The feeling of
August
It’s the 11th of August. Almost the middle of the month, and I’m only now scribbling this little paragraph that I should have written much sooner. But as there was no power vested in me to create recipes, there was equally none to actually do anything — and that is for two very simple reasons, one of which most mothers, and a fair number of fathers, will sympathise with.
The first was simply the heat. The +37°C that dropped to +25°C and then climbed back to +39°C. Weather where, without air conditioning, one simply cannot cook properly — every cake baked heats the house by a few extra degrees, just like chicken breasts roasted to perfection in the oven.
But mostly, the reason for my silence and struggle has been something almost like a change of heart. I had read about the “empty nest”. I have friends — still do — who have let their children set off into life. But I was never quite prepared to be in that heartbreaking situation myself. You realise that her getting on that plane isn’t just a flight she’ll return from — it’s a journey into her own life, freedom, independence, and the adventure we all wish to embark upon. With that flight she didn’t just take my heart, but all of me — my dreams, my inspiration, my life, and my thoughts. Something I will need to work through.
So, as every mother would, instead of cooking and sharing love with my usual crowd, I jumped on a plane and went to Latvia, where they had gone three weeks prior. Mostly to hug her and her sister (she is coming back, so although I still feel the ache, it’s smaller) and to enjoy eleven days of food in the cafés and restaurants of Riga and across Latvia. I returned to my homeland and saw it with completely different eyes — the eyes of someone who knows that nothing compares to the place where your roots lie, no matter how much you love where you are now (Lyon, for me). And that was exactly what I needed: to recharge, centre myself, to appreciate, and to discover. And, that is why there is an article about Latvia and Riga, posted. Homeland for me. A place to visit for everyone.
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Step into the unforgettable
The French dream
Have you ever read a book, seen in a movie, or seen on social media how someone sets the most adorable and divine French dinner table? How can someone whip up the most incredible French dishes with such ease that it is almost unbelievable. Have you ever tried a light and airy chocolate or berry tart, wondering how the pastry can be so incredible, the same as admiring every bite of the salad someone has made for you? And then biting into that piece of succulent chicken, wishing you could make that. And have you ever dreamt of being in a place you have seen in a movie, wishing you could be one of those people eating on the terrace of that stunningly renovated French house, drinking wine, eating and laughing? I have good news for you. All of that and even more you will experience here in La Maison de Pommard. Discover and book
Travel
October cooking weekend menu
As October approaches, so does the joy of gathering with everyone and cooking these recipes together. Here is the menu for these three days. Discover
RECIPES
From simple appetisers and dinner dishes to easy-to-make cookies, tarts and more laborious cakes. But, mostly, all French and seasonal. Visit
HOME
From essentials like the softest and best-made duvets and cleaning materials to scents, candles, interior design accessories and all that makes your home the best place to live in. Visit
Drinks
One can pretend that a meal without wine is the best. But one can also be honest and say that it lacks that excitement of discovery. Some may say that coffee is the worst thing ever, exchanging it for tea or a chai latte, while others say that one cup of coffee is such a pleasure that it even times stops. And there is no right or wrong, as long as the product you use is made with respect, love and, preferably, a sustainable approach. Visit
BEAUTY
No matter the beauty rituals we have, we do have some. Some get by with a simple wash with soap. Some need four different products. Some crave an SPA visit every day, and some do not wish for anything annoying to their perfect, natural skin. I like to have a bit of everything, yet, as long as it is natural, clean and makes my mind and body happy. Visit
My latest recipes
Featured
EVENT
Cooking weekends in Burgundy
April x May 2025
