Frenchie by Greg Marchand

At first glance, I thought this book was not for me.  My initial thought was it is too sophisticated – I wouldn’t take the time to make these recipes for just us – and then I realized I am WRONG.

Greg Marchand who worked for Jamie Oliver who gave him the nickname Frenchie said, “I didn’t write this book to show you what I could do.  I wanted to show you what you can do.”  I love that.  Why shouldn’t I make incredible gourmet meals for just my small family? I do make new recipes all the time – but sometimes life’s busyness gets in the way and I resort to what can I put on the table relatively quickly and inexpensively. I do cook and make wonderful dishes for those times when we have company – but why should I think like that?  Why just for company?  We all deserve to make and eat wonderfully crafted and delicious tasting meals every day.

This book is approachable but sophisticated as well.  It is divided into seasons with a few dessert recipes in each season.

There is foie gras with cherry chutney.  I am not a fan of foie gras but I did make the cherry chutney and served it along side roasted chicken and pork.  It was delicious.  There are recipes for wild garlic broth with fresh crabmeat.  Again, my husband is not a seafood fan so I made the broth to make a chicken style soup and that was delicious as well.  I don’t look at books the same way some folks do – “oh there are a lot of “this type” of recipe – so I can’t use it” – of course you can – adapt.

Some of my favorite recipes from the book are crispy pollock and asparagus with Vin Jaune sauce and walnut pesto, watermelon, ricotta salata, mint and pine nut salad, bittersweet chocolate and wild strawberry tart, Spanish ham, corn, bell peppers and Kaffir lime, butternut squash risotto with amaretti, pork braised in milk with marinated fennel (pork braised in milk is incredible), and the Brillat-Savarin cheesecake with mango, passion fruit -all jump off the page with gorgeous photographs and brilliant details.

Don’t judge a book quickly – savor it – try some recipes, adapt.  You might find yourself surprised at “what you can do”.