Ye Olde Tavern Life

I love my past. I love my present. I'm not ashamed of what I've had, and I'm not sad because I have it no longer.

-Colette

Sophisticated, nurturing, wise-she was everything that style stands for.

She was known as Colette. In her remarkable writing career, she gave the world such unforgettable characters as Gigi. And in her native Burgundy, one of the foods that nourished her youth was the unique local cafe pastry called Gougeres. With a subtle flavor of melted cheese, these charming little snacks will remind you of miniature popovers. They will keep for days in the refrigerator. And needless to say, they're best served with a sturdy red wine.

A Recipe for Gougeres

5 tbsp. butter

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/4 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup grated gruyere cheese

5 large eggs, room temperature

Preheat oven to 425. Add butter, salt, pepper and nutmeg to 1 cup water in medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. When butter melts, reduce heat to low. Add flour to butter-water mixture all at once and cook over low heat, beating with a wooden spoon for 1 minute until mixture pulls away from sides of pan.

Remove pan from heat.

Add cheese to pan and beat in with a wooden spoon until well incorporated. Add 4 of the eggs, 1 at a time, beating each egg into the batter until thoroughly absorbed. Continue beating mixture until it is smooth, shiny and firm. Drop batter in small spoonfuls onto a lightly greased baking sheet to form Gougeres. Beat remaining egg with 1/2 tbsp. water then brush tops of uncooked Gougeres with egg wash.

Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes or until Gougeres are golden and doubled in size. Remove from oven and serve or allow to cool to room temperature. Makes about 3 dozen Gougeres.