I want to show Americans that French cuisine doesn’t exclusively mean sophisticated cuisine, that the French also eat simple and very good dishes every day. –Nanou (owner, chef of Chez Nanou)
I felt welcomed right away at this little Willy Street French bistro once home to Bon Appétit. It’s cozy with light sounds of stirring and savory smells of breakfast baking and lunch simmering –preparations being made for the day’s quiche and crepes.
The doorway to the kitchen looks as if it’s a doorway to a kitchen in someone’s home. Nanou’s home. She offers me a cup of coffee and we sit, speak as if I am a distant niece coming to visit her aunt for the first time in many years. She apologizes to me for not knowing the English language that well, but any gaps in our conversation are quickly filled in by her warm smile and genuine laugh.
My dream is that I wake one morning speaking perfect English!
Despite the very little French I know, it is easy speaking with Nanou. My time in her bistro in the quiet early morning hour just prior to opening, the place bathed in sunflower yellow, chairs still propped upside-down on the café tables is just so lovely.
Families gather and houses are full of joy!
Since Nanou was leaving for France to visit her family and was looking forward to a trip back home, I thought I’d ask her to tell me about her Christmas traditions as a child growing up near Provence.
Christmas Eve is the big family event. Preparations begin ten days before, where we cook the foie gras that will be served for Christmas dinner. We attend midnight mass and then eat the traditional meal of oysters, foie gras, escargots, chestnut-stuffed roast turkey followed by bûche de Noël.
Bûche de Noël or Yule Log was Nanou’s favorite holiday tradition. She remembers being six-years-old standing on a bench, leaning over the stove, mixing chocolate by hand, asking her mother Can I stop now? Is it done? And her mother’s firm reply, No! Be careful not to burn the chocolate!
Her least favorite Christmas tradition? Washing all the dishes after the meal!
Back in Madison Nanou is already serving escargots to her guests and says …many customers tried and loved it!
As of December 11th, Chez Nanou will be offering the same traditional French turkey and Bûche de Noël (with a choice of several flavors).
Cooking Class!
Nanou is offering a cooking class on Tuesday, December 17th at 6:00 pm to four lucky students only and as of this post, there are two spots left. You’ll learn how to make foie gras, canard á l’orange (duck), crème brûlée á la lavande (lavender-infused crème brulee). Each student gets to invite one guest to join them that evening at 7:30 where they will all sit down together with Nanou and enjoy a simple and good French meal. Cost is $65 per student. Guests pay $15. One glass of wine included.
cheznanoumadison.com
Town and Fork 