Beach Life

In California visiting family for a week. Makes me realize how much I miss the ocean! (and good tacos!)

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Postcard From California

burgers. In Aptos, California.
I had the Hank Williams Sr. burger, which included an onion ring as one of its toppings.

I wish I could describe just how delicious it was!

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Postcard From California

Sea, sun and surf. California Dreaming...

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Postcard From California

California citrus.

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Family, Food and Dancing in California

California.

It means enjoying time with my amazing sister, nieces and nephews, strawberries and sushi, treating myself to a pedicure, the gorgeous beaches along Monterey Bay, Peanut Buster Parfaits, laughing until I cry at my brother in law's witty sense of humor, much missed Mexican food, pastries and cakes from Gayle's Bakery, dancing in the kitchen (photos of which will not been shared to protect the innocent), wearing UGG boots without shame and cooking up Italian feasts with my dad and grandma.

Thankfully all the dancing in the kitchen helps to burn off the calories from all the eating. Pin It

Craving French Cheese

Been away from home for three weeks now.

As I sit here cramming bottles of Crystal hot sauce, Community coffee with chicory, comfortable pj's from Target, cookbooks, DVD's and new shoes into my bags I can feel the excitement building.
After the boring, 20 hour journey back to France I will be happily greeted by my little family of five and plan on getting either a button of chèvre or a wedge of Comté in my hands as soon as possible.

In a perfect world I would be able to get one of these in France...I guess life is all about trade offs.


For now I'm happy with French cheese. And a glass of wine.
Of course. Pin It

The Aptos Farmers Market

Before flying off to Las Vegas for a few days, my sister and I hit the Aptos Farmers Market to check out the late winter offerings.
She wanted to meet some of the local, organic producers and decided this was a good place to start. I, of course, was curious about the local cheese makers.

It was a feast for the eyes! Dark green kale, rainbow chard and all kinds of salad greens. Boxes of juicy, ripe Early Girl tomatoes. A dozen varieties of apples, citrus fruit and berries to die for. Homemade bread and pastries. Oysters and seafood from the Pacific.

All of this under the fragrant shade of the eucalyptus trees with the sound of waves crashing in the distance. Not a bad place to do some Saturday morning shopping if you ask me.

The one letdown...not a single cheese producer in sight.
Luckily the Cheese Shop in Carmel isn't too far away.



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Photo du Jour - Tacos

My flight finally landed at 1 o'clock Friday morning in San Francisco. I slept for a few hours and by noon my sister and I were polishing off carnitas and chicken tacos at Taqueria los Gordos in Aptos, California.
What a fantastic way to start my trip! Pin It

California and Louisiana (and Vegas, baby!)

Here it is Wednesday already, which usually means some delicious French cheese tasting for la Fête du Fromage. Not this week, however.
Tomorrow morning my annual trek back to the States begins bright and early, so the cheese has been put on hold until I return to la belle France in a few weeks.

First I'm heading to my sister's house in California to see my nieces, nephews, brother in law and this wonderful object. I've missed it so much. Yes, I've also missed my family, but if you knew this coffee maker you would know why I'm so smitten.
I'm hoping the weather will be as gorgeous as it was the last time I was there.


And we'll be taking a little side trip to Vegas, baby!

Then on to New Orleans for some good times with great friends. Not to mention a fried shrimp po' boy or two, some red beans and rice, bacon pralines, crayfish anything and lots of decadence for Mardi Gras.
All that AND the New Orleans Saints are playing in the Superbowl this year. It is going to be crazy!


Look for many stories and photos from the road.

A bientôt! Pin It

A Cheese Field Trip

As I sat on my friend's terrace nibbling a bit of rich, buttery Comté under warm, sunny skies last Saturday, I realized just how far I've come from my pastry chef days.

You see, I had just been offered dessert, a colorful selection of cassis, cherry or apple tartlettes, and politely declined each and every one. I was happy to just sit there and work my way around the abundant cheese platter they had placed on the table.
I actually chose cheese over dessert. My how things have changed!

So, it should come as no surprise that I will go pretty far out of my way to discover a new cheese shop or to visit a small cheese producer.


My sister is also a cheese enthusiast so while visiting her in California we decided that a little field trip to The Cheese Shop in Carmel was in order.


The Cheese Shop - Carmel

Carmel is only about 45 minutes south of her home so we jumped in the car one morning and drove on down.


the selection was impressive

It was a warm, welcoming and friendly place with shelves crammed with cheese, wine and gourmet foods from around the world.





They happily offered a taste of any cheese you were interested in. And we took full advantage of that!



We finally made our choices and purchased some wine, bread, chocolate, a piece of creamy Fourme d'Ambert, some sublime Humboldt Fog, an aged Pleasant Ridge Reserve, Brie de Meaux and a very special Parmigiano-Reggiano Vacche Rosse.

It was a very successful field trip!


The Cheese Shop - Carmel
Carmel Plaza (lower level)
Ocean and Junipero
Carmel, CA 93921


Finally...the cheesiest photo ever! Pin It

Photo du Jour

Across the street from my sister's house.
Pretty gorgeous, huh? Pin It

Photo du Jour

Yesterday we drove to Moss Landing to buy mussels at Phil's Fish Market so I could make moules marinières for the family. As we passed a little inlet my niece spotted three otters bobbing in the water!
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Photos du Jour - The Beach

I've always love the little sandpipers darting around.


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Photo du Jour

Ah...California.
The beach today was amazing! So sunny and warm. I couldn't have asked for a better day on my birthday. Pin It

Goodbye New Orleans...Hello La Selva Beach!

Yesterday I said goodbye to friends in New Orleans and traversed the country, finally ending my trip in San Jose, California where my sister picked me up to drive me to her home in La Selva Beach.
Yes, my sister lives a mere quarter mile from one of California's most beautiful beaches. Sometimes I think we both lead charmed lives, location wise.
This little beach town is just south of another charming little beach town, Capitola-by-the-Sea, on Monterey Bay.

I'll be spending the week with my wonderful sister, my fun and fabulous brother in law, my four amazing and very lovable nieces and nephews and my dad has booked a ticket to come down from Spokane to see us too!
It's going to be a great week. Pin It

Is it May already??

I cannot believe that 3 (or more) weeks have past since I last was able to write something. I'm in the midst of trying to get the right to have my own business here in France and it is proving to be a nightmare. Also I leave for a 3 and 1/2 week trip to the States tomorrow at 7 am from an airport an hour and a half away so that means we have to be out of the house at 4:15 in the morning. I'm tired just thinking about the loss of sleep!

I travel to New Orleans first. I haven't been there since Katrina and I know my heart will be broken by the devastation. Then off to northern California for a family event. I plan on enjoying my friends and family, shopping at Target (coupons!) and a wonderful little shop in the French Quarter called Hemline and eating lots of shrimp and oysters.

I hope to have some time to write and forget about french bureaucracy for a few weeks.

A bientôt. Pin It