A Hopeful Week in Paris

Life.  You can plan all you want, but sometimes things happen that completely turn your world upside down.
Like it did for us several weeks ago. When I had an interview and was offered a job in Paris.

Paris!

And we decided to go ahead and make the move.

On the 6

The Paris Metro line #6 offers spectacular views of la Tour Eiffel.

I took this route every day for a week when I was in Paris earlier this month.  As soon as the train came above ground to cross a bridge over the Seine and this iconic monument came into view, almost every head turned to catch a glimpse.
I saw many smiles on the 6.

Photo du Jour - Chartreuse

A collection of Chartreuse bottles in a window in Paris.
I've never tasted it.  Have you?

Photo du Jour - Les Huîtres

We started off our Christmas day feast with oysters and Champagne. 

Best Wishes from France

For me, Christmas in France is all about enjoying the seasonal food and drink, lots of laughter and fun with friends who we never seem to see enough of during the year and little villages all decked out in their holiday finery.  I absolutely love it!

Whatever you're celebrating this weekend, I wish you and yours all the best.  Bonnes fêtes!

5 Reasons to Visit the Languedoc-Roussillon in December

1) The Marché aux Truffes in Villeneuve-Minervois

2) Cassoulet.  When the cold winds blow, there is nothing better. 


3) Vin Chaud.  Same as above.

4) Quiet, sunny seaside towns.  The perfect place to enjoy a leisurely lunch of moules frites and a bottle of Picpoul de Pinet.


5) It's the south of France!  Any time of year is a good time to visit.

Weekend Links

Sometimes things get lost in translation.
To try to keep myself from making silly mistakes, I read the blog French Word-A-Day.  It has always helped me keep my foot out of my mouth (except for the time I told our friends that they had une truite (a trout) in their ceiling, when I meant to say une fuite (a leak) - oops!) by keeping me up to date with current French expressions and colloquialisms. 

Jamie's brilliant review of Quiches, Kugels and Couscous: My Search for Jewish Cooking in France by Joan Nathan was just the enticement I needed to order myself a copy.  A great read and a great cookbook!

Apple desserts are a no-brainer in the autumn, but I think they deserve further consideration during the winter.  My favorite French Apple Cake, Dorie Greenspan's Apple Cake, a ridiculously easy Baked Apple Crunch and a classic French Tarte aux Pommes are four fantastic recipes to try.

This has to be the most decadent hot chocolate ever. 

For me, it just wouldn't be Christmas without watching this SNL skit and listening to this song.
Happy Holidays!

La Fête du Fromage - Brebis Basque

*sigh*
This was definitely not my favorite French cheese.

I expect cheeses from the Pays Basque to have well-rounded, seductive flavors.  Brebis Basque had neither.

Spending a Week In Paris...

...the City of Light.
Also the city of snow, steamy cafés and bustling holiday shoppers. And packed Metros, warm croissants and little dogs wearing little jackets.
Winter in Paris is a whole new experience. Other than cold toes, which I took care of by buying some ski socks, I love seeing this city in a new light.

Our Trip to the Loire Valley

Our trip to the Loire in October (which now seems like a lifetime ago) was really amazing...and wonderful...and well, interesting...
We encountered a few minor hiccups along the way, but were determined not to let them ruin our trip.

To start things off, I spent most of the night before our departure curled up on the bathroom floor with what I think was food poisoning.  By the time I was able to crawl my sorry butt out of bed that Saturday morning, the mere thought of spending 8 hours in a car was so horrific we decided to postpone the trip by one day.  No big deal.  We had the entire week to enjoy our holiday and explore the Loire.   
Or so we thought....