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.”
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!