Center of the Plate | D'Artagnan Blog

What is Duck Magret?

Duck magret – or duck breast – is the new steak. And the rich, red meat of duck breast is every bit as satisfying as beef. Many restaurants now offer it on the menu, and people are searing duck breasts at home for quick weeknight meals. Duck breast has arrived. But once upon a time,…

Why You Should Eat More Duck Fat

There’s an old saying, “When life gives you ducks, make duck fat.” This liquid gold is the preferred cooking medium at D’Artagnan, as it is in Southwest France. Way back in 1985, when Ariane founded the company, she knew that duck fat was a product that Americans needed. Even if they didn’t know it themselves…

What is Foie Gras Terrine?

Like many other recipes, the foie gras terrine is named for the vessel in which it is cooked. Other examples include the iconic cassoulet, named after the cassole (a tapered clay pot) it is cooked in. And the word casserole is from the French for sauce pan, in which a casserole is assembled and cooked. Much…

Happy Easter

Wishing you a joyous Easter! With all the talk about eggs, it got us wondering about their significance in spring. Eggs are traditionally connected with rebirth, rejuvenation and immortality. That’s why they are often associated with Easter. On a more practical level? In the early Christian calendar eggs were forbidden during Lent, so after forty…

What is Foie Gras Torchon?

For a fancy dish, foie gras torchon has a humble name. This sister to foie gras terrine is similarly named for the vessel in which it is cooked. “Torchon” means “dish towel” in French, since the foie gras was traditionally wrapped tightly in a towel for cooking. You may see torchon wrapped in a towel, or…

The Marvels of the Morel Mushroom

It’s spring and that means it’s time for morels! The first shipments are arriving at the D’Artagnan warehouse and being snapped up by chefs for their spring menus. Morel mushrooms are a source of passion and culinary wonder, inspiring recipes, and annual spring festivals across the United States. They are known as a chef’s mushroom…

Top 5 Easter Main Dishes

What are you serving on Easter? We have some classic, fresh spring preparations for family favorites like heritage ham, lamb, and rabbit.

Top 5 Easter Side Dishes

At Easter you may serve tender spring vegetables like peas and asparagus. But there is a long-standing tradition of breaking the Lenten fast with rich, creamy dishes and generous amounts of meat, assuming that you have deprived yourself for 40 days. Since we love a hearty side dish, we collected some of our favorites that…

Top 6 Easter Appetizer Recipes

How about a nibble to start the Easter meal? From the simple to the sublime, there’s a little something for everyone here. Small bites, big flavors. Click through to see the recipes. 1. Tiny quail eggs may take extra time to peel, but they are so cute – and delicious – that it’s worth the…

7 Easter Brunch Ideas & Recipes

Are you hosting Easter brunch and looking for some fun ideas … perhaps with more bacon? We have some recipes to inspire a very tasty brunch this year, with seasonal ingredients and quite a lot of bacon. Bacon and cheddar scones are perfect for brunch, paired with scrambled eggs. Also tea time, snack time, or any…

Does Heritage Pork Make a Better Ham?

We can confidently say that heritage-breed pork tastes better. It offers a nuanced, deeper flavor and more succulent meat than commodity pork. It tends to be darker in color – not dry and pale like the “other white meat” that is widely available. Did you know that the USDA lowered the minimum cooking temperature for…

March 8 is International Women’s Day

And we are celebrating the day! As you may know, D’Artagnan is founded and owned by a woman, the inimitable Ariane Daguin. Ariane was born into a world of great food. Her father, Chef André Daguin, is famous throughout France for his artistry with foie gras and other Gascon specialties. Ariane was expert at deboning…