Je T’aime: Ways to Say ‘I Love You’ With French Cuisine
February 2, 2012
•Le Cordon Bleu
•St. Louis
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Je T’aime: Ways to Say ‘I Love You’ With French Cuisine
Even if you don’t speak a word of French, chances are you have heard it enough to realize nearly everything said in French sounds romantic. Capture this same sentiment in the universal languages of love and food. Perhaps you and your Valentine dream of a Parisian getaway, why not bring as much of Paris to you as you possibly can? French culture has long been paired with the idea of whirlwind romances, tasty food and fantastic, intimate and candlelit meals shared between lovers. It would be great if you could simply travel to Paris whenever the need for a bit of extra romance revealed itself, however, for most people, this is not an option. But, you can take a break from the traditional Missouri culinary scene and escape to your own little private bistro for two.
Setting the mood:
Preparing for a night of romance should begin before you even step foot into the kitchen. First begin by preparing the dining room. If you have never been to Paris, try searching for photos of some of the most romantic Parisian bistro settings and try recreating the look and feel in your own dining room. Gather bunches of fragrant and elegant flowers, decorate with low lighting and lots of candlelight. Buy or download an album of some authentic Parisian music and set a small table for two. Choose your wine, appetizer, entrée and dessert and get ready for a night of romance.
Preparing the meal:
The French are in love with bread and cheese. If you have not completed a cooking program or have no full on kitchen experience, preparing a fruit and cheese plate is a simple and romantic appetizer. Many grocery stores have a gourmet cheese section. Many of these specialty cheeses are listed along with their origins and uses. Pick out four or five that fit well with the Parisian theme and select your favorite fresh fruits. Try also adding figs and other dried fruits for decoration. Warm a baguette in the oven and serve with a drizzle of olive oil. Choose a traditional French entrée and collect all the necessary ingredients the day or two before Valentine’s Day to avoid the last minute market rush.
After the meal:
Present your love with a chocolate mousse or some fine French chocolates. Rent a French movie with subtitles and learn a few romantic French phrases to try out over dessert. You can even go a step further and try writing your own love letter in French. Don’t worry, if you are not already fluent in French, there are several online translating programs that can help you cheat a bit on this one.
If perhaps a European trip is not in the cards for this year, try these tricks for bringing Paris right to your own private Missouri culinary creation.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in St. Louis. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in St. Louis offers culinary arts and patisserie and baking training programs in St. Louis, Missouri area. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/St-Louis for more information.
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