Banh Xeo Recipe

The exact translation of bánh xèo is a "sizzling cake that is deflating". The crêpe-shaped dish is made out rice flour, coconut milk and other herbs and spices. It's a lot thicker than the French version but equally delicious.

Bánh xèo is a specialty from Saigon, the region where my "Papa" comes from. When I was young back in France, I remember we would have family gathering every weekend with all my dad's family at Ông nội's (my paternal grandfather's home). Uncle Philippe (Chú mười) would be in charge of the cooking and he would make the most delicious bánh xèos, just like the ones available in the streets of Saigon. And now it's become one of our family's favorites. I try to make them when we have time on weekends and it's always a hit. As usual, I made one veggie version, as well as one filled with grilled meat and shrimp. These are great options, but the filling is really up to you!

Salmon Tortilla Pinwheel Appetizers

Salmon wasabi pinwheels are super easy to make. I prepared wasabi and dill-flavored cream cheese in advance and stored them in the refrigerator until dinner time. The assembling part is so simple a child could roll them. In fact, that’s exactly what we did. I let the kids prepare the rolls and then slice them into bite-sized pieces. We secured the cute appetizers with fancy hors d'oeuvre picks.

For those who can tolerate a little bit of heat, I topped the appetizers with wasabi flavored peanuts to repeat the same flavors from the filling. My husband Lulu brought them back from a recent trip to Texas. Lulu knows what a foodie I am so he always tries to find new products for me to experiment with. It’s not all that altruistic though, since he’s usually the beneficiary of these creations. Don’t I have the sweetest husband?

Fried Haddock Recipe

Haddock is a very popular white, firm-fleshed fish, but it can be bland if not seasoned properly. To enhance the flavor, I marinated haddock fish in white wine, ginger, lemongrass, red chili powder and crushed garlic. The fish was lightly coated in a little flour, then pan-fried until golden brown. It came out beautifully moist and wonderfully fragrant. I served it with vegetable couscous, but it makes the best filling for fish sandwiches as well.

I absolutely love fried seafood. I probably eat it more than I should. I have a few recipes that I always turn to when I need a fix, and this is one of my favorites. I always have to be careful whenever I cook seafood so I don’t scare off the vegetarians in my home. This particular fish doesn’t send them running for the hills, so it’s a perfect compromise.

Seared Scallops with Hollandaise Sauce

Papa (my dad) cooks only a few times a year. He cooks on Maman's birthday and on Valentine's Day. And I can already predict what he's going to make: my mom's favorite, coquille Saint-Jacques (scallops).

First he sears the scallops, then finishes the cooking in the oven. Papa doesn't cook very often but he cooks scallops to perfection. He's always been very macho, saying he doesn't help with the housework, but I know he's a true romantic. Every week he brings my mom her favorite flowers and he serenades her with Vietnamese songs (he just bought an electric guitar). They've been married for 36 years now. My husband Lulu and I have been married only for 6 years and I hope we're still as happy as my parents in 30 years. Lulu might not make me coquille Saint-Jacques, but I can always hope!

Fresh Oysters Topped with Chorizo Dressing

After raving about duck prosciutto, it's time to talk about some serious business because Valentine's Day is near at hand. My husband Lulu being a vegetarian doesn't mean that I don't get to get to enjoy a feast for our romantic meal on February 14^th. I don't know if food with aphrodisiac properties really exists, but I love oysters. During the holidays, Papa made his oyster specialty huîtres chaudes gratinées (oysters au gratin) but that's another recipe. This time around, I served them cold with a chorizo, ginger and lemon topping. And if your significant other loves oysters as much as I do, this might be the perfect starter for a romantic Valentine's Day meal.

While visiting the Château de Fontainebleau, I couldn't resist taking a quick tour of its open-air market, which was fabulous. I found the most delicious saucisses sèches (dry sausages), made of duck and turkey, and some with chorizo made from poultry meat, which tasted even better than the ones I remember from my childhood.