"Anyone who can appreciate fine herb can't be all bad."

You can also add a tablespoon of dried fine herbs; commercial packages usually contain thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary and basil.

These "fine herbs" are not the pungent and resinous herbs that appear in a bouquet garni - which, unlike fines herbes, release their flavour in long cooking.

Fall starters include a compelling ballantine of duck with foie gras and truffles, and purple artichokes with a fragrant melange of roasted lamb, vegetables, fine herbs and mesclun.

Kurobuta pork belly comes with local white-bean sauce, while frog-legs hop off the pan (sorry, couldn't resist) with a fine herb dusting.

In fall of 1982, Mawg and Sky were entertaining friends who had arrived at the home to take in the finest local herb.

The finest herbs, natural flavourings, sugar, brewer's yeast and fresh spring water were then added to the liquid which was transferred into wooden vats where it was left to ferment.

Lobster salad, handmade pastas with pesto or seafood sauces, and branzino - a kind of sea bass - with fine herbs.

Veal sweetbread medallions surprised us by being mushy, rather than crisp-edged as we prefer, a problem the ragout of mushrooms, fine herbs and veal glaze failed to overcome.

Chop remaining herbs fairly fine, but leave some texture.