La Rentrée
Suddenly, as though poured from the sky, people filled the streets of Louviers yesterday, mostly Mamans, scurrying with their progeny to pick up last-minute school clothes and supplies. I could see the anxiety as they hoped against hope they weren’t too late. The occasion? That most special of days, la rentrée, the first day of school. […]
Pasta with Lemon and Parsley
Long ago in Tuscany, lemons hung heavy from the trees, parsley sprouted up from the ground green and meaty, and pines nuts blanketed the ground The olive trees that cover the landscape provided oil which, right after pressing, burned the throat as it went down. These ingredients, along with simple pasta, combined in a dish […]
Fig Crostata
I’ll be including plenty of gorgeous Italian recipes in classes this fall, and one of them is inspired by the air in this high spot of Tuscany, part of the Apuan alps, which smells like dessert. Walking along the lanes, climbing the trails, even cycling to the beach with cars whizzing by, the amber aroma of […]
The Best Summer Snack
This is the best summer snack ever, one I discovered a million years ago on a Tuscan farm, and am revisiting in a Tuscan village. It’s so easy. Take the best piece of bread or focaccia you can find. Peel a fat, new clove of garlic and rub it all over the bread, on all […]
Food, Memory, Nostalgia
I wrote this piece, which was originally published on Signature , in response to a question about parallels that can be drawn between passing down recipes from generation to generation and passing down stories from generation to generation. I thought you’d enjoy reading it here. I’m including a picture of my own grandmother, with my grandfather, […]
In a French Kitchen paperback
It’s out!!! Available everywhere!
Fall Classes On Rue Tatin
Summer is finally here, hot, sunny, breezy, perfect. I love it but to be honest, I’m thinking about autumn. Classes will be so much fun this fall, and I want to give you a little preview. You already know some of the cast and characters of my life from reading my books. This fall you’ll meet many of them. […]
Apricot Shortcake
I was preparing to make my favorite apricot tart for dessert tonight when I stopped, as though held back by an invisible hand. This never happens to me. I love everything about the process of making a tart, from measuring the flour (I know, but I love to do it!), to rolling out the pastry, to […]
The Season’s Silver Lining
We had a halcyon moment last week, given the deluges of the weeks before and the grey skies and intermittent torrential rains of this week (I’m looking out the window now at cars crawling through rivers of water on the street, roses bent under the blast). After Monday, each day began in the mist […]
In a French Kitchen, Polish-Style
In a French Kitchen was released in Poland last week (by Wydawnictwo Literackie), and I was in Warsaw over the weekend to promote it. It was an incredible experience and here is why: I discovered a big group of journalists who are so professional, so prepared, so sincerely involved in their work, and so absolutely […]
