The book was The Apprentice by Jacques Pepin. He is the author of 21 cookbooks including this one, his memoir, and Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home. (Julia Child)
He had a very interesting life. He was born in Bourg-en-Bresse France and was very well known in America. He co-starred in the PBS Series Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home and has been a judge on Top Chef. He is known for his French/American cooking. He also was the chef to Charles DeGaulle and many U.S. Presidents.
There were many amusing stories that he told in the book. One that I remember is that he and his friend loved to cook with the whole of the animal. This story involved calve’s heads. Not being able to find them in the U.S., he asked a friend in France to send him a crate. It arrived and there were about two dozen cow heads in this crate. They couldn’t get to them in a timely fashion so they started to decay and stink! They decided to toss them into the ocean, killing two birds with one stone. Fish food and getting rid of stinky cow heads. Feeling that they had accomplished their task, they drove back home and forgot about it, that is until they read in the paper that cow heads were mysteriously turning up on a beach on the east coast!
I made a soup that is extremely easy and delicious. It is Peasant Soup.
In the bottom of a bowl, you add croutons, (I make my own and very garlicky) add some grated Gruyere cheese, hot chicken stock and diced chives on top.
Another dish we had was Eggs Jeanette. Jeanette was Jacque’s mother. Jeanine made this dish.
https://rhubarbandhoney.com/2012/02/18/eggs-jeanette/
Lynne made a Nicoise salad and Joanne made a Lemon Posset.
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/jacques-pepin-makes-lemon-posset/23055/
Dee Dee made Salmon Gravlax and Babs, our hostess with the mostest, made yummy cocktails and a cheese and cracker plate.
https://www.recipetineats.com/cured-salmon-gravlax/
It is almost time for our next club meeting and luncheon which will be for the book “Where the Crawdads sing” by Delia Owens.
Stay tuned………
