Center of the Plate | D'Artagnan Blog

Happy National Filet Mignon Day

Yes, that’s a thing. And August 13 is the day to celebrate the tenderest cut of beef. Sliced from the short end of the tenderloin, this succulent little morsel of beef (filet mignon means “dainty filet” in French) is often the most expensive on restaurant menus. This cut is commonly used in the classic recipe…

A Saucy Series, Part IV: Blanquette de Veau

Welcome to guest blogger Deana Sidney of Lost Past Remembered, a blog dedicated to discovering, replicating and adapting historic recipes. In this saucy series she demystifies one of the cornerstones of classic French cuisine: the mother sauces. Blanquette de Veau When I think of the Paris of Hemingway and Picasso, I think of Blanquette de…

Christmas in July: Black Winter Truffles

A truffle is an irregular, round-shaped fruiting body of fungi, which grows underground in a symbiotic and mysterious relationship with the roots of trees. On average, truffles vary in size from a walnut to a golf ball, but there are sometimes exceptional truffles that can weigh a pound or more. Tuber melanosporum is often called the…

Coffee Rubbed Pork Chops

Ray Lampe may be better known to the world as Dr. BBQ, and with good reason. He turned his outdoor cooking hobby into career, authored five books on the subject, and has been on TV many times to share his techniques. Check out his other recipes on our website, and heat up the grill. This…

Bastille Day Roundup

Here are a few photos of the Bastille Day festivities that we participated in last weekend. We hope to see you at the party next year!

Celebrate Bastille Day

Feasts, fêtes and fireworks are the traditional ways to celebrate Bastille Day in France. But before the partying, a brief explanation is in order. Variously called la Fête Nationale or 14 juillet, the holiday is commemorated on July 14, the day that the people of Paris stormed the Bastille prison in 1789 and effectively began the violent overthrow…

Duckathlon VIII, The Video

Duck yeah! Here’s all the evidence needed to destroy any future political careers. Our annual Duckathlon was held on June 9 in the Meatpacking District of NYC. This year, our cameras followed the team from Annisa restaurant as they prepared for the event. This profile of elite duckathletes gives a sense of what it takes…

Armchair Traveler: Gascony

We love Michael Ruhlman’s writing, whether in a cookbook or on his blog. But this article in the July issue of Conde Nast Traveler about his culinary pilgrimage to Gascony is enough to make the stomach rumble. It’s possible that we are a little biased; Ariane is quoted in the article, and of course, she…

Happy Summer Solstice

Today is June 21: the summer solstice. And it would be fair to say that we will find any excuse to gather and celebrate with food. But the summer solstice is more than just an excuse to party; it’s a party with long-standing traditions. Since pagan times, the people in the Northern Hemisphere have marked…

A Saucy Series, Part III: Sauce Chasseur

Welcome to guest blogger Deana Sidney of Lost Past Remembered, a blog dedicated to discovering, replicating and adapting historic recipes. In this saucy series she demystifies one of the cornerstones of classic French cuisine: the mother sauces. Sauce Chasseur When the Kennedys came into the White House the quality of the food served there went…

Duckathlon VIII, Reducks

Last Sunday we hosted the 8th annual Duckathlon in the Meatpacking District of NYC. In our infamous event, chefs compete in a culinary obstacle course that takes them through hot eateries, dark bars and the diverse shops at the Chelsea Market. The competition was stiff, and we had a fantastic turnout of teams, sponsors and…

A Saucy Series, Part II: Sauce Madame

Welcome to guest blogger Deana Sidney of Lost Past Remembered, a blog dedicated to discovering, replicating and adapting historic recipes. In this saucy series she demystifies one of the cornerstones of classic French cuisine: the mother sauces. Sauce Madame As part of my series on sauces, this goes to the top of the pack as…