© romytetue

Bistro French recipes are made special by the quality of the ingredients. The whole philosophy behind this style of cuisine is to stay true to French culinary heritage and use only the freshest ingredients.

Chefs in the US add their own spin on this philosophy by tweaking it to reflect the local produce of their regions as well. This is the case with Bistro Bordeaux in Evanston, Illinois. They are taking the classic French open-air dining concept to a new level with farm-to-table dishes that require a daily trip to the market for best and freshest produce. They select locally grown ingredients for their dishes, so that only produce picked at its ripest makes in into their menu selection. According to executive chef Christopher Walker, that makes a huge difference in terms of taste.

© avlxyz

Many American cooks love French recipes, but because of the lengthy ingredient lists and sophisticated techniques involved in many classic French recipes they are less likely to attempt them at home. A renowned chef trained in Cordon Bleu cooking methods wants to change that by offering simplified versions of French classics in his new book "French Classics Made Easy."

The book by Richard Grausman features 392 pages of recipes, including 10 minute souffles, a lighter and simpler version of a cassoulet that leaves out the duck fat, and a modern take on bouillabaisee. All the recipes have been reworked for modern kitchen equipment and techniques, and are more health-conscious then their classic inspirations as well. That doesn't mean there's less flavor, though, as all the classics from Biarritz cookies to quiche Lorraine make an appearance.

© Andrea_Nguyen

Classic French recipes are tasty, but the lengthy list of ingredients and arcane techniques discourage people from making them at home. Hence, Cordon Bleu-trained cooking teacher Richard Grausman decided to amalgamate 250 French recipes into a cookbook after tweaking them to suit the needs of the 21st century.
Grausman's cookbook named, 'French Classics Made Easy' makes French recipes quicker to prepare at home without using too much butter and cream. Priced at USD 16.95, the cookbook promises French recipes like soufflés in ten minutes and modern bouillabaisse or a lighter, simpler cassoulet within record time. Other classic French recipes featuring in the cookbook are quiche Lorraine, coq au vin, gratin dauphinois and chocolate-coated French cookies.