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Petit Porcini

Come hang out in my French kitchen abroad!

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The Side Dish That Makes Any Dinner Feel Special

Bonjour, Some recipes aren’t just food, they’re a tiny touch of elegance from a simple ingredient. This week, I’m spotlighting a classic that looks fancy but is wonderfully simple: Duchess Potatoes. They’re mashed potatoes piped into golden little roses. No drama, no fuss, just a few ingredients transformed into something beautiful. It’s the kind of dish that turns a regular dinner into a small celebration (hint for Christmas). And like most French recipes, the magic isn’t in complexity… it’s...

Bonjour, Every December, I rediscover something:The magic of Christmas doesn’t come from the decorations. It doesn’t come from the gifts. It doesn’t even come from my advent calendar itself, it comes from what happens around it: the magic of all the special moments it creates! It might sound corny but it is true. This Week’s Spotlight For years now, I have been crafting our Family Advent Calendar with intention: never fancy, never expensive, but always meaningful. And every year, I ask...

Bonjour, This email is a little different from my usual recipes (if you are new, you can read the past emails here) and simple French food moments but an important one. Today is the story behind something I’ve quietly been building for years. Introducing: The Table Reset If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve felt it too: That moment at 4:30pm when your energy is gone, dinner isn’t planned, the kids are hungry, and the whole evening already feels like it’s slipping out of your hands. I’ve...

Bonsoir ! We often treat breakfast like a pit stop something we rush through on the way to “real life.” But in France, breakfast is real life, it's a ritual (like all our meals). It’s calm, comforting, and never eaten standing up. This week, I’m bringing you four ways to slow down your mornings, whether you have five minutes or a lazy Sunday ahead. Extra Fluffy Pancakes Soft as a cloud, with one rule: don’t overmix. A few lumps mean fluffier pancakes (and a happier cook). Make it! Cheesy...

Bonjour, Some recipes are more than food, they’re a small act of patience. This week, I’m spotlighting one of France’s coziest bistro staples: French Onion Soup. Sweet, slow-caramelized onions, a splash of rich broth, and a golden lid of bread and melted cheese. Nothing fancy, just honest, time-honoured comfort. It takes a little time, yes. But as I always say, good things take time… and they taste better for it. This Week’s Recipe Spotlight This recipe isn’t about technique. It’s about...

If there’s no joy around the food, there’s no point. I’ve been sharing recipes with you these past few Thursdays, comforting ones, cozy ones, the kind that make you want to slow down and eat together. But today, I want to pause the cooking for a second. Because what’s the point of good food if there’s no joy around it?We all have those evenings when dinner feels like another task. The table is set, the meal is fine, but the feeling, the connection, is missing. So today, instead of a recipe, I...

Bonsoir ! In France, soup isn’t a sad afterthought. It’s a ritual. On chilly evenings, you’ll often see a pot of soup simmering away but the real magic is what lands next to it: the warm bread, the melty cheese, the something extra that turns it from “quick dinner” to “cozy night in.” Here are a few French-inspired sides to make your next soup night feel like a café meal at home. Raclette Sandwich For those nights you want something decadent: melted raclette cheese, ham, and maybe a few...

Bonjour! If there’s a dish that says comfort in both English and French, it’s this one: gratin dauphinois (aka scalloped potatoes). Thin slices of potatoes layered with caramelized onions, bits of ham, and a creamy milk-and-cheese sauce… baked until golden and bubbling. What could go wrong? This Week’s Recipe Spotlight Scalloped Potatoes With Ham And Caramelized Onions This recipe is everything you want for Thanksgiving weekend or a cozy fall dinner. It can play both roles: side dish or main...

If you need a sign to slow down, this is it. When you sit down to plan your family’s meals for the week, don’t just think about recipes and ingredients. Think about your own energy. Include at least one day of mental rest for yourself. That means planning a night where you don’t cook. I wrote a whole article about menu planning that dives deeper into how I do it, but today I want to share why this “no-cook night” has become non-negotiable in our home. Tip of the Week: Schedule a No-Cook Day...

Bonsoir ! The days are still warm, but there’s a little shift in the air, the kind that makes you crave cozy rituals, a cup of tea or coffee, and something apple-scented in the oven. For me, apples mean the start of Gilmore Girls season: a reminder that fall is about to wrap us in its cardigan. Here are four French-inspired ways to enjoy apples before the leaves even start to turn: Apple Rose Mini Tarts Elegant little pastries shaped like roses — almost too pretty to eat. Try them! Rustic...