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.

A daube is a slow-cooked stew you will find simmering at a grandmotherly pace in kitchens all across France, though the best known come from southern France.

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.

I was no older than the tender age of 7 when I first ate rabbit. I remember the day quite distinctly. Not only was it the single defining moment when I knew I would grow to be a chef, but also they were my pet rabbits.

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.

What I love most about steak Bareuzai is that it is so quickly prepared. No advanced planning is necessary other than to have a few ingredients on hand and perhaps a bottle of wine open. The only controversy seems to be whether or not you finish the sauce with a healthy spoonful of Dijon mustard.

Poires Belle Helene is a classic French dessert composed of pears poached in a vanilla syrup served with vanilla ice cream then drizzled with a hot chocolate sauce. It’s a very easy dessert to master and can be easily altered to suit your tastes.

Pommes Anna is the classic French dish of sliced potatoes layered in a pan with butter (lots of butter), browned on the stovetop, and finished in a hot oven until crispy. It is a dish I have made countless times over my career and still LOVE to eat today.

Savor the ethereal perfectness of a just-baked madeleine. The slightly warm madeleines with a crispy exterior and a cake-like interior bursting with the bright flavors of fresh lemon.

Tarte Tatin has been very popular worldwide ever since its inception in the 1800s.   The familiar story often retold is that of the Tatin family and their hotel in the small town of Lamotte-Beuvron in Central France, about 100 miles south of Paris. Caroline and Stéphanie (Fanny) ran the hotel and supposedly created the famous tarte by accident, but is this the only truth? 

Pebronata (Peh-Bro-Nah-Tah) is a Corsican daube or stew generally made from goat meat, although it is often made from beef, veal, or pork. There are 3 distinct steps in the creation of an authentic pebronata: cooking the pork, preparing the tomatoes sauce, and sauteing the sweet peppers. Pebronata is the perfect Fall dish to celebrate the end of peppers and tomatoes growing in your garden and the changes in the weather.

My apple trees are completely covered with ripe fruit ready to pick. As I started pulling a few off I began thinking about how to best use them. When I was a small child my mother use to make a really simple dessert that I adored. She would peel and core an apple then roll it in cinnamon sugar, stuff it with sweetened butter, wrap it in a thin skin of pie pastry, and bake it. It had all the great characteristics we love about apple pies but was quicker to make.

This is a simplified version of merguez that my mother taught me to make when I was little. You can roll this mixture into a sausage shape or form it into patties.

Poulet au Vinaigre, or chicken in vinegar, is a classic French preparation that you will find in homes as well as restaurants. At the onset, it sounds kind of overpowering and maybe even unappetizing. Rarely do we think of vinegar as an ingredient other than maybe in a vinaigrette. But when you try this poulet en vinaigre recipe you will realize your error and start thinking about vinegar in a brand new light.

Quiche Lorraine is perhaps the most famous of all quiches. Purists will tell you that only bacon, cream, and eggs are allowed. Though it is common to find other ingredients like Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, and even chives. The original quiche Lorraine may not include cheese, but I won’t tell anyone if you decide to add one cup of shredded Gruyere to the mix.

Learn how to make steamed mussels the French way. The best moules marinières or 'sailor-style mussels' ever. The mussels are simply steamed in white wine and herbs. From start to finish, moules marinières will take no longer than 10 to 15 minutes to prepare.

Coq au vin is as synonymous with French culture as hamburgers are with American. It’s a dish I grew up eating quite a bit and still find very satisfying and comforting when I’m longing for my mother and dreaming of France. The sauce is packed with flavor and begs for a starchy vehicle to soak it up. Classically, boiled or mashed potatoes are served with it, but I think spätzle, noodles, or a creamy potato gratin work better.

Profiteroles are the perfect home dessert and guaranteed to please everyone, from small children to grown adults. And once you master the dough for profiteroles you can easily make several other classics like a feather-light beignet, gougères, and crispy potato puffs known as Pommes Dauphine.