Can’t believe I now have two aprons and two chefs hats from attending cooking classes two times in a row.

The last one on French Bistro Cooking was truly superb! First, I get to rediscover a cuisine that is famous for its snob appeal (excuse me, what is cuisse de grenouille again?) you also get to twist your tongue just saying it and you’re not even sure if it’s right. Then, we get to learn it first-hand from a jolly chef named Jean-Pierre Migne who was game enough to share us some of his expert tips and secrets.

Chef Migne, who is married to a Filipina, heads the kitchen at one of the metro’s much-acclaimed, most romantic Euro-Continental restaurant, Le Bellevue. Situated on the 27th floor of the Manila Diamond Hotel, this is the best spot to view Manila Bay in all its splendor and Manila’s thousand flickering lights at night.




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Originally uploaded by annalyn

French cooking uses a lot of wine and cheese. Our lessons for that day were the stuff $100 Valentine dinners are made of, and by taking the class, you can now impress your loved one and cook gourmet food in the privacy of your own home.

We were taught how to make -

Gratinated Oysters and Mussels with Mushrooms and Garlic Herbed Butter

Fried Camembert and Crabmeat in Pocket-Phyllo Paste with Mesclun Salad

Pan-Fried Chicken Breast Stuffed with Parma Ham and Emmenthal Cheese, on Pont Neuf Potato

Flambeed Strawberries with Green Peppercorns and Basil with Vanilla Ice Cream

French cuisine is truly refined and elegant and we were lucky to learn it all from a master Frenchman himself who also kept us amused with his humor and witty kitchen anecdotes. Among the precious cook’s lessons we got from Chef Migne: Don’t use salt with seafood because it is salty already. Always cook on slow fire when simmering food. The speed of cooking, the power of the gas, the quality of the pan …. affects the recipe. Your cooking should reflect your style of eating.

A shout-out to the bloggers (and fellow foodies!) who joined me in this class:) Am shown here with Nina, author of the fab travel blog Just Wandering

Also…. Christine, the author of the excellent food blog Gypsy Soul and Mrs. Awesome Planet Rache :) Not in photo is Marielli.

I forgot to wear my toque here but I like this photo. Makes me look like a certified culinary arts professional :P Wearing an apron and nothing but… is also sexy, don’t you think?

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Posted in Munchin' |