The success of our expanded vegetable and herb gardens this season inspires me to share my views on the importance of healthy eating for yourself, and for and with that special someone. This month I will begin a new series entitled To Your Health, sharing my philosophy on healthy cuisine. At home, preparing a repast for your someone special is an act of love, much more significant than presenting candy or flowers. The food is tempting but the energy you put into the preparation and serving of the meal is sexy. If you prepare a romantic meal, make it as wholesome and nourishing as possible. The use of whole pure ingredients will result in a better tasting and more nutritious repast. Knowing you are using the the best ingredients is important and lends to the romantic mood.
To Your Health
The harvest season is here and bountiful from the gardens at L’Auberge. The best way to cook vegetables is to steam, stir fry or bake, thereby preserving most of the nutritional content. Boiling a vegetable leeches valuable nutrients and deposits them into the water, those nutrients are lost if the liquid is thrown out. As often as possible, cooking liquids should be incorporated into recipes to retain nutrients. All my healthy cuisine tips may be found in the introduction pages of my Two for Tonight cookbook.
Please join us on Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30pm for a special wine dinner featuring wines from Domaines Ott and meet French winemaker Christophe Renard. Still operating as a family-owned winery, Domaines Otts’ three chateaux in the heart of Provence produce an extensive portfolio of Provençale wines, that as Christophe Renard remarks, “are made for gastronomy”, yet still remain approachable and fun. The evening’s selection will be paired with a special menu created by Chef Jacques.
We are honored to have been voted in the Top 100 Best Restaurants in America by Open Table Diner’s Choice. Open Table determines the list of honorees after analyzing more than five million reviews of nearly 19,000 restaurants across the country, all submitted by Open Table diners. The results are in, view the Top 100! Thank you to all our Open Table diners and all our patrons.
As we continue our Summer Music Series, we are delighted to provide music by the Lena Seikaly Trio during our Bastille Day Garden to Table Dinner. Lena Seikaly is a fresh voice on the national jazz scene and named one of Washington’s preeminent jazz singers. Lena is already making her mark as both a revivalist of traditional jazz vocals, as well as an innovator in contemporary vocal jazz styles. At press time, our Bastille Day Garden to Table Dinner is sold out. Our next Garden to Table Dinner is August 11th.
September 2015 will be a beautiful time of year for Chef Jacques’ River Cruise through Provence’s Rhône River Valley. Tauck’s ATaste of France seven-night cruise begins September 22, 2015, and Chef Jacques will be aboard to host special events and wine tastings. The trip offers a private dinner for Chef Jacques’ group at a famed brasserie in Paris before setting sail from Lyon. There are a few cabins still available on the MS Swiss Emerald.
In celebration of our 60th Anniversary, I want to share some French classic recipes. Entrecôte au Poivre with shallots and Dijon mustard is a classic and customer favorite that has been on our menu since Papa first opened Chez François in 1954, and will be the entrée for our Bastille Day Garden to Table Dinner on July 14.
Trefethen’s 2009 Dragon’s Tooth Red is from the rockiest part of their vineyard in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. Trefethen’s unusual blend of 67% Malbec and 18% Petite Verdot with some Cabernet and Merlot, is smooth and rich, but with firm tannins, showing black fruit and spice. It’s ready to tackle a ribeye just off the backyard grill, or our recipe of the month, Entrecôte au Poivre with shallots and Dijon mustard.
We are sharing the final two episodes, Two’s Company and Lover’s Fall Frolic from Chef Jacques’ acclaimed television show Two for tonight on Jacques’ TV located on our website home page. Download and follow the recipes in Jacques’ eBook as he demonstrates how you can cook up a little romance in the kitchen. All 13 episodes are packaged in a 6 DVD Two for Tonight Collection Set available from our website Store.
I want to congratulate Sally C. of Washington, DC for winning the June Monsieur François’ Profile Embellishment Competition. Sally will receive a $200 gift certificate to L’Auberge Chez François.
Be sure to follow L’Auberge Chez François on Facebook and Twitter to get updates on our nightly specials, events and recipes!
Happy Fourth of July and Happy Bastille Day to all!
Best Culinary Wishes,
Chef Jacques
L’Auberge Chez François 332 Springvale Rd Great Falls, VA 22066 Mail Us : chezlauberge@aol.com Call Us : 703-759-3800
