13 Days Till Paris

In 13 days we will be in Paris.  We don't have any set plans or specific sights we want to see, but rather a series of walks or wanderings.  We hope to stumble upon hidden gems, cafés and tiny shops.  There is no hurry in our journey.  We have already spent countless hous in the Louvre and rushed from museum to museum in a frenzy as if we had to crowd every moment with beauty and wonder.  This time there will be wonder in just being there, shopping, cooking and living there.

Planning My Next Trip

Bob and I are busy planning for our next trip to Europe.  This time we will be branching out and visiting several countries we haven't been to before.  Our 3 weeks will begin in Paris.  We have rented a small apartment, so that we can make the most of the beautiful french markets and cooking some of our own meals.  From Paris, we will be boarding a TGV to Amsterdam.  Our next stop will be Germany with stays in Bacharach, Rottenberg, and Munich.  We will be finishing up our trip in Italy by visiting, Verona, Venice, Florence and Rome.  I will keep you posted on our many new adventures!

Gerard's Mustard Tart. Week 2 of French Friday's With Dorie. The tart was simple to make and full of flavor, but I am not wild about the leeks. I think it would be better if I sliced them smaller and sauteed them in butter or olive oil instead of steaming them. They seemed a bit stringy to me.

Gougeres

Recipe number 1: Gougeres, cheesy little puffy bites came out pretty well. I think the secret is leaving them in the oven until they get a bit crispy on the outside while still moist and tender on the inside. My daughter and I enjoyed the process though. I am not really a pastry chef, but it was actually pretty simple.

French Friday's With Dorrie

So, today starts a new era in my blogging life. Each Sunday (Friday is too hectic) I will be cooking a recipe from Around My French Table by Dorie Greenspan and blogging about the results. Today is gougeres. Little cheesy cream puffs. I am excited to try them and will post a picture of the results.

French Markets and Produce

On my recent trip to France, I was fortunate enough to be able to take a cooking class from Muriel Marguerite. Muriel is a delightful woman with an extensive knowledge of the French open air markets. Our group met Muriel outside the Metro and we walked to one of the numerous open air markets. Muriel explained that the French government guarantees the French people that they will be able to shop locally for fresh produce, meats and dairy at least two times per week. The vendors pay a monthly fee to the local city council. In turn the city sets up the market stalls and provides the vendors with electricity and water. Both farmers and resellers have booths and Muriel showed us how to tell which is which. She also told us about the French rating system for meats and vegetables. I feel much more competent now that I know how to tell where the food is grown, caught or raised. The produce is so lovely in these markets. Enjoy these photos.

My birthday

Today we took a cooking class from Muriel Margarite. We met her outside the metro and she took us to an open air food market where we bought the ingredients for our meal. We made tuna steaks with a red wine reduction sauce, zucchini, and a chocolate fondant. It was a fantastic experience.  Muriel runs her cooking school out of her home in Paris.  Her home was once an old farm, but she has remodeled it and added the cooking school to the addition upstairs.  The school has 4 complete working stations with everything needed for 2 people to cook comfortably at each station.  Upon completing our meal, we carried it down to her garden to enjoy with a nice bottle of red wine from Beaune.  

Sacre Coeur

After climbing lots of stairs...huffing and puffing to the top we reached Sacre Coeur. Did I mention there were lots of stairs??? The view was worth it and the church is beautiful.

Eiffel Tower

For those of you that don't mind heights you would have enjoyed the view from the Eiffel Tower today. It was a bit windy up top, but the day was clear and sunny and if you stood on the south side of the tower it was actually warm outside in the sun.  My recommendation is that you arrive early on a week day (by 8:45 AM) so that you don't have to stand in a huge line to get your tickets.  Your museum pass will not get you into the tower, so you do have to stand in line to pay.

Cafe Constant Paris

Monica and I had an amazing dinner at Cafe Constant in the 7th Arrondisment. The food was amazing and the service really good. We shared an asparagus salad appetizer (Fricassée d'asperges de saison, oeuf poché et sauce basilic) and then Monica had the steak and mashed potatoes and I had crispy shrimp.  For dessert we tried the Ile Flottante.   Lovely.  

139, Rue St Dominique
75007 Paris, France
+33 9 75 82 08 07

Dinner in Paris

Tonight we ate at Tribeca on the Rue Cler. Monica had the risotto and I had the beef. The food was really wonderful. Restaurants on the Rue Cler are usually packed by 8:30 with locals.  If you want to assure yourself of a seat, go early and be prepared to be patient.  French waiters work incredibly hard, but service may seem slow to Americans.  My advice is to slow down. Don't eat so fast. Enjoy your food.  Listen in to conversations.  Relax and be in the moment.

36, Rue Cler
75007 Paris, France

01 45 55 12 01

Adventures in Paris

This is a wide variety of photos from our day in Paris. First, the Caprese Salad from Tribeca on

the Rue Cler. This salad is served in a sealed mason jar with layers of tomato, mozzarella cheese and basil pesto. I thought of my friend Joe Wood when I ordered this salad. It is a classic served in an unconventional manner. The second photo is of Monica and I standing at the top of the Arc de Triomphe. I think that the view from the top really gives you the best look at how the city of Paris is layed out like spokes from a wheel with the Arc as the center. Beautiful views of the old tree lined avenues. We walked from the Louvre through the Tuileries down the Champs Elysees to the Arc. We stopped at a cafe under the trees in the Tuileries for a salad and a glass of wine. The friendly waiter snapped the photo of us enjoying our salad. The last picture is of me standing in front of one of Monet's paintings in the Orangerie.

Day 2 in Paris

Day 2 in Paris
I am in Paris with my friend Monica. We had a busy day today. We spent 5 short hours in the Louvre. We saw most of the Dinan wing and part of the Richelieu, but there is so much more to see! We ate a light lunch in the Tuilleries Garden outside the Lourve and then walked up the Champs Elysee to the Arc de Triomphe. Lots of stairs. Amazing views. Wonderful paintings and sculptures. We also made a brief visit to the Orangerie to see the walls of Monet water lillies. Back home in the Rue Cler now. We had a great dinner. Risotto for Monica with shrimp and for me the beef in wine sauce. Lovely. Photos to follow.

Evergreen Museum

Have you ever wondered where the Spruce Goose went? Tucked away in the countryside of Oregon is the amazing Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. Protected by a beautiful glass and wood building the Spruce Goose found a loving home. We spent a delightful day here with the very knowledgeable senior volunteers who take you through the collection of planes and helicopters while sharing their personal stories of serving our country. This is a must see for those of you that enjoy aviation history.

Alpine Village

A childhood favorite that has retained it's charm, brunch at the Alpine Village was a treat. Brunch is served in the huge hall by women dressed in traditional German attire. Your champagne glass is never empty and if you like sausage (in every variation) you will be in heaven. Wear loose clothing and be prepared to polka!

Getty Museum

Last weekend I spent a delightful morning touring the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. If you haven't put this on your list of "Must Sees" you really have to. The museum is free and the views are priceless, but the parking does cost $10.00. You park down below the museum and take a quick tram ride up the hillside. The spectacular architecture, creamy marble and glass buildings take your breath away and then there are the views. Each one better than the last. We were lucky to have a very clear day and were able to see the ocean and downtown Los Angeles. The gardens are lovely and a perfect place to take a picnic lunch. There are some great collections in the museum, but I can see this expanding over the years.

Izrael in Paris

Tucked away in the Marais is a tiny gem of a store.  Inside it is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.  Visit my page on Virtual Tourist to learn more about this amazing store.  

Strawberries in Honfleur

There is nothing more satisfying to a real foodie than finding an excellent street market.  Time stops, for strawberries and artichokes.  

Welcome to Laurel's Travel and Culinary Adventures

Welcome to my first attempt at real blogging.  Hopefully you will find the information on these pages interesting and enlightening.