The Mother-Daughter Duo Bringing French Cooking (and Joy) Home
A lot of people grow up watching their mom cookβI was lucky enough to be one of them. Even before I could reach the counter, I was trailing behind her in the kitchen, hoping to graduate from taste tester to mixer. And while Iβve since picked up tips from test kitchens, TikTok chefs, and a lot of Ina Garten, the core of my love for cooking will always come back to my mom.
Thatβs probably why I was so taken with Marjorie Taylor and Kendall Smith Franchiniβs story. Their new cookbook, French at Heart, isnβt just a collection of classic French recipes, itβs a celebration of their shared life in food. The mother-daughter duo first made waves when they opened The Cookβs Atelier in 2008, a cooking school, culinary, and wine shop nestled in the heart of Beaune, France. Their classes now sell out months in advance, drawing guests from around the world. And yet, what makes their story stand out isnβt just the stunning Burgundy backdrop or their rustic tartinesβitβs the relationship at the heart of it all.


