Herbs are a great way to add pizzazz to the meals you cook, but if they cook too long, they'll lose most of their flavor. There are two ways to avoid this: either wait until just before you're done to add the herbs, or add extra herbs just before you serve the dish.
Bouquet garni adds a classy touch to many dishes, but the bay leaves, rosemary stems, and thyme sprigs can be unsightly and a bit hard to swallow. Be sure to tie your herb mix into cheesecloth before putting it in the recipe you're cooking, so you'll get the flavor without the debris.