Moules à la marinière with sweet potato fries

Ah, seafood. If you read my post about the seafood tower in Cancale, then you know I’m a bit obsessed. And there is no where better to be in the world than Brittany if you’re a fan of shellfish or fruits de mer as the French say (which translates as “fruits of the sea” – such a poetic language!).

I met my friends at the open-air market, as per our usual Saturday tradition. For the first time in far too long we were all in one place, all healthy, and all available to have one of our treasured “girl time” diner parties together. We decided to cook moules-frites (mussels and fries), one of all of our favorite classical French dishes.  Can you believe that to buy mussels for 5 people, and we are talking healthy portions here, it only cost 7 euro!? And you can’t find mussels fresher or tastier than these either. Oh France, whatever will I eat if I ever have to leave you!?

We stuck to the basics and used Julia Child’s simple Moules à la marinière recipe and accompanied it with sweet potato fries. The mussels were succulent and tender, and the sauce was so unctuous and addictive that we all gorged on bread trying to sop up all of the leftover sauce on our plates.  The sweet potato fries were delicious as well. We simply tossed the wedges with olive oil, cumin, cinnamon and coarse sea salt and pepper, and popped them in the oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. A testament to their tastiness: we all know that in England potato is a whole food group of its own, and the Brits love their fries (or chips as they call them – and potato chips are called crisps: confusing, I know).  My British boyfriend, who had never tried sweet potato before actually said “All chips should be made of sweet potatoes!”.  So, all in all a very successful meal – and so simple and easy and hassle free. Try it at home for a taste of Brittany and France.

Coming up soon, the tale of an International dinner cooked by my class of 24 students. We’re going to a nearby town this week (yes, for a whole week – I’m tired just thinking about it) for an intensive English/dance retreat, during which we will cook a 3 course meal that the students have planned themselves. Only in France do you learn grammar through the art of dance! Wish me luck…