Do you ever eat at a restaurant and love a dish so much that you want to recreate it at home? This is one of the reasons I started cooking. When I first came to New York City in my early 20′s from Texas, everything I tasted was new. I started experimenting and trying dishes that I ate in restaurants. I still do the same thing today.

On vacation in Provence this summer, we ate at a great little neighborhood place called Le Bistro des Alpilles in Saint-Remy. One of the meals I had there was a simple little dish of sauteed langoustines with a puree of fennel and potato. It was so clean and precise. I vowed to make it myself when I got home….

So I did!

Fennel-Potato Puree: Serves 2
1 fennel bulb

2 small Yukon gold potatoes

1 cup heavy cream

4 tablespoons butter

1 cup chicken or vegetable stock

1 tablespoon salt

Peel the potatoes and roughly chop the fennel, removing the hard core in the center. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the potatoes and fennel with the rest of the ingredients. Simmer uncovered for 45 minutes.

In a food processor, puree the mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Sauteed Shrimp with Pernod: Serves 2

(Pernod is the name brand of a type of French alcohol called Pastis. It has a licorice flavor and is great to cook with)

Clean a pound of jumbo shrimp and season it with a little sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Heat a skillet over medium heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter.

Add the shrimp to the pan with a generous sprinkling of fresh thyme. Saute just until the shrimp is opaque and pink on one side, about 2 minutes. Flip the shrimp over and add a splash of Pernod to the pan (about 1/4 cup). Continue cooking 2-3 minutes. Serve immediately with the fennel-potato puree.

 

 

 

 

 

Being able to relax and cook your food outdoors over an open flame is such a treat. Its one of the best things about summer!

Corn and tomatoes are at their peak right now and we are picking tomatoes from our garden every weekend. I chose this menu to highlight both of those ingredients.

I became aware of Lava Lake lamb when I saw a woman in Citarella doing a demo of these lamb chops. I love it when a meal is delicious, eco-conscious, and easy to prepare, so these really caught my attention. I bought these Lava Lake lamb chops because I believe that eating grass-fed, all-natural meat is so much better for you. These lambs have never been given hormones or antibiotics and have never been placed in feed lots.

GRILLED LAMB CHOPS:

8 Grass-fed Lava Lake lamb chops

3 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons rosemary

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup olive oil

Combine all of the ingredients above and marinate the lamb chops for at least 30 minutes. Grill them for about three minutes per side, to a perfect medium rare.

They were so juicy and flavorful….lots of mmms and ahhhhs at my table.

Along with the lamb, I served grilled sweet corn with a chipotle aioli and a tomato salad with watercress, basil, fresh mozzarella, and a balsamic vinaigrette. At this time of year I eat as much corn as possible..its just so sweet. And the adobo sauce from the chipotles is smoky and spicy…it marries perfectly with the crunchy sweetness of the corn.

When I’m out in the Hamptons, I buy my corn from my favorite vegetable stand, Pike Farms.

SWEET CORN WITH CHIPOTLE AIOLI:

8 ears of corn

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon adobo sauce from a can of chipotle chiles

2 tablespoons lime juice

2 minced garlic cloves

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon Mexican spice mix

Peel the husk down on the corn and remove the silk underneath, but leave the husks attached. Soak the corn in water for 10 minutes.

Combine in a bowl the mayonnaise, adobo sauce, lime juice, garlic cloves, smoked paprika, and Mexican spice mix.

Grill the corn about 7 minutes, then roll over onto the other side and grill 7 minutes more.

Remove the husk and slather with the chipotle aioli….then listen to the sounds of lip smacking enjoyment…Serve with plenty of napkins!!

Everything about Capri is sensuality magnified….from its clear, turquoise waters to its winding streets filled with bougainvillea…to the warmth of the Caprese people…to the fresh, simple tastes of the Italian cuisine..What an enchanting island and the perfect ending to a sublime trip.

We have been to the Amalfi coast before, but staying overnight in Capri is an entirely new experience. I can now understand the magic of this little island.

We stayed at the charming Scalinatella Hotel, which has the same owners as the larger
Quisisana, but a much more boutique-y feel. We immediately ran into someone from New York as soon as we checked in and he advised us to have lunch by the pool…a flawless meal and probably the best lunch on the Island. We had a spaghetti alle vongole, and even though we’ve had this dish a million times in the U.S., it just doesn’t compare to having it in its native land. I will re-create the dish soon and share it with you. They were kind enough to give me the recipe.

Our room was delightful, with a great view of the sea. How do I even find the words to explain the radiance of the sun setting over the island while the birds are singing and the moon is rising in the background. It is a lovers paradise. There’s nothing about it that’s not perfection.

Lo Scoglio was our favorite restaurant on the coast. The best way to go is by boat and you can even jump in for a quick swim on the way…

We got to meet the family that owns this charming restaurant. Antonia is the daughter and she is so proud of their new and improved kitchen..she and her father showed us around and she translated for him. There is a family farm that provides them with all of their produce and meat…and of course their fish comes from local waters and absolutely everything is homemade. It is such a traditional family-run restaurant…after lunch we saw “nonna” (grandma) in the back scrutinizing the bills..

They served us a simple arugula salad…with tomatoes that were sugary sweet…and it was drizzled with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil from their own olive trees.

Then M. had the larger tomatoes, sliced and served with the freshest mozzarella and basil.

After the tomatoes we had a cooked vegetable dish comprised of six different vegetables from their farm…which was an entire meal in itself…but of course we had to leave room for pasta.  I had the special house pasta with zucchini and M. had spaghetti with seafood….while we listened to the sweet sounds of children splashing in the crystal waters below us.

For dinner we went to the celeb hangout Villa Verde and had brick oven pizza…

Three days in Capri was just too short….and we loved it so much that we already booked our vacation for next year.

Here’s a question…when you have a euphoric travel experience and dream about it for many years, then return to experience it again, does it ever exceed your expectations? I have only been to Barcelona once and ever since I have been dreaming about going back to this dynamic city by the sea. It’s been nine years and the Spanish food culture has gone through a revolution. It is the go-to place for every Chef and foodie looking for new adventures. My good friend, Gerry Dawes, is an expert on Spanish food, wine, and culture, and he helped me design my trip. I had so many new places to check out, and some of the old favorites to visit again.

My partner M. drove like a crazy-mad-hungry-foodie from Provence to Barcelona to make our 3 o’clock lunch reservation at Can Majo...although we did make a stop along the way and I must say the rest stops in Europe, and especially in France, are a revelation compared to our side-of-the-road fast food joints! Our mouths were watering for paella during the whole drive. It was exactly as we remembered. The food is simple but the fresh ingredients turn it into magic, and certainly the atmosphere helps, sitting right on Barcelona’s busiest beach watching the bathing suits go by.

We had grilled langoustines and fried calamari and a very chilled bottle of Spanish white. Happiness. Then we followed this with a seafood paella that was sublime.

We were so full that we decided not to eat dinner that night... .We went to see a movie instead, and then stopped by the Hotel Arts for a drink and a stroll around the Casino.

The next day, we hit the streets and stopped by the Boqueria market.

Monday was not the best day to be at the Boqueria because about half of it was closed…so, we looked around a bit and returned the next day when everything was in full swing. Just take a look at these photos and you can see why I felt like a kid in a candy store.

Dinner that night was at Restaurant Moo in the Hotel Omm, with Chef Felip Llufriu at the helm.

The first course was Chef Llufriu’s signature dish, which he learned directly from Spanish Chef extraordinaire, Ferran Adria. It was called The Golden Egg… the buttery soft egg yolk encased by a crackling sweet lacquered shell, which is really caramel, dusted in gold leaf…surrounded by crispy salty corn. The mouth-feel was astonishing.

Chef Llufriu really is a genius….the way he mixes the different tastes and textures…salty, crunchy, sweet, smooth, all in one bite. He utilizes all of the indigenous ingredients of his country and it was such an innovative meal…

This was Michelin star dining. Expensive but worth every penny. The atmosphere was chic, the service was impeccable.

The proprietor of Can Majo recommended that we try Bar Mut the following night, a bustling tapas bar with an impressive wine list, and then head to Muttis, the exclusive private club upstairs. We were not disappointed! In my limited tapas bar experience this was truly the highlight. I could eat like this every day! The pictures will tell it all…

Adios Barcelona…on to Capri…..I hope you all join me on the final leg of my journey.

For help planning your Spanish vacation, please visit GerryDawesSpain.com!

Three countries. Twelve Days. 36 Meals. One delicious European adventure! My partner and I just returned from the most divine vacation! We visited St. Tropez, Provence, Barcelona, and ended in Capri. Over the next few posts I’ll share my trip with you..starting with our arrival in St. Tropez;

When author Peter Mayle speaks about Provence, people listen. Peter calls L’Auberge de la Mole one of his favorite restaurants. That’s pretty high praise!

I had been there before two years ago and loved it. I couldn’t wait to try it again. I remembered the vast amounts of food and the charming ambience….

 L’Auberge is located in a little town that has one stop light, about 20 minutes away from St. Tropez. It’s a family run restaurant..unpretentious and absolutely delicious.

Me in the kitchen

We ate in the garden…and sitting a few tables away I was delighted to find Joan Collins and her friends.

 

You must pace yourself here. They begin by bringing out several terrines, pates, rillettes & foie gras, with grilled bread and a large jar of cornichons…all homemade, of course.  

We then ordered frogs legs….steak with truffle butter and potato (phenomenal)…and duck breast (which was a little tough).

 But there’s more… a huge platter of cheeses and then dessert… chocolate mousse, prunes in syrup, pears cooked in red wine.

 What a way to start a vacation! And reasonably priced as well. It was a beautiful night.

 

The beach clubs in St. Tropez are where it’s happening during the day. You must make reservations. We normally go to Club 55 but I wanted to try something new so we went to La Voile Rouge instead. I loved it! Simple salads to start…grilled dorade, and a bottle of Domaines Ott. The DJ was terrific, as was the crowd and the fashion show.

Dorade at La Voile Rouge

Our foodie friends told us about Chez Camille for the best bouillabaisse. When you walk in, you see your pot of bouillabaisse bubbling away on the outdoor stoves. It’s a casual Restaurant, located right on Pampelonne Bay. They bring out the rouille, that spicy garlic aioli, and plenty of toast…then the soup, and the seafood on the side which you add to the soup yourself. It’s difficult to be in the south of France and not eat bouillabaise and this one was excellent. The experience of Chez Camille was authentic and I always love that.

 

To really experience St. Tropez night life, you must go to the clubs. We met friends and went to La Romana. This Bar/Restaurant is a scene. We definitely had a lot of fun, and the sexy fashion show was great, but the food was not good and overpriced. We then went dancing at Les Caves du Roy of course until wee hours in the morning….

Bellini at La Romana

 

After three days in St. Tropez, we headed to the heart of Provence.

We stopped in St. Remy on the way to Gordes where our hotel, La Bastide de Gordes, was located. Saint Remy was terribly hot so walking around this charming town was limited a bit. Everything closes down at one, and understandably so…the heat is very prohibitive. We lunched at Le Bistrot des Alpilles. This turned out to be one of my favorites.  

We cooled ourselves down with ice cold Belgian beers that hit the spot. We started the meal with a simple heirloom tomato salad…summer perfection..

 Then we split the langoustine cooked in pastis and the fennel and potato puree which was creamy and irresistible. I went into the kitchen and asked the chef for the recipe. He was happy to give it to me. I’ll be trying it soon and of course I’ll share it with you.

Langoustine with fennel-potato puree

Me and Soussi Samir, Chef at Le Bistrot des Alpilles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On our way to Gordes, which is one of Provence’s most beautiful hilltop medieval towns, we passed The Lavender Museum. I made “M” turn the car around. Can you believe there’s a Lavender Museum?! Provence is known for its special lavender and the museum actually taught us the history of how it is harvested and then made into lavender oil. Of course there is a store to buy products. I have always wanted to be running through fields of lavender, so I asked “M” to photograph me.  I hope there’s lavender in heaven.

 Our hotel was overlooking a medieval village in Gordes. The view from our room and the restaurant was very special….miles of fields and it stays light until 10PM so it’s magical watching the sunset. We each got a massage at the Hotel Spa, with lavender oil, of course.

That night we ate at the modern Le Bistro d’Eygalieres…a 2 star Michelin restaurant. We had a fantastic meal in the garden. Although it was roasting during the day, there was a cool breeze at night.

The chef, Wout Bru, is quite young. He and his wife, Suzy, built a small hotel, Maisonbru, and this restaurant about a year ago.

We had cannelloni of lobster and pan fried langoustines with tomato tartar and wakame. Wow!

Then I ordered baby lamb chops and ”M” had the red mullet a la plancha. This was true fine dining in France and a meal to remember.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following day, we visited a market in Apt. I adore the outdoor markets in Provence…The variety of local, artisanal products is mind blowingly wonderful and I am happy just wandering from one booth to the next. My dream is to stay in Provence long enough to cook…maybe one day it will happen.

 

The next day we got up early and drove to Barcelona. Stay tuned to the next blog post to join us on the Spanish leg of our eating frenzy!

I had a minor disaster in my kitchen this weekend. And it was all my fault.

Cooking with family and friends in the summer is high on my list of favorite activities, along with long walks on the beach and relaxing pool-side.

At our house, everyone gets an assignment…from cutting and chopping to setting the table and picking flowers. And of course, as an added bonus, I give out entertaining and cooking tips and tricks to anyone who wants them.

Some of my most memorable times are listening to music as I cook with friends, and drinking wine or summer mojitos with fresh mint from the garden. This is the time when guests who are staying at our house get to know each other, share jokes, and recipes….there is just nothing that connects people like getting them in the kitchen together.

When all the food is ready and everyone sits down to a beautiful, delicious meal, there is this special feeling that I have…I did this. I created this magic. I get instant gratification from the ooohs and ahhhs…and my guests feel wonderful too because they all participated.

There is no substitute for cooking at home. It’s a free therapy session….for the stomach and the soul.

This weekend, we created three fantastic meals…Two lunches and a dinner on the last night where we used all the left-overs and made an outstanding frittata.

Sally, my son Zach’s fabulous girlfriend, came up with the first lunch theme…Mexican! Grilled chicken and shrimp with Mexican spices and guacamole, warm tortillas, and a bean, corn, and tomato salad….lots of cilantro, jalapenos, lime juice, and ripe avocados….and summer margaritas too!!

We marinated the shrimp and the chicken in smoked paprika, lime juice, garlic, and a barbeque rub from Steve Raichlen.

We combined black beans with summer corn fresh off the cob, cilantro, cherry tomatoes, and lime juice…a perfect accompaniment to tortillas and guacamole.

The following day’s lunch had a Mediterranean theme…I made my fava bean spread from my cookbook with grilled bread, and my friend Sharon helped me out by shelling the beans.

Then we made a gorgeous summer salad with cucumbers, avocado, tomatoes, green beans, olives, and feta, and served it with a tangy vinaigrette. We grilled shrimp and scallops, marinated in garlic, lemon, olive oil, and oregano, and kept it nice and light.

Dessert was a perfectly refreshing watermelon with lime juice and fresh mint.

Perfect summer days.

As I write this, I am sitting at my desk, slowly savoring a piece of the richest, most decadent dark chocolate bar: John Kelly’s Chocolate with French Grey Sea Salt Fudge….

I am so loving the combination of chocolate and sea salt.  I brought this  home from the Fancy Food Show, (June 27-29th), where I made my way through hundreds of gourmet products.

I look forward to this show every year. It’s my time to visit old friends, try new products and discover the trends. The creativity, the branding, the care that this industry takes to make their products irresistible always excites me.

This year, I noticed that the trend is toward adding healing elements into foods…from Yogi Chips to organic green tea with turmeric, and I’m happy to say there are more organic products than ever before and more companies dedicated to environmental causes.

Some of my favorites are:

Republic of Tea… always  a trendsetter.. has a new Raw Green Tea that is filled with antioxidants and because its made from Rooibos it has no caffeine. They have created the most divine flavors.. I loved the plantain coconut the best.  It’s coming out this month.  Can’t wait.

Rick Bayless  from Frontera Grill has a new line of products…..

I love this guacamole mix  in a pouch…you just add the avocados. I tried it.. absolutely authentic and delicious.

And so many companies are doing great things with charities.. donating proceeds and trying to help the environment.

Partners Tea has biodegradable silken tea sachets and works with women’s charities.

Equal Exchange chocolate supports farm co-ops in Latin America….

Sweetriot chocolate nibs is creating a sweet movement to fix the world…

And of course, I love this new company because they have my name but they spell it differently. Add this low sugar, low calorie liquid concentrate to your water. We all need to drink more water and this makes it easy, healthy and very flavorful.  You can see why I love this idea.

And there was so much more…..looking forward to next year already…..

There’s nothing like a trip to Paris to get the juices flowing. Fresh-squeezed juices? In abundance. Creative juices? The place hums with inspiration. Other juices? Well, it is the city of romance…

Paris is simply divine this time of year, before the heat of summer really sets in. I just returned from a luxurious four-night getaway and my son, Zach, and his girlfriend, Sally were there staying at a friend’s apartment. We were blessed with perfect weather, bustling city streets (it was the week of the French Open), and of course, delicious food!

But before we get to the culinary delights: did you know that you can now ride bikes all over Paris? There are bikes for rent all over the city. The first half-hour is free, and then it’s one Euro an hour. You just dip your credit card in a slot and off you ride. Zach and Sally took full advantage of this amazing system, and had a blast exploring the city on two wheels.

I stayed at the lovely Hotel de Vendome, a small hotel right in the heart of the Place Vendome. The hotel is just steps away from two of my favorite chocolate shops, Michel Cluizel and Jean-Paul Hevin. The shops themselves are like museums to chocolate., and of course, I had to try a bit of everything, and I find that my friends back home are very happy when I arrive home with gifts for them from these shops.

Across the street we found the Hotel Costes, which is definitely still a hot spot after all these years. We packed in with the crowds for late night drinks and had a rockin’ and rollin’ good time.

Also nearby was Fauchon, home of the most elegant tarts and cakes.  They also showcase a plethora of cheeses, meats, charcuterie, sandwiches, salads, and more. Thrilled as I was to have a Fauchon on Park Avenue in NYC, it just could not hold a candle to the Parisian original, which is an unbeatable culinary experience. For breakfast, we feasted on pastries, fresh squeezed OJ and wonderful coffee while looking out at the Opera. It was an exercise in pure pleasure—and what’s more Parisian than that?

I made sure to visit many of my regular haunts on this trip, among them Le Comptoir. They don’t take reservations for lunch, but it’s easy enough to wait in line, and the food is worth the wait. It was a cool day, so we ate on the sidewalk under heat lamps. Eating at cafés in Paris is infinitely more relaxed than eating in NYC; Parisians eat slowly, relishing every little bite. And when in Paris, do as the Parisians, right? So we took our time to enjoy the food and the scenery, and got the most out of our meal.

In addition to my old favorites, I sought out some new restaurant experiences, like Christian Constant’s tribute to fish, the Michelin-starred Les Fables de la Fontaine. The restaurant is small and intimate; the fish is elegant and refined. This was a meal to be remembered—and since they allowed me to go back into the kitchen and take some photos, I can be sure to remember every detail. It’s amazing what they can do in such a tiny space!

I never have dessert at Le Comptoir because Gerard Mulot is just a few blocks away. The pastries at Gerard Mulot look like they belong in the Louvre, and they taste even better than they look! I was excited to try many new flavors of macarons, especially the delectable Salted Caramel. Why do they taste so much better in Paris?  Is it the water or the flour?  Anybody have an answer for me?

Rotisserie de Beaujolais was recommended by a friend. It was a fine, charming place to take Zach and Sally on our first night. It’s owned by the same people as its upscale  neighbor, Tour d’Argent, and yet the food is simple bistro fare.

I also squeezed in lunch at the newest Costes Brothers restaurant, La Societe, right in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Pres. I had an arugula salad and steak with Thai seasonings. Although the food was not very French,  I loved my meal, though I would suggest going for dinner instead of lunch to truly take advantage of the very chic crowd.

Believe it or not, there’s even more to report—trips to the market, shopping on Rue Saint-Honore and the Rive Gauche…in a city like Paris, there’s always more to do and see and eat. My whirlwind four days weren’t nearly enough to do it all, but they left me feeling inspired, satiated, and trés trés content.