This icy cold limoncello keeps guests guessing as to how the lemon got inside the bottle. The secret is patience. Photography by Jani Shepherd/Gatherum Collectif.

Like the hot, roasted, sugared nuts sold outside the marchés aux puces, the Parisian flea markets, these peanuts are gorgeous and fragrant. Photography by Jani Shepherd/Gatherum Collectif.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing two old dames who could each put together a knock-out egg sandwich. Sadly, they’re no longer here so these little French-style toasts are my salute to them. Thank you, Ruby and Jean. Photography by Jani Shepherd/Gatherum Collectif.

Sablés are a French classic that kids adore. Make them a little more magical with crystallised pansy faces on top.

Simmer in season pineapple with mixed spices and create a tropical twist of the French tarte tatin dessert. Serve with creamy vanilla ice-cream... delish!

Pretty simple and damn good – juicy beef steaks are sandwiched between flatbread with crunchy rocket leaves and plenty of creamy peppery sauce. No room for cutlery preciousness, this is to be eaten outdoors but napkins will definitely be required for the inevitable chin dribbles.

This is a quick and easy chicken liver pâté recipe, with a hint of brandy and thyme to make it extra moreish. It freezes well too, so it can be on hand at a moment’s notice! Photography by Todd Eyre.

This is my version of the French classic, chicken liver salad. Here I encase the livers in a golden crumb and serve them in lettuce cups with a wedge of lemon. Delicious. Photography by Todd Eyre.

Kiwi chef and global high tea winner Laurent Loudeac shares his tea infused mille-feuille recipe.

Kiwi chef Laurent Loudeac, who won top prize in a global high tea competition, shares his Hélène recipe.

To make life easier, prepare the frangipane and pastry a day or two in advance. Use a store-bought tart shell if you’re pushed for time. Photograph by Jani Shepherd and styling by Fiona Hugues – Gatherum Collectif. Photograph by Jani Shepherd and styling by Fiona Hugues – Gatherum Collectif.

I’ve designed these little open grilled-bread sandwiches or bruschetta (pronounced brusketta in Italian) around the common French practice of wrapping salty air-dried ham around fruit, usually melon. I’ve given it a Kiwi twist by chucking peach slices on the barbecue, which lends a wonderful, smoky, caramel note. Add peppery rocket, creamy goat’s cheese and salty cured ham and you’ve got one swanky wee dish. Photograph by Jani Shepherd. This is a light meal in the French Pro­vençal style; just add a balmy evening, your sweetheart and a glass or two of chilled rosé.

Sweet, meltingly soft, buttery and light as air... Only the French could dream up such decadence. Surprise and delight your guests with this special occasion dessert from Julie Biuso

Back when I brought our first baby home from hospital, dear old friends delivered scores of tinfoil-wrapped, mince-and-potato cottage pies for the freezer. My French husband inquisitively heated one and promptly turned his nose up at the first mouthful of the, admittedly, bland brown and white offering. Me? Sleep-deprived and breastfeeding, I couldn’t have cared less what I ate. However, from then on cottage pie was a no-go for my Frenchman, until a few years later when I came up with this kumara-topped version to swing his vote. It has a classic Moroccan filling of lamb, prunes, a little chilli and warming spices.

This pâté has a reputation in my neighbourhood. I’ve made various versions of it for well over a decade and ‘apparently’ it cures a number of ailments – gluttony possibly not being one of them! Don’t be scared of the earthy richness of the pâté, a little spoonful of the sweet, sour onions balances the flavours – even my fussy kids devour it! Photograph by Jani Shepherd and styling by Fiona Hugues – Gatherum Collectif.

When I was growing up, a French chap from New Caledonia moved into town and opened a patisserie, which back then was rather exciting and very exotic. A flaky, layered custard mille-feuille was the first thing Mum bought us to try – I was mesmerised by the height and deliciousness of it. This recipe using Huntly & Palmers Toasted Sesame Flatbread is super simple and looks just as chic – fold some store bought custard into the cream and replace the berries with preserved fruit if you want a slightly richer version for the cooler seasons.

These decadent coconut French macarons make the perfect sweet treats! Enjoy these rich coco-nutty delights with your morning or afternoon cuppa!

For a glorious, sticky sweet caramelised French treat, serve this tart tatin to finish off a meal in perfect style. And it's even suitable for diabetics!

Beautifully ripe fresh figs are poached in a chai spiced sauce to create a sweet and fragrant filling for this beautiful French inspired dessert.

This super-sized cake fits the bill for those times when you just need a hit of sugar. It’s got all those wonderful caramel-sweet flavours in there to cure a sugar craving good and proper. Photograph by Jani Shepherd.

Trust the French to turn the humble ham and cheese toasted sandwich into a thing of pure culinary beauty! Make these for breakfast, lunch or dinner and share them with your workmates, friends and family. You will soon be a local hero!

Steaming hot, aromatic clams served with fresh, crusty bread makes for a comforting and chic mid week meal.

This really simple barbecue chicken dish tastes delicious!

A classic Normandy dish, perfect for dinner parties, with a slightly tart but creamy sauce that will have your guests wiping their plates clean.

Boeuf bourguignon has got to be one of the best-known French recipes and originates from Burgundy in the central-east of France. Start this recipe a day ahead for maximum flavour

Rich chocolate and cooling mint, this dessert is so good and you can easily create a choc-orange version; just replace the mint with orange zest and a sprinkle freeze-dried mandarin.

A flavoursome salad with fried walnuts and lardons, fast croutons and a zingy vinaigrette.

This thin, unleavened, gluten-free pancake originated in Nice, France. It’s made with chickpea flour and can be used as a wrap, a flatbread for dipping, or as a pizza base.

Baeckeoffe is a baker’s stew from the Alsace region of France – housewives would prepare the dish, then take it to the bakery in the morning to be cooked in the residual heat of the oven.

This silky chocolate tart is a firm favourite and is criminally easy to make!

Sweet and divine! This decadent French raspberry tart will really satisfy your sweet tooth! Simply perfect for dessert or afternoon tea!

Eating these savoury, nutty pancakes will make you feel like you’re in France, where galettes – as they are called there – are popular as a casual lunch option.

These were a hit in the ‘70s and ‘80s at my parents’ dinner parties, and their popularity endures today! They make a fantastic dinner.

This much celebrated French dessert is so simple to put together. You can use any fruit really, but I’m fond of using prunes in winter and scenting the custard with plenty of vanilla for good measure. It’s a gentle pudding in my view – not too rich, yet perfectly satisfying.

Whether your preference is for sweet or savoury tarts, the French are famous for what they pile into buttery pastry shells. This simple caramelised onion tart is truly a thing of pure beauty and deliciousness. Makes 4 x 12cm tarts or 1 x 25cm tart

These choux pastry puffs are so versatile. Mum knocked these out for dessert at dinner parties, filled with cream or ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce. She’d make larger ones for luncheons and fill them with curried fish or chicken in béchamel sauce.

I love this easy variation on the original coq au vin recipe. It’s a great dish for large numbers as it can be prepared the day before and served from the large pot it’s cooked in. It needs nothing more than some bread to mop up the juices and a simple salad to refresh the palate. C’est bon!

Guillaume Brahimi created this delicious French sandwich recipe for the #mealforameal campaign being run by Virgin Mobile and OzHarvest. Here, he combines melted oozy cheese, crisp bread and fresh jamon to create a brilliant toasted sandwich.

Recreate the gorgeous flavours of French cuisine at home with these divine raspberry cream eclairs. Coated in a rich, chocolate sauce and layered with a sweet raspberry cream, one bite will take you to dessert heaven...

If you’ve never made a soufflé, this is a good recipe to start with. They make a great starter, as you can do the first bake hours or even the day before, then you just need to heat to serve.

I am sure this easy quiche will become a favourite – it’s great for brunch, lunch, picnics and supper, and makes 100g of salmon go a long way.

This French toast recipe is a twist on the classic fried bread. It makes a great snack for teens or an easy lunch when served with salad and a dollop of chutney.

Is there anything tastier than a slice of lemon meringue pie? Tart lemon filling, sweet, crispy meringue and a buttery biscuit base combine to deliver a truly delicious dessert.

A French-Canadian twist on the humble chip butty with a tangy feta cream.

Here is a perfectly pretty and fresh-tasting dessert which can also function as a birthday cake.

Spelt wheat produces beautiful artisan-quality bread with a razor-sharp crust and delicate crumb.

Delectable, fresh, plump and juicy Bluff oysters served simply in all their magnificent glory.

This easy tartare sauce recipe turns store-bought mayo into a deliciously tangy dip or topping.

Zingy sherry dressing over a simple salad with tender, delicious semi-aged goat's cheese toasts.

Galettes, a French cuisine known to take the form of a pancake with a savoury filling. These galettes are filled with ham, cheese and spinach giving them irresistible flavour

A medley of grapes, grilled chicken and grains with crisp salad leaves and zingy vinaigrette.

This French tart transforms the humble onion into something worthy of the smartest Parisian bistro.

These little delights are creamy and chocolatey with a slight tang of yoghurt.

Make your own rich and delicious aioli.

A pan bagnat is like an entire antipasti platter transformed into an edible travel pack!

The tartness of sour cherries makes this custard cake recipe very special indeed

This rhubarb and strawberry tart is a not-too-sweet treat that begs to be eaten!

Traditional French baked savory choux pastry is mixed with cheese, asparagus and a flavoursome dijonnaise to create the most wonderful golden, crumbly gougeres.

Make your festive season more opulent with this traditional French Christmas cake - infused with dark chocolate buttercream and divine chantilly cream, then decorated to resemble a tree log.

The flavours of warm apple and delicate chai spices work perfectly in this fluffy French dessert.

Chocolate croissants, or pain au chocolat, are one of life's culinary delights. For this quick mini version of the French classic, your mini-masterchefs will want to help.

Enliven these lightly baked french specialty cakes with rich coffee and luscious chocolate to leave your dinner guests totally satisfied after dessert.

Morsels of taste for cocktail parties. Brussels sprouts add an earthy flavour to these ham croquettes.

With all the decadence of a miniature high tea treat you'll enjoy the burst of flavour these capsicum quiches provide.

Lip-smacking raspberry sorbet with mint and lemon. Finished with a clean and fresh apple salad.

Enjoy this brandy sauce as it soaks from the juicy chicken into the smooth bed of polenta underneath.

Take your guests on a trip to Paris with this traditional French appetiser and two delicious dips to choose from.

This spinach and ham quiche is the perfect solution to any light meal - from dinner parties, suppers, picnics and even afternoon tea.

This creamy, classic French sauce is as versatile as it is more-ish. Serve with baked fish and vegies, as we did here, or use it to jazz up your breakfast poached eggs, a side dish of vegetables (try it with steamed asparagus), or grilled chicken.

It's hard to imagine a better combination than fresh salmon cooked to medium rare perfection and served on a bed of creamy mash potato with simmered pea mixture.

This simple but elegant roast duck recipe is sure to delight dinner guests at any occasion.

Fresh and light, this fetta and tomato quiche is perfect with a green salad for a complete meal.

Known for being a good source of starch, chestnuts are used in sweetened puree form for these gorgeous baked tarts. Once you top them with softy and chewy meringue, you'll have everyone coming back for seconds.

This delicious bearnaise is the perfect accompaniment to steak and fries. Traditionally made with butter, using olive oil replaces saturated fat with healthier mono-unsaturated fats and it tastes just as good.

Light and tasty, this mushroom quiche makes a perfect brunch or lunch served with salad.

Light, fluffy and utterly delicious, these gorgeous cauliflower and cheese souffles are wonderfully flavoursome and beautiful enjoyed with a fresh sife salad.

Sweet, juicy baked apples are stuffed with sweet sultanas and crunchy walnuts, this delicious dessert is wonderful served with a rich vanilla creme anglaise sauce.

Chicken liver pâté is a deliciously decadent retro classic that’s equally good on a crusty baguette or encased within a beef Wellington. The velvety lusciousness of a traditional pâté is retained in my lighter version, but the calories are substantially reduced.

You’ll want to loosen your belts after the Christmas roast to make room for this perfect little Christmas dessert served with spiced pinot cranberries and mascarpone.

A crisp chocolate and almond tart delicious served with cream or ice cream.

When fresh kiwifruit is in season and cheap, this cool and refreshing sorbet makes a wonderful dessert.

Give your tenderly cooked steak some accompanying French-style pizazz - with this buttery, creamy and garlicky potato and spinach bake.

Coated with sweet white chocolate, these fluffy, golden profiteroles are absolutely divine stuffed with a black cherry ricotta cream. This decadent twist on the classic French pastry dessert will delight all your guests.

Put an Easter spin on this popular dessert, whipping up these sweet and cream-filled moulds ready to house sugar-coated eggs.

These French souffles are just as good savoury as they are when sweet, with creamed corn, bacon and plenty of parmesan cheese.

Golden, fluffy and infused with the glorious flavour of creamy gruyere cheese, this divine French savoury souffle is beautiful served on it's own with a simple side salad, or accompanied by fresh slices of smoked salmon to create a beautiful gourmet dinner spread.

Light, fluffy and wonderfully cheesy, this beautiful French souffle is packed full of beautiful gruyere and fresh watercress. Enjoy this dish with a light side salad for a divine weekend meal.

Awaken your senses by injecting a rich coffee flavour into this exquisitely caramelised sweet custard dessert.

This herbaceous seafood soup showcases plenty of French country charm.

The taste of tender minute steak soars when this fragrant herb butter sauce is melted over the top.

Spinach, egg and salmon create a complete breakfast or brunch meal, ready in seconds. Brioche toast adds a French twist.

A French classic, this indulgent soufflé can be enjoyed as a main or entrée. Deliciously fluffy and packed full of flavour, this cheesy dish is utterly moorish.

Frozen pastry makes this bacon and mushroom quiche quick to whip up for any family meal, lunchbox or party. Serve with a salad for a complete meal.

Create a healthy light meal with salmon wrapped in pastry and a crisp broccolini and asparagus salad.

These little quiche lorraines are perfect for kid's lunchboxes, parties or as a snack. Serve cold or warm.

This rich and sweet berry brioche takes just ten minutes to create, making this the perfect fruity, creamy snack.

The ultimate comfort dessert that takes only a few minutes in the kitchen. Warms the soul.

These fancy and rather magical French desserts are so simple in concept. Little islands of light, ultra-soft meringue float on a chilled soup of crème anglaise topped with crunchy praline.