La Fête du Fromage - La Courounne Lochoise

The area surrounding the medieval city of Loches in the southern Loire valley is home to the farmers who make this little ash covered fromage de chèvre, La Couronne Lochiose.

Its name, la Couronne, meaning the crown, springs from its distinctive ring shape, and Lochoise means simply that it comes from the area around Loches.


This has to be one of the best unpasteurized goat cheeses that I've tasted thus far.

It has a mild "goatiness" and is somewhat salty and mildly acidic. There is a welcome whisper of a fresh, green grass flavor and its texture is ultra rich and creamy. It literally melts in your mouth.
Quite simply - fabulous!

Wines from the Loire pair best with La Couronne Lochoise. Try a white Sancerre or a reds such as Anjou or Bourgueil.

Photo du Jour


Strolling along the Canal St. Martin in Paris.

Middle East Banquit!



After having read Damascus, tastes of a city (in french Damas: Saveurs d'une ville) I really felt like offering to our participants a Middle East meal for our Farewell evening.
We started with a colorful salad, where red and green peppers were mixed with radishes, cucumbers, black and green olives, and plenty, plenty of Marmande tomatoes. The seasoning was done with chopped garlic, onion, and a mix of mint, basil and parsley leaves, plus salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon.
The main course was a slowly baked lamb (a delicious lamb slowly cooked in the oven with onions, garlic, tomatoes, thyme, salt, pepper, and red wine) and Syrian rice (you can see the recipe for the Syrian lamb in the website
www.aworldinapan.com)

Tangy Lemon Crème Fraîche Cake

Cheese shop in my neighborhood





I am very lucky to have a wonderful cheese shop near my home!

The Fromagerie d'Auteuil (www.lafromageriedauteuil.fr/) has all sorts of cheeses. Look at the display of goat cheeses! The picture in the middle shows the Citaux, a cow cheese from Burgandy done by monks. Note that only a few shops in Paris sell it. It is similar to Reblochon, but stronger. On the left, the Mont d'Or or vacherin du Doubs. It's the ideal season to have it! Monsieur Michel Fouchereau, the shop owner, is an "affineur" who ages the cheese in his own undeground "cave" or cellar. He has been distinguished with the
Meilleur Ouvrier de France award, an award given to the very best craftsmen in a tough competition.

An Italian Soirée in the South of France

Saturday night we gathered again, this time to celebrate the cuisine of Italy.
It was supposed to be a Japanese evening, but three of the eight of us don't eat sushi and some of the ingredients for Japanese food are understandably difficult to source in the south of France. As much as we like a bit of a challenge, this is also a night for us to enjoy each other's company, so we opted for an easier cuisine.

Frustratingly, the batteries in my camera up and died shortly after snapping what turned out to be a super blurry shot of the Farro and Chickpea soup that I brought. (I'll post the recipe later this week)
Thankfully a borrowed camera saved the day, so I do have a few photos to share of our fantastic meal.

after the soup came a gratin of Belgian endive, Parmesan, garlic and loads of butter with super garlicky garlic bread - just the way I like it!


then steaming, savory prosciutto, wild mushrooms and herbs in parchment paper and grilled cherry tomatoes

The photo of the main course, Pasticcio, was blurry as well. Merde!

dessert of the most amazing, boozy, orange zest infused tiramisu

We love our World Food evenings! Next time...
South Africa!

Photo du Jour - Market Day


An abundance of summer fruit.

Photo du Jour


Those of you who know me know that I'm a bit of a frustrated entomologist.
When I see interesting looking insects, I grab my camera and try to get a shot. I did get a great photo of a dragonfly last summer.
This beauty was on our house the other day. Wish I could have captured the bright orange and vivid red underside of its wings.


I didn't take a photo of the tick I pulled out of my leg the other day. *shudder* It didn't deserve the recognition.

Martine's Birthday Cake (5)

Lights went dim and I walked into the dining room holding the cake with candles lit and everybody sang Joyeux Anniversaire!Our meal was thus closed by a raspberry Macaron cake brought by Carole: a pink girly cake with a delicate line of red fruit on top! I served in on a hand painted Chinese round plate with a floral design, the individual turquoise plates were also hand painted and of Qing design.The cake had a very subtle flavor and melted deliciously in the mouth. I added a bowlful of fresh raspberries that Martine had picked in her countryside home that morning for the raspberry lovers. It is always difficult to pair wine with dessert. I like contrast, so I do not like to serve a sweet wine like Sauternes. Champagne demi-sec used to be served with dessert, but I love Champagne before the meal starts, it wakes up my senses with its bubbles and fruity flavor. So I opted for a fine Cognac which with a strong flavor washed down the sugary cake. In the picture you see a Baccarat cognac glass and a Saint Louis carafe with a sliver plated topped cork where I keep my Cognac.

A Week In The Life

Wow. Saturday already. Another week gone.
What have I been up to?

I met a cool and very brave woman and saw the house she purchased in a neighboring village. Needs a lot of work but is a great place!

I firmed up plans to meet another blogger in Albi and hopefully visit a cheese shop there.

I ate my way through about a kilo of asparagus.

We enjoyed an evening out at our local café/bar where I had a great chat with the local honey maker.

I checked the garden to find that yes, the arugula and lettuce seeds have indeed sprouted!

I decided that it was time to master the art of soufflé. Maybe this one with Roquefort?

Taking care of our neighbor's dog, so getting two long walks every day up the hill in the garrigue.

I found and purchased an affordable ice cream maker. (I've been wanting to replace the one we left behind in the States since we moved here 5 years ago...it's about time!)

Errands, always errands; groceries, dog to the vet, pharmacy, bank, etc.

I Love These Parmesan Songs!

These are hilarious and will keep you humming the catchy little tune all day.

Parmigiano Reggiano Pubblicità


Have the French ever made a publicité for Brie or Roquefort with shiny, dancing inanimate objects?

French Valentine's at Patty James Cooking School

French Valentine's at Patty James Cooking School and Nutrition Center in Sebastopol, Sonoma Valley! I'm getting ready as I write this post for the class. I am going to prepare French Crepes (brought Nutella, Chestnut creme, and two A World in a Pan home made preserves in my suitcase), a Quiche Lorraine, an Onion Quiche, a Perigord Salad, and an Intense Chocolate Mousse. Bon appetit!

Photo du Jour - Les Olives


Les Lucques, hanging heavy on the tree. Soon to be harvested and crushed into a heady, silky, grassy flavored oil.
It takes about 7-9 kilos of olives to make 1 liter of olive oil.

Photo du Jour


A fanciful door handle.

Photo du Jour - Poppies


Yesterday. Such a gorgeous day.
I drove around a bend in the road and there was this field of poppies with the Montagne Noire in the background.

Photo du Jour - To The Tower!


A rooftop view of Ventenac en Minervois on a dark and stormy evening.

Easter lunch at Diane de Meridor

We spent Easter Sunday (April 4th) in the Loire Valley, visiting friend Martha and James. They treated us to Diane de Meridor, a delicious restaurant in Montsoreau, by the Loire. As many French restaurants, they had a special Easter menu: a five course spectacular meal that I'd like to share with you.
The table clothes are orange color, and the view of the dining room as you walk in is full of the outside light, the brightenss of the tablecloths, and the perfectly set tables.

We started with a Crème brûlée au foie gras: sublime! Great combination, I AM going to make this, maybe next Christmas (as foie gras is not so much a summer fare).

Then came the warm asparagus flan with fresh asparagus, the first of the season in this production area. Aside a stuffed roll of smoked salmon kept a good balance.

The traditional Easter fare in France is lamb, and we had lamb form Aveyron, a region in France famous for the quality of its lambs. It came on a bed of creamy red rice, with steamed vegetables, and a small bouchee of aubergine purée on the left.

After the main course, we had an original cheese presentation: slices of dried apple with slices of melted Reblochon cheese, a farmers cheese from the Alps.

Desert was a declination of pineapple: pinacolada sherbert, a brochette of fresh pinapple on a bed of lime jello, and a slice of roasted pineapple on a sablé biscuit.
Coofee came with migniardises ... that you can see in this picture. What a regal!
We had a white Saumur wine for the apetizer and fish dish, and a red Saumur for teh rest of the meal.
Easter Sunday in Montsoreau, Loire Valley was a great experience and I thank my friends Martha and James for the invitation - which was meant to celebrate my irthday as well.
I recommend Diane de Meridor to anyone driving or staying in the area!
>> This fabulous menu was at 45 Euros plus wine. A great deal.

French Citizenship - Chapter Too Many To Count

One more year to go.

That was the official word from the amazingly efficient fonctionnaire (if that isn't an oxymoron, I don't know what is) at the sous-préfecture in Béziers.
My dossier has been sent on to the next level for review, to the Minister of the Interior I believe.

So I wait. Patiently.


Thus far the process has caused a bit of stumbling and a hiccup or two, required a train trip, a lot of check writing, and brought the Gendarmes around for a chat.

More than a year has passed since I dropped off my substantial, 50+ page dossier at the Mairie for the first time, only to have it immediately returned due to a disagreement the sous-préfecture had with some dates. It was finally accepted several months later but was then held up by the delay of my Carte de Résident.

Now it is complete. And it is out there. Somewhere. Hopefully not lost under a stack of other dossiers or shoved into the depths of someone's desk drawer.

One more year.
Anyone want to bet that it will take longer than that? I think the odds are pretty good...

Salus or "health"



On my way to Punta del Este, the pearl of the Atlantic, we made a detour to Minas, in the middle of the smooth hills of de Lavalleja area. I love the quietness of these hills or "sierras" and everytime I can I do this pleasant pilgrimage.

Salus Mineral water is bottled here, a water that comes from a local spring called the Puma Spring (la Fuente del Puma).

There is a cozy Inn, el Parador Salus, with a very good restuarant. I had a delicious sirloin strip with roasted potatoes and onions compote.
My guest lamb chops, and we both opted for the typical local flan (custard).

The whole meal was wrapped in agua mineral Salus!
A special note about olive oil. It's delicious and locally produced in Rio Negro. I have contacted the producer to get a bottle (or tin) before I head back to Paris.

Bon appetit!

Photo du Jour - Tupperware?


Never thought that my first ever Tupperware party would took place in an old stone house overlooking the vineyards in rural France. Actually, I never ever thought I would have the chance go to a Tupperware party in the first place.
It seemed like such a 1970's thing to do...
So when the invitation from my friend arrived, I wasn't sure what to expect.

Gone are the days of my mother's avocado green (to match our kitchen appliances, of course), mustard yellow and pumpkin orange colored salad bowls, measuring cups and lemonade pitchers.
The array of products they offer now is impressive! In festive, bright colors and every shape imaginable. You can get everything from wine bottle stoppers to manual food processors to fish poachers to vented charcuterie keepers.

Truly a gadget for every day of the year. And the prices are definitely 21st century!

My birthday: Menu

Here is my menu:We started with Ravioles de Royans, a Dauphine (French region) speciality food. The little delicate squares (like mini raviolis) are made with white flour and stuffed with cheese and basil, I served them with a bit of olive oil and sliced olives and dry tomatoes. I presnetd them in a fine bone china bowl placed on a colorful chinese hand decorated dessert plate.
The main course was "magrets de canard" (duck breasts) from South West France. Magrets weigh about 1 lb each the skin side is very fat. First you make incissions on the fat to ensure it cooks. Then you cook them about 7 minutes on the fat side in a heavy pan (I use a Le Creusot iron cast frying pan) without any fat. The fat will melt. Your turn them and cook them 5 minutes o the meat side. You remove and put them in a pan in a medium low oven for 10 minutes. Cut and serve.I served them with caramelized spring turnips (a classic garnish for duck) and onion compote with raisins, as if it were a chutney. Duck is served medium rare in France and cut in rather thin slices. I changed plates and forks amd knives and served a fresh lettuce salad, quite refreshing after the duck.My cheese platter came from la Fromagerie d'Auteuil , the cheese shop near my house that I have often praised in this blog. It had one old Valencay goat cheese, one soft sheep cheese, a slice of Roquefort produced in a small farm at Roquefort, a small piece of Munster (keep your breathe!), and half La Pierre qui Vire, produced by monks at the Abbey with the same name - cow milk. My dessert was a home made iced vanilla flavored cream with swirls of dark chocolate, served in a shell of meringue. I had put the vanilla bean on top to decorate the cake and to give a hint of the flavor.
I served a Chateau Pailhas Saint Emilion Grand Cru 1999, perfect for duck. We had our Nespresso in these small Chinese cups.
It was a good birthday indeed!

The Quirky Quarter


Locals don't call it the French Quarter. It is simply the Quarter.

To say that this New Orleans neighborhood is unique is a bit of an understatement.

A tiny bit of the city - a mere half a mile rectangle - that is a whole little universe onto itself. It is crammed to the gills with charm, history, music, decadence and a seductive spirit that I've never encountered in any other American city.


The Quarter's inhabitants, affectionately known as Quarter Rats, live their lives in the midst of all the hullabaloo. They work, shop, eat, drink and even raise children in this colorful, famous (some might say infamous) and definitely quirky neighborhood of New Orleans.



We lived smack dab in the middle of it for two years.
Our narrow, faded pink shotgun house on the corner of Orleans and Burgundy was the perfect vantage point for observing life in the Quarter. And living it.

I rode my cruiser everywhere. Gone were the days when I needed a mountain bike to navigate hills like I did in Seattle. Most of my grocery shopping was done on foot with the help of my trusty market trolley at the little A&P down the street and at the Central Grocery (credited for inventing the Muffuletta, it also has a great selection of Italian and other European pantry items).
Work was only a few blocks away and even though we had a car, it wasn't used very often.



We became regulars at our favorite restaurants and bars, and had two little corner delis who offered 24 hours a day delivery on speed dial for those emergency midnight ice cream, jambalaya or po-boy cravings. One of them also makes a killer meatloaf.

New Orleans, especially the Quarter, teaches you to appreciate living in a whole new way.
It is an exhilarating roller coaster ride that rarely offers a dull moment. It is passionate and delicious and can take your breath away when you least expect it to. It is sometimes exhausting.



Yes, I miss it. Terribly sometimes.
But as others have pointed out, I have the best of both worlds. My home away from home with friends in New Orleans and my home in la belle France.
It's a perfect balance.