Author: Chérine

La Cuisine Paris

On By ChérineIn Cooking, France, Paris, TravelLeave a comment

On a cold February morning, I walked along the quays of the Seine to Marché Maubert to meet my class mates and the chef from La Cuisine Paris.

I had planned a mini vacation in Paris and was looking forward to taking a cooking class to enhance my culinary arts skills. I found La Cuisine Paris on Instagram. Located at 80 Quai de l’Hôtel de ville in the 4th arrondissement, the school offers culinary and baking classes in English.

The Marché Maubert is comprised of 45 stalls offering fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry (did you know that in France, rabbit is considered poultry?), fish, cheeses and many more.

Our group walked around the market, led by Chef Justin, looking at the various offerings and planning our menu.

We settled on seasonal ingredients: radishes, “potimarron” (a cross between a pumpkin and a squash), rabbit and for dessert an almond tart. And of course some cheese and bread to start out french culinary experience. On the way back to the school, we stopped for baguettes at a “boulangerie” who had been awarded the “Meilleur Ouvrier de France”, a prestigious honour for the best craftsman in various categories.

Back in the kitchen, we set to searing the rabbit before braising it in a mustard sauce.        I had never thought to glaze radishes, but we did and they were sweet and still had bite. The potimarron was puréed with cream and butter. The delectable aroma of the baking almond tarts filled the kitchen. I could not wait to savour what was to come.

As we sat down to lunch with a view on the Seine, the sun came out.

La Cuisine Paris is a must for the home or amateur chef who is looking to delve into french cuisine classics. Check them out if you are in Paris next.

La Cuisine Paris     80 Quai de l’Hôtel de ville, 75004 Paris, France.

 

Is a restaurant responsible for their patrons’ enjoyment and comfort?

On By ChérineIn Restaurants, TorontoLeave a comment

A couple of weeks ago, I visited Cava, a tapas restaurant in Toronto, as it was highly recommended.

Menu

Two legs of jamon Iberico greet you as you enter, a hint of what is to come. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming.  The wood paneled walls and wood tables give it a modern yet rustic feel.

Cava offers a wide selection of small plates incorporating sustainable ingredients.  We shared a number of plates however the following 3 were my favourites.

Supergilda: a sardine placed on toasted bread with roasted tomatoes and speared with an anchovy and olive toothpick.

Supergilda2

Charred rapini with queso fresco con miel, olive, and za’atar: the bitterness of the rapini was well balanced with the sweetness of the fresh cheese infused with honey. The sesame in the za’atar brought a crunch to the mix.

Queso Fesco

Chicken liver and foie gras mousse with house-made bread: the mousse was creamy and lingered on the tongue.

Duck Mousse

We also ordered a full portion of the Iberico ham, only to be disappointed by the meagerness of it. It was not worth the $30 it was priced at.

We paid approximately $140 for 2 people which did not include drinks or tip, an expensive culinary experience.

The service was attentive, however I was disappointed to see that the wait staff made no attempt to remedy an uncomfortable situation for my dinning companion. Half way through our dinner, a couple was seated at the next table, which I must say was too close for comfort. The gentleman, and I use this term loosely, decided to sit on the bench with his partner not taking into consideration that this would infringe on my friend’s personal space. She was practically forced to climb the wall on her other side to avoid coming in contact with this inconsiderate dinner. It was apparent to myself, the waiter and the other patron that she was quite uncomfortable, yet our waiter did not address the situation.

Having been forced to finish our meal, hurriedly, and skipping dessert, we left the restaurant disappointed at the experience.

Although the restaurant offers a pretty setting and the food is gratifying, the lack of attention to the comfort of the patrons and the elevated cost of the fare would make me think twice about returning to Cava.

Cava  –  1560 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4T 2S9  –  cavarestaurant.ca

Le Coq Rico, my new Paris favourite

On By ChérineIn France, Paris, Restaurants, TravelLeave a comment

Almost 5 months have passed since I was in Paris last, yet I remember my Sunday lunch with friends at Le Coq Rico in Montmartre with relish.

Le Coq Rico is Antoine Westermann’s brainchild. One look at the menu, if the name has not already given it away, and you realize that the principal player is poultry.

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We delved in and chose 3 starters that would allow us to taste a little bit of everything;

The “Eggz”, a soft boiled egg in a crispy nest. Soft boiled eggs, being my least favourite food item, I stayed away from tasting the dish. My friend though, devoured it. I suspect that it was quite enjoyable based on the smile on his lips.

The buttery duck livers covered in sesame seeds were well balanced by the sourness of the sautéed cherries.

The duck rillettes (a sort of pâté made with shredded duck) served with toasted baguette and pickles were by far my favourite. I could have had seconds.

 

For our main, we selected the whole duck, served with a choice of accompaniments: salad, the ever popular french fries or vegetables fricassée. In an attempt to make healthy,  nutritious choices, we balanced our french fry order with vegetables and salad.

 

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A truly succulent meal with absolutely no regrets.

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And if there are any doubts that we savoured each piece of confit or roasted duck, there should be none. We practically licked the plate clean.

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Le Coq Rico  –  98 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris  –  http://en.lecoqrico.com/index

 

Tomato season is coming to an end

On By ChérineIn Cooking, Healthy Eating, Kitchen Experiments, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Whether you think it is a fruit or a vegetable, the tomato should be a staple in all kitchens. Sadly, once the end of October nears, I become deprived of this plump, succulent and essential pantry item.

There are several tomato varieties but I often gravitate to kumato and heirloom tomatoes. Kumato tomatoes are a brownish red and hail from Spain. Heirloom tomatoes vary in colour and shape. When at the market, I will spend several minutes looking at tomatoes, smelling them. I always look for that earthy, luscious smell. The scent of the vine still lingering.

tomatoes.jpg

Over the last few weeks, I have been getting my fill of tomatoes: in salads, tarts, quiches, sauces and everything in between.

Quiche
Feta, tomato and olive quiche
Tart
Heirloom tomato and goat cheese tart

 

Soon, the scent of the vine will fade and the colour will dissolve. But until then, tomatoes will be a constant in my fridge.

 

Kitchen experiments: Greek chicken lettuce cups

On By ChérineIn Cooking, Healthy EatingLeave a comment

It is rare that I feel like cooking with chicken, I just do not like the texture of raw poultry, but I was craving it today. Maybe it was my colleague asking about how to make tzatziki that triggered the craving, maybe it was the freshly dried oregano….

This evening’s dinner was my take on chicken souvlaki. Marinate the chicken breasts in garlic, oregano, lemon zest, lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil for a minimum of 2 hours.

The tzatziki requires a handful of ingredients: cucumber, garlic, mint (optional) and Greek yogurt.

Once the cucumber has been grated, squeeze out the excess water and add the garlic, a pinch  of salt and yogurt.

Grill the chicken breasts in a grill pan or on the barbecue.

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Always let the chicken sit for a few minutes once cooked in order to lock in the juices before slicing.

Load your bib lettuce leaves with chicken, slices of tomato, red onion and dollops of tzatziki. Et voilà!

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Bon apétit!

 

Évora, another short jaunt from Lisbon

On By ChérineIn Lisbon, Portugal, Travel, UNESCO World Heritage Sites2 Comments

An hour and a half eastwards from Lisbon, lies the historic centre of Évora. A small town filled with historic significance and beauty.

Once the residence of Portuguese kings, the town offers a number of monuments worth visiting: the Capela dos Ossos, the Roman temple, whitewashed houses and many more.

Once you have walked through the city streets and absorbed the majesty of the architecture, the colours of the azulejos….

…take a break and have lunch at Páteo (https://www.facebook.com/pateowinebar?_rdr=p#_=_). A lovely wine bar where the cheese and charcuterie board was to die for.

Lunch break at Pateo

And the sangria was not bad either…

Sangria

On the way back to Lisbon, make sure you stop at the Almendres Cromlech.

Cromlech of the Almendres 2
The megaliths have been standing there for several centuries.

And check out the cork trees doting the country side.Cork Trees

Sunday Kitchen Experiments: Cilantro Lime Chicken with Black Bean Rice

On By ChérineIn Cooking, Healthy Eating, Kitchen ExperimentsLeave a comment

The last few weeks have been very busy at work. By the time I get home, I do not feel like cooking anything so I have been resorting to unhealthy take out options.

I know this week is not going to be any different, so today I planned on cooking a meal that I could reheat in the next couple of days.

So here is my #pinterestwin.

What I loved about this recipe was how quick the prepping was. A handful of ingredients, one pot …

…and presto, dinner is served!

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Thank you @cookingclassy1 for the recipe.  http://www.cookingclassy.com/2015/04/one-pan-cilantro-lime-chicken-and-rice-with-black-beans/

BON APÉTIT!

 

Sintra – a short jaunt from Lisbon

On By ChérineIn Lisbon, Portugal, Sintra, Travel3 Comments

New year, new travel list! Over the last couple of years, I have thought a lot about my bucket list of cities and countries to visit. So I think I have finalized the list: check it out here! I know most of you will say it is ambitious, but there is nothing wrong in dreaming big!

I thought back to the beautiful places I have already visited and luckily some are from the list.

A short jaunt from Lisbon is the town of Sintra and the Pena National Palace.

The palace is breathtaking! The bright colours and the architectural style leave you in awe and is truly worth the 45 minute train ride from Lisbon.

 

After visiting the palace, walk down the hill to the town of Sintra and visit the Gothic National Palace. Take the time to walk around the town and explore the small streets. You just may discover some stunning sites.

Lisboa

On By ChérineIn Lisbon, Portugal, Travel4 Comments

My bucket list of cities to visit is extensive and diverse, however I can honestly say that Lisbon was not in the top 10. But when opportunity knocks, one should answer. I did not regret it.

As a seafood lover, Lisbon was the ideal place to be. But the city also has so much more to offer…

Rossio
Rossio – The square is surrounded by cafes where locals and tourists alike enjoy aperitifs and good company.
Azulejos
Azulejos – These painted tiles are found all over the city. On buildings, on the sidewalks, on inner walls. They are beautiful and the colours stupendous.
Jeronimos Cloister 3
Jeronimos Monastery – well worth the visit.

Jeronimos

Lisbon boardwalk
The walk along the boardwalk was refreshing, in more ways than one
Praça do Comércio
Praça do Comércio

Rua Augusta Arch

 

When visiting, bring comfortable shoes that have a good grip. The city is hilly and took it’s toll on our feet, but the trams and funiculars were life savers and full of character and colour.

Tram

Pasteis de Belem – Sublime custard dessert and a must
The best seafood in town – Cervejaria Ramiro

And if after feasting on the fresh seafood, you still have the energy, take a walk in the Alfama  district. It is stunning!

Alfama 2

Obrigado Lisboa!

Gaudí’s Barcelona

On By ChérineIn Barcelona, Spain, Travel2 Comments

Barcelona – you either love it or you hate it! At least those were the only 2 perspectives I had heard from various people while planning my trip to the centre of Catalunya.

The city offers a wide range of sites, sounds and gastronomy. But what left the biggest impression on me was the architecture. Walking down the street, the evidence of modernism is palpable.

Architecture

Although there were several well known modernism masters, Barcelona belongs to Antoni GaudÍ.

The Sagrada Familia, GaudÍ’s unfinished masterpiece left me in awe. I did not know where to start looking or which detail to take in.

Door detail
The stained glass fills the church with brilliant colour
Tower detail

If you are planning on visiting Barcelona, purchase advance tickets to skip the long lines. Your time will be better spent admiring the artistry.

Casa Battló and La Pedrera  (a.k.a Casa Milà) made me wonder how Gaudí’s brain worked. How did he envision these buildings? What was his inspiration? All I can say is that it was pure genius!

La Pedrera
Pedrera rooftop
Casa Battlo through the glass
Casa Batlló interior detail
Casa Batlló rooftop

 

Gaudí began the construction of Park Güell in 1900, and took 14 years to complete. The park is expansive and even in nature, Gaudí’s mark is felt.

 

If you want to see and experience more of Barcelona and Gaudí, check out the free tours offered by Runner Bean Tours. The guides are fantastic and so worth spending time seeing the city through their eyes.