Pâté Berrichon, My Gentle Way of Cooking Centre-Val de Loire
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In LaBouffe, I stay true to recipes that tell a simple, genuine story. I do not need to overdo things to enjoy cooking: I like dishes with substance, with a memory, that leave room for flavour. That is exactly what I find in pâté berrichon, this traditional recipe from Berry, in the heart of Centre-Val de Loire, which I consider one of the most sincere expressions of home cooking. Perhaps it resembles me more than I would usually say: understated, patient, without unnecessary flourish, yet full of character once you take the time to get to know it. I make it with a soft shortcrust pastry, sometimes lightly flaky depending on my mood, then a pork and veal filling that I work with finely chopped shallots, parsley, a little white wine, salt, pepper, and a hint of nutmeg. In the centre, I tuck in hard-boiled eggs, carefully lined up, because that too is part of the identity of Berry Easter pâté: that clean slice revealing the inside and giving the first cut its full meaning. I close everything up carefully, seal the edges well, brush it with egg yolk, then bake it until the crust is richly golden and the filling tender. I like to serve it warm or cold, with a simply dressed salad, allowing the dish to take centre stage without weighing down the meal. What I love about this Centre-Val de Loire recipe is that it requires time, but no fuss. It suits my own rhythm well, between a working day in which I give a great deal to others and quieter moments when I reconnect with my bearings. After a walk or a book that has absorbed me, I like to prepare this kind of dish calmly, almost as a grounding gesture. There is something reassuring and straightforward about pâté berrichon: cooking that truly sustains, that does not seek to impress, but creates a real sense of presence around the table. And perhaps that is what I like best about LaBouffe: when a recipe becomes a gentle way of saying who I am, without revealing myself too quickly, but by letting the flavour speak.
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Where: Centre-Val de Loire