Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
A tour in Lille (North of France)

When I had placed my order, the glass of wine was brought to my table. A fresh, dry, white wine from the Mediterranean coast, near the Spanish border.
Soon after, a "mise en bouche" was served: it was a verrine with a fresh mix of tomatoes and mozzarella cut in small dices, a a seasoning with basil and olive oil. 
The garnish was a deep plate with a mixed of steamed vegetables; a slice of each :turnip, fennel, sweet potato, and zucchini, and a small carrot, a broccoli bouquet and some soy germs.Tuesday, July 7, 2009
A light summer supper
Friday, July 3, 2009
Caritas or a grandmother LOL
You may remember Nora visited me last Spring. I truly enjoyed her long awaited visit!Among her many many activities in Uruguay, (she's Director of the Association of Architects of Uruguay, Director of the Garden Club Exhibition 2009, and more ...) she finds time to cook and have fun with grandson, Rodrigo, 7. Just as she used to do with her own children, Leti, Gustavo, and Marcelo, now grown ups, last weekend she helped him decorate his plate.
The garnish featured a green salad and rice salad for the face, two peas and a few thin slices of carrots completed the expression, forming a smiling face. I love the hairdo!Monday, June 29, 2009
Abuela's birthday!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Summer treats!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
A meal at restaurant LE CLEZIO in St Aubin de Luigne
After the visit, we asked the owner, Mr Socheleau, for a restuarnt recommendation to pursue the enjoyment of our day, and he himself booked a table for us at the restaurant!
>> For bookings: Restuarant Le Clezio, 9, Place de l'Eglise, (49190) Saint-aubin-de-luigné, Tél: 02 41 78 33 15
Saturday, June 20, 2009
A very special treat: chocolate
I had discovered this chocolate shop when I visited Brussels in March 2008 and had found the display of chocolates as well as the chosen flavors stunning and worth a detour.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Emily and Amos in Paris
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Back in Paris: Lunch Chez Marcel
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Los Angeles Philarmonic
Gladly, my encounter with Peter Sellars made me forget this disappointing glass of wine!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Things in Venice, California (4)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
(Simple) things in Venice, California (3)
I added a few tender lettuce leaves, toppled with the other slice of bread.. et voila!
After lunch, we walked to Groundworks Coffee on Rose Ave for a chocolate cookie and a small macchiato.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Things in Venice, California (2)
I have also been to the beach at daytime... but it's so so windy and chilly that I have only looked into the horizon all wrapped up in a shawl and a sweater... There are kites, and surfers, and children around.
Walking around exploring and ... discovering is a pleasant activity! My favorite place for breakfast is Groundworks Coffee, at 671 Rose Ave, Venice. I have at last settled for a double macchiato, a cranberry toasted bagel with cream cheese. I am currently reading Revolutionary Road, by R Yates, and I go every morning around 7 am for an hour of quietness.
What is to be said about this cafe wall? A baroque collage mosaic that suits the atmosphere of the city shining and sharing its many sea and sky shades.
I have also had lunch at GJelina's, following blogger Rebekka's advice - very nice place indeed though way too noisy for my ears! I asked to be placed in the back terrace to avoid the very loud noise in the main room, but found the music very loud too! The back terrace is lovely.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Things in Venice, California (1)
Monday, May 18, 2009
I thank the reader who pointed out that the area of Beauce, where this picture was taken, is a windy area which explains why there are quite a number of windmills. This is Le moulin-pivot de Oucques-la-Joyeuse and was built in the 17 C (though it was seriously damaged and and refixed). For more about the windmills in this area check ou lovely pictures here
The day before we had had dinner at L'Epicerie, 46, Place M.Debré, Amboise. Reservations are recommended, so if you're in the area, make sure you call: 02 47 57 08 94. Every time we take friends to the Loire, we make sure we have dinner here. It's an excellent quality:price ratio.
Friday, May 15, 2009
A weekend at the Chateaux of the Loire
Monday, May 11, 2009
My May market basket (in Paris)
What else? Well, I bought some potatoes, two medium onions, garlic, 6 free range eggs, 4 thin slices of cooked ham (for the spinach), carrots (just to have some in the fridge), 4 apples (last of the season), a baguette on the way home, and my two baskets were pretty heavy indeed.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Don't throw away radish leaves, make a potage
The producer asked me if he left the leaves or if I wanted him to remove them, and added: "are you making a potage?". So I said yes, to keep them for me to make a potage.
I blended the mixture until I had a smooth cream, rectified seasoning and kept it in the fridge for the evening meal. I am planning to add some cream ... a bit of creme fraiche never hurts ..
I will serve this potage with a cheese platter ... my light evening meal is ready!
MALO UPDATE:
Monday, May 4, 2009
Mary-Laure's birthday and a bird called Malo
Our pigeon tried to fly away today. Because it is Marylaure's birthday, I have decided to call it "Malo" as she called herslef when she was little.
This morning my friend Nora placed a tray/platform half way between the plant pots where it has its nest and the 3rd floor window iron edge, and Malo is using it all right. It went from the plantpot to the platform deploying and agitating its own almost adult size wings.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Pigeon update & Photo frenzy (LOL)
I
Wait, wait, cannot get you in the frame...
Allow me to make a little fun of the frantic photographers with whom Nora and I shared our Seine cruise ...
There were several groups of Chinese from the Mainland on the cruise boats, and they took so many pictures that I think they wore out the views!
We're not sure they saw anything actually, as the only activity on the boat was taking pictures and stretching and bending, as if they were doing Tai Qi Chuan and taking pictures as the same time!! LOL
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Cannot get enough of our pigeon!
Contrary to what Laura said in her posts, I have not been abandoned, one of my parents has come to feed me at least once a day. Laura captured this moment when I am being fed with her webcam for you to enjoy!
For your information I need 38 days to grow up and become an adult. I'm almost there. I have tried to drink water all by myslef and am also starting to exercise all around the plant pot because soon I will fly away. I hope you all will look at pigeons in a different way from now on.
Baby Pigeon
PS Who wants to give me a name?
Monday, April 27, 2009
A coral table (and pigeon update)
She's the current President of the Association of Architects of Uruguay, and we've been doing some great sight-seeing, including Guimard and Le Corbusier buildings. Yesterday we went to the Eiffel Tower.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Barbara's lunch inivtation and pigeon update
She invited Priscilla, Dee and me for a lunchon at her house and arranged for us to tour La Malmaison, Josephine's mansion in Rueil Malmaison. Josephine was Napoleon's beloved wife - whom he divorced because she could not give him a heir.
So what was for lunch?
Barbara feels that my picture of her main course shows my plate almost empty ... but I wanted to get the design of her plates in the picture too. She served "joues de porc" (pork cheek) stewed in the oven for a long two hours with turnips, carots and a touch of orange juice. She served cumin flavored couscous as a garnish.
¾ C all purpose flour
½ C sugar
1 T baking powder (or yeast)
¼ t sea salt
1 t vanilla extract
3 large eggs
3 T vegetable oil
2/3 C whole milk
6 baking apples, cored, peeled and cut into thin wedges
Topping:
1/3 C sugar
1 large egg
3 T melted butter
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
Equipment: 1- 9 inch springform pan, buttered
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and sea salt and stir to blend. Add the vanilla, eggs, oil, and milk and stir until well blended. Add the apples and stir to thoroughly coat them with the batter.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake pan. Place the pan in the center of the oven and bake until fairly firm and golden, about 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the topping: in a small bowl, combine the sugar, egg, melted butter and lemon juice and zest and stir to blend. Set it aside.
Remove the cake from the oven and pour the topping mixture over it. Return the cake to the oven and bake until the top is a deep golden brown and the cake feels quite firm when pressed with a fingertip, about 10 minutes.
Transfer the cake pan to a rack and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then run a knife around the sides of the pan and release and remove the springform side, leaving the cake on the pan base. Serve at room temperature or warm, cut into thin wedges.
WHERE IS MY MAMA???
I made a paste with unsalted butter, bread softened with milk and put it next to my "protégé". The paste disappeared but Jean-Louis suggested it could also be that I was feeding all the pigeons in the neighborhood ... and he was right, I saw a pigeon eating my paste - and it was its mother! I have placed kebab sticks in all the plant pots around to stop them from coming, and now Teenage-pigeon is a little bit safer. I have read that a pigeon becomes adult at 4 weeks, and ours is 3 weeks old ... Let's hope it can grow to become strong enough to fly away soon.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The wonderful world of bloggers
We treated them to a red Crement from the Domaine-Sanzay near Saumur, in the Loire. Its fine bubbles and it ruby color are an invitation to celebrate, smile, and share!
Jean-Louis and I discovered three young smart people, curious about everything: life, politics, Paris, cultures, food, and more. Thank you Simone and Nicky and Sunanna, we really enjoyed your company! Well, my, the world of bloggers is full of great people!



