Food, travel and photography

Category: Chic dinner party recipes

Cinnamon–Cardamom Shortbread Cookies

Cinnamon–Cardamom Shortbread Cookies

These festive treats are perfect to make with children and wrap beautifully as gifts. For perfect cookies, I recommend storing them in a metal tin, lined with tissue paper, and packing them snugly so they don’t break. Enjoy them with green tea within 2 to 

PUMPKIN AND SQUASH SOUP IN THE STYLE OF POL GRÉGOIRE

PUMPKIN AND SQUASH SOUP IN THE STYLE OF POL GRÉGOIRE

This starter is inspired by the cookbook Vitalité Gourmande: les secrets de l’Alimentation vive written by Françoise De Keuleneer and Pol Grégoire. In this book, the recipes of Belgian chef Pol Grégoire, who sadly passed away in 2024, are inspiring, unexpected, easy to prepare, and 

The monkfish curry, madagascan way

The monkfish curry, madagascan way

This is an easy, flavorful, and festive dish — I never get tired of it. It’s inspired by a recipe by Blanche Vaughan that appeared in the English magazine House & Garden a couple of years ago. You can prepare it in two stages.

Zucchini rolls with goat cheese & lumpfish roe

Zucchini rolls with goat cheese & lumpfish roe

I love preparing these little delicious bites — if you have someone to help you with the assembly, it will be more fun, and they’ll be ready in no time!

SLOW COOKED LEG OF LAMB

SLOW COOKED LEG OF LAMB

In France, lamb is traditionally served for Easter in the spring season, but it is also available all year round as it is easily frozen too. This recipe can be prepared in different ways; this is my version of it but feel free to add 

VANILLA CHRISTMAS TREE COOKIES

VANILLA CHRISTMAS TREE COOKIES

These festive treats are prefect to make with children and to wrap up beautifully as gifts. For flawless cookies, I recommend storing them safely in a metal tin lined with tissue paper. Be sure to pack them tightly so they donc break. Enjoy them with 

FRENCH FOIE GRAS

FRENCH FOIE GRAS

Monsieur Ducasse shared this recipe on a radio show at least 20 years ago. I quickly grabbed a pen to jot down the details. You can substitute Port wine for Pineau, but I think that little touch of cognac really makes a difference. I’ve never 

MONKFISH TERRINE

MONKFISH TERRINE

It was during a very pleasant evening many years ago that I tasted this delicious dish, and I have Eliane to thank for the recipe.

APPLE ROSES

APPLE ROSES

This lovely dessert is easy to warm up! Although shaping the flowers is a bit tricky at first, once you’ve got the technique, you’ll finish the preparation in a breeze. You can even let your creativity take over and vary the toppings … for example, 

BLACK PUDDING SPICED WITH BANANAS & CINAMMON COOKIES

BLACK PUDDING SPICED WITH BANANAS & CINAMMON COOKIES

This dish is ideal when you don’t have much time but wish to impress your guests with an exotic unique delight. Moreover, it’s quick and easy to make. Served with a large green or mixed salad on the side, it stands as a main course 

Steamed turbot or wild-caught young turbot

Steamed turbot or wild-caught young turbot

Wild-caught turbot is a white meat lean fish and is precisely sought for its firmness and its exquisite qualities. It is quite a budget and the waste to remove after cooking is also substantial. It is rich in vitamins and proteins. Young turbots like to 

Limonana (Middle Eastern Mint Lemonade)

Limonana (Middle Eastern Mint Lemonade)

Limonana, also called Lemon & Mint Lemonade in the Middle-East, is very popular in Egypt, Israel, Lebanon and Jordan. There are so many versions! It is sipped during lunch, at bars on the beach, and grabbed on the go on a hot day. I’m sharing 

New York cheese cake

New York cheese cake

I started appreciating this dessert when I was living in Philadelphia. This is now one of my favorite desserts. There are so many cheese cake recipes, all of them delicious, but more or less easy to digest… This cheese cake is absolutely delicious, but I 

Endive tarte tatin

Endive tarte tatin

Inexpensive, easy to prepare, endives are low in calories. They have diuretic and digestive properties and are rich in minerals. So, don’t ignore them and add them to your fresh produce shopping list! They are a very pleasant seasonal side dish in its various forms

Shrimp profiterole with pastis and garlic cream

Shrimp profiterole with pastis and garlic cream

This recipe is incredibly delightful!!! Profiteroles are best when baked at the last minute (at most 2 hours before serving). However, the puffs’ dough as well as the garlic cream can be prepared early.

Alicante paella

Alicante paella

For a proper storage of your Paella pan between two paella dinner parties, I advise you to rub in some olive oil with a paper towel on the inner part of your pan. That way, your pan won’t rust.

Pine nut lamb keftas, dried barberry and chili

Pine nut lamb keftas, dried barberry and chili

Sabrina Ghayour, a Persian chef, lives in the United Kingdom and is known for preparing easy, delicious and colorful recipes. Her books have become great references for Persian cooking in the past few years. I love her cooking and I was very touched by her extreme kindness 

Christmas Toffee Barbara’s way

Christmas Toffee Barbara’s way

This is Barbara’s very own special recipe for Christmas Toffee. Believe me: it’s a killer! This is perfect as a homemade treat. It was a nice and delicious experience to watch Barbara make this delicious candy.

Forbidden Black rice with Gorgonzola and Speck

Forbidden Black rice with Gorgonzola and Speck

Brigitte is an outstanding cook as well as a great photographer. I took this picture myself, but I must admit that I am not as talented as she is! Do take a look at “Popote et Fleur de Sel”, her website, and check it up 

Mushroom cappucino

Mushroom cappucino

This very tasty dish is to be prepared 24 hours in advance. My friend Isabelle is now a nutrition coach, and runs cooking workshops in Brussels. She always has great new recipes to share with me.

French Flag Cocktail

French Flag Cocktail

This cocktail will always remain the symbol for the victory of France in the world soccer championship’s final on 15th of July  2018. Happy memories of a great time shared by the French people united in joy.

Persimmon goat cheese and roasted hazelnuts salad

Persimmon goat cheese and roasted hazelnuts salad

Choose firm and crunchy fuyu persimmons for this recipe as their pulp will not be too juicy. This variety is crunch, sweet, and best for salads.Thank you, Hélène, for sharing this delicious starter. Hélène’s French recipe website is now running under the name “Minute Papillotte”. 

Watercress velouté

Watercress velouté

This recipe is simple, savoury and doesn’t take much time. You may select any type of watercress, they all work! Be careful: watercress leaves are fragile so use them quickly once you’ve purchased them.

double chocolate French charlotte

double chocolate French charlotte

You may also moisten your ladyfingers with kirsch if you wish. If you do so, you need 1 cap of alcohol for 100 ml of water. Raspberry or other types of berry syrups are good too, according to Caroline. She just adds one layer of 

Moroccan style eggplant wraps

Moroccan style eggplant wraps

I forget who gave me this delicious recipe a long time ago but after making some changes along the way, this is my own version of this irresistible recipe! Many thanks anyways to my unknown contributor! 

Goat cheese truffles

Goat cheese truffles

Suzanne’s chives, raisins and pomegranate goat cheese truffles is an original and easy recipe that can be prepared ahead of time.

French Beurre Blanc my Way (butter sauce)

French Beurre Blanc my Way (butter sauce)

Champagne and shallots are the prime ingredients used in this recipe to flavour this butter sauce. White wine is also often used in this classic French cuisine recipe too … Don’t hesitate to try it!

Beetroot & goat cheese millefeuille

Beetroot & goat cheese millefeuille

Stylish, delicious, and festive do not necessarily mean expensive…No particular hardship for this beautiful recipe which tastes as good as it looks!

Laurene’s rice pudding

Laurene’s rice pudding

Another traditional dessert you may conveniently prepare a day in advance. In the shape of an elegant pie and presented with style on a pastry dish with fresh fruits, this Rice Pudding is a real delight. Along with fresh litchis or mandarines I just love 

Catherine’s tuna salad

Catherine’s tuna salad

On a bed of lettuce, as a tuna sandwich spread, or stuffed in a tomato this American Tuna Salad recipe is a winner in all families. You can even use it to make a delicious Tuna Melt! And if you have leftovers, it is still 

Lemongrass Scallops Skewers with Creamy Rice & Passion Fruit Sauce

Lemongrass Scallops Skewers with Creamy Rice & Passion Fruit Sauce

This is a real Chef’s recipe which I made adjustments to. I would like to address my very special thanks to the team of cuisine teachers from the Professional Cooking High School Escofier for letting me publish their recipe on my blog. You may find it on Page 25 

Karin’s crab meat and brandy o’gratin

Karin’s crab meat and brandy o’gratin

If you use light cream the dish turns out perfectly too. Karin likes to use chunks of crab rather than crumbs… As a starter this quantity is for 6 to 7 guests. As a main dish it serves 4 to 6 people.

STEPHANIE’S FRENCH CHICKEN LIVER PÂTÉ

STEPHANIE’S FRENCH CHICKEN LIVER PÂTÉ

Stéphanie, who is a great cook and who is used to organising large dinner parties, managed to convince me to make this fantastic recipe. Use one of your nice terrine dishes as it will be served on the table.