two countries. many kitchens. one table.

strawberry gazpacho

July 3rd, 2014

chef morgan

“It’s A Life”

Strawberry Gazpacho 

Julia Child said that, “You’ll never know everything about anything, especially something you love.” I believe that she was correct. 

With that thought in mind I left my comfort zone of classes or cooking privately in people’s homes or their offices, to work in a Parisian kitchen. It is not unusual for cooks to do this because seeing the way other people do things is often an inspirational springboard for your creativity and there is always so much to learn. And then there is the fact that it is fun (well, if you like this type of thing…working throughout the day and night and coming hone after midnight smelling of food.. it is not something that is attractive to the majority of people). “It’s a life.”  Read the rest of this entry »

 

venez avec moi à Dijon

June 2nd, 2014

chef morgan a table Dijon

Paris Day Trip

venez avec moi à Dijon

This post is dedicated to Sandy Kiratsoulis and Barbara Bomes.
May the new chapters in your lives bring forth beautiful experiences filled with adventure. You will be missed. 

The desk sits in front of the window giving me a direct view of the stone apartments and Parisian rooftops across the way. Inspiring and distracting. I was supposed to sit at my desk and complete revisions on a manuscript. Deadlines. However, as I looked at the rooftops facing me my thoughts drifted to the lengthy list of places I have yet to discover and I found myself getting up and down from my desk for things like making a snack for which I was not really hungry.

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Salade Niçoise (à ma façon)

May 18th, 2014

nicoise 3
a dream kitchen, a village in Provence, and a favorite salad  

Salade Niçoise (à ma façon)
(salad Niçoise my may)

There was a photograph of a kitchen on Instagram which gathered several “likes” and one person commented, “my dream kitchen.” It made me think. What is my “dream” kitchen?” Do I have one? What would be in it?  The topic is hardly unique. Elizabeth David wrote an article about the same thing but I believe the discussion was prompted by magazine competitions, not an Instagram photo. Times are different but the question is still fun.

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Mother’s Day 2014

May 9th, 2014

 

chef morgan a table

Mother’s Day 2014

“Rising to the Occasion”

&

your favorite chocolate soufflé

Each year in honor of Mother’s Day I write a personal recipe of life inspired by and for my daughters accompanied by a family (food) recipe relevant to the message. This year it is about soufflés and “rising to the occasion” that phrase we so often hear. The recipe is for a classic chocolate soufflé and you can find it in the following post. If you would like to skip directly to the soufflé recipe you may do so by clicking here, otherwise read on.

To all mothers I wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day (Joyeuse Fête des Mères).

warmly,

LM

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classic chocolate soufflé

May 9th, 2014

chef morgan a table

classic chocolate soufflé
Measuring your ingredients by weight (rather than volume) is the most accurate way to bake and produces the best results.

makes  6 soufflés 

equipment:

kitchen scale
6 ramekins, 3” diameter
2 saucepans
double boiler or bain marie
2 nonreactive bowls
measuring cup
wire whisk
spatula
large spoon
rimmed baking sheet
mixer with whisk attachment (or large bowl with balloon whisk)

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Springtime in Paris and 8 Parisian restaurants you will adore

April 30th, 2014

chef morgan a table paris

Paris in the Springtime
&
My Short List of Bon Goût

(8 Parisian restaurants you will adore)

Do you remember Frank Sinatra crooning: “I love Paris in the Springtime…”? I remember playing my parents’ Frank Sinatra record (yes, I said record) wondering if Paris is more magical in the Spring. As an adult, I have found that Paris is wonderful all year long but there is something special about Paris in the Springtime. Blue Eyes was on to something.

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stuffed zucchini blossoms

March 20th, 2014

chef morgan zucchini blossoms

spring has sprung

“GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK”

zucchini blossom farce with veal, spring greens and herbs

I knew the question was coming. Then it came.

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Ahi tartare (with tangy soy-citrus and sesame dressing)

February 24th, 2014

chef morgan

Oscars® ready: the perfect red carpet appetizer

Ahi tartare (with tangy soy-citrus and sesame dressing)

Each year I post a recipe for the Oscars®. Last year it was spicy crab toasts. With the warmer weather and a chic, simplicity implied for the occasion, I have a little something for your own red carpet celebration: Ahi tartare (with tangy citrus soy and sesame dressing). The recipe is below. Read the rest of this entry »

 

chocolate lava cakes with heat

February 11th, 2014

cooking from the heart and giving with generosity
la Saint Valentin 2014

chocolate lava cakes (with a little heat)

chef morgan lava spoon 2

“Happy and successful cooking doesn’t rely only on know-how;
it comes from the heart
and needs enthusiasm and a deep love of food to bring it to life.”

— Georges Blanc, chef of Georges Blanc restaurant in Vonnas Read the rest of this entry »

 

winter salad with blood oranges

January 23rd, 2014

chef morgan

long weekend in Napa and a detox “do-over”
Farmer’s Market winter salad with tangy blood oranges

If any of you are calling for a detox “redo” after the three day weekend, then this post and its recipe — Farmer’s Market winter salad with tangy blood oranges — is for you. Read the rest of this entry »