Monaco

This Provençal bread tart is beautifully sweet and savory.

These green beans are cooked simply and mixed with a punchy dressing of lemon, cream and shallots, with an earthy kick from the fresh tarragon added just before serving.

These beauties are pan steamed with just a bit of salt and a bay leaf, creating tender fluffy potatoes, that are then skewered on rosemary branches and broiled or grilled to add a touch of browning and depth of flavor. Lovely to present and delicious.

Sweet and salty, these are perfect two bite appetizers with a lovely crunch. Super easy to put together and great for pre- or post-dinner.

Fougasse is a beautifully shaped loaf, that turns out to be simple to make! Serve with some homemade Tapenade and a fresh salad.

This salad has many of my favorite attributes: bright, hearty, easily made ahead and rested in the fridge until ready to serve, and surprising! The lime and honey tang and sweet with the earthy beets is such a great combination, but one that is unexpected.

This vegetarian version of the classic French sandwich has chickpeas and fennel accompanying the standard ingredients of olives, capers, parsley and vinaigrette.

The simplicity is really what makes this salad lovely.

Southern French tart, popular throughout the region.

For this race weekend menu I made a bit of “street fare”. Barbajuan, ubiquitous and popular in Monaco and Pissaladiere, a specialty of Nice.

A simple salad with a bright vinaigrette, perfect alongside a hearty dinner of gnocchi and mushroom ragu.

When I think Monaco, I think glitz, glamor, caviar, and champagne. And of course Daniel Ricciardo flying face first into the Red Bull pool after pulling off a redemptive win on the streets of Monte Carlo. 

Inspired by recipes of Chef Alain Ducasse (of Restaurants Paris, and  Le Louis XV - à l'Hôtel de Paris in Monaco, fame) I decided to make Gnocchi with a Mushroom Ragu. Served with a French Country Salad and simple french vinaigrette.

Monaco, oh, Monaco. If ever there were a dream of opulence and grandeur, you are it. With the nearest neighbors being France and Italy and sitting so elegantly on the Mediterranean sea, it is the setting of dreams.