I love Paris in the winter, when it drizzles

With all due respect to Cole Porter, it hasn't drizzled much this winter. Although winter was long in coming (when I returned from Austin on November 30, it was actually warmer in Paris than in Texas!!) now it has arrived in the best possible way. Near-freezing temperatures are made bearable by brilliant sunshine and little humidity. The sunsets have been incredible. And, they finally changed the Christmas lights on the rue du Commerce. Life is beautiful.

Musical interlude number 2

What I'm listening to today, from Lyle Lovett's Joshua Judges Ruth
It could just be my anthem for the New Year. ;-)

Thank you my friend

I sincerely appreciate the words you say

About how she'll cry

And how she'll grieve and miss me

When she goes away

Say them again

I need to hear the words once more

I can't believe

How she'll miss me when she's gone

And how she'll want to come back home

And never leave

But she's leaving me

Because she really wants to

And she'll be happy when she's gone

She'll be happy

She'll be so very happy

She'll dance and sing

Or even learn to fly

And spend her time with anyone but me

What's that you say

That I'll get over her the more that time goes by

But time goes so slow

When all I have to do is sit around and cry

No she won't be back

I'd be a fool to try to fool myself that way

I know she hasn't one regret

Because she hasn't had one since

The day she came to stay

She's leaving me

Because she really wants to

And she'll be happy when she's gone

She'll be happy

She'll be so very happy

She'll dance and sing

And even learn to fly

And spend her time with anyone but me

She'll be happy when she's gone

She'll be happy when she's gone

She'll be happy when she's gone

She'll be happy when she's gone

Un gars et une fille

I am often quite hard on the French for their terrible taste in music and their even more abominable taste in television. However, from time to time they do surprise me, and I discover a French pop artist that does not make me want to retch or I’ll get hooked into a show unexpectedly. One such case stands out from the rest, and I have to give credit where credit is due: French TV for several years was home to the perfect TV series: Un gars et une fille (A guy and a girl). (NB: upon doing some research for accuracy, I discovered that this show was in fact originally from Quebec and it has since been adapted across the globe, soon to be available for US viewers as “Love Bites”.)
Sadly, this gem is no longer on here, although from time to time there are reruns and I am lucky enough to own one of the “Best of” DVDs.
Here is the genius: every weekday evening, just before the news came on, you could catch Jean Dujardin (this is the show that launched his now brilliant career) and Alexandra Lamy playing “Jean” and “Alexandra” or Loulou and Chouchou as they affectionately called each other. Each episode lasted no longer than 7 minutes. Ah, the ideal espresso dose of television comedy. (Note that in Canada, the running time was the sitcom standard 26 minutes.)
Situation comedy living up to the name. Realistic, hilarious, charming ‑ I don’t think there’s a single episode where I didn’t laugh out loud at least once, if not about every minute or so. There’s never a chance to become bored, they never go too far, thanks to the mini-format. For me, 7 minutes of TV, 5 days a week is about the best possible maximum media exposure.
The chemistry between the two actors is explosive. I once read an interview where Jean and Alex described that while they were standing in line for the show’s casting auditions, they had a professional “coup de foudre” (love at first sight for the non-Francophones) which became clear to the producers immediately, hence their hiring. Interestingly enough, after 3 years of playing the world’s funniest lovers, the two ended up leaving their respective spouses/partners and moving in with each other, the coup de foudre having apparently evolved onto a more personal level. They do make a great couple, although there have been recent rumors of a split, especially since Jean’s career has skyrocketed (Brice de Nice, OSS 117 among others) while Alex’s has stagnated. He was clearly the key talent of the show anyway, and she was frequently rather annoying (hard to tell if it was the role or reality…).

Luckily for those of you who never had the chance to take in this pearl, another big fan has put some clips on their blog (scroll down to the photo of Alexandra Lamy and you'll see a still photo from the show underneath. Just hit the play arrow in the middle for a tasty treat!):
http://radiomikado.blog50.com/archive/2006/10/12/radiomikado-bonjour-14-octobre2006.html

Happy birthday to us

Tonight I pre-celebrated my latest 30-something/
almost 40th birthday with many of my pals in Austin. Amory, Emily and I realized that we have known each other for over 20 years now.
We all agreed that none of us look 20 years older than when we first met.
That's the great thing about true friends, they don't see your wrinkles or cellulite or sags...

Austin Interlude

Since my arrival last Wednesday, the weather has been picture perfect. I have yet to see a cloud. I am basically in a TexMex frenzy, eating WAY too much to compensate for 12 months without it, so I get in as many walks as I can. Sunday, I took my mom, my dad and his wife June to Town Lake for one such walk.

Cormatin

Today I bought my first house.

The simplicity of that sentence covers up the dazzling firework display that is currently going on inside my brain.
To say that I am thrilled is a sore understatement.
Really, words cannot do this situation justice.
Instead, I'll just share a few photos taken in my village this weekend.
Taken at sunset in the park that runs behind my house.

Back in Burgundy

This week, despite appearances from these photos, the weather has been almost perfect. The problem is that I’m only at the gîte early in the morning or just before sunset, the 2 times of day when there’s either fog or clouds… both of which have burned off to make for gorgeous autumn days in this region I ADORE.
Tomorrow Urmi, Jamie and Jaya arrive and I’m going to show them around my future home.
More soon!
(These are views from the living room and terrace of the gîte we rented for a week. The castle is called Berzé le Chatel. As always, I recommend clicking directly on the pictures to get a better image.)

La littérature française

Between the crazy hectic pace that my life has been lately, what with breaking up with my boyfriend, hosting 3 houseguests, running around Burgundy tasting wines and house-shopping, buying my first house, and being swamped with a record workload, I somehow managed to read a book. And what a book! I loved it. For those of you who enjoy reading in French, I have to recommend it: Je voudrais que quelqu’un m’attende quelque part by the amazingly talented (and young and beautiful) Anna Gavalda. Her portraits of the various segments of French society are astonishingly accurate and honest, touching and funny. I loved it, I was sad to see it end, I give it my highest recommendation.
I’ve just bought her hit book Ensemble, c’est tout and can’t wait to start it…
After a quick search on Google, I see that most of her work has been translated into English, but obviously, you should get the original version if you can. (English titles: I wish someone were waiting for me somewhere and oddly, Hunting and Gathering)

La Potence

Another fabulous meal at La Potence, with their new autumn menu. Universal praise for the gigot d'agneau rôti au thym accompanied by the most delicious grilled veggies ever!! Their wine list still needs some work, but otherwise, this has to be the best rapport qualité/prix in Paris right now.

La Bourgogne

It’s one of those times when I’m drowning in work, houseguests, househunting and travel commitments so I haven’t updated the blog in a while, my apologies.
Until I get my head above water, here are a few images from last week’s jaunt to Burgundy, where I may have found a house!!! (Cross your fingers and knock wood.) (and click on the picture to get a better view)




While we didn't have as much luck with the weather that we normally do at this time of year, this area is still beautiful and the food and wine make up for the drizzle...


Sean and Jess get special kudos for putting up with the music and inside jokes from the back seat, and Chris (aka CW) deserves a medal for his navigating and patience during the house hunt!!
More soon…

Musical Interlude

What I’m listening to on this sunny Saturday of Indian Summer:

Teenage Fanclub’s “Ain’t That Enough” (from their album Songs from Northern Britain).

3 minutes and 42 seconds of pure melody and lush harmonies combining to create a pop poem that never leaves me indifferent (dare I say it makes my heart soar?).
For me, a sunrise is quite often enough.

Is British music so good because their food is so bad? Consider their cross-channel rivals, the French, who have taken cuisine to the highest heights, yet their popular music is, to put it politely, unpalatable… obviously no country can be strong in every artistic domain, but could there be some sort of inverse relationship between the ear and the stomach? I welcome your thoughts on this.

Meanwhile, I’ll share the delicious TF lyrics with you, although without the music it’s bit like having a mouth-watering meal put before a man with no nose… although if you click on the title of this post, it will take you to the album on Amazon where you can scroll down and hear a sample.

If you can I wish you would

Only if you feel you should

Bring your loving over

All adds up with circumstance

All stood up with taking stands

Bring your loving over

Highlights glisten

Silence listens

Days that found you

Embrace that found you

Here is a sunrise Ain’t that enough?

True as a clear sky, ain't that enough?

Toy town feelings here to remind you

Summers in the city do what you gotta do

Time can only make demands

Fill it up with grains of sand

Bring your loving over

Highlights glisten

Silence listens

Days that found you

Embrace that found you

Here is a sunrise Ain’t that enough?

True as a clear sky, ain't that enough?

Toy town feelings here to remind you

Summers in the city do what you gotta do

Toy town feelings whose gonna argue

Summers in the city Summers in the city

Tribute to La Nonna

My grandmother is a real inspiration. How many ninety-two and a half year-olds do you know that would be willing to hop on a plane and fly from Southern California all the way to Italy to spend two weeks touring Tuscany? She is simply amazing.
Not only does she keep up with the rest of us almost effortlessly, but she does it with grace, elegance and aplomb. She never complains, never seems tired, and is always game for what’s next.
We’re already talking about our next globe-trotting adventure for the spring of 2007 (when she’ll be a cool 93½!)
Bravo la nonna!

Perfect end to perfect holiday

Although admittedly I am a teensy bit nervous about the fact that the ladies are flying back to the US (via London) on September 11, I'm trying to persuade myself that the new security measures mean that they are perfectly safe (and the fairy card answers to Judy's question Saturday at the Pisa airport prove it! long story/inside joke).
Our Tuscan dream wrapped up with 2 days in Paris, and the balmy weather followed us back here (see the gals in front of the Eiffel Tower, where we walked after stuffing ourselves on croissants and pain au chocolat).
We ended this perfect vacation with an impeccable meal at my new favorite restaurant (conveniently located just around the corner from chez moi!!) La Potence (78, rue de la Croix Nivert and tell them Catherine the American sent you). Their fixed price menu at €24.90 is the bargain of the century. I thought that Mom might actually pick up her plate and lick it she loved her foie-gras coated steak so much.
We were lucky enough to have Emmanuelle join us and spend some precious time with her before she takes off to Singapore.

Scenes from an Italian holiday

On the Arno

















Judy at the spa



















Kiss the cook!





















Mom in Montecatini

O the posh, posh travelling life...

the travelling life for me...!! (if you're scratching your head wondering what that's in reference to, I invite you to screen the children's classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to refresh your memory.)

I know it seems overly decadent to be thinking about my next big vacation while I'm still on one, but I'm so excited that I just have to share the news!! Check out Alila's hotels in Bali and know that Emmanuelle and I will be lounging around them over 9 sumptuous nights in February after I visit her in Singapore... www.alilahotels.com

What a way to ring in the Chinese New Year!!!!

Putting the Terme in Montecatini Terme

Today is our day for treatments at the spa (see photo). We all need a good day of RnR, but no one more than Mom, who deserves great congratulations and deep bows for the extremely difficult job of chauffeuring us around Italy in our ridiculously oversized car. The lanes here are unsettlingly narrow, and all of the freeways we were on suffered from congestion, especially from gigantic trucks and 18-wheelers. Neighboring vehicles like that already make me nervous even in Texas, the land of extra-wide highways and endless visibility, so Mom’s sang-froid and constancy (and velocity!) were impressive in a country that never felt the need to make high-speed thoroughfares in straight lines and where I would only feel comfortable in one of those silly little Fiats that looks like it belongs to a clown troupe so that I could potentially put my arm out the window and not touch the car in the lane next to me…
Hats off to Mamma mia!! (from driving here so much she’s becoming rather Italian by osmosis, boosted by her purchase of beautiful hand-made sandals in Assisi and the massive quantities of pasta we down every day).
Another post to follow our steams, scrubs, massages and facials, meanwhile a few more pics to give you insight into our life under the Tuscan sun…

Pics to go with previous post

I'm taking advantage of the Chocohotel's fabulous WiFi connection to give you some glimpses into our recent visits. (aside: the Italians pronounce WiFi like in the US "why fie" which seems odd since it should be Wee Fee like the other Latin countries and even Switzerland...)

Here we have lovely Lucca & Serravalle Pistoiese, the beach where we dipped our toes in the water, and St Françis' Basilica in Assisi.

More soon, stay tuned!!

Italian road trip(s)

After several days of horrid frustration, suddenly I am able to upload photos to the blog again, so there’s some catching up to do!!

Please check out the revised San Miniato post to see a few shots of this magical place. When the trip is over, I’ll be doing a Kodak Gallery photo album so if you’re not already on that mailing list, let me know if you want to be added.

Here’s a brief rundown of what we’ve been up to lately:
Saturday we visited Lucca, which lived up to the guidebooks’ promise as a charmingly beautiful yet sleepy Tuscan town with strangely few tourists given its architectural, cultural and natural splendor.

Sunday was a day of rest, with a brief excursion up the hill from our villa to see a truly undiscovered jewel, Serravalle Pistoiese, a tiny towered village so picturesque as to seem unreal, within less than 10 minutes of our Tuscan home, and not a tourist to be found. We wandered about in awe, taking in the gorgeous sunset, and were treated to a private tour by a delightful 70-year old man (who chattered away in Italian enthusiastically even though I made it clear that I only speak and understand “un po”) of the Oratorio with frescoes from the Giotto school. We managed to communicate the essential though, and it was the perfect way to end the weekend.

Monday was our first “setback” in that we decided to get an early start to head to the coast (I had to work that evening so we needed to be back at a decent hour). For all our previous excursions, we have been preferring the small country roads, which provide breathtaking Tuscan views framed by cypress and lime trees and a glimpse into “real” life as we pass through the smaller towns. Since we had less time Monday, we took the “autostrada” which despite being a modern, toll highway, only has 2 lanes, which were backed up for over an hour due to a horrendous 18-wheeler accident (the only vehicle involved, but burned to a crisp and the driver was helicoptered out…) To top it off, the snail pace was through a horribly polluted industrial area that marred the views of the Apennines in the distance and the Versilia coast to our left. When we finally escaped the mind-numbing traffic jam, it was time for lunch. We had some quick but tasty pasta by the sea, took a short walk to the water, dipped our toes in, then made our way back to the villa, exhausted from the strain.

Tuesday, our bad luck was almost repeated, in that once again we needed to take the autostrada since we were off on a pilgrimage to Assisi to see St Francis. After patting ourselves on the back for making an earlier-than-expected start, we quickly realized the error of our ways as we got stuck in rush-hour traffic heading into Florence (again, only TWO lanes on the major highway!!??!?)
St Frank was apparently with us in spirit though, as we were only delayed about 20 minutes this time and then were able to whisk through the spectacular Chianti countryside into scenic Umbria. We had lunch in Perugia, a town we wish we had more time to visit as it offers so many delights, but we were on a mission!! After we FINALLY made it to Assisi (getting out of Perugia back to the highway proved a more difficult task than our free map from the tourist office could handle) we couldn’t visit anything!! It turns out we just happened to be there the same day as Italian president Giorgio Napolitano was visiting the world conference on religion for peace.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060904.wrelig0904/BNStory/International/home
For security reasons, only the monks, nuns and lucky holders of press passes and conference attendees could enter the Basilica and other famous sites.
We consoled ourselves with chocolate: I am writing to you now from the Etruscan Chocohotel in Perugia. The entire hotel is decked out in a chocolate theme, they give you a bar of chocolate when you check in, every room is a different chocolate brand (Mom and I are appropriately enough in the Cadbury Fruit & Nut bar!) and in the outstanding restaurant, there is an entire dinner menu based on chocolate… all washed down with a superb local wine.

We’ll be making another go at St Frank today.
Stay tuned for more news from the road and more pictures to be added soon!

San Miniato al Monte

Yesterday we had a perfect day from start to finish.
After taking the train from Montecatini Terme to Florence, we stopped by Francesco da Firenze on the Via Santo Spirito to pick up my custom fit, hand-sewn sandals (ordered on our previous visit to Florence Tuesday). They are wonderful! Grazie mamma mia!
(photo complete with mosquito bites that have increased in number and ferocity of itching)
Then we wandered over to the Palazzo Vecchio to meet up with Curt, the organist from Judy’s wedding (and formerly of St Barnabas, the church Judy & Mom attend in Scottsdale). Curt has been staying at the Benedictine monastery at San Miniato al Monte, an exquisite example of Romanesque architecture and style. We had a delicious lunch* in Curt’s company before hiking all the way up to the uppermost heights of Florence (bravo Gramma!) for our private guided tour provided by the charming and knowledgeable Curt. I literally took 112 pictures. San Miniato is the jewel in Florence’s crown if you ask me.




Next, we attended the monks’ traditional vespers at 5:30 pm with a brief mass. Although we weren’t always sure when to stand or sit, we did manage to follow the service in Latin pretty well (Curt had provided us with written copies). As always, I was amazed by the similarities between the Episcopal church service and Catholic mass.

The monk leading the vespers (in town for the Gregorian chant conference this weekend) had a heavenly voice (pun intended).
Then we were in for a real treat: a brief concert by Curt on the freshly tuned organ. DIVINE.





















A taxi whisked us back down the hillside to Santa Maria Novella, where we only had to wait 2 minutes for our train back to the villa.
Exhausted but satisfied, we skipped a formal sit-down dinner in favor of yoghurts, fruit and grissini (my favorite breadsticks, with my preferred brand being the lightly salted Dal Cesto di Alice, Fagolosi Croccanti e Stuzzicanti).
We are truly fortunate and blessed.


*I started with a carpaccio of swordfish topped with lightly sautéed crunchy carrots and zucchini, followed by pick-up-your-plate-and-lick-it-when-you’re-done-it’s-so-scrumptious maccheroni (which are actually big fat tubes of pasta) in a saffron sauce with fresh asparagus tips. All washed down with a very fine house red.

Formidable foes

Although when thinking of the world’s current great military forces, Italy does not spring to mind, they actually have a powerful weapon at their disposal, which could wreak havoc on the globe if developed and wielded at large: the mosquito.
Now, as everybody knows, I’m from Texas, and we have HUGE mosquitoes in Texas, as do our neighbors in Louisiana, where you can see t-shirts with the ugly monsters on the front and “State bird” as the caption. But our massive mosquitoes have nothing on the petite yet feisty Tuscan variety. I call them “stealth mosquitoes” because they are incredibly fast and silent. I can be happily cooking in our beautiful kitchen with a view, and the next thing you know, I’ve been attacked, with no warning or time to respond.

You can barely see them they are so swift as they zip, dive and dodge any attempts to reduce their numbers. And compared to the familiar annoying whine of the Lone Star strain, these babies are totally quiet unless they get right up to and practically inside your ear, which they only do when you’re lying down to sleep… even then, they are fierce, as my ankles attest (I sleep with my feet outside the covers).

They also hit below the belt, while I’m working at the computer, and my thighs and knees have paid the price.

The worst is the unbearable, persistent itching that follows. These are venomous little insects! And perhaps patriotic… maybe they read my blog and somehow know that I supported France in the World Cup? In any case, I've only managed to smash 2 in the 5 days we've been here, so they are definitely winning this game.
Innocent travelers, be warned! (As a reminder, you can always click on the photos in this blog to get a closer view.)

A Room with a View

Here’s a couple of shots of the villa we rented (the view from my room, two sides). They don’t do justice to the gorgeous countryside and immense olive grove (and some fig, pear, plum, & walnut trees...) surrounding the property, which is on top of a hill, with the olive groves sloping directly down, making photography difficult. Our landlords make their own olive oil and charmingly left 2 bottles for us upon our arrival (along with a huge basket of pasta, sauces, snacks, coffee, etc. to get us through the first couple of days).

Judy and Mom have begun a ping-pong tournament. Judy is everyone’s favorite blond and the ideal traveling companion. She is permanently cheerful and enthusiastic, game for anything and a good sport (and as we’ve discovered, a very skilful table tennis player!) Not only does she always have an upbeat attitude, but she also manages to contribute an energetic and positive spin to every situation.

My favorite Judyism thus far on the trip:
On the first night of the trip in Paris, I took the ladies to my local Moroccan restaurant for some excellent couscous and tagines (my current craving being the lamb tagine with onions, prunes and almonds. So tasty that I almost consume even the prune pits and lamb bones…) We finished the meal off with the traditional hot sweetened fresh mint tea, which none of them had ever tasted before. After her first sip, Judy exclaimed in her bright and merry way “It’s like a hot chocolate only without the chocolate.”
How can you not love someone who says this in all seriousness?
Here’s a view of our first excursion to Florence.
More soon.

La Dolce Vita

I haven’t had much time to blog lately as I’ve been doing some much needed work on my apartment in Paris and gearing up for my two-week trip to Tuscany with my mom, grandmother and our dear friend Judy. Today I bought a fabulous Michelin map of Toscana, Umbria, San Marino, Marche, Lazio and Abruzzo (no. 563 in the Italy regional maps series). I lurv Michelin maps. I looked at 5 or 6 maps from various publishers and there is just no comparison in terms of legibility, aesthetics and what the French charmingly call «convivialité» which despite appearances actually means user-friendliness (in this context).

This is our third year in a row to make a big European excursion with this group. We started back in 2004, renting a house on the border of Provence/Languedoc Roussillon. That was by far the best rental house I’ve ever found and I would have willingly gone back there every year for the rest of my life if the owner hadn’t sold it that same summer (he offered to sell to me since we got along swimmingly, but sadly it was way, way, way out of my budget).

That summer there were 6 of us (my Aunt Lee and another family friend, Jane, shared the enormous 6-bedroom, 4-bath house with us, and we enjoyed drop-in weekend visits from my pals Emmanuelle and Cyndi, and my cousin Dion.) The pool and gardens were gorgeous, and of course we were well situated to roam around and see the sights (very close to the Pont du Gard, Avignon, Arles, Nîmes, etc.)

Last year, Judy, my mom and my grandmother (who is my dad’s mom, btw, and is 92!! a walking advertisement for eating right and getting plenty of exercise with a daily dose of chocolate for good measure…) and I met up in Bilbao, Spain and went on to San Sebastian before heading down to follow the Santiago de Compostela trail. After our pilgrimage, we then headed up to the coast and gradually made our way back to Bilbao. The northwest of Spain is a food-lover’s and tourist-hater’s paradise. We ate fabulously for scandalously little money, gaped at the stunning scenery, slept soundly in the lovely and spotlessly clean accommodations we found quite easily, and basically spent 2 weeks congratulating ourselves on having discovered this gem of a destination that only the Spaniards seem to know about (until I just now ruined it by telling you).

We have great expectations for this year’s journey. We have rented a villa again this time, with a pool, between Florence and Lucca, near Montecatini Terme. I’m looking forward to hearty red wines, soave whites, fruity olive oil, and plenty of sunshine, as the Paris canicule is long gone, having been replaced by late-October-like rain and chilly gray skies. The villa actually has internet access, so stay tuned for a posting direct from la Bella Italia.

I get by with a little help from my friends

Recently a number of you have sent encouraging and kind words about my blog, and each time it prompts me to reflect upon how lucky I am to know so many interesting, intelligent and wonderful people. I have been so fortunate in my life to encounter a variety of friends from different backgrounds across the globe, with each and every one making a contribution to my enrichment and happiness as a person. I am truly thankful to have developed such a terrific community over the years and honored to call its members my friends. When times are tough as an expat, I often play back a video in my mind of my favorite memories with my loved ones, savoring the images like a fine wine…and realizing that I have truly been blessed over the decades. This never fails to help me get through any adversity.
In a nod to Sandra Bernhard, “Without you, I’m nothing” and in another to the old Bartles and James ads, "Thank you for your support."

Food, glorious food

Click on these babies to get a close up of the ripe skin, bursting with flavor. You can almost smell them!

I love France because food seasons still exist here. I know when it’s spring because the asparagus and baby veggies have arrived, and summer doesn’t start until the first cherries and melons come up from Provence. When the oysters are as plentiful as the golden delicious apples, I know the temperatures will be dropping soon and bringing plenty of autumn rain. In winter, all the pumpkin soup I could ever desire starts off most meals of hearty stews or tender confit de canard with lots o’ potatoes.
All of these repasts are washed down, of course, with equally seasonal wines. Lighter reds, from the Loire Valley, go best with Spring, while the whites from the Maconnais and rosés of Provence (punctuated by the occasional Vino Verde from Portugal) cool down summer. For fall, the Côtes du Rhone contribute a fond reminder of August sunshine, while Bordeaux warms up the winter with toasty intensity. Luckily, champagne is appropriate and inexpensive year round.

Cheeses are seasonal in a special way in that their individual “personalities” are considered more appropriate at different times of the year. The moist, fresh goat cheese on your salad in June is a far cry from the runny vacherin that you scoop up with a spoon onto hearty bread in December. There are actually peak times of the year for certain cheeses (such as vacherin) depending on the ageing/curing process. However, this is one of the few staples of French cuisine that will truly be delicious all 12 months of the year. And anyone who thinks of themselves as an Epicurean or cheese-lover should follow the appropriate order in consuming the tempting array on their carefully arranged platter!

The culinary cycle is based on what is ripe, what is fresh, what tastes best at this particular point in time. While sometimes I miss the fact that in the US, you can satisfy a craving for anything at any time of year (and even any time of day or night, simply unthinkable here), when you stop and consider that the plums you so desire in January could not possibly have come from anywhere near where you live and therefore were not picked just as they were ripening… they kind of lose their appeal (and moreso when you see the price tag!) There’s a certain charm to limiting oneself to the foods that nature intended us to eat on Her schedule, and the markets and the menus here tend to be an accurate reflection of what is seasonal.
Right now is my favorite part of summer, as the cherries have just made way at my market to juicy nectarines, fresh-cheeked apricots and peaches and plump blueberries. Melons are still readily available, the tomatoes are bursting with flavor and raspberries literally explode on your tongue. I find great delight in the simple cucumber, with a sprinkling of herbs and a liberal dose of fresh feta straight from my local cheese shop.
Another thing I love about the French is that conversations about food and wine can last for hours; gastronomy and the pleasures of the table are among their top priorities, the basics, the crucial elements that make life worth living.
Vive la France et bon appétit !

Picnic 2 2006

Zeus, Indra, Teshuba, Mother Nature [insert other preferred weather deity here] were all with us last night (along with Bacchus, Lakshmi, Vacuna, etc.)

While it poured rain in Montmartre around 7:30 pm, at the Eiffel Tower we were settling in for a gorgeous sunset accompanied by a glass of rosé champagne (my current favorite: Besserat de Bellefon, Cuvée des Moines Brut Rosé, on sale right now at your neighborhood Nicolas for less than 24 euros whereas normally it goes for close to 30).

This picnic wins the record for late finishes: the last 12 of us finally left at almost 3:00 am.
Merci, grazie, thanks to the 40+ guests who came and contributed to the fantastic time had by all!!

The daring dozen that stayed into the wee hours enjoying the first real break in the canicule and the Eiffel Tower at 2 am.