To be frank, my seventh grade French teacher was probably the worst I ever had. Not because she was a poor instructor, but rather because she was a poor believer. She did not believe in me. She did not believe in others. She did not believe in recognizing the immense amount of privilege her students had, in attending an elite private school. But I thank her, because it was the first experience I had in refuting an adult. In looking someone in the eye, challenging their presumptions, and setting forth on a course of action to prove them wrong. I was not a natural French speaker, but I was a naturally hard worker.

This fall-time meal was intended to be warm, cozy, and hearty. The ratatouille compiled a thinly-sliced medley of yellow squash, zucchini, and eggplant, served in a tomato-based sauce. It was accompanied by crusty French bread (bakery-acquired, as my sourdough failed miserably a story for another time), and a thick flank of steak.

This meat was truly the star of the show. Rubbed down in a thick bath of butter, thyme, and garlic, this steak popped with flavor and moisture thanks to Gordon Ramsey and his fastidious technique. A cast-iron skillet was a must to achieve a sumptuous crust.

Perhaps the greatest privilege of quarantine was the ability to sit down at a table, surrounded by my closest friends, comfortable in the knowledge that we lived, worked, and celebrated life together. To them, I can only say, bon appetit!

The Quarantine Kitchen: Ratatouille

The beginning of quarantine saw a very bored Kathy attempting every homemaking recipe in the books - sourdough, kombucha, muffins, the perfect chocolate cookie. However, my endeavors reached a peak when the TikTok musical production of “Ratatouille” went viral. I was suddenly inspired to explore rustic France via la palate.

Ironically, I studied French from seventh grade to my sophomore year in college. I visited Paris and Versailles in the fall of 2016. And yet, je parle français à une vache espagnole. Translated as, “I speak French like a Spanish cow.”