Baguette Flambée

A quick appetizer with crispy baguette, a luscious crème fraîche topping, smoky lardons, and sweet, softened onions.

Bonjour my friends,

I am so happy to meet you here mid-week with a surprise newsletter - because sometimes, we just need an extra excuse to talk about good food, no?

If you’re based in the U.S., you’re likely aware that the Super Bowl is happening this coming Sunday. And for us food writers, this means one thing: all the finger foods! The sheer volume of “game day” recipes popping up lately is staggering - buffalo wings, loaded nachos, dips of every kind. I must admit, I am not a football person myself. Growing up in France, I never experienced that deep-rooted, community-driven fandom that seems to be part of the American DNA. As for my husband Marc, he never misses a Browns game, and since moving to France he has clung to his beloved tradition: homemade Buffalo chicken wings.

Now, let me tell you—prepared chicken wings are not really a thing in France. If you’re craving them, you have to make the pilgrimage to the butcher, ask for “ailes de poulet,” and prep them yourself. And this is because you can now find some Frank’s Red Hot Sauce in some French grocery stores (international aisle), something that was completely impossible just a few years back.

All that to say - I’m not here to give you a chicken wing recipe. No, no. Instead, I offer you a French twist on your gameday spread: la baguette flambée!

This recipe is inspired by my near-daily visits to my local bakery, where Fridays and Saturdays bring a glorious sight: baguettes apéritives. These are day-old baguettes, sliced in half and transformed into delectable snackable delights—topped with tomato sauce and chorizo, crème fraîche and lardons, or whatever inspires the baker that day. I think this is a brilliant idea: taking yesterday’s bread and giving it a delicious second life, perfect for casual apéros or cozy TV nights with friends.

More French finger foods & appetizers to try

• Stuffed Mushroom Caps with Pork and Brie (Champignons Farcis)

• Sardine White Bean Cakes (Croquettes de Sardine)

• Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Tarte Soleil

• Eggplant Caviar Dip (Caviar d’Aubergine)

• French Cheese Puffs (Gougères)

• Classic French Salmon Rillettes

• Brie en Croûte with Cranberries, Nuts and Thyme

• Gruyère Cheese Twists (Torsades au Fromage)

• Ham Cheese and Olive Bread

And now onto the recipe…