When I was taking pastry classes at Ecole Lenôtre years ago, they had a shop at the school filled with all sorts of great professional baking equipment. Aside from the room where the croissants were freshly-baked (and handed out) every hour, it was my favorite place at the school. PIled up on the shelf was also a stack of slender books: The A-Z of French…
Earlier this week, I woke up in a small town, smelling of something. It wasn’t anything bad. In fact, it was pretty good: sweet, caramel-like, and roasted, with a vague, but lingering aftermath of alcohol following it. It wasn’t something I was used to, but I’d tasted so many Cognacs this week in the town of Cognac, that it was literally wafting out my pores….
When I applied for my job at Chez Panisse, I’d just left a restaurant where the chef was, what we call in the business, a “screamer.” One of those chefs who flips out in the kitchen and yells indiscriminately. Contrary to what television might lead you to think, this isn’t a new phenomenon. I didn’t really yell all that much when I was a chef. But whenever…
During a recent book event in Paris at a local bouquiniste, I met up with Alain Huchet, who sells an extraordinary selection of vintage cookbooks, menus, and gravures, all relating to the pleasures of food and wine. Naturally, the selection is heavily tilted toward French gastronomy, and I was a kid in a confiserie when I began rifling through the stacks of books. I’ve seen…
For my birthday, back in December, Romain presented me with a Kalouga bar from Bernachon, handwrapped personally for me by Denise Acabo of A l’Etoile d’Or, one the best, and wackiest, candy and chocolate shops anywhere in the world. I’ve been afraid to open it since I know what’ll happen once I do. So I’ve been saving it for a special occasion, or a WTF…
Do you dream of idling away on a sunny beach in the middle of the winter? Do you want to meet other food bloggers from all over the world? Do you want to spend your vacation with me? Ok, you don’t have to answer that last one. But if you do, I’m going to be a featured participant at Food Blogger Camp, taking place January…
Should you happen to see a ray of sunshine in Paris, if you follow it, chances are pretty good you’ll find someone sitting in a café, face-forward, basking in its warming rays. And although unofficial in most of the parks and public places, folks here also like to celebrate the arrival of any good weather with un picque-nique. Picnicking in Paris can be a dicey…
This weekend, I’ll be having an informal booksigning in Paris. The event will take place on Saturday, September 12 from 2-3:30pm at A la Boîte bouquiniste, 31 quai de Conti. (Map) There will be copies of all three of my books; The Sweet Life in Paris, The Perfect Scoop, and The Great Book of Chocolate available.
All I can say is—I hope they work… Les Chocolats Bernard Dufoux 32, rue Centrale La Clayette Tél: 03 85 28 08 10 Also available at: A l’Etoile d’Or 30, rue Fontaine (9th) Paris Tél: 01 48 74 59 55
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