Stories by Marguerite Lavigne
20 stories
Broiled 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
Chilled Cantaloupe & Lillet Velouté: A Summer Romance
Trade heavy Port for bright Lillet in this icy, sun-drenched twist on a southern French summer classic.
July 4, 2026
Moules au Pastis with Melted Fennel & Bright Citrus
Forget the heavy cream. We are taking classic French mussels and giving them a bath in Pastis, Meyer lemon, and golden California sunshine.
July 2, 2026
The California Complète Buckwheat Galette
I love a Parisian café classic, but this buckwheat galette gets a West Coast twist with blistered shallots, creamy avocado, and my favorite jammy egg.
June 30, 2026
The Cheat Code to Summer: Sun-Drenched Heirloom Tomato & White Nectarine Tart
Why bake beautiful summer tomatoes into mush? Here is my California-meets-Paris cheat code for the ultimate sun-drenched, raw heirloom and white nectarine tart.
June 28, 2026
A Sunny Parisian Morning in California: Soft-Folded Eggs with Molten Goat Cheese
Swap the heavy cream for bright citrus and ribbons of summer squash. These soft-folded eggs with pockets of molten goat cheese are pure California sunshine with a French soul.
June 26, 2026
Quick-Seared Ahi Tuna Niçoise with Blistered Beans & Avocado
I stopped apologizing for messing with the classic Niçoise years ago. Here is my bright, California take on a French bistro staple, featuring fiercely blistered beans and creamy avocado.
June 24, 2026
Sun-Drenched Chicken Paillard with Shaved Summer Squash & Avocado
A proper bistro lunch should feel like a little vacation. Grab your mallet and let us turn humble chicken breasts into a golden, citrus-kissed California dream.
June 22, 2026
Summer Corn & Halibut en Papillote with White Nectarine-Basil Relish
En papillote is just a fancy French term for baking in parchment, but to me, it means dinner is a little gift you get to unwrap.
June 20, 2026
Cake for Breakfast: My Caramelized Shallot & Crème Fraîche Cake Salé
Why should dessert have all the fun? Meet the Parisian cake salé, reimagined with sweet caramelized shallots, tangy crème fraîche, and bright California citrus.
June 18, 2026
Pan-Roasted Bavette with Warm Fingerling & Avocado Salade
A California twist on the classic Parisian steak frites, swapping heavy fries for a bright, warm fingerling and avocado salad tossed in Meyer lemon vinaigrette.
June 16, 2026
Mouclade Californienne: Vadouvan Mussels with Shishitos & Avocado
Swap the heavy cream for bright citrus and warm avocado in this playful West Coast spin on a French bistro classic.
June 14, 2026
A Lazy Morning in Provence: Herby Oeufs Brouillés & Blistered Sungolds
Swap the hurried morning rush for these luxuriously slow, herby scrambled eggs piled onto garlic-rubbed toast with sweet, bursting California tomatoes.
June 12, 2026
Tarte à la Tomate Californienne
When heirloom tomatoes are bursting at the market, I trade heavy French classics for this bright, shatteringly crisp tart paired with a chilled Chenin Blanc.
June 10, 2026
Halibut en Papillote: A Little French Magic, A Lot of California Sun
The oldest bistro trick in the book gets a West Coast twist with shaved fennel, natural wine, and a melting avocado-tarragon butter.
June 8, 2026
Crispy Duck Confit & Slow-Roasted Apricot Salade
Shatteringly crisp duck confit meets jammy, slow-roasted summer apricots in this unapologetic midday feast that pairs perfectly with a chilled natural wine.
June 6, 2026
Chilled Golden Squash Velouté with Avocado Crema & Jammy Eggs
A classic French velouté meets the bright California sun. Silky, refreshing, and finished with a jammy egg—no heavy cream required.
June 4, 2026