Today, from my cookbook in the making, how about we cook some hearty dish to taunt fall and winter? Come on Florida, give us a break with the heat! Time for cooler weather and some nice feel good food!

If you read my article about Pic du Midi in my Science Blog, you know that my family and I went and spent one night at the top of Pic du Midi, in one of the rooms used by astronomers when they stay up there, to enjoy the beauty of our Universe from up in the mountain! One year later, I reminisce about this fantastic experience for my family and I.

We had an amazing time, observing Jupiter, Saturn and a binary star, in between naughty clouds and at freezing temperatures, but, we also enjoyed a 1st class dinner, at about 3000 meters high in the sky... Astronomy and Gastronomy all in one!

Beware though! Drinking Champagne at this altitude will have some interesting effects on your body! Oxygen, already rarified, will feel like even more difficult to find in each breath you take, after drinking bubbles! LOL!

"The Pyrenees region is bursting with culinary produce of the most extraordinary flavours. The chef at the Pic du Midi, Marc Berger, selects and prepares these local delights"
From the official website: Pic du Midi

I highly recommend this amazing experience!

It's my birthday today! This month recipe is Bechamel Sauce... We French people put Bechamel in many dishes (Croque Monsieur, fish dishes, pies, Bouchees a la Reine, Gratins of any kind etc...) so to make a great Bechamel sauce is an important tool to have in your cook box!
Here is my recipe! Enjoy!

In my family in France, food has always been the center of the attention. It has also been the pretense for family reunion, talks, singing, and much much more.

I learned how to sing and harmonize when I was a child, during those many wonderful family reunions and diner, during which young and older family members would break into traditional "chansons paillardes" (naughty songs dated back from the Middle Age, supposedly sung by bored prison guards in castles). 

My uncles and my dad would play the roles of tenors and sometimes even baritone, whereas the ladies would sing soprano and even alto! The harmonies on these amazing melodies only rivaled with the naughty words of those songs, that were purposely bleeped by adults when kids were present... 

Also this happened because we had had a incredible meal that most likely had lasted at least 2 to 3 hours. And the singing would have already started half way through it...

I have been writing a cook book for a couple of years now. It takes time because I like to document the recipes with pictures. This cook book is directly inspired by my mom's and my family's cooking! No fancy schmancy recipes, just plain old traditional family French cuisine!

So here is first recipe of you: let's start simple with a salty cake with herbs and feta cheese. Perfect for before dinner drinks and nibbles, or an appetizer! Enjoy!