My name is Kristie. Not only am I a baguette-a-holic, but I am also a market-a-holic.
The first step to recovery is admitting that one cannot control one’s addiction or compulsion.
I admit that I have a big, BIG problem with markets.
Today, at the market, I cried over salad.
Yes. Salad.
M and I were at the Italian stand, [...]
When you’re unemployed, you have all the time in the world – but no money to do anything.
When you’re employed you have money to do the fantastic things you’ve dreamed about – but no time to do them.
People say “oh yes, but you’ve had a year off work, that’s a good enough holiday”.
Well, yes and [...]
I realised recently that I have barely talked about cheese.
What is wrong with me??
Cheese is a major part of my life here, as it is for most French people (their daily dairy intake is just spectacular).
I think this topic will need some proper investigation though, because my current approach to French cheeses is unsophisticated (this [...]
One of my favourite Paris ex-pat blogs is called “La Mom“. It’s about an American woman, married to a Frenchman, who is living and raising a family in Paris. Her experiences are centred around the “16eme” – the 16th district or area of central Paris, which is renowned for being the most wealthy, aristoctatic etc. [...]
But no – coffee in Paris really IS bad.
This article claims that it’s because the French have acquired a certain taste for burnt dishwater, but I think it’s more that they havent been exposed to anything better.
Which I find REALLY strange. I mean, they really do train their children to have sensitive palates, they appreciate [...]
There are a lot of things about eating (and drinking!) that people dont know when they come to Paris. Some things will be overlooked as simple cultural misunderstandings, but other things will have Parisians seriously fuming and talking in hushed tones with their colleagues about how “rude” tourists are.
I have made so many mistakes, but [...]
So, as promised, I turned up at Au Petit Fer at 8am this morning, ready to watch how they make their amazing Tarte Tatin. I was half expecting the owner not to remember our deal, or say that actually, they werent going to make it that day.
It was pouring with rain this morning and no [...]
About 3 months after I arrived in Paris, and after a multitude of visits to my favourite cafes and bars, hoping desperately that I would one day become like one of the Parisians and be greeted warmly by the barman, I was finally recognised by the barman at Au Petit Fer du Cheval.
I cant tell [...]
I went to Nice to visit Eve and Fred and the beautiful baby Tina a couple of weeks ago.
While I was there Fred pulled out some jars and containers of his Dad’s confit de carnard (duck confit, or preserved duck), foie gras (duck or goose liver thats fatty and engorged due to overfeeding the bird) [...]
New York Times
July 1, 2009
Paris Journal
As a Meal Tax Shrinks, Restaurants Hope to Gain
By STEVEN ERLANGER
PARIS — The enormous tax on restaurant meals in France is finally dropping on Wednesday, but not many restaurant and cafe owners, already hit hard by changing social habits and a smoking ban, think the reduction will make a big [...]