In our quest for a healthy and fulfilling life, there is one essential pillar: our diet. Following the seasons in our region, establishing this vital link with nature, and when possible with local producers, is particularly gratifying. When we give priority to these treasures of the earth, we embrace a caring approach to our bodies and the environment around us.

We can look forward to this, and the resulting cuisine, in a joyful, gourmet way. Plants bring an explosion of colors, flavors and textures to our meals, delighting our senses and awakening our culinary creativity. Eat with common sense, without dogma, by reversing the proportions. The plant component is then enhanced and made to look its best, while sometimes incorporating a little meat or fish for those who prefer it. We’re taking a step towards a more respectful balance with animals by favoring small, high-quality, local farms.

Cuisine is infinite, encouraging generosity and sharing, and bringing people together.

Alexia-Beugnon-The-Natural-Cooking-Project

Alexia Beugnon was born with an innate passion for cooking and healthy food. She grew up in a family where the pursuit of natural flavors and nutrition were a priority. From an early age, Alexia was steeped in her family’s history, particularly that of her epicurean grandfather who, faced with health challenges, became primarily vegetarian. He was one of the pioneers in the development of organic farming in France. This transformative experience opened her eyes to the link between cooking and health. At the same time, her grandmother was an excellent cook, using ingredients that had already become fashionable. Chis journey has left a precious legacy for future generations.

Armed with boundless creativity and insatiable curiosity, Alexia has pursued her passion for cooking, drawing inspiration from her roots and travels to create her recipes. As a true culinary artist she sublimates fruits, vegetables, herbs, young shoots and flowers in a harmonious dance, keeping the essence of each food intact. In 2018 she founded “The Natural Cooking Project”in Annecy to transmit her vision of a gourmet, healthy and nourishing cuisine, linked to local producers, through workshops, private tables and consulting.

In her culinary inspiration workshops, Alexia emphasizes the use of organic, local and seasonal ingredients, punctuated by nuggets unearthed from her finds and encounters, creating dishes that awaken the senses. His cuisine is a daring blend of authenticity and world-traveling flavors, echoing his deep-rooted identity and his love for the pursuit of harmonious tastes and delicacy.

Every month Alexia shares with us a piece of her inspiration to nourish our hearts and stomachs with a seasonal recipe.


I really like chard and I really like sardines, and the two are a perfect match. Chard is often disliked, too bad !

First of all, their large, deep-green leaves are sometimes majestic. And when it comes to sardines, you should always have a few tins in reserve, and I prefer them with organic oil. Did you know that sardines improve with age? There are even vintage sardines!

In this recipe, I’ve taken the time to create a presentation that requires a bit of care, and therefore a bit of time, but it’s perfectly possible to do something simpler on a large slice of bread. I’ll tell you all about it below. 

Ingredients for 2 people

  • 4 to 6 chard leaves, depending on size (ribs and leaves). You can find them in winter at growers’ unless it’s very cold.  
  • 1 tin of sardines in olive oil.
  • 3 tablespoons beluga lentils (cooked) – alternatively, green lentils. You can find local beluga lentils in Geneva: Ferme Courtois.
  • 1 tablespoon white tahini (sesame purée).
  • Lemon juice, Espelette pepper, optional fresh coriander.

the recipe

  • Cook one cup of lentils in water (cold start), and you’ll have a leftover.
  • Carefully cut the chard leaves along the rib, rinsing them before or after cutting.
  • Cook the ribs whole, bending them slightly if necessary (steaming or boiling).
  • Steam or boil whole leaves in salted water for 2-3 min.
  • Cut some fine tagliatelle from the cooked ribs and coarsely chop the rest, which you will blend with 1 tbsp. to s. of tahini, a little olive oil and lemon juice to obtain a cream.
  • Arrange the leaf nicely on a plate, drizzle with olive oil, add the crème de blettes, the chard “tagliatelle”, a little lentil and the number of sardines that will satisfy your appetite.
  • Finally, add some Espelette pepper and a few coriander leaves.

Enjoy!


You too can share your recipes, cooking tips and good addresses with us! Visit the “mets de mèche” discussion forum on the La Mèche platform.

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