Cook French At Home

French food has a reputation for being fancy, but any home cook can make beautiful French dishes if they simply follow a recipe, chef Serge Dansereau says.

The French Canadian, who resides in Australia and was responsible for the first 3-hat hotel restaurant - Sydney's Regent Hotel - has just released a book of classic French recipes for home cooks.

The 230 recipes in French Kitchen are what he cooks for his own family and friends.

"I have done a book on my restaurant before and I thought it would be nice to do something on what I personally cook at home," Dansereau, who is also the head chef and owner of the iconic Bathers' Pavilion Cafe and Restaurant in Balmoral, says.

"There's lots of food in there that either I grew up eating, or I have learned through the years as a chef."

While Dansereau wouldn't describe the recipes in his book as "very simple", he says they are achievable if you put aside the time.

"It's all stuff that you can do at home; it is more just taking the time to cook it, more than trying to find exotic food produce," he says.

"There's not too many ingredients (and) lots of the produce is interchangeable."

Dansereau says good food is all about balance, meaning even people with dietary restrictions can use his book.

"Don't eat dishes with cream sauce every single day; they are just the occasional dish ... (there are many) dishes in the book (that) are fresh and healthy," he says.

His book also includes a section on cooking with kids.

"My daughter doesn't want help, she wants to do it herself and I think that's good -- you have just got to let her go and whatever comes out, then that's what comes out and if they follow the recipe they can do it," he says.

The key is giving kids a simple recipe to work with and introducing them to lots of different foods at a young age, Dansereau says.

With the availability of fast food, Dansereau says it is important to cook as a family.

"It's important that you continue cooking, consciously putting time aside to produce a meal," he says.

If you don't have time to cook during the week, he suggests cooking extra dishes on the weekend to eat throughout the week.

And if friends are coming over for dinner, keep the menu simple.

"(You) only have to do one dish, you don't have to have three or four course, I don't advocate that in the book," he says.

"People can just have a main course and maybe a desert or entree ... don't try to do a set menu."