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Brandade for lunch

Brandade de morue was one of the all-time favorite dishes at Le Pichet and Cafe Presse. Whenever it was not on the menu, guests would be asking when it was coming back.  Our local fish shop, Poissonerie Otano, always has beautiful salt cod on offer, either as fillets or “miettes” which  means small odds and […]

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Brandade de morue was one of the all-time favorite dishes at Le Pichet and Cafe Presse. Whenever it was not on the menu, guests would be asking when it was coming back.  Our local fish shop, Poissonerie Otano, always has beautiful salt cod on offer, either as fillets or “miettes” which  means small odds and

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What a beauty!

I couldn’t resist a photo of this beautiful mid-winter oyster from the coast near Arcachon.  Now is the time for oysters, when they are sweet and firm and full fleshed.  Yum! PS  I know that the “month with an r” rule has fallen out of favor recently, but I still think treating oysters as a

What a beauty! Read More »

Slide 1

I couldn’t resist a photo of this beautiful mid-winter oyster from the coast near Arcachon.  Now is the time for oysters, when they are sweet and firm and full fleshed.  Yum! PS  I know that the “month with an r” rule has fallen out of favor recently, but I still think treating oysters as a

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Still lovin’ the Salade Verte!

I have recently had a number of requests for the recipe for our  Salade Verte that became such a fixture at Le Pichet and Café Presse over the years.  Rhapsodized by the Seattle Times, the Stranger and more, it became an unlikely signature dish of both restaurants. I hope that this recent interest means that

Still lovin’ the Salade Verte! Read More »

Slide 1

I have recently had a number of requests for the recipe for our  Salade Verte that became such a fixture at Le Pichet and Café Presse over the years.  Rhapsodized by the Seattle Times, the Stranger and more, it became an unlikely signature dish of both restaurants. I hope that this recent interest means that

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Chicken pot pie

A bubbly warm chicken pot pie is a perfect dish for a frosty December lunch.  It is also a perfect use for the hindquarters of a older farm chicken, which are pretty firm (not to say tough) and require long cooking.  I poached the legs and thighs in chicken stock with aromatics, then used that

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A bubbly warm chicken pot pie is a perfect dish for a frosty December lunch.  It is also a perfect use for the hindquarters of a older farm chicken, which are pretty firm (not to say tough) and require long cooking.  I poached the legs and thighs in chicken stock with aromatics, then used that

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Oysters and bubbles!

Wow, its oyster season and still warm enough to enjoy them outside on the terrace!  Fall has been unusually warm in the SW of France (the new normal?) so I have waited to try my first oysters of the season until the water is cooler – usually I start thinking of oysters in early October. 

Oysters and bubbles! Read More »

Slide 1

Wow, its oyster season and still warm enough to enjoy them outside on the terrace!  Fall has been unusually warm in the SW of France (the new normal?) so I have waited to try my first oysters of the season until the water is cooler – usually I start thinking of oysters in early October. 

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October, terrace of Bar Tabac “Chez Lamiche”, Orthez

In general, a Bar-Tabac in France does not serve any food, so bringing your own snacks is welcomed.  Taking advantage of that fact. This sausage is a “chipo sèche” meaning a dry chipolata, from the excellent Basque artisan pork producer and charcutier La Ferme Elizaldia, who have a truck at the Tuesday market here.

October, terrace of Bar Tabac “Chez Lamiche”, Orthez Read More »

Slide 1

In general, a Bar-Tabac in France does not serve any food, so bringing your own snacks is welcomed.  Taking advantage of that fact. This sausage is a “chipo sèche” meaning a dry chipolata, from the excellent Basque artisan pork producer and charcutier La Ferme Elizaldia, who have a truck at the Tuesday market here.

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Fall radishes

Wow, it has been a warm start to the fall here in the Southwest of France.  Record breaking even.  On Saturday, it hit 32 C, and last week it hit 37 C, which broke the record for October high temperature in the area. As the summer heat tempered in September, we planted a fall crop

Fall radishes Read More »

Slide 1

Wow, it has been a warm start to the fall here in the Southwest of France.  Record breaking even.  On Saturday, it hit 32 C, and last week it hit 37 C, which broke the record for October high temperature in the area. As the summer heat tempered in September, we planted a fall crop

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