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Meyer lemon jam

The first few times I bought these orange-tinted lemons with a bergamot scent from the woman who I will forever think of as the Meyer lemon lady, she couldn't resist asking me if I knew what I was doing.

L'Auberge de la Penne
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L’Auberge de la Penne

I remember Benoît Poulet telling me that he let his chickens run free in the forest, with the result that some fell prey to hungry foxes. Idealistic you might think, yet it's this very quality that makes his restaurant in the tiny village of La Penne so exceptional.

Etsuko Tofu
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Tofu with Etsuko

I have to admit to having had no strong feelings about tofu, one way or the other, until I learned to make it myself.

Sushi, Bodhizen, Nice
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Secret sushi

A few weeks ago I would have sworn that there was no good sushi in Nice. It turns out that I just hadn't looked in the right place.

Salad days
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Salad days

People often ask me why I'm not enormous. Even if I do have a penchant for cakes, I think what saves me is that my idea of a perfect meal is some variation on this.

Strawberry & tomato gaspacho
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Strawberry and tomato gaspacho with pistachio oil

Pistachio oil brings an extra touch of originality to strawberry and tomato gaspacho, which I came across at Le Mirazur's new tapas-style bar and couldn't wait to recreate.

Strawberry cake
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A strawberry and cream birthday cake

Never answer the phone when you're cooking. This rule can save a lot of heartache, such as the sight of Sam's comically deflated birthday cake a few minutes after I pulled it out of the oven.

Petits Farcis, Nice
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Les petits farcis

What I love about these little stuffed vegetables, known affectionately as "les farcis" ("the stuffed") in Nice, is how they reflect the personality of each cook.

Raviolis sauce vierge
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Ravioli with avocado sauce vierge

When I first came across this dish at the Château de la Chèvre d'Or, I thought it was sheer madness. Then I tasted it and decided otherwise.

Feves
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Fava bean gnocchi

I've had some disasters in the past with non-potato gnocchi. Still, the knowledge that gnocchi and fèves are Sam's two favorite foods in the world - after chocolate, of course - gave me the incentive to try my luck.