I grew up in a small village outside Lyon, where my grandmother taught me that the best meals come from respecting your ingredients. After training at Le Cordon Bleu and spending years in Parisian kitchens, I moved to San Francisco and fell in love with California's farmers markets and wine country. Now I cook the food I wish my grandmother could taste—French technique with California abundance, where a perfect roast chicken might come with Meyer lemon and wild fennel instead of tarragon.
Recipes
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Broiled Black Mission Figs with Melted Camembert & Meyer Lemon Honey
When the late afternoon sun dips low and you've just poured a chilled, skin-contact Chenin Blanc, you need a snack that takes exactly zero effort. We are halving jammy black mission figs, topping them with earthy Camembert, and broiling until completely melted and blistering. A drizzle of Meyer lemon-spiked honey and a crunch of pistachios finishes the trick—it's a perfect California-meets-Paris apéro bite.
Pan-Roasted Chicken Thighs with Melted Shallots & Santa Rosa Plums
To me, a perfect bistro lunch isn't complicated; it just requires a little patience and a very hot oven. We're starting these bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs in a cold skillet to render all that glorious fat, yielding shatteringly crisp skin. Then we bathe them in a pan jus of melted shallots, juicy California plums, and salty Castelvetrano olives, pulled together with a splash of whatever natural white wine you're drinking.
Pacific Cod en Papillote with Artichokes, Crushed Olives & Meyer Lemon
Cooking en papillote is the ultimate French parlor trick—it sounds intimidating but is actually the easiest, most forgiving way to cook fish. I’ve swapped heavy cream sauces for the bright California sun: zesty Meyer lemon, buttery Castelvetrano olives, and tender artichokes. As the parchment packet bakes, it creates a gorgeous, briny, wine-laced broth that begs for a heel of crusty baguette.
Composed Ventresca Tuna & Haricots Verts Salade with Grapefruit-Shallot Vinaigrette
A sun-drenched reimagining of a Parisian bistro lunch. We're skipping the heavy potatoes of a classic Niçoise and leaning into vibrant California summer crunch. Premium oil-packed tuna belly gets arranged with perfectly blanched snap peas and haricots verts, creamy avocado, and my signature jammy eggs, all tied together with a zippy ruby red grapefruit vinaigrette. It's meant to be composed on a big, beautiful platter and devoured with a chilled glass of skin-contact Pinot Gris.
Chilled Cantaloupe & Lillet Velouté with Lime-Whipped Crème Fraîche
In southern France, it is almost a religion to start a summer meal with chilled melon and Port. But out here in California, I find Port a bit heavy for a 90-degree July afternoon, so I created this sun-drenched alternative. It is a ridiculously refreshing, icy purée of sweet melon and cucumber, brightened with lime and spiked with floral Lillet Blanc.
Moules au Pastis with Melted Fennel & Bright Citrus
There is a very specific kind of magic that happens when you slowly melt fennel and shallots in good butter, then hit the pan with a splash of anise-scented Pastis. In this coastal bistro classic, I skip the heavy cream and finish the golden broth with bright Meyer lemon and fresh tarragon. Grab an absurdly large piece of grilled sourdough—you are going to want to soak up every last drop of this California sunshine.
Stories
View allBroiled Black Mission Figs with Melted Camembert & Meyer Lemon Honey
Earthy French funk meets bright California sunshine in this zero-effort apéro bite that pairs perfectly with a chilled natural wine.
July 12, 2026
Pan-Roasted Chicken Thighs with Melted Shallots & Santa Rosa Plums
Shatteringly crisp chicken meets jammy California stone fruit and melted shallots in this effortless, sun-drenched take on a French bistro classic.
July 10, 2026
Pacific Cod en Papillote: A French Parlor Trick with California Sunshine
Cooking en papillote sounds intimidating, but it's actually the easiest way to cook fish. I've swapped heavy French cream for bright Meyer lemon, buttery olives, and tender artichokes.
July 8, 2026
A Sunny Take on the Niçoise: Ventresca Tuna & Haricots Verts Salade
Skip the heavy potatoes. We're leaning into California crunch with premium tuna belly, jammy eggs, and a zippy grapefruit-shallot vinaigrette.
July 6, 2026