FOLLOW ME TO BURGUNDY

FOLLOW ME TO BURGUNDY…

The city of Beaune is famous for its surrounding vineyards producing the highest quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir worldwide! Stroll the ancient streets while wine tasting and shopping to your delight!

Les Hospices de Beaune

To build our appetite and thirst, let’s begin our day touring “Les Hospices de Beaune”, the perfectly preserved Middle Aged palace where each year it hosts the most famous wine auction in the world.

Les Hospices de Beaune

Let’s drive on “la Route des Vins” to Savigny-les-Beaune, admire the beautiful chateaux and taste the nectar from the enchanted vineyards.

Chateau de Savigny-les-Beaune

Ancient Wine Press in Burgundy

We’ll finish our day at le Restaurant au Clos Napoleon in the village of Fixin eating andouillette avec des frites along with the local Pinot Noir.

Andouillette avec des Frites

A BIENTOT!

WINES FROM BURGUNDY

Burgundy, located southeast of Paris, is one of the world’s most famous areas that produce marvelous and opulent wines. Chardonnay for the whites wines, Pinot Noir and Gamay for the red wines.

Chardonnay is planted in the entire region and reaches its zenith in the Cote- de- Beaune. French Chardonnay is fabulous with a wide variety of foods such as seafood, fish and white meats.

Pinot Noir prevails in different parts of Burgundy, such as Cote-de-Nuits, Cote-de-Beaune, Cote Chalonnaise and Maconnais. Pinot Noir is a delicate red-wine grape. The flavors of intense fruit and soft tannin are unique to the region and can’t be found in the Pinot Noir from California. It’s an excellent choice with coq au vin, roasted chicken, beef stew, game and lots of cheeses.

Gamay is the dominant grape in Beaujolais and is also grown in Maconnais. Delicious paired with pates, charcuteries (cold cuts), grilled steaks, fish, eggs and fresh cheeses.

“La route des vins” is only 3 hours away from Paris! Great wines wait to be sampled and many restaurants to be discovered! Enjoy!

YELLOW ROASTED PEPPER SOUP WITH MASCARPONE CHEESE

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!

MANGE TA SOUPE! (Eat your soup!) Perhaps the French secret for a slim figure and healthy lifestyle, soup has a cleansing effect for your body. After the holidays, it’s time to reenergize for spring by eating the freshest vegetables. The season provides a natural cycle for a balanced diet.

This week “le Careme” or Lent begins. After your Fat Tuesday party, start preparing my delicious soups and you’ll feel “ rajeuni” or young again!

ROASTED YELLOW PEPPER SOUP WITH MASCARPONE CHEESE

Active time: 45 min; cooking time: 1 hour

Serving: 4

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil + more for drizzle

4 Yellow bell peppers

1 sweet onion, minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 pink potatoes

3 cups of vegetable bouillon

4 sprigs of fresh rosemary

6 tbsp mascarpone cheese

Piment d’Espelette

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat the broiler. Place the peppers in a shallow baking dish and put them under the broiler over high heat and turn them regularly until the skins darken all around (20-30 min). Put them into a plastic bag and close. Let the peppers rest for about 20 minutes.

Peel the skin off the peppers, discard the seeds and stems and chop them.

Melt 2 tbsp of olive oil in a deep saucepan, add the sweet onion and garlic and cook until golden brown. Add the peppers, cook for 2 minutes and add the vegetable bouillon, the pink potatoes, 2 sprigs of rosemary, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes.

Remove the rosemary, add 2 tbsp of mascarpone and pureed the soup with an immersion blender until smooth consistency. Add 2 pinch of piment d’Espelette , salt and pepper if needed.

Serve in soup bowl, sprinkle with piment d’Espelette, add 1 tbsp of mascarpone cheese per serving, drizzle some olive oil and place some fresh rosemary on top of the mascarpone cheese.

This soup can be eaten hot or cold. If you prefer it cold, refrigerate at least 5 or 6 hours.

Bon Appetit!

Note : Piment d’Espelette can be found in specialty stores. It’s a red pepper from the southwest region of France.

French Recipes and Cuisine