wild experience with mussels in Paris, we had to make accommodations to include them on our menu.

We chose to pair the meal with a light and crisp French wine that you can get at your local store. Excellent taste and price (I might add).


Recipe:





Drinks

(Boissons)

As most of us know, French culture is underpinned by an immense amount of pride shaped by the region's extensive history. The French 75 (Soixante Quinze) is nothing short of just that. This beautiful cocktail made its debut in WWI and even was prevalent in classic American cinema (Casablanca, John Wayne films). What I absolutely love about this cocktail is the story behind the name. It is said to have such a "kick" that it's like getting shelled by the French 75mm field gun.




Dinner

(Dîner)

If you've ever picked up 'Mastering The Art of French Cooking' (Vol I/II) by Julia Child, you know it's quite the task to pick the best recipe. However, after much debate, the choice was clear: Coq au Vin and Potatoes au Gratin. The culinary challenge, the aromas present in the kitchen, the wine and the ever-flowing French music in the background, transport you. What a magical experience. I've included a few of my favorite tunes. Make sure the have a box of tissues handy ... and plenty of space for dancing!


Recipe:

Music:






Dessert

(Dessert)

No meal is complete without the ‘piece de la resistance’ ... dessert. Or as the French say ... dessert. 😊

French pastry. Chocolate. What could be better. I must warn you however, most recipes suggest just getting pastry from the store. Recreating true French pastry takes patience, skill, excellence, and of course time. But my motto is, 'if not now, then when'. So, I encourage you to be adventurous and just give it a try. We don't start out as Masters, but each step we take gets us closer. Also, parchment paper is a must 😂.


Recipe:






I truly hope you laughed, learned, and loved trying these recipes and picked up a few Tidbits about French cuisine and history. Until next time!

~ Au Revoir ~

 
 
 

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