Top Chef

Before moving to Paris, my cooking skills were below average, embarrassingly below average.  My recipe repertoire consisted of Mexican, bruschetta and every once in awhile, lasagna.  I would spend lengthy amounts of time at the grocery store and market trying to conjure up recipes to impress my man.  I would mostly find myself stuck in the yogurt isle wondering how there could be so many different kinds and trying to carefully pick the best one.  When I realized I couldn't serve yogurt for dinner and all other options seemed bound for disaster, I would opt for Mexican...hoping my Chipotle-like burrito would knock his socks off.  I knew early on that Fred was probably frightened by my cooking skills.  At one point he sent me to the store to get lettuce and I am came home with cabbage...they kind of look alike.  I'm pretty sure that's why he only allows me to be his assistant in the kitchen which means doing the boring stuff like peeling vegetables.  While he cooks, I find myself hovering over his shoulder which I'm sure is super annoying but I do it anyway.  He has perfected the classics and is innovative with the basics not to mention his presentation is always sublime .  I remember trying to impress him with my lasagna, which wasn't bad, but he came around the next week and whipped one up that is seriously the best I've ever tasted and no, it wasn't made with horse meat.  I felt disappointed and defeated, but if I were to be better than him, perhaps he would stop cooking for me, so I'm going to remain a mediocre cook.  One of his best recipes is Osso Bucco...not his exact recipe as that needs to remain secret!

 

 





While I will never be a top chef, my cooking skills have improved over the year.  I even made cheesecake the other week which turned out shockingly well.  I have to give the credit of my progress to Fred and thank him for constantly surprising my taste buds! 

 

Bisous xx