Category Archives: Thomas Keller/French Laundry/Et Al

Bouchon Bakery’s Incomparable Blueberry Muffins

Just try to resist these perfect blueberry muffins.

Imagine a muffin that’s moist through and through, tender and fluffy rather than dense, filled with plump blueberries, and crowned with a majestic halo of crunchy, nutty streusel.

Leave it to one of the world’s best chefs, Thomas Keller, to elevate the humble blueberry muffin to a work of art.

I’ve had these many a time at his Bouchon Bakery in Yountville.

But with the publication of his “Bouchon Bakery” (Artisan) with his Executive Pastry Chef Sebastien Rouxel of the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, I can now make them happily at home. The cookbook, of which I recently received a review copy, includes 150 recipes for pastries and breads. Some like the Pear Feuilletes, made with homemade puff pastry, are geared to the more skilled baker. But there are plenty of others such as the Chocolate Chunk and Chip Cookies that novice bakers will embrace.

The “Blueberry Muffins” are quite simple, too. Keller writes in the book that the key to a great muffin is resting the batter overnight in the refrigerator. This allows the flour to absorb all the liquid, resulting in a very moist muffin. Plus if you make it the day before, it’s all set to go for baking in the morning. What a way to wake up.

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Marc Forgione Visits Macy’s, Chance to Win Dinner at Every Yountville Restaurant & More

Meet Chef Marc Forgione at Macy's. (Photo courtesy of the chef)

Chef Marc Forgione at Macy’s Union Square

Tonight at 6 p.m., head to Macy’s Union Square San Francisco to watch Chef Marc Forgione cook up a holiday feast.

The winner of Season 3 “The Next Iron Chef” will demo how to make turkey leg roulade, maple whipped sweet potatoes, and a Honey Crisp apple and dried fruit cobbler.

Forgione, chef-owner of Restaurant Marc Forgione in New York, is also a member of the Macy’s Culinary Council.

Attendees must RSVP for this event by clicking here.

Win a Chance to Eat at Every Single Yountville Restaurant

How would you like to win a chance to dine at every restaurant in Yountville, including the French Laundry?

With more Michelin stars per capita than any other city, that’s saying something, too.

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Three Big Names Star At Cookbook-Signing Events

Get your cookbook signed by Thomas Keller at two upcoming events. (Photo courtesy of the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group)

Thomas Keller

Join famed Chef Thomas Keller at Sur La Table, where he’ll be signing copies of his fifth cookbook, Bouchon Bakery (Artisan).

Nov. 15 at 6 p.m., Keller, proprietor of the French Laundry, Ad Hoc, Bouchon Bistro and Bouchon Bakery, will be on hand at the Palo Alto Sur La Table.

The next day, Nov. 16 at noon, he’ll be at the branch at San Jose’s Santana Row.

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Orange & Black Attack in Honor of the SF Giants and Halloween

Do you think of the SF Giants when you look at this risotto dish? You should! (Photo courtesy of Prospect restaurant)

Prospect’s Ode to the SF Giants

In honor of the San Francisco Giants’ winning streak, Prospect restaurant in San Francisco has created a new dish that sports the team’s trademark colors.

Black risotto with uni and a gently poached egg is a most appropriate dish to celebrate this classy baseball team’s triumphs, don’t you think?

The $16 dish is not on the regular menu. Those in the know just need ask for it.

Chef Pam Mazzola plans to make it available as long as the Giants keep winning or fresh sea urchin is available.

The "Humm Baby'' cupcake from Sift Cupcake + Dessert Bar. (Photo courtesy of Sift)

Sift Cupcake’s Sweet Salute to the Team

Starting today, Sift Cupcake + Dessert Bar in San Francisco, will be baking up the “Humm Baby” in honor of the Giants.

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Ad Hoc and Bouchon Bakery Gluten-Free Mixes

Yup, these are gluten-free.

For those suffering from gluten allergies or intolerance, Chef Thomas Keller comes to the rescue.

His line of baking mixes, sold exclusively by Williams-Sonoma, makes use of his own “Cup 4 Cup”  custom-blended gluton-free flour, which has proven a runaway hit. Cup 4 Cup, which also is sold at Williams-Sonoma for $19.95 for a three-pound bag is in such high demand that when I tried to get a sample bag earlier this year, I was told it was on back order for three months. It’s a blend of cornstarch, white rice flour, brown rice flour, milk powder, tapioca flour, potato starch, and xanthan gum that can replace all-purpose flour in a recipe in a direct 1-to-1 ratio.

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