Alive and Well & Living in France, now Italy!: September 2012

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Shopping for Chocolate

Most women come home laden with shopping bags full of clothes, I prefer bags of sweets and goodies from any new bakery or chocolate shop I come across. I recently purchased this pastry app from David Lebovitz and decided to embark on some of his suggestions.

I decided to visit Jacques Genin Chocolate Shop in the 3rd. When I went inside I wasn't impressed with the starkness of the place,- very modern. But, I wasn't there for the asthetics, I was on a mission to get really good chocolate and caramel - and oh, did I!!

Peppery, cinammon, honey, mint, coffee, these were some of flavors making sweet melodies in my mouth as I tasted each small chocolate. I purchased the smallest box of 9 assorted chocolates for 11 euros - the saleslady even offered to do the choosing which was a good thing as I was wide-eyed as a kid in a candy shop with all the choices. She put it in the cutest metal box that can definitely be up-cycled again!

Then on to the caramels which they are known for - all I will say is wow!! Who knew you could have a mango-passion fruit caramel!

Next up just a few blocks away was Du Pain et des Idées - a line outside the door let me know this was a good one. The inside was adorable, old-fashioned charm and the buttery smells were amazing. I asked for some tartes de fine de pomme and chausson de pomme and their mouna which is a brioche infused with orange flower water. The tarte and chaussons were wrapped in layers and layers of buttery, flaky dough, filled with real apples, cinnamon and caramelized on the bottom - sinfully delicious!!

The mouna bread was equally delicious, warmed a bit - the orange and butter flavors lolling about in my mouth. Grab the pastry app here and happy tastings!!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Chasse aux Diamants

If you happen to be visiting a Holiday Inn in France or one in a few other locations in Europe, pour fêter their 60 anniversary, they are hiding diamonds in rooms. At a value of approx. 30,000 euros per diamond, this would make for a fun weekend getaway. Click on link below for more information:

http://www.lepoint.fr/insolite/chasse-aux-diamants-dans-les-hotels-holiday-inn-pour-les-60-ans-de-la-chaine-26-09-2012-1510555_48.php

My Tail's Between my Legs....

Nothing like feeling two feet tall and getting kicked to the curb... This is exactly how I felt after leaving a local Orange Company (for mobiles and Internet). On days like this, I need to remind myself why I stay here in France and yet continue to be treated like an outsider. But, I will not get beaten down by them. I hold my shoulders high and walk out leaving myself to nurse my wounded pride. Do I find a new Chez Orange to try my troubles at or walk boldly back in to the same one, hoping they don't recall me as "Le stupid American"........

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Tartines Sous La Couette - Breakfast in Bed!

If you happen to be in the Paris are on 7, 21, October or 4, 18 November and you have a Paris address, you can enter a contest to have fresh baked goodies delivered to your door. Click here for more information. When you are at their site, follow these instructions:

Click on: Je Participe
Fill in your information - put your local address of where you will be staying
Click: Je m'inscris

et voila! Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones!
Bon Chance!!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Sunday Market Day

A poulet roti is always in order on a Sunday, (yes, I know it's Monday)......just ask for au jus and some pomme de terre and you have a yummy easy meal to go. If you are coming to visit the City of Lights, there are endless rotisserie places - but beware!! Not all are good - if the chicken looks like it's been spinning for hours, it probably has been. Often times, the potatoes are awful and I choose to just make my own - easier and much tastier. Ask for a small "poignée" of the mini pomme de terre at your vendor of choice, and once home, slice, add olive oil and garlic and cook in oven for 40 minutes and voila!! your "pomme de terre"will rival anything at the rotisserie. Bon appetit!

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Today, I feel vindicated!! I was able to communicate well enough to get a refund - well for some reason, they deducted 10 euros from total - her babbling french left me two phrases behind and completely clueless.......but I did get the rest of my money back - yeah me!!

Foie Gras in the Cantine

The girls and I enjoy some good albeit interesting lunches at times. It is quite different from any school lunch we are accustomed to. We always have a starter and bread of course, followed by a main dish and then cheese and bread and of course yogurt, fruit yogurt, flan, chocolate, yogurt with sugar, you name it, we have had it!!

One Friday we had foie gras for our starter!! The children actually spread it on the bread and then eat it. Even the two year olds were given this. I guess that's one way to introduce the palette to different tastes at such a young age. Did Rachel and Isabel eat it? What do you think???!!!

A La Marché

I love the markets and the girls do as well. We pull our cart up to the market, yes, we have one of those "old lady carts" and savor what vegetables and fruits are in season. We have our "favorites" - we visit the same fruit and vegetable stand every week and when they see us coming, they always try out the little bit of English they know on us. The jolly old cheese man who gives the girls endless samples of his yummy cheese, the "chicken man" who has the best tasting poulet roti I have ever had, even the women who sells children's clothing is always eager to help us find exactly what we are looking for. These vendors take pride in their wares and take the time to ask you when you will eat the fruit, ensuring they pick the best one for that day. The customer service at these markets is probably something French people take for granted and just assume it's the norm, however for us, it is a nice change of pace to know you can purchase something and it has truly come from the heart.

You Are Charging Me How Much???!!!

7,50 euros for an application of mousse!! That is what my itemized bill said after I dared to look at it upon leaving the hairdresser. I feel certain I have paid for the entire case of the stuff for a month. For every bit of extra service one needs, you pay for it. I cannot figure out if our prices in America are so inflated that we don't even know we are paying exhoribitant prices or the French are nickel and diming every foreigner they can to get back at their own government for the high taxes they must pay.

Its All Relative

The living situation in France bring a whole new meaning to the word "small". Obviously people are smaller in both size and stature here, and their defination of "personal space" is completely opposite of mine, but come on!! 140 cm for 2 people. Basically this is the size of an american twin/double. I told my husband he better stop making extra trips to the bakery or we are going to have to get an extend-a-bed to fit him!!

I am still trying to imagine how anybody over 170 pounds fits in these french tubs. If you have wide hips, forget it. I am sure the pompiers have been called on more than one occasion to yank someone out of the tub. I do like the fact the toilet area is separate from the "douche" room, however, being the claustrophobic I am, have the toilet in a space the size of a closet just doesn't go over well with me. Even when you are there for just a bit, there is no ventilation, thereby causing one to continuely keel over from the sheer odor. I am sure my whole family will be diagnosed with some form of rare cancer from all the "odeur de maladie spray" we use everytime we exit "the closet".

Nothing Seems to Work Properly

Not even the liquid soap works correctly. I was warned about things not working well and the level of service one expects from living in the states. I am confussed why everything I have purchased thus far has broken or failed to live up to its expectation. I am trying to rationalize whether one pays a high price for each item they want just so they can have the thing live on way beyond their lifetime. This way, indeed they can pass on that foot pedal trash bin onto their children and even grandchildren if they are lucky to have it endure for that long.

My children are lucky, I think..... our 50 euro trash bin complete with a foot pedal broke after a month. They'll be able to put in for the "upgraded" model and the foot pedal won't get kicked around the kitchen floor all day long.

Many of the items from France are shipped from China, (Gasp) but the route is shorter. Maybe the items going to the states have an opportunity to ferment longer at sea, thereby creating a more rugged product. By the time the product reaches America, that liquid soap can handle lots of pushes. The route from China to Europe is much shorter, leaving me to believe not enough salt air has aged the product.

Le Bisous

Instead of a hug, one greets their friends, lovers, male, female etc with one kiss on each cheek - really almost an airbrush kiss. It takes some coordination to make sure the kiss lands on the cheek quickly as before you know it the person has turned their head to have the other cheek kissed. I have to admit I like this greeting. It is a bit more personal and takes some getting used to, but it is a very sweet way to greet or say goodbye to someone. However, one has to know when it is appropriate to use "le bisous". I wait for someone to initiate it as I am not sure if or when I should even be initiating this greeting, for fear of appearing over eager. Now, not everyone is the reciprocal of "le bisous". There is sort of an initiation to being on the receiving end of a kiss. It appears that one must have made your acquaintance at least a few times before, or just a "bonjour" or handshake is given. On that note, I'd say make lots of friends and give lots of bisous!! Remember one has to kiss both cheeks, if just one is done, it could be construed as the "kiss of death"!!