Beaujolais and its wines are easy to understand, easy to buy, and easy to love. With few exceptions, they are juicy, bubble-gum reds produced in a light style for easy drinking. A huge amount of red Beaujolais is produced, all of it made solely from the Gamay grape. A small […]
Pâte à choux is a simple and versatile French pastry batter made from milk (or water), butter, flour, and eggs. It is typically piped and baked to a crisp, hollow shell that is perfect for filling with sweet or savory ingredients. Even if you’ve never made pâte à choux, you’ve […]
Makes 1 quart sauce Beurre blanc is a classic French sauce, made creamy thanks to the emulsion formed between the fat (butter!) and the liquid (wine). The key to not breaking an emulsion is patience and an even, moderate cooking temperature, so take your time adding the butter and take […]
Makes 2 pounds of dough There are a few ways to make ultra-flaky puff pastry, but this one is the quickest (that’s why it’s called blitz!). The layers in puff pastry are a result of folding the dough four times. We included a photo at the end to show you what […]
Makes 1 loaf or brioche à tête Buttery, rich, and delicious, brioche is one of those breads that may not be a health food, but sure does taste good. As long as you are going to the trouble, make an extra loaf and freeze it. You can use it for […]
Makes about 1 cup Caramelizing onions is a slow process, but it can be almost meditative if you let it. They require frequent attention, which makes them a great side-project while doing other jobs in the kitchen. If you have a large enough pan, make a large batch and freeze […]
It may come as no surprise that the halls of The Culinary Institute of America echo with admiration for the grande dame of approachable French cuisine: Julia Child. She was not the first powerhouse woman chef—and if today’s CIA students have any say in the matter, she certainly won’t be […]
Makes 4 servings
Makes 2 quarts Chef’s Note: You will want to slightly over-salt the pâté because once it is chilled, the salt flavor is muted quite a bit.
Makes 12 éclairs The shape of a baked éclair depends upon the shape it is given before baking. It is easiest to make a nice, round éclair using a pastry bag, but you can also drop the batter from a spoon. Use a table knife dipped in water to smooth […]
Makes about 60 macarons (120 shells) Macarons (not to be confused with coconut macaroons) are not difficult to make, but they are rather particular—so don’t be defeated if they aren’t perfect at first. It takes a few rounds to really understand the batter and how to treat it. If you’re […]