5 FRENCH COOKING ESSENTIALS

Chef and SBS presenter Guillaume Brahimi’s top tips

This is the ABC of French cooking – follow seasonal produce! In France, we go to the markets every day and buy what’s in season. I love green asparagus in spring, mushrooms in autumn, truffles in winter and mangoes in summer. There’s real excitement to cooking with fresh produce.

2 LEARN THE BASICS

It’s all about following the recipe, and being organised and aware of the tools in your kitchen. Don’t try to do difficult dishes with lots of c chopping if you don’t have s sharp, good quality knives (a (and put a wet tea towel u under your chopping board to stop it slipping). Don’t try to pan-fry fish if you don’t h have a good frying pan, a and don’t try to slow cook la lamb shoulder if you don’t h have a good oven.

3 DAILY BREAD

I think bread is made with love and sourdough is amazing. In France, I buy fresh b bread d every d day and d I always have use for it in meals. I don’t like to throw anything out, all produce should be respected. In winter, I make soup once a week, which cleans out my fridge – I’ll put anything leftover in the soup!

When entertaining, make sure you’re organised and you’ve got some dishes that can be done in advance. If you stress, your friends will catch the stress and that’s not going to be a great dinner party.

5 COOK IT WITH LOVE

Food is such a nice way to share a special moment with people you love. I’m very lucky I cook for a living and share food with people. Cooking brings smiles to faces.

Guillaume’s new food show Plat du Tour premieres Saturday, August 29, during SBS’S broadcast of the Tour de France.