It’s my first “French Friday with Dorie” in Paris. One that I have cooked in my tiny tiny kitchen. I mean, it’s REALLY TINY. About 90cm across. See.
Not exactly a cook’s dream but hey, it’s in Paris, right? Beggars can’t be choosers. The apartment has a quiet bedroom and wonderful light. And, it’s in Paris. So the less than stellar kitchen (and equipment) I can cope with. When I saw this week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe was salmon en papillote, I balked a little, I have to admit. Firstly, I don’t eat salmon. Secondly, even though Dorie says this is a great recipe to try with white-fleshed fish, I am only still learning to eat fish and am not that great at preparing it myself. So I, well, chickened out, and bought chicken.
And to be honest (sorry Dorie!) I didn’t follow the (carefully photocopied before I left Canada) recipe. I just took handsful of stuff and threw them on top of the seared chicken breast..
Aren’t those tomatoes pretty? Even more so when they have been cut with this knife…
(this may or may not have been purchased on my first day here….)
And the result after 25 minutes in the oven?
A wonderful easy dinner to eat as I sit and prepare “exciting” lessons on the present perfect continuous. Not. Also perfect with my FAVOURITE French guilty pleasure…
Tipiak Céréales Méditerranéennes.
I mean, if you are going to have something out of a blue box, it might as well be this, right? 😉
Want to join French Fridays with Dorie? Join here.
French Fridays with Dorie participants do not publish the recipes on our blogs, rather, we prefer if you purchase Around My French Table for yourselves (trust me, you definitely want this book!) which you can do here on Amazon or Amazon Canada. Or for free worldwide shipping, buy from The Book Depository.
Keep up with me this summer through my Summer 2011 Flickr set. I will be updating this with day to day pictures (read: not all food photos!) fairly regularly so head on over there if you are interested. You never know what or who you might see there, like, you know… Dorie….
Delicious. I love that tiny kitchen. Very inviting.
Definitely very cozy!
Oh, Mardi! Looking forward to what your Paris Kitchen would brings!
🙂
I think you’re forgiven for taking some liberties with the dish as I think you’re the only person I know that would photocopy the recipe to continue with the FFwD while abroad!
Thanks for sharing your apartment.
Really? If you were here for a month you probably would follow FFWD too….
I adore that knife!! And your tiny skinny kitchen is beautiful too. As is being in Paris. I’m only slightly jealous …
Aw, sorry!!!
Ha my first apt. in Europe had a smaller kitchen than that – I blogged w/ only a hot plate and a toaster oven for months lol. Looks good, love the tomato knife 🙂
Yes when I first moved to Paris I had ONE hot plate and nothing else for about 2 years. Mind you I was not blogging then. My priorities have changed somewhat! This has a proper oven and a microwave and even a dishwasher – because everything is Europe sized, not North American giant sized!
Cooking en papillote is such a delicious way to cook proteins- I do fish that way all the time and it turns out moist and delicious. It also makes for a very elegant company meal.
Yes it’s definitely very elegant and a lovely little “present” to give one’s guests!
Bienvenue! So great that you’re here! That kitchen is actually not that small compared to some that I’ve seen 🙂 And believe it or not, I’ve never tried the Tipiak Céréales Méditerranéennes though I see it all the time in the supermarkets…thanks for the tip, I will definitely pick up a box this weekend! Would still love to get together if/when you’re free…I’m around the whole month of July myself.
Emailed you!
Oi! A new knife? Seriously?
Only just finsihed the Great Lawn Sale Episode to clear out goods…and am finding lots more to shuffle away to worthy patrons whilst you are not here.
– sigh –
😉
Not just a new knife but one to cut tomatoes!
…because the costly Henkels just doesn’t cut it? 😉
Small kitchen indeed but it’s perfect for a simple dish like this week’s. I love your comment of throwing fistful of stuff on the chicken. That was pretty much my approach too. I’m surprise that I haven’t seen parchment yet. Everyone’s using foil!
I would have done parchment but I happened to have aluminium on hand already…
You definitely made it your own and it looks absolutely delicious. Can’t wait to meet you next week!
Me neither!
That knife is adorable and I am so happy for you being able to cook for yourself while in Paris ! Neil will you please do a Ebay auction next time so all of Mardi’s friends from all over can get in on some of the goodies 😉
Nooooo! LOL!
Oh. My. God.
What a brillaint brainwave. If Mardi had not left me to deal with contractor and construction and shopping for exciting things like electrical breakers, circuit boxes, lights and such, then perhaps I’d have the time…
🙂
Haha, looks like a NY kitchen! I can def see it being a squeeze, though – but, hey, if Julia Child made her crazy Paris kitchen work… 🙂 Love that you’re keeping up with FFWD; you always do such a gorgeous job of it, and this chicken is no exception!
PS – That knife is epic.
The knife is, indeed, epic!
Love the cozy small kitchen… it’s in Paris! Tomate is both French and Spanish for tomato? I don’t think I learned that in my French MP3 lessons.
Of course noone learns anything useful in school French lessons. We all need kitchen and cooking vocabulary!
It’s time to embrace those little delicious fishies! :-). Though, I must admit that this chicken variation looks marvelous. Maybe next time you’ll be braver and try the pescatarian version 😉
Well if I were not cooking just for one I would have tried the proper dish…. And it’s not about being brave, it’s about what I like to eat. No point making something I won’t like if Neil is not there to eat it up 😉
I love your little apartment… Who cares about the size of the kitchen…you’re in Paris!!
I could not agree more and this is actually quite luxurious compared to some kitchens I had when I lived here.
Looks like a great meal. I would find that cute knife hard to pass up too. Love bringing home treasures for the kitchen.
Best souvenirs ever, right?
Love that knife. I always pick up something kitchen related when I travel! (a treat for me that doesn’t end up collecting dust)
Jealousy over being in Paris AND meeting Dorie!
I love collecting gadgets to remind me f my travels when I am cooking!
Glad to see you having a French Everyday with Dorie over there! I can barely squeeze into that tiny kitchen, but yes, you’re in Paris and everything else compensates for it ;-). En papillote is great for mostly everything, isn’t it? Great sub with the chicken!
Yes it’s a great technique that I never use. Glad to be reminded about it!
Wonderful blog! Paris – how amazing! The dish looked delicious and I love the tomatoes and the knife! I always wondered where you could inquire about the French Fridays – thank you for providing the link! I have looked at that cook book, picked it up a dozen times…maybe it’s time to buy it!
You definitely need to buy this book!
I think small kitchens encourage ingenuity. And love your new knife! Thinking maybe you should hunt down a “fromage” one as well…
Oh there is a fromage knife. And a few others. Ahem.
– sigh –
The kitchen is adorable. The advantage is that everything is in one place. I have a basement kitchen and I am constantly running up and down the stairs in the summer. The advantage is the exercise. I love the picture with you and Dorie. What I really focused on was the knife! I don’t need, but I want that!
Oh a basement kitchen, now that’s QUITE the challenge…
I had hoped to see someone do chicken this way. Great idea to sear first. I would gladly trade you kitchens if I could also have the rest of your apartment and location! You are dedicated!
Well you can always count on me to not make the fish, right? 😉
Love your kitchen. We’ve owned more houses than I can count, but our very favorite kitchen was a small galley kitchen very similar to yours. Great en papillote dish. You’ve made it look so pretty.
Sam
I think it’s also not the kitchen it’s what you do with it, right?
Mardi, I love the cozy kitchen! Indeed, it is Paris, and I can only imagine how much fun you’re having 🙂 I chuckled at your “chickening out with chicken” – but great way to cook en papillote. Loved this post, I’m living vicariously through you.
Cheers Liren!
Big J here over your opportunity to cook a Dorie meal in Paris, and meet Dorie. Great pics and great adaption.
Thanks. I am still quite giddy myself!
What a tight kitchen and I love the knife. So cute
Cute being the operative word for many things about this post – the kitchen, the knife….
Wow and I thought my kitchen was small! Perhaps I’ll stop my complaining 🙂 Your Chicken looks delicious.
It’s all relative – for Paris this is actually quite big!
Just saw your picture with Dorie – how fab that you met her in Paris! She’s so lovely!! I’m really looking forward to the meals you create in your Paris apartment. Love the knife too! (also looking forward to your Parisian purchases!)
There is SO much here that I want – need to win the lottery!
I’m with you on using chicken instead of salmon and it looks wonderful. I ♥ that knife and I would rather shop for utensils and things to fill up my kitchen drawers and pantry than I would for things to fill up my dresser and closet.
How often are you in Paris for heaven’s sake! Go and pick up the fromage knife and all the others 🙂
Yes Paula – and only because you told me to!
I love your little kitchen, it’s perfect. 🙂 It looks so yummy, and the knife is wicked cool. Ahhhh, to live in Paris, sounds so glamorous. 🙂
The kitchen is, in fact, all I need!
When you’re back in Canada I’m coming to your house and stealing that sweet knife! Ha, ha, ha. Just kidding…
It must of been sweet to cook on French Friday in Paris, regardless of the tiny kitchen size! Loving all your travel tweets too! Seems like you’re having a great time overseas.
The knife is, indeed, very sweet! And yes. it’s cool to cook in Paris 🙂
Yum, it looks great! Paris must be amazing, always wanted to go…