Main Course, meat Francois de Melogue Main Course, meat Francois de Melogue

Rabbit Schnitzel

I'm quite fond of rabbit, though I don't cook it very often anymore. Preparing rabbit can be tricky as it tends to dry out with traditional cooking methods and can turn to mush when cooked in a circulator. A simple and virtually fail-safe method I enjoy is making Rabbit Schnitzel. This technique allows the rabbit to cook in just five minutes, resulting in a delightful crunch that nicely complements the tender meat. You can serve the schnitzel plain with a squeeze of lemon or pair it with your favorite sauce.

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Family Food, Main Course, Meats, Provençale Recipes Francois de Melogue Family Food, Main Course, Meats, Provençale Recipes Francois de Melogue

Daube of Pork Cheeks

This Provençal pork stew is ideal for chilly days when you crave a comforting meal. Traditionally, daubes were prepared in the fading embers of a wood fire using a distinctively shaped pot known as a daubière. The extended cooking time and the pot’s rounded form facilitate a convection process, where heat rising from the bottom transforms into steam, meets the cooler top, and condenses back down onto the simmering meat. This cycle helps the collagen in the braising meats convert to gelatin, giving the final dish a smooth and silky texture.

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Gnocchi with Tocco di Carne

When my son Beau was 2, he constantly asked me to make what he called "circle pasta," his term for gnocchi. His passion for Italian cuisine, particularly those with a red hue, began during his "red" phase. This period was triggered by a visit from my friend Marco Cameli, who I consider to be one of the finest pasta chefs I know. Marco came to the US from Italy to try out for the sous chef position at my restaurant and spent a week living with my family. As we prepared dinner each night, I begged Marco to make pasta. Each night we delightedly ate dishes like bucatini all’Amatriciana, spaghetti with simple tomato sauces, and what might be the best Carbonara I've ever tasted.

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Classics, family food, poultry Francois de Melogue Classics, family food, poultry Francois de Melogue

Cocotte of Farmhouse Chicken

Here's a straightforward recipe for a succulent farmhouse chicken that's sure to please the whole family. Cooking chicken in a cocotte is a traditional French method. In Southern France, it's quite popular to include numerous garlic cloves, which turn creamy and mild after prolonged, slow cooking. Serve the chicken directly from its cooking pot at the table. When you break open the pastry seal in front of your guests, the enticing aromas of garlic and thyme are released, creating an unforgettable sensory experience for everyone.

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classics, family food, French Soul Food, meat Francois de Melogue classics, family food, French Soul Food, meat Francois de Melogue

Cassoul-YAY

A lot of people asked what made my cassoulet so good and if I could share the recipe. Sylvie Bigar​, the goddess of cassoulet and author of ‘Cassoulet Confessions’ had advised me to go to Hostellerie Etienne to taste the best version. I won’t repeat my account of eating it but suffice it to say that after one plate, my son became an expert and scolded me that my version was not as good. I spent the next year studying different recipes and techniques before settling upon what I call Cassoulet v2. My recipe is a hybrid of several recipes including Sylvie Bigar’s rendition of Eric Garcia’s recipe, Hostellerie Etienne’s recipe, and my personal experiences.

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Jarret of Pork au Chablis

Lightly smoked pork jarret poached in Chablis is a traditional farmhouse dish hailing from the Burgundy region of France, known for its rich culinary heritage.

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Curried Mussels Fritters with Potato Puree

Mussel Fritters served on a bed of Potato Puree with a Curry Sauce is a delightful and innovative recipe that captures the essence of Brittany’s regional flavors. This dish, a personal reinterpretation of a Brittany classic, brings the region’s maritime freshness to the forefront.

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Chapon de Mer Farci

Today I invite you to explore a classic of Provence, Chapon de Mer Farci, or stuffed scorpionfish. A dish that anyone with an adventurist mindset can prepare. I am inviting even the most novice of cooks to don an apron and wield a wooden spoon with utmost confidence.

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Provencal, Vegetables Francois de Melogue Provencal, Vegetables Francois de Melogue

Ratatouille

My mother always said my ratatouille wasn't as good as hers. She insisted that a proper ratatouille was made by slowly cooking the vegetables together. I always disagreed until one day she made me her ratatouille the way she had learned it at home. One bite, and I knew she was right. Her version was ambrosial and embodied the rich flavors of Provence.

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CHRISTMAS CHOUCROUTE 

Choucroute is one of the world’s great celebratory meals that, like bouillabaisse, is impossible to cook solely for only a handful of people. If you have never eaten one you may be surprised, no, overwhelmed, by the sheer volume of food served. Traditionally it is made with at least 3 different sausages, smoked pork loin, and pork belly all slowly simmered in sauerkraut surrounded by a legion of potatoes.

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Family Food, Main Courses, Meats, Sunday Family Meals Francois de Melogue Family Food, Main Courses, Meats, Sunday Family Meals Francois de Melogue

Pork and Beans

I slow-cooked the jambonneau in a golden pool of home grown Tarbais beans semi submerged in a rich broth specked with carrots, onions, and aromatics. In the final cooking stages I sprinkled toasted breadcrumbs over the top to soak up the juices and help form a crunchy crust. Somebody not quite familiar with the particularities of cassoulet might mistake my preparation for the genuine article.

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Crispy Pork Confit

An Inexpensive Way to Bring the Savors of France onto Your Table

If you are looking for a cost-effective (and tasty) method to feed your family this winter, look no further than utilizing this simple French technique. Confiting is the perfect way to take leaner, less expensive cuts and transform them into tender, moist, and MORE flavorful pork morsels.

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Chili Crisp Calamari

Learn how to make the best chili crisp calamari that you can serve tossed with pasta, over a bowl of rice, or just with toasted bread! You probably are wondering why a YouTube channel dedicated to French food is doing this recipe? The simple answer - Because who doesn't love Lao Gan Ma chili crisp?

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family food, Main Courses, Poultry Francois de Melogue family food, Main Courses, Poultry Francois de Melogue

3 Ingredient Chicken Dinner

The other morning I was zipping off for a photoshoot and forgot to get dinner started. I started stressing about what to cook when I remember a simple recipe for roast chicken in a mustard sauce that literally takes under a minute to prep. I quickly ran back into the house, got it marinated, then went to my photoshoot confident with the happy feeling that my family would have a nutritious easy-to-cook dinner when I got home that evening.

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Classics, Desserts Francois de Melogue Classics, Desserts Francois de Melogue

Linzer Torte

If you have been living under a rock for your entire life and never had a Linzer torte before. Linzer tortes are a nut-based cake with tons of jam. They are usually flavored with cinnamon, cloves, and lemon zest which gives them an incredible holiday feel.

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Cheesy, Yummy, Potatoes (Pommes Aligot)

Pommes Aligot, or cheesy potato fondue, is an incredibly easy dish to master. The key components are good mashed potatoes, lots of cheese, and the desire for a workout.

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