Recipes by Marguerite Lavigne
20 recipes
Pan-Roasted Heritage Pork Chops with Melted Shallots, Crisp Apples & Cider-Dijon Pan Sauce
Thick-cut bone-in pork chops get a deep golden sear in cast iron before basting in foaming cultured butter and thyme. Paired with sweet-tart caramelized apples and a silky, pan-deglazed cider Dijon reduction, this is French bistro cooking at its coziest and most vibrant.
Crispy Roasted Duck Leg Confit with Burst Grapes, Melting Shallots & Meyer Lemon Jus
Rich, meltingly tender duck leg confit is roasted until the skin shatters like parchment, surrounded by sweet California grapes and baby shallots caramelized in duck fat. Finished with a quick, pan-deglazed Meyer lemon-thyme reduction, this is bistro evening elegance at its most effortlessly chic.
Crisp Fuyu Persimmon, Avocado & Shaved Comté Bistro Salade with Light Tangerine-Shallot Vinaigrette
A radiant Californian bistro lunch celebrating autumn's sweetest treasure: honeyed, crisp Fuyu persimmons paired with buttery avocado, peppery watercress, and nutty 18-month Comté. Tied together with an ethereal tangerine and Champagne vinegar emulsion, this dish proves that French technique shines brightest under the Pacific sun.
Bistro Fig, Shaved Fennel & Warm Walnut-Crusted Goat Cheese Salade with Champagne-Shallot Vinaigrette
A vibrant celebration of early autumn featuring jammy Kadota figs, crisp shaved fennel, peppery arugula, and golden, warm walnut-crusted chèvre medallions. Tied together with an ethereal, sparkling Champagne-shallot vinaigrette that cuts right through the luscious richness. It is French bistro elegance bathed in crisp California sunshine.
Sun-Drenched Bistro Poached Eggs with Melted Leeks, Crisp Lardons & Meyer Lemon Hollandaise
Nothing evokes a crisp Sunday morning in a Parisian bistro quite like silky poached eggs over warm, buttery melted leeks. I've given this beloved Saint-Germain breakfast a sunny West Coast lift with vibrant Meyer lemon, smoky crisp lardons, and fresh chervil over crusty levain.
Crisp Pear, Endive & Roquefort Bistro Salade with Quick Hazelnut Vinaigrette
A love letter to Parisian café lunches refreshed with golden California light. Crisp Warren pears, bitter Belgian endive, and pungent Roquefort are brought together by an effortlessly shaken Champagne-hazelnut vinaigrette that emulsifies in seconds.
Light-Roasted Delicata Squash & Castelfranco Salade with Meyer Lemon Chèvre and Bayonne Crisps
Autumn in Santa Monica by way of Saint-Germain: tender, caramelized delicata squash tossed with bitter, speckled Castelfranco chicory and crackling shards of French Bayonne ham. Pillows of citrus-whipped chèvre and a fragrant hazelnut-shallot vinaigrette keep every bite sun-drenched and vibrant.
Pan-Seared Black Mission Figs & Crispy Halloumi Salade with Walnut Vinaigrette
Late-summer California Black Mission figs caramelized in brown butter and aged sherry vinegar, paired with golden pan-seared halloumi over crisp chicories. Finished with toasted walnuts and an herbaceous Meyer lemon-shallot vinaigrette, this is bistro lunch luxury at its absolute best.
Roasted Butternut Squash Bistro Salade with Jammy Eggs & Warm Pancetta-Shallot Vinaigrette
A love letter to early autumn bistro lunches, marrying caramelized roasted butternut squash with bitter frisée, sweet crisp apples, and rich jammy eggs. Everything gets bathed in a sizzling pan-made shallot vinaigrette spiked with crispy pancetta lardons and bright Meyer lemon.
Honey-Roasted Fig & Pistachio Feuilletés with Citrus Mascarpone
Crisp, flaky layers of golden puff pastry cushioned with a bright Meyer lemon and orange blossom mascarpone cream, topped with jammy roasted Black Mission figs and crunchy pistachios. It brings the pure indulgence of a Parisian morning bakery straight to your sunny California breakfast table.
Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Blackberries, Charred Shallots & Pink Grapefruit Gastrique
Crisp, perfectly rendered duck breast meets the brilliant acidity of a pink grapefruit and late-summer blackberry gastrique. Paired with sweet charred shallots and creamy slices of ripe California avocado, it is Parisian bistro elegance served under a warm golden-hour sky.
Raspberry & Meyer Lemon-Thyme Brown Butter Financiers
Crisp on the edges with a remarkably tender, nutty brown butter heart, these Parisian bistro morning classics get a sunny West Coast twist with juicy summer raspberries, Meyer lemon zest, and a gentle herbal kiss of fresh thyme.
Seared Bavette Steak & Heirloom Tomato Salade with Avocado & Warm Shallot Vinaigrette
A vibrant Parisian bistro classic given a sun-drenched California twist. Tender, quick-seared bavette steak is sliced thin and layered over juicy heirloom tomatoes, ripe avocado, and wild arugula, all brought together with a warm pan-juice and shallot vinaigrette.
Pan-Seared Day-Boat Scallops with Melted Leeks & Sparkling Wine Pan Sauce
Plump sea scallops seared to golden perfection, resting on a bed of silky melted leeks and bathed in a bright, butter-mounted sparkling wine pan sauce. It brings the breezy sophistication of a coastal French bistro straight to your weeknight table with zero fuss.
Rustic Late-Summer Plum & Lemon-Thyme Danishes
Flaky, buttery puff pastry cradles a velvety almond frangipane and sweet sliced plums, finished with a warm drizzle of lemon-thyme infused honey. It brings the cozy magic of a Parisian morning bakery right into your sunny California kitchen.
Sunny Apricot & Orange Blossom Oranaise
A beloved French morning pastry updated with California sun, featuring crisp puff pastry folded over velvety orange blossom frangipane and sweet, jammy summer apricots. Glossy with a warm apricot glaze and sprinkled with toasted almonds, it brings pure Parisian bistro bliss straight to your breakfast table.
Pan-Seared Duck Breast & Fresh Fig Bistro Salade
A bright, elegant Parisian-style bistro lunch featuring crispy duck breast, sweet pan-seared Black Mission figs, and jammy eggs. Tossed with peppery wild arugula, creamy avocado, and a crunchy pistachio-shallot vinaigrette.
Blackberry & Meyer Lemon Crème Fraîche Brioche Bressane
A sun-drenched California twist on the classic Lyonnais morning pastry, these soft, golden brioche rounds are filled with tangy Meyer lemon crème fraîche and plump August blackberries. As they bake, the berries burst into sweet-tart, jammy pools amidst a crunchy crown of demerara sugar.
Pan-Seared Pacific Halibut with Sweet Corn Coulis & Sungold-Avocado Vierge
A golden, pan-seared halibut fillet resting on a velvety sweet corn and melted leek coulis, crowned with a vibrant Sungold tomato and avocado vierge. It is pure late-summer French bistro cooking with a sunny West Coast twist.
Pan-Seared Chèvre Chaud with Heirloom Tomatoes & Meyer Lemon Vierge
A sun-drenched bistro favorite straight from the outdoor patio scene in Paris—reimagined with a bright California shine. Warm, crispy pan-seared goat cheese medallions sit atop juicy peak-season heirloom tomatoes, ripe avocado, and a fragrant Meyer lemon and tarragon vierge sauce.