Chef spotlight: Catching up with Alexandra Launay, executive chef, Ladurée, Canada
Alexandra Launay has fond childhood memories of baking cakes with her mother. “I started very early,” she recalls, noting that French labour laws admit employment by those as young as 15. With several family members working in bakeries, Launay grew up in the pastry industry, and later left her hometown to train as a pastry apprentice in Paris, France. Working
The art of the tart: six delicious French tarts to make at home
When exploring Northern France, eye-catching pastries—most of which look too pretty to eat—are the norm. Here are seven must-try tarts with ties to Normandy and Lyon, complete with recipes so you can get your fix at home. Tarte tatin While tarte tatin didn’t originate in Normandy, it’s grown in popularity to be one of the most sought-after tarts in the
Finding Tahiti’s famed “black gold” in the Society Islands
Karen Barr visits a traditional vanilla bean farm in Taha’a, the Society Islands, to understand the fragile cultivation process behind one of the world’s most sought after spices. Tahitian vanilla is some of the best in the world, earning the label Black Gold in Tahiti and The Society Islands. Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world after
Where to find the best French food in the gastronomy capital of the world
On a trip to Lyon, France, Christine Roberti frequents bustling cafes, samples gourmet desserts and French cheeses at a renowned food hall and enjoys multi-course lunches and dinners at a handful of Michelin-starred spots—only to find that the heart of Lyonnaise cuisine truly lies in the city’s homey bouchons. In the fall of last year, I travelled to France for
Here’s what it’s like to do a whiskey tour at the Jameson Distillery in Dublin, Ireland
I’m not a beer drinker. When I went to Ireland, I was the elderflower-gin-and-tonic-served-in-a-fishbowl in pubs overflowing with Guinness pints. But I do love a good whiskey, so when I found myself in Dublin, it was an easy pick between visiting the famous Guinness Storehouse or the legendary Jameson Whiskey Distillery on Bow St.—the two are a mere 20-minute walk
Eight must-try foods for visitors to Canada’s spectacular Northwest Territories
When people think of the Northwest Territories, the term ‘culinary hotbed’ may not be the first thing that jumps to mind. But with some of the purest waters and least spoiled lands left on the planet, this vast territory is host to fresh plants and wild game that have inspired countless traditional recipes and many innovative chefs. From caught-that-day fish