Archive for March, 2009

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Dining Out and About (Paris): The Spice is right

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

As I’ve mentioned before, the French seem to have an inordinate fear of spice. Which is fine if you’re willing to subsist on croque monsieurs, but sometimes I crave a little heat, a little exotic, a little wow. Happily, I have discovered all that and more at Krishna Bhavan, a vegetarian Indian restaurant next to […]

French food news: Best flan in Paris

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Bonjour, mes amis, and welcome to another edition of French food news — what’s going on in the French food media this week?
Le indefatigable le Figaroscope searches for more of the “best” of Paris — this time a quest for the best flan, which in Paris-speak is a sort of heavy custard pie. Admittedly, this […]

A year in a French market: Paris plumbing and pesto

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

It started with the lights in the kitchen. One minute they were bright as a film set, the next the room had been plunged into darkness. 
When the electrician finally came, he seemed doleful. The problem was très, très grave, madame. He would have to break a hole in the ceiling to fix it, he said, […]

Macaron madness at Pierre Hermé

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

You may know March 20 as the first day of spring. But here in Paris, last Friday was le Jour du Macaron. Selected patissiers offered free macarons in exchange for a donation to their pet charity, and none was more publicized and popular than Pierre Hermé. The celebrated Prince of Pastry offered four of his […]

French food news: Organic markets in Paris

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

Welcome to another edition of Food Wednesday, now renamed “French food news” in a blatant attempt to attract more readers to this humble blog. So, what’s going on in French food media this week?
Le Figaroscope dedicates its round-up to Paris’s three organic markets, including “my” Raspail market (boulevard Raspail, métro Rennes, Sundays, 9am-2pm). The others […]

Boeuf Bourguignon, the spend-less-time-inside method

Monday, March 16th, 2009

It’s a heartbreakingly gorgeous day here in Paris, mes amis, as evidenced by the photo above, which I snapped just this very morning.
Look at that sky! The sun! And, of course, I still pinch myself every time I see that steel tower… 
I should be outside right now, soaking up some late afternoon sunshine. Instead, guess […]

A year in a French market: Activities for a Sunday (don’t even think about shopping)

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

Here in 21st century France, there are strong views on activities appropriate for a Sunday. Approved activities: spending time with family and friends, relaxing, movies, drives in the country, eating big lunches and taking long walks afterwards. Unapproved: Shopping. Of any kind. Even groceries. Woe be to you if you forgot to buy butter on […]

March 20, Free Macaron Day

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

It’s like Christmas in March! Or, it will be next Friday, March 20, when his macaron majesty, Pierre Hermé, distributes four (4) FREE macarons to all his dessert devotés, at all four of his Paris boutiques.
Recipients of the sweet treats are asked only to make a donation to Monsieur Hermé’s pet cause, la Fédération des […]

Food Wednesday: A (Third Michelin) star is born

Friday, March 6th, 2009

Greetings, mes amis, and welcome to another edition of Food Wednesday, which now appears whenever the heck I want. What’s happening in this week’s French food news?
First of all, how do you spell “celebrity” in French? M-I-C-H-E-L-I-N. At least, that’s the case for Eric Fréchon, chef of Le Bristol, who just won his third Michelin […]

A year in a French market: A Chinese American in Paris

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

When I’m in line at the market, I often wonder what the other customers are cooking from the produce they buy. I’m willing to bet I’m the only person in line who turns their swiss chard into a Sriracha-laced noodle stir-fry. Does the vegetable vendor know I’m eyeing her cauliflower and potatoes and thinking spicy aloo […]

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