Everything is starting to bud and bloom! What are you doing to enjoy this lovely change in weather?

The cuisine of France stands head and shoulders above most of Europe, and for good reason. France is the cradle of so many different cooking techniques that later spread throughout the world, and its chefs have been constantly refining and developing them over the last few centuries.

So Stamford residents are lucky to have a French restaurant of the caliber of La Bretange at their disposal. Start your meal off with the the chef’s country pate, which is rich and flavorful, or the smoked Scottish salmon. For entrees, regulars recommend the tender frog’s legs sautéed in garlic butter, the sweetbreads in tarragon sauce, and the rack of lamb for two. As you may have noticed, the food here is deeply traditional—so if you’re looking for fusion cuisine, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Make sure to leave room for dessert, as it’s delicious. The Grand-Marnier-soaked berries are decadent and delicious.

La Bretange
2010 W. Main Street
Stamford, CT 06902
(203) 324-9539
www.yelp.com/biz/la-bretagne-stamford

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/cyclonebill

Cross-contamination in the kitchen occurs when you use the same tools and cutting boards to prepare things like raw meat or eggs that you use to prepare fresh produce or cooked foods, contaminating the food you eat with the bacteria from these raw items. To avoid cross-contamination, follow these safety tips.

1. It starts at the grocery store. Although cross-contamination is usually thought of in the kitchen, it can also happen before you even get your foods home. When shopping at the grocery store, be sure to package raw meats tightly in plastic and put them in a separate bag from other groceries. Also make sure that your carton of eggs doesn’t contain any broken eggs that could leak on other foods.
2. Use separate cutting boards. One of the most important ways to prevent food poisoning from cross-contamination is by using different cutting boards for meat and other items. Properly label each board, and never cut fresh vegetables, fruits, or breads on the cutting board that you use for meat or eggs. Also, clean your meat cutting board thoroughly and replace it often.
3. Cook safely. When cooking, never use the same tools to flip raw chicken that you use to stir-fry vegetables, as this can spread bacteria from the raw meat. Throw away any marinades that meat was once soaking in, and always serve cooked foods on a clean, new plate.

Safe Food Handling: What You Need to Know [FDA]
Separate To Keep Food Safe [Home Food Safety]
Cutting Board Safety [Home Food Safety]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/honorphotobar