Stone Fruit Chutney Over Brie-Oh My

On July 23, 2019July 23, 2019 By Lorie FangioIn A Taste of Paris, TasteLeave a comment

Sometimes it’s the simplest things in life that taste the sweetest. Stone Fruit Chutney Over Brie is definitely in this category. So simple to make and it really wakes up your taste buds.

Stone fruit is only in season a short time so grab bushels of cherries and nectarines NOW and what you can’t eat; make into chutney. You will be glad you did!

Stone Fruit Chutney over Brie

1 wedge Brie

2 small nectarines peeled and chopped

1 cup fresh cherries pitted and sliced in half

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Pinch of lemon zest

¼ cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Pinch of salt

In a small chef’s pan combine, fruit, sugar, lemon juice and zest and salt. Cook over medium heat until mixture is bubbling, turn the heat down and simmer until the fruit is broken down and the juice is a thick syrup. Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour hot mixture over the Brie and serve with French bread or for dessert, ginger snaps.

Bastille Day Menu for your own Frenchie Celebration

On July 12, 2019July 11, 2019 By Lorie FangioIn A Taste of Paris, Be Inspired, Taste2 Comments

The French celebrate their independence on Bastille Day, July 14th each year. This is the day the French Revolutionists stormed the Bastille releasing its prisoners. It’s considered the turning point of that conflict which ultimately overturned monarch rule in France.

There is always a parade down the Champs Elysees with the beautiful Arc de Triomphe as the centerpiece and plenty of fireworks once dark falls on the city.

It’s a great excuse to pop open a bottle of rosé and invite a few friends for a simple dinner.

Hot July temperatures call for lighter dishes Like Ham and Avocado Tartine, a pretty salad and a sweet treat like my Chocolate Madeleines. Enjoy!

Ham and Avocado Tartine

4 slices rustic bread toasted

1 clove garlic

1 avocado

4 slices deli ham or prosciutto

1 cucumber sliced

Pinch crushed red pepper

Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Rub each slice of bread with garlic clove and discard. Place bread on baking sheet and toast on both sides for about 3 minutes. Mash ¼ of the avocado on each slice of bread, season with salt and pepper. Add cucumber. Place ham on top and sprinkle with crushed red pepper and plenty of salt and pepper and serve.

Purple Flower Salad

2 mini purple lettuce heads

1 cup carrot matchsticks

1/2 yellow bell pepper, finely chopped

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped and toasted

1/4 dried cranberries

Balsamic Vinaigrette

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

1 garlic clove, pressed

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon brown sugar

Pinch of both salt and pepper

½ cup olive oil

Hold each lettuce head firmly in your hand and cut the bottom root off. Hold the head firmly as you run cold water through the bundle to clean the lettuce. Place bundle in the center of a serving platter and release it so the leaves form a circle. Repeat with second bundle on top of the first one creating the flower petals. Place the carrots in the center of the lettuce flower and spread them out a bit. Mound the yellow peppers in the center of the carrots. Next, place the walnuts then cranberries on top of the vegetables; you will create rings of color. To prepare the dressing, add vinegar, garlic, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper in a small bowl and whisk well to combine. Add olive oil in a steady stream whisking vigorously until it is all mixed and you have a silky dressing. Serve the salad with the dressing on the side.

Chocolate Madeleines

¾ cup butter

1 ½ cups sugar

¾ cup flour

¾ cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder

3 eggs

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Extra butter and flour for preparing pans

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour madeleine pans well, and set aside. Melt ¾ cup butter in a microwave safe bowl. Add cocoa powder to butter and mix well. Stir in sugar and then eggs. Add flour, salt and vanilla and mix until combined. Spoon a walnut sized portion into each madeleine shell. Place madeleine pans on a baking sheet and into the oven for 14-18 minutes until edges are set and tops are puffed.

There is still space in Herbs Fresh from the Garden at the Arboretum, hope to see you there!

Happy 4th- Celebrate with a Berry Tart!

On July 2, 2019July 1, 2019 By Lorie FangioIn A Taste of Paris, Taste1 Comment

Is there anything on earth that tastes better in the summer than fresh, ripe berries? The 4th of July is a fantastic time to feature them in dessert!

Truth? In my book, anytime the berries are sweet, this dessert hits the spot!

Let your flags fly and Enjoy!

Berries and Cream Cheese Tart

Crust

1 prepared pie crust

Cream Cheese Filling

1 8-ounce package cream cheese

½ cup sour cream

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping

1/12 cups strawberries, washed and chopped

1 cup raspberries

2 cups blueberries

Prepare filling by combining all ingredients in a small bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until the filling is smooth and fluffy. Pour filling into crust and chill until ready to serve. Top with berries and serve.

Caprese Panini and HERBS at the Arboretum

On June 28, 2019June 27, 2019 By Lorie FangioIn A Taste of Paris, Taste6 Comments

There is nothing like herbs fresh from the garden to bump up the flavor quotient of your summer foods. I will be celebrating all-things HERBS at the Arboretum on Saturday, July 20th from 11:00-1:00, register TODAY!

Do you have a favorite herb? Mine is basil. I thought I would share one of my most-loved herb recipes; Basil Pesto and my favorite way to eat it, Caprese Panini!

Pesto is typically made with pine nuts but my version uses walnuts. I always have walnuts on hand and I think it makes the pesto really creamy. My basil rich pesto only calls for 1 tablespoon of olive oil, you can definitely use more but I personally don’t like an oily mouthfeel so it’s perfect for us.

There is something so gratifying about going to the garden to pick basil for a bright green batch of goodness. It’s not too late to plant basil and reap the rewards right up until the first frost!

Caprese Panini

1 loaf French bread sliced in about ¾ inch slices

6 slices provolone cheese or fresh mozzarella

½ cup sun dried tomatoes drained and chopped

2 large tomatoes sliced thin and drained

1/3 cup fresh basil pesto

Olive oil

Brush grill pan with olive oil and turn burner to medium heat. Make sandwiches by spreading a generous amount of pesto on every other slice of bread. Sprinkle pesto with sun-dried tomatoes. Add cheese and fresh tomato slices and top with additional bread slice to create a sandwich. Place sandwiches on grill with a panini press on top; grill each side for about 2 minutes until golden brown.

Basil Pesto

1 ½ cups fresh basil compacted

2 garlic cloves

½ cup walnuts

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese grated

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ teaspoon salt

Place basil, garlic, walnuts, salt in food processor, pulse until smooth, add Parmesan, olive oil and process until mixed well.

Arboretum- Herbs Fresh From the Garden or market. Do you cultivate a garden full of fresh herbs and want to cook more with them or maybe you love picking up fresh herbs at the local farmers markets; either way this class will delight with flavors from the earth. The tasty dishes will begin with a vibrant appetizer of freshly made Chimichurri Hummus as pretty as it is tasty. Next up, crispy Herbed Greek Salad that will have you diving in bite after bite. For the main course we will prepare succulent Herb and Pistachio Crusted Chicken served with fresh from-the-garden Tomato Gratin. For a decadent treat, we will make Herb and Garlic Parmesan Knots. For a sweet finish delectable Basil Infused Berries and Cream will not disappoint!

Hope you will tell me your favorite herb! See you at the Arboretum!

Red or White?

On June 25, 2019June 24, 2019 By Lorie FangioIn A Taste of Paris, Be Inspired, DiscoverLeave a comment

Do you prefer red or white wine? I know when its hot outside many people drink lighter wines.

I simply prefer reds, the darker, thicker and richer they are the better! The truth is, I have not always been a wine drinker. In fact, I never drank wine other than sparkling’s, until about 16 years ago.

I was invited to a big birthday party for a friend, I won’t tell you what number we were celebrating because I reserve the right to keep mine and my friends ages a secret!

The menu for the birthday dinner was set. The choices were beef or salmon. I never order salmon, since I am lucky enough to have a freezer full at all times due to my husband’s annual Alaskan fishing trip. And the drink choices were red or white wine; naturally I selected the beef filet and my first ever, glass of red wine.

The label was Dynamite Cabernet and there was definitely a flavor explosion happening in my mouth. I never looked back and have been an avid red wine lover ever since.

I discovered rosé wine in a similar way. About 4 years ago when I was researching for my first ATOP group trip to Provence. I was sitting at a seaside cafe eating mussels and frites with my sweet friend Donna who happens to live in Australia. She suggested that we order wine with lunch…OK why not! After that first glass of French rosé I totally understood the phrase Rosé all Day!

I have not had that same light-bulb experience with white wines but I am hopeful!

Tell me, are you a red or white wine drinker and if white is your jam, what label? Maybe I will give it a try and be converted before summers end.

Assortment of chocolates at Maison du Chocolat in Paris.

Lorie’s Top 3 Paris Chocolate Bites

On June 21, 2019June 21, 2019 By Lorie FangioIn A Taste of Paris, Discover, TasteLeave a comment

Chocolate is the ONLY food I eat every day without fail. Does this make me a chocolate expert? Maybe not but my passion for chocolate goes way back, I’ve been studying this fascinating food for over 20 years. I am excited to share my top 3 chocolate bites with YOU that will not disappoint.

On ATOP trips to Paris, we always schedule a chocolate tasting and it’s one of my favorite events of the week. I buy tidbits from 5-6 of my favorite chocolatiers and we taste and learn more about chocolate. It is big fun!

Fine French chocolates have several things in common. To start, they are mostly dark chocolate; roughly 70% with the remaining 30% being milk chocolate and NO white chocolate. It’s rare to find white chocolate in fine French shops, after-all, with no cocoa in the formula, it’s not really chocolate.

Secondly, fine French chocolate bonbons come in 2 categories; praline and ganache. Praline is a mixture of caramelized nuts, caramel and chocolate that has been finely ground into a paste. The nuts can be hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios or some combination of these. Ganache bonbon centers are a mixture of cream, chocolate and flavorings, almost always natural such as steeped herbs and fruits. Ganache fillings are very smooth and melt on your tongue.

The third commonality and a big difference between French chocolates and American, Swiss or Belgium varieties is the very thin coating of chocolate that covers the fillings. The thinner the coating, the more elegant the bite. This paper-thin coating is very difficult to achieve and takes a tremendous amount of skill.

Now my favorites counting down from 3-1!

In 3rd place- JP Hevin- My favorite bite is Framboise (raspberry) Ganache in dark chocolate. It’s sweet-tart decadence in one bite!

2nd place- La Maison du Chocolat

The Petit Rocher Noir- Small chocolates with an almond in the center, en-robed first in praline and then coated with dark chocolate.

1st place- Patrick Roger Chocolate Almonds. I have never had this type of almond anywhere else. I know many have tried to replicate it, including yours truly to NO avail. The almonds are roasted, en-robed in praline, coated in chocolate and then rolled in coco powder. I call them heaven and hell almonds, heaven when you have them and craving hell when you run out!

Next time you are in Paris, you will know exactly where to go to get your chocolate fix!

Register for Paris 2020 and be on my NEXT Chocolate Tasting!

OH, are you looking for a speaker for your meetings in 2020? See The Joy of Chocolate and my other speaker offerings here.

Annick Goutal- Intoxicating, Fresh and Feminine

On June 18, 2019June 18, 2019 By Lorie FangioIn A Taste of Paris, Be Inspired, DiscoverLeave a comment

On my most recent trip to Paris, I had a surprise for my A Taste of Paris Goes PINK group. Every French adventure reminds me to embrace and share the things I love.

We spent a little more than an hour at one of my beloved Parisian addresses, Annick Goutal, the original location on rue Bellechasse.

Celine guided us in our discovery of this iconic French brand. Fine French fragrance can’t be rushed, in some cases taking up to a decade to create.

A Nose, is the name given to the highest caliber perfumer. An artist, working with many raw scents to develop something original, that evokes emotion, much like a symphony. Celine explained the process of developing a perfume and offered us the chance to smell many raw ingredients that go into their fragrance assortment.

My favorite Annick Goutal fragrance is Un Matin D’ Orage; a stormy morning. Annick, the founder of the brand, was out for a morning walk after a rain storm, she discovered a magnolia blossom on the ground and pinned it to her blouse. The scent of the flower, softened by the rain, was wafting about and from this experience she imagined the fragrance and set about creating it. The smell of Un Matin D’Orage is intoxicating, fresh and feminine.

This is a snip of Celine explaining the NOTES of a perfume. The first note, or head note is what you smell when the perfume is applied. The head notes are the most volatile molecules so they fade quickly. As the perfume dries down, you begin to have a hint of the middle note or the heart note. These notes will linger longer and are considered the heart of the fragrance. With a bit more time on the skin, the base notes come through and as they mingle with the heart notes, you will experience the full body of the fragrance.

Body chemistry plays a role in how the notes of the fragrance mix. That’s why a very fine fragrance never smells the same on someone else, it becomes your OWN.

Every time I spray Un Matin D’Orage, I am transported to the precious boutique on rue Bellechasse.

Sharing my love of Annick Goutal and fragrance with my A Taste of Paris travelers and YOU is a real joy!

Check out the details of A Taste of Paris 2020. Would YOU or someone you know like to fill one of the last seats? If so, click the link and tag your friend in the comments.

Christian Dior, a Fashion Legend

On June 13, 2019June 13, 2019 By Lorie FangioIn A Taste of Paris, Be Inspired, DiscoverLeave a comment

Join me for A Day of Dior

Friday, July 19th 2019- 8 tickets still available!

In 1946 Christian Dior established his fashion house at 30, Avenue Montaigne and it still remains there today.

Dior window Spring 2019 — Dior Window, Spring 2019, 30, Avenue Montaigne Paris

I take great delight in retracing Christian Dior’s footsteps as I head out with my Paris groups, we pass this address on our way to the morning train.

Dior was convinced that people were ready for something new after many years of war and in 1947, he debuted the New Look; a silhouette that would define the 1950’s.

This New Look with its narrow shoulders, accentuated bust, nipped waist with a wide flared “flower” skirt exudes femininity and despite the lack of practicality, people loved it.

Dior employed the very finest tailors and used the most sumptuous fabrics money could buy.

He understood the importance of catering to starlets and the press that would ultimately follow; after all he was making more than dresses, he was building a brand.

Dior was the first to licences his name for other products like make-up and perfume. The name Dior was and still is synonymous with luxury.

Join me for A Day of Dior

OR for A Taste of Paris 2020 and see Dior at Avenue Montaigne for yourself.

Shrimp with Basil Gremolata

On June 11, 2019June 10, 2019 By Lorie FangioIn A Taste of Paris, TasteLeave a comment

In the summertime, I am less interested in spending time in the kitchen prepping and cooking. Dishes that utilize all of the goodness from the earth and my garden that cook very quickly are winners in my book.

My Shrimp with Basil Gremolata is fast and easy to prepare and incredibly tasty. Gremolata is an herb rich, lemony sauce that is fantastic over any fish or grilled meat.

Serve Shrimp with Basil Gremolata over pasta or alongside a large salad and you will have a fantastic dinner on the table in minutes. Enjoy!

Shrimp with Basil Gremolata

Shrimp

1 1/2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt to taste

Gremolata

Zest from a lemon plus 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

2 cloves garlic

1 ½ cups fresh basil, packed

½ cup fresh parsley packed

½ teaspoon salt

¼ cup olive oil

To make gremolata, place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until combined. To prepare shrimp, heat a chefs pan over medium heat, add olive oil and shrimp. Sprinkle shrimp with salt and cook on each side for 2-3 minutes until shrimp is opaque. Remove pan from heat. Toss with gremolata and serve.

Salmon with Fresh Strawberry Salsa

On June 4, 2019May 21, 2019 By Lorie FangioIn A Taste of Paris, TasteLeave a comment

Today I want to share a true go-to from my kitchen.

A standout topping that can be used on practically any grilled meat. My Fresh Strawberry Salsa over salmon is a true taste sensation. The sweet and savory blend of fruits and vegetables with just a hint of lime keeps you diving in for more with every single bite.

Try this idea with fruits and veg you have on hand and create your own flavor combinations; the key is to combine flavors you love.

Fresh salsas; a great way to brighten up any plate!

Do you have a delicious go-to you would like to share from your kitchen? Please tell us in the comment section!!

Salmon with Fresh Strawberry Salsa

1-2 pounds wild caught salmon

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

½ cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half

1 tablespoon red onion, finely chopped

½ orange bell pepper, chopped

½ poblano pepper, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh jalapeno, finely minced

½ cup fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped

1 lime, zested and juiced

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare salmon by brushing with Worcestershire sauce on both sides of the fish. Salt and pepper the fish generously and place it in a glass baking dish. Cook the salmon for 12-15 minutes until fat is bubbling to the surface. Meanwhile, prepare the salsa by combining all remaining ingredients and toss well. Season with salt and serve a generous amount of salsa on each portion of salmon.

A Taste Of Paris

Stone Fruit Chutney Over Brie-Oh My

Bastille Day Menu for your own Frenchie Celebration

Happy 4th- Celebrate with a Berry Tart!

Caprese Panini and HERBS at the Arboretum

Hope you will tell me your favorite herb! See you at the Arboretum!

Red or White?

Lorie’s Top 3 Paris Chocolate Bites

Register for Paris 2020 and be on my NEXT Chocolate Tasting!

Annick Goutal- Intoxicating, Fresh and Feminine

Christian Dior, a Fashion Legend

Join me for A Day of Dior

Friday, July 19th 2019- 8 tickets still available!

Join me for A Day of Dior

OR for A Taste of Paris 2020 and see Dior at Avenue Montaigne for yourself.

Shrimp with Basil Gremolata

Salmon with Fresh Strawberry Salsa

A Taste of Paris

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