Monoprix was a 3 minute walk from my hotel and they stocked fizzy water, wine, a fresh food floor and on the main, a deli offering all kinds of sandwiches and salads.
(They sold cosmetics, clothes and housewares...rather like a French version of a Target store.)
"Dining in" felt right,
as a combination of jet lag and physical fatigue had set in by 5pm those first few days.
I kept a journal of my trip...
the wee red book has many pages filled with my thoughts and details of the places that I visited.
I'd shower and freshen up in the evening
slip into my nightie and relax while sipping a glass of wine and make notes in my journal.
Cooking class with author and Ooh La La Tour leader Jamie Cat Callan here we are lowering our umbrellas (parapluies) for a quick photo op.
La Cuisine Market Shopping was a lot of fun.
The weather was rainy but did not dampen our spirits!
Here we are at Hotel de Ville at the kitchen prepping food for our lunch.
White asparagus with mouselline sauce.
Duck with demi glaze and relish, roasted vegetables, and asparagus.
Dessert
Pistachio and raspberry cake
chocolate cake with whipped cream.
On another occasion, Jamie and I enjoyed Lunch at Danton's sitting in the window...
looking out across at Boulevard Saint Germain.
Simply delicious ~ a perfect omelet and tossed salad.
Croque monsieur
(very rich and laden in calories but I wanted to try one)
Chocolates at Chez Richart
Macarons at Chez Richart
Salad with poached egg and melted goat cheese on toast.
John Dory fish with herbs and vegetables.
Here's a picture of the cafeteria at The Musee D'Orsay before the lunch crowds descended...
Large salad lunch at The Muse D'Orsay with my Lapsang Souchon Tea!
(I couldn't eat it all!)
Duck with a cherry infused demi-glaze served with mashed potatoes.
Market Day in Vallence D'Agen near Auvillar France.
This market takes over several streets on Tuesdays.
I bought a buttery brioche and a Lion's Heart Tomato for our lunch.
Served with a chilled rose...
tomatoes on bread with a sprinkling of sea salt and fresh ground pepper.
Simple fresh country food but oh so tasty!
Can you just imagine how delicious this lunch tastes?
My friends John and Cheryl introduced me to the quaint Village of Saint Cirq-Lapopie.
It's an enchanting place.
Looks like time has stopped still in this pretty little Village.
Omelet with salad and gratin potatoes...
Looking back at the Village as we drove away...
we climbed up to that look out and the views were amazing.
Dinner out at Auberge close to Auvillar in the neighbouring Village of Bardique.
Foie Gras with toast points and relish garnished with apple pom poms.
Lamb which has been slow roasted for 11 hours
served with root vegetables.
Bon Appetit!
Dinner out at Le Petit Palais in Auvillar
Duck served with a side of orange sauce, pommes frites and a wee salad...
this was so incredible.
(BTW The only frites I ate in France.)
Cheers...from Auvillar.
My first Cassis Cocktail
Violet Cassis from Toulouse mixed with white wine.
Hope you enjoyed this food related post...
I'm off for a walk now as I have more than a few pounds to shed!
53 comments:
O.K., now you've gone tooo far. How can I possibly be satisfied w/anything on my plate stateside after seeing these mouthwatering photos. OMG!! The tomatoes and the radishes!! It was a tradition in my tante Jeanette's home in Normandy to serve "radis au buerre" as one of numerous appetizers. Radishes slathered in butter from Normandy (the best in the world -- it's dairy country, after all). Oh, and did I see somewhere along the line that you had your first "kir" (cassis and white wine)? If you're not careful, it may become your favorite apéritif, as it is mine.
What a wonderful post. Enjoyed every delicious morsel of it.
Cheers, M-T
Wowowwow, everything just looks so fabulous and fun. Love how you did the picnic suppers in your room. Amazing how in Paris everything looks so much more stylish.
That duck looks beyond delish, i always order duck there, so succulent and yet so crispy. Looks like your packing worked out, love that striped top of yours!
Oh, that all looks so amazing and delicious!
I am loving your posts about Paris, Leslie! You're looking fabulous too. Great wardrobe choices.
SSG xxx
I love the salads in France. I found that being close to Monoprix was great for buying food items. I can only eat one restaurant meal in a day so I am happy to have a smaller snack (with wine or mineral water) in the evening. Something simple like a flavourful tomato with fresh bread can easily be a meal. You look very chic with you black and white.
You did very well if you only had Frites once during your visit. I was only in Paris a week, and I had them more times than that (exact numbers are not necessary). A Kir in the late afternoon is a good habit to continue back home, don't you think? I keep a bottle of Cassis on the ready just for that (and occasionally, instead of mixing it with white wine, I splurge on some bubbles for a Kir Royale -- very festive!) Your meals all look wonderful -- and you fit into the environment there very well.
Wonderful photos... Such beauty... And the food! It is midnight here and I am craving that lovely tomato on brioche! You continue to delight with more tales of your trip... Smiles...Susan
I'm hungry just looking at your photos. Delicious French food! It all looks wonderful, but the thing that appeals most to me at this moment is the crusty bread with the fresh tomato. I can just imagine the burst of sweet flavor. Kir (white wine with cassis) is something we enjoy, especially in the summer.
These Parisian inspired posts are wonderful!
I loved seeing the foods of France!! Is it true, they eat a lot of duck? Or were there other meats served as well? Those tomatoes were amazingly different, as well...so many more bumps to them. Enjoyed it :)
Oh I am drooling over your photos. The food, scenery, buildings and the market. Your evening picnics sound divine too. That last photo of you is gorgeous. It should be your next profile photo I think. I always wanted dimples but obviously haven’ got em! Lovely feast for the eyes. Tonkath x
Changing the subject from French food to French politics: You and Jamie had lunch at the Restaurant Danton, who was one of the most significant figures in the French revolution. Here is the link to the film, starring Gerard Depardieu: http://www.criterion.com/films/555-danton
Oh I love this post! Welcome home! Everything looks soooo delicious. I am absolutely mad for duck and that looks almost as good to me as the tomato and brioche. Heaven! I'm so glad you had such a wonderful trip. And I must say, you look absolutely euphoric and I'm so happy for you that you realized this dream! I think Paris must really suit you! I've been on vacation and actually thought of you while I was in a Le Creuset outlet-they had tons of kiwi and it was all 40% off! I was so tempted but had to behave as I'm buying a new car in a month.
Hi, I dont normally comment, but I love these photos from Paris, you look like you are having a really wonderful time! I am going in September and these will tide me over for a bit until then, you look like a true "Parisienne" Even my husband asked were you french! Etre bien dans sa peau!XXX
It all looks so amazing and delicious! I would love to hear more about the cooking class you took. I would love to do something like that some day. One of the nicest things about travelling is having all the wonderful memories and photos when you return home.
You need a croque-monsieur to sustain you during those days of walking.
Yes those radishes are served in France with soft salty butter....just like your tante Jeanette! Kir Royales are the standard cocktail before dinner in the south of France...warm weather, in a beautiful garden with friends, sharing in good conversation are a recipe for a memorable evening!
I am going to try my hand at cooking duck now that I have had a lesson in how to cook it...
The packing worked out much better than I thought it would...I think choosing one basic colour and making sure that everything else mixes and matches is key.
Oh every bite was worth it...and all the walking gave me quite an appetite!
Oh thank you...you would love seeing the younger women on the streets...tres chic!
I like the idea of a KIr in the summertime and think it lends itself really well for garden parties...our friends mentioned that they also splurge and serve it with bubbly on occasion...that particular evening there were over 20 of us in the garden sipping Kir Royale.
Menu's offer mostly duck, lamb and chicken...beef is not commonly served in a restaurant.
I always wanted straight blonde hair.
One solitary dimple...kind of quirky and neither of my parents had any!
Thank you for the link...and the information Luanna...France has such an interesting and colourful history.
Wow that sounds like a great sale!
Have you decided what type of car that you are buying Stephen?
My sister just got a new one and thought she wanted a Tourag by VW and ended up choosing a Subaru....she needed something dog friendly for their drives to Palm Springs from Victoria BC, Canada.
I am happy to hear from you Suze... lucky you to be planning your trip and you've got all the excitement that goes along with looking forward to the adventure. I hope you'll pop back after your trip and email me with your highlights.
I'm so happy you enjoyed your French foodie odyssey and are confident that when you return, as I am sure will be the case, your usual routine will take you back to where you like to be, weight-wise.
I have to admit thought, I never understand the fascination with white asparagus. Did you like it?
They taught us some knife skills, and suggested that we put a tea towel under our cutting board so it stays put when we are chopping and slicing foods.
We used whisks to make mayonnaise, whipped cream and the mouselline sauce.
The duck was scored on the fat side and placed on the hot pan with no oil before sauteeing...she checked it by pushing her finger on top of the duck to see what kind of resistance there was...when she thought is was firm enough she removed it and let it rest covered while deglazing the pan with some balsamic vinegar and wine...slice the duck on an angle and serve with glaze and a chutney...the veggies were cut all about the same size, roasted on sheet pans and seasoned with rosemary, salt and pepper drizzled with oil...the baking was pretty simple but I focused more on the duck as I have not cooked it before. Hope this answers some of your questions...
The white tastes quite different than the traditional green or purple...maybe that is why they serve it with a sauce! Oh and they were so fat that we had to peel them which is something we don't usually do with the green asparagus. We tied them in bundles and popped them in boiling water just until they were slightly soft.
I've followed your blog for some time, reading about the build up for your trip to France. & never make a comment but I'm so happy that you enjoyed it all. As I've now lived in France for 26 yrs, I think I must have become a little complacent, as all the photos you shared looked wonderful and that is my everyday way of life. The fantastic restaurants & Bistros we can choose for lunch. Your Tomatoes sliced on Brioche with a drizzle of olive oil is my favourite lunch for the rest of the summer. I'm pleased your wardrobe choice worked well for you. I think you can't go wrong with a basic colour changed with accessories is the key. When is your next trip. :) Your enjoyment of your trip poured out in this post, You will savor this for a long time to come. a bientot.
Yes! I'm getting a Subaru! I'm so excited to have something bigger and better in the snow! Each of my BMWs has been worse than the last in the snow, so at this point I simply won't drive in it. Victoria to Palm Springs sounds like quite a long haul! I make the drive to South Carolina often and the Subaru should be great.
Sounds like you had an ab-fab time, with the pictures to prove it. Your pictures are wonderful. My fav, also, is the D'Orsay ... I'm a big fan of the Impressionists. Somehow or other, I seem to have missed the fact that you were going on a group tour. I thought you were off on a romantic jaunt with the Mister. Maybe next time? :-) Did you by chance have, say, an afternoon to slip out and explore on your own? Nothing better than playing the flaneur in Paris, on your own, at your own speed.
Magnificent! It all looks fantastic, each and every meal. Now you are going to have to try and duplicate some of these wonderful treats...and since you are such a good cook I know that you can.
I love the picture of you in the striped shirt...adorable.
Wonderful food photos, Leslie. I love the produce markets in Paris (and Barcelona) and I always overdose on clementines.
I love the photo of you in your striped tee. Lucky you were seated facing AWAY from the fellow striped tee diner; thus avoiding a ruined appetite, having the view of his low rise pants. lol.
OH, YUM! It all looks so fresh, and delicious! Now, off I go to the kitchen to see what I can cook up!
Tuesday morning rush hour traffic - I am loving the beauty of this post
I have been away for awhile so I am just catching up on all your posts about your trip. It looks like you have had a fantastic time. The photos are spectacular and the food looks oh so delicious.
I think I would love to go to Paris and the surrounding countryside.
I am so impressed with your packing skills as well.
Look forward to hearing and seeing more of your travels.
I follow your blog too!
My next trip will be cruising on our Sea Ray this summer in the gorgeous Gulf Islands with my husband and two cats!
I was in Paris for 2 weeks and 1 week I was on a tour the rest of the time I was on my own and two friends took me out soon after my arrival to show me some sights...when I ventured south I stayed with friends and lived in a very lovely historic country Village. My husband is busy working on a project with the firm that he is a partner in and he encouraged me to follow my dream to see Paris...we did miss each other and you know what they say...absence makes the heart grow fonder!
Yikes!!!!
Well I have (had naturally once, now assisted) the straight blond hair. Always wanted curls. Are we ever happy? It’s a very attractive dimple.
Tonkath x
Yummy!
Glad you had some time to explore on your own. Hooray for all husbands who encourage independent travel by their brides!
Thanks! Now you'll have to try to repeat the meal at home! :-)
Hostess, all of this looks luscious! Re beef, perhaps you were eating in spots chosen especially for the tastes of women on the tour? Le Duc, a devoted beef-eater, finds it every time ;) and I was surprised to find "le burger" on most menus.
Such a beautiful cocktail, whether made with cassis (blackcurrant) or framboise. (You can mix a Kir Royale with crémant d. Alsace instead of Champagne, for a somewhat less costly cocktail, but still excellent.)
Are you considering the Forrester or the X Track? Or another model?
Yes..or else I just didn't focus on the beef options as I prefer poultry and lamb to beef :-))
exactly, Duchesse, my bubbles are generally less costly than Champagne!
XV Cross Trek I think it is called which my sister just purchased and is enjoying.
That is such a great picture of you .... a shame it was spoiled by someone showing their behind (in more ways than one). I think you should find a way to get that young man's derriere photo-shopped out of the picture. :-)
Well I tend to agree but we cannot always photoshop life!
I'm getting the Outback! I like the looks of the Volvo and Mercedes wagons the most, but the Mercedes is just too expensive for what I'm wanting to spend on a car these days and unfortunately the new Volvos don't have very good reliability ratings. It's funny how priorities change! At this point I just want a safe car that I don't have to think about. Much different from me in the old days!
I'm a pretty picky eater, but my mouth is watering after reading this blog post. I also love seeing that the wee red book was put to good use! :)
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