Chicken and wine - them Frenchies know what they're about!

Not the best picture in the world I'll grant you but a lovely thing

I don’t wear Wellington boots and I don’t like pastry that much so . . .

This is similar to beef wellington but with lovely crispy prosciutto crudo on the outside instead of pastry.

Potatoes and bacon with wine, cream and cheese. And not just any old cheese - it's Reblochon!

You can make this as a side dish (this recipe) or you can beef it up a bit with chicken and make it almost like a fish pie (a bit more wine and cream) with the potatoes on the top of a creamy chicken and bacon base

Rice. Lovely, sticky, deeply-flavoured rice. Lick the plate

Risotto is sold to cooks as a dark art that normal people can’t do – it’s all about timing, hot stock and standing around for 20 minutes while it comes together.

Super-easy, even if it does take a week.

Make a brine, put some brisket in it, forget for a week and then simmer it. How hard can it be?