bonjour, food friends!
Since 1997 C'est si Bon! Cooking School, serving Chapel Hill, Durham, Cary, and Raleigh has been devoted to teaching hands-on old world culinary technique to aficianados of good food of all ages. Why? Because cooking together is one of the richest and simplest connections to a full plate at life's table!
On three acres, with a wood-fired bread oven, aromatic herb and seasonal vegetable garden, as well free-roaming chickens; we are well-known for our Kid-Chefs programs, Carolina On My Plate Teen-Chef Programs, Corporate Team Buildings, and One to One Classes. Come join us in the kitchen soon!
C'est si Bon! is the perfect setting to recharge, invigorate and challenge. We are fortunate to live within a bounty of Farms and Markets and we support cooking seasonally and locally whenever possible.
So, whether you have just retired from a stressful executive position, are getting married for the first (or second!) time, or are a 10-year-old who watches Top Chef, we are interested in you being the star, not us...
We are not about the "show"; we want you to get your hands in the dough!
Merci Beaucoup!
Dorette and Rich
Dorette and Rich
c'est si bon news
Bastille Day Special! 10 percent!
July 14, 2014 - 6:11am | by dorette
KID CHEFS! ALL SOLD OUT!
June 8, 2014 - 5:25pm | by doretteThank you so much for your support and particpation in our kid-chef programs.
We look forward to opening registrations for Summer 2015 in December 2014.
Have a wonderful rest of Summer 2014.
warm potato salad with fresh fennel and minced garlic vinaigrette
June 5, 2014 - 5:01pm | by dorette.JPG)
for the vegetables
3 cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
1 pound green beans, topped, tailed, julienned and sautéed in olive oil
1 bulb fresh fennel, sliced thin
half a dozen yukon gold (or similar) potatoes, thinly sliced
for the vinaigrette
2 tablespoons minced garlic, can also use green garlic or garlic scapes
3/4 cup olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
sea salt and pepper to taste
in a medium serving bowl, make the vinaigrette, 3 parts olive oil to 1 part vinegar. add sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. mince garlic and add to vinaigrette. slice cucumbers and add to vinaigrette. set aside.
in a large heavy skillet heat olive oil till hot and add potatoes and fennel. when about ¾ cooked add green beans toss in the pan, keeping heat on medium till potatoes are done, fennel is slightly caramelized and the beans are al dente.
add hot vegetables to vinaigrette toss and serve warm.
Ensalada Mixta – A Radish, Kohlrabi and Carrot Salad with a Green Garlic and Sorrel Dressing
May 26, 2014 - 11:03am | by dorettein spain this salad varies from region to region, and also from season to season. here is c’est si bon!’s version for the chapel hill farmers' market demo series with all the glories of may. rather than slicing the vegetables into the traditional coin, change it up the appearance of your salad by using the paysanne cut. square off your carrot, kohlrabi, or radish and then slice this into ¼ inch squares.
makes 6 servings
salad:
1 small head each, two varieties of lettuce
2 large or 4 small radishes, paysanne cut
1 kohlrabi, paysanne cut
1 carrot, paysanne cut
1/2 cup stuffed green olives, chopped
dressing:
1/3 cup red wine or sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 green garlic, thinly sliced
1 large leaf sorrel, minced
2/3 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
2 hard boiled eggs, peeled and cut into quarters
hard boil the eggs. allow to cool in cold water. then, peel and cut into quarters, or slice in thick slices.
chop or tear the lettuce into bite-size pieces. wash and spin dry.
slice the radishes, kohlrabi, and carrot.
chop the olives.
make a bed of lettuce on a large enough platter to facilitate tossing when serving. on top of the bed, place the radishes, kohlrabi and carrots. then arrange the egg slices, then lastly the olives on top.
make the dressing in a small bowl. add in the dijon, and the green garlic. whisk in the vinegar and then drizzle in the oil. and the sorrel. season with salt and pepper to taste.
tortilla de patate – classic spanish potato omelet, with kohlrabi
May 21, 2014 - 7:53am | by dorettemakes 1 tortilla – serves 8 as a first course
1/2 cup olive oil
2 potatoes, sliced
1 large onion, sliced
1 kohlrabi, sliced thin
Presentation of the Paella at a Recent Team Building
six large eggs
1/4 cup of milk
crushed sea salt and black pepper
heat the oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. when hot add potato, onion, and kohlrabi. stir softly with spatula to avoid sticking. turn now and then until potatoes are tender, and the onions are golden. sea salt and pepper to taste. be sure the potatoes are not stuck to the bottom.
beat eggs in a large bowl with a fork adding the milk. spread the potato mixture in the pan, then add in the egg/milk mixture. lower the heat to medium-low. cover with a lid or foil and cook for 7-10 minutes. turn the heat off and let rest, covered for 15 minutes. uncover and slice into squares. (these are easier to remove from the pan.) sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley.