The Very Hungry Frenchman
Episode Two: Burgundy

Thursday 09 February 2012

Burgundy – (or Bourgogne as the French call it ) – has the most aristocratic of all France’s regional cuisines. It is considered to be the centre of French food

For centuries home to the rich and powerful Dukes of Burgundy, the regions fierce independence can be tasted in the food.

The food culture they developed then is the foundation for Burgundy’s elegant cuisine, sophisticated but with roots deep in the rustic soil of the farms which dot this lovely landscape.

The riches that gave the dukes their wealth to develop a lavish cusine was founded around the best wines and today they still draw the world’s attention, including Raymonds.

It’s the wine that puts this region’s cuisine on the map, with global dishes like coq au vin and beef bourguignon. But nothing beats being in the place where that wine and those dishes were born.

Watch Episode One again on BBC iPlayer: click on the link below:

Recipes from the series will be published on Raymond's website following the broadcast of each episode.  Recipes from Episode Two are available here:

http://raymondblanc.com/THE-VERY-HUNGRY-FRENCHMAN/Episode Two Recipes

For more information on the places Raymond visited, please click on the links below:

The 3 Michelin Star restaurant Raymond visited, where he spent time with the widow of the chef, Dominique Loiseau, was Restaurant Bernard Loiseau:

http://www.bernard-loiseau.com

The restaurant where Raymond cooked his service was La Ruchotte, owned by Frédéric & Eva Ménager:

http://www.laruchotte.com

The Fallot Moutarderie is located in Beaune:

http://www.fallot.com

The Fromagerie Alain Hess is also in Beaune:

http://www.fromagerie-hess.com/

Anne-Claude Leflaive's vineyards are in Puligny Montrachet:

http://www.leflaive.fr

Raymond Blanc's book, Kitchen Secrets, featuring recipes from Kitchen Secrets Series 1 & 2 and many more, was published by Bloomsbury on 14 February and is available to buy online from Amazon, from Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Brasserie Blanc, Maison Blanc, and from online and retail bookstores.

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