Virtual Test Kitchen Update #4

June 1, 2020

Timing is everything! And, in my case, it became a blessing! As I was preparing to test the traditional French recipes for my upcoming Book Two of the Savoring the Olde Ways Series, a literal ‘shut-down’ due to the pandemic arrived on my doorstep. The ability to go freely about shopping for ingredients at my favorite markets came to a halt, and I was faced with the prospect of an unmet deadline.

Attempting not to panic, I wrote an SOS in my newsletter—this very newsletter—enlisting help from others sequestered at home. “Would you like to join me in my ‘virtual test kitchen’?” I wrote, not knowing if anyone would respond. But respond, they did. Within less than a week, I had heard from over forty people, and sent out more than eighty copies of the nineteen traditional French recipes which needed to be tested.

Over the course of the past two months, I have received notes, edits, and photos of completed recipes from as far away as England, France, and across the U.S. All, like me, were under quarantine. All, like me, had difficulty finding ingredients. Substitutions, suddenly, became a creative force. But, traditional French recipes, better known as ‘cuisine pauvre’ or peasant dishes, were foods originally prepared from simple ingredients and with what was available. That was the norm. As this simple correlation dawned on me, I realized this experience was a blessing—it brought a better understanding and resonance for the very themes I hold dear in my culinary travel series: family favorites; traditional in nature.

For those of you who took the challenge, I cannot thank you enough—for your time, your consideration, and your perseverance. I could not have completed these tests nor met my deadline without you. (Should I say, you all tested ‘positive’? Maybe not!) Thank you so very much! I salute you!

My team of ‘virtual test kitchen chefs’ all participated in at least one recipe. (Not all cooks submitted photos, but for those who did, at least one of the recipes is included. If not, let me know, as this list is what will show up in my book, Searching for Family and Tradition at the French Table, Book Two)

Barbara Stark-Nemon, Sandy Turner, Pauline Jones, Linda Ryan, Penny and John Dancer, Sue Lockwood, Adam and Sandi Kahn, LuAnne Graves, Dildar Pisani, Leslie and David Nack, Patty Corcoran, Sandy Hardaker, Lisa Meltzer Penn, Tina Heffernan, Barbara Artson, Peggy Cohen, Geri Rypkema, Arthur Wood, Paula Cuneo, Bonnie Schmidt, Carol and Tim Petersen, Carolynn Ziance, Karyn Foucher, Liz Allison, Ingrid Pugh, Geri Spieler, Janice and Steve Bell, Megan McDonald, Evelyn La Torre, Robin and Paul Bantz, Pam Copeland, Judy Donohue, Andrew Smith, Shannon Amerman and Tod Klinger