Category Archives: Food Tales

The Mysterious Death of a French Chef

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Chef Jean Poinard
Chef Jean Poinard

I write of a true and tragic tale; one that sounds like a script for a movie. The people are real and the local family suffers a terrible loss.

Recently, I entered a contest to win a day in the kitchen with Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard, owner of Bistro de Leon in St. Augustine, Florida.  I always thought the restaurant name came from Ponce de Leon, the Spaniard who claimed he discovered the Fountain of Youth in that city.  Little did I realize the name also worked for Lyon, the city regarded as the culinary capital of France and former Poinard home. 

I hope to win the contest to naturally improve my cooking skills, impress my guests, and also to meet Chef Jean-Stephane as he seems so likeable in this video. He is a fifth generation chef and a true bon vivant. 

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Laura’s Luscious Layer Cake and Chocolate Frosting

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Just before my daughter, Laura goes off to college, she decides to start baking. Go figure. This is the second time she has made a very complicated triple layer chocolate cake. Although the  cake is exceptionally moist, rich and dense, it’s the frosting that’s a killer.

The recipe for the deep chocolate frosting has only three ingredients, but don’t let that fool you.  This creamy icing takes about two and half hours to make!!  It covers beautifully and tastes like chocolate heaven.

Is it worth it? Yes.  If time is a priority, skip making the cake from scratch, but do try the icing.

Visit Martha Stewart.com to see a video of Martha and Mrs. Milman making the dessert. This, by the way, is what convinced Laura to give it a try.

Be sure to visit other favorite food blogs every Wednesday.

WanderFood Wednesday.

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