On the eve of a deadline, I found myself sorting through various sources on La Saint-Valentin and the saint’s disputed origin while attempting to refine (no pun intended) the long history of chocolate into a few short paragraphs (after all, Valentine’s Day + France + love + chocolate + fail-proof ganache recipe = albeit obvious, the perfect February blog post.) Halfway through my rough draft, I received the news: Paul Bocuse - the “Pope of Gastronomy,” Meilleur Ouvrier de France, 3-starred Michelin chef dead. Personally, writing an article about an over commercialized (in the states; not France) holiday of whose origins are, if nothing else, bizarre to go along with a recipe for “the perfect ganache” seemed untimely and trite.

Stories, Lyon, Most PopularLibby OrozaJanuary 21, 2018Comment

Chef, Foodie, Francophone, & Farmer --- How Did I Get Here?

France was my ultimate foodie paradise. I enrolled into a 210-hour intensive “Cuisine & Culture” course at L’Institut Paul Bocuse where I learned traditional techniques, practiced important recipes, tried new flavors, listened attentively to history lessons, lost myself in stories and grew an even deeper appreciation for France, its food and its culture.Deborah Cater said, “You have to taste a culture to understand it.” So, in the spirit of Ms. Cater and throughout my culinary experiences, workshops, blog posts & instagram, let’s take a stroll through traditions and time, tastes and flavors, vivid colors and fond memories.

Stories, Lyon, Most PopularLibby OrozaNovember 1, 2017Comment

The Moment a French, 3-Star Chef Invites You To a "Little" Bar-b-Que at His Home in the French Countryside ... Plus a Recipe for Beef Paleron

"I propose you ... how you Americans call it - Bar-B-Que at my house next Saturday, oui?" So, on a sunny evening in June, at 7:30 pm, my husband and 2 culinary school friends of mine arrived at a quaint, two-story house just outside of St. Etienne, about a 45-minute drive outside of Lyon. Happy and excited, but not quite prepared for the culinary adventure that lay before us ...

Blog Posts