Chef Jodi has finally returned from her four-week culinary adventure from around the world, and she can’t wait to share all the delicious recipes that she picked up along the way!
Chef Jodi’s culinary adventure began in the Loire Valley, about an hour outside Paris, where she spent the day learning about food and wine with Cathy and Nigel Henson, owners of “Le Tasting Room.”
Not only were they the most gracious of hosts, but they showed Chef Jodi the finer aspects of wine pairing, while also introducing her to authentic French cuisine. Dining in their beautiful candlelit wine cellar, lunch consisted of smoked chicken cooked with roasted root vegetables and a curry, mustard and coconut milk dressing, and was followed by Cremet d’Anjou, a French dessert.
In addition to the delicious lunch, Chef Jodi enjoyed the extremely welcoming company of Maryse Tugendhat, the owner and winemaker of Chateau de Pimpean, a nearby Chateau built in 1435.
Chef Jodi was then off to the enchanting Auberge la Sansonniere, a lovely family-run 17th century French hotel located in the middle of the Loire Valley countryside. There, she had the pleasure of cooking with the hotel’s owner and chef, Frank Fuchs, a wonderfully kind man with an artist’s touch for food presentation.
Together, they whipped up Mint-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Braised Artichokes, a mouthwatering recipe she can’t wait to re-create for her guests at Lajollacooks4u! She spent the rest of her time in France strolling the streets of Paris and savoring the culinary delights she encountered during her week’s stay. Next stop: Italy!
