3 classic french potatoes cream Recipes

waxy potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (such as desiree, golden wonder, maris piper, idaho or king edward), gruyere cheese, grated, double cream, salt, fresh ground black pepper, garlic cloves, peeled and crushed, fresh thyme, butter, cheese, for topping (optional)

garlic cloves, charlotte potatoes or 3 1/2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled, salt & freshly ground black pepper, heavy double cream or 1 1/4 cups whipping cream, grated gruyere cheese (optional), unsalted butter, cut into bits, mixed chopped fresh chives and flat-leaf italian parsley