Mystery in bloom
By Ann | March 15, 2010
When I moved into my apartment in August 2008, I found this orchid plant. It had slightly shriveled leaves and not a blossom in sight. I unearthed it from a dark kitchen cupboard next to the washing machine and considered throwing it away. But I didn’t. I combed the internet and tried various misting, fertilizing, and light techniques. But nothing, not a sign of a flower spike. So I stopped misting and fertilizing — in fact, I practically stopped watering the stubborn thing.
But then, sometime in December — over a year after I found it — the plant started throwing out a flower spike. And just a few days ago, it bloomed! It now has two lovely purple flowers and several buds. Turns out, after all my fussing, what it really wanted was neglect.
Topics: Jardinage | 7 Comments »
Sunday in Paris
By Ann | March 8, 2010
What a beautiful blustery day it was yesterday, bright and brisk. After a few weeks away from Paris, I was happy to sink back into comfortable Sunday activities. What did I do?
Topics: A year in a French market: Winter | 15 Comments »
Hungry pandas
By Ann | March 3, 2010
I can’t get enough of this news story. Apparently, a hungry wild panda broke into the pig pen of some neighboring Sichuan farmers and started gorging on their leftover pork ribs! This story is amazing to me because: A) Pandas are herbivores; their diet is mostly composed of bamboo. B) There are very, very few pandas left in the wild — less than 2,000 according to a 2004 WWF study. C) Someone managed to catch this on tape?!
I’m no panda expert, but I have visited and written about the Chengdu Panda Reserve in China’s Sichuan province twice. While I was there in 2005, I even made a new friend.
Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: In the news | 10 Comments »
Southern California speaks Kitchen Chinese!
By Ann | February 27, 2010
Bonjour mes amis! I am back from my wanderings and home from my book tour!I was so happy to meet so many old and new friends in Southern California and couldn’t believe it when I saw Book Soup’s sign in Hollywood (photo above). How many times do you see your name in lights on Sunset Boulevard? Next to Rupaul, no less!
Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Book, Kitchen Chinese: a novel | 5 Comments »
Flowers in my hair
By Ann | February 16, 2010
Hello and greetings from San Francisco! Though I’m officially in town to promote my novel, Kitchen Chinese – I hope you’ll join me for my reading TONIGHT at 6pm at Books, Inc. (601 Van Ness) — I’ve managed to sneak in a little fun as well. What have I been up to?
Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Book, Kitchen Chinese: a novel | 8 Comments »
The best laid plans of mice and first-time authors
By Ann | February 11, 2010
Oh, mes amis, where do I even start? Well, the good news is that we had a wonderful party on Tuesday at the beautiful Museum of Chinese in America, sponsored by the delicious Luckyrice Asian food festival. I loved seeing old and new friends from the New York book and magazine world and was incredibly touched that so many people braved the impending snowstorm to celebrate Kitchen Chinese.
Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Book, Kitchen Chinese: a novel | 7 Comments »
New Yawk, New Yawwwwk!
By Ann | February 9, 2010
Hello and greetings from the the Big Apple!
Since I arrived on Friday, I’ve indulged in a cheap pedicure, feasted on lots of great food (spicy tuna rolls and tri-color rolls at Yama, housemade fresh tofu at En Brasserie – yum!), enjoyed an icy saketini, and spent a whole day eating nothing but toasted sandwiches (yesterday was panini Monday). I have also been so excited to be in the big city, I’ve forgotten to take photographs at every turn!
Kitchen Chinese is officially on sale today! I was thrilled to see it mentioned in the New York Post’s required reading column on Sunday. I was also honored and touched to have the book mentioned by blogger friends Camille of the delicious Croque Camille and Kathy of the adorable Kathy’s Red Door Welcome – merci mille fois, chères amies!
Tonight is the book’s big party at the Museum of Chinese in America — I’m making a noodle salad and have been up to my eyeballs in spicy peanut sauce! Check back soon for a post on the big event…
Finally, if you’re in Washington, DC and looking for ideas to ring in the Year of the Tiger, check out my post on the Washingtonian magazine’s website. I’ll be speaking at the Border’s on L Street tomorrow at 6.30pm and hope you’ll brave the snow to come talk about Chinese food!
Topics: Book, Kitchen Chinese: a novel | 7 Comments »
Balletomane
By Ann | February 4, 2010
Bonjour, mes amis! I saw the prettiest window display while running errands this afternoon — the birth of a ballet shoe.
Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Kitchen Chinese: a novel, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
Time for tisane
By Ann | January 28, 2010
The French love their coffee, it is true, drunk in the morning with lots of milk, or in tiny cups after meals. But doesn’t the caffeine bother them? Don’t they ever have trouble sleeping? In a word, yes.
In fact, I’ve discovered that if there’s any drink the French are as passionate about as coffee, it’s the tisane (pronounced tee-zahn). What’s a tisane? It’s just another word for herbal tea. But, like so many other things culinary, in France it seems to have a spawned a whole industry of its own.
Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Sur ma table | 9 Comments »
French Frozen
By Ann | January 23, 2010
It’s taken me over a year, but I think I’ve finally cottoned onto the French secret to eating well at home. Is it shopping at the farmer’s market every day? Making the daily rounds of butcher, baker, and green grocer? Lovingly slaving over a hot stove, preparing delicious and nutritious meals every night? Ha — who has time for that? No, the secret, mes amis, is Picard.
What is Picard? Simply put, it’s a chain of stores selling frozen food. But not just any frozen food. Alongside the usually icy suspects, like pizzas and readymade meals, are an array of frozen products designed to ease the busy gourmand’s lifestyle.
Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Sur ma table | 15 Comments »