FINAL POST FROM MY PARIS TRIP

I'm behind in my blogging.  My last week in Paris was busy, so very busy.  Not only was French school kicking my *&!, but I got to be so very close to the new group that we were on the streets until late! Oh yeah,  I guess that means that the verdict is in!!!  My class rocked.  I'm on Facebook with each and everyone of them.  They are fabulous!!!

Having said all of that, on Thursday I decided to get a "good" lunch in a local restaurant.  For that particular pleasure, I went back to my old hood, rue Cherche-Midi.  I happened upon this little joint and the outdoor menu board looked interesting, not to mention the white table cloths and starched waiters.  I ordered the prix fix lunch including a cold chick pea soup with mascapone and lemon.  After that I enjoyed the salmon with sesame seeds and seasonal vegetables.  Delicieux!  Finished up with coffee and lot's of conversation with a truly cool waiter who had spent a year in London.  And so, . . . his English was great, but he appreciated my need to speak French.  His boss gave me French and English menus so that I could compare and translate any food items that I didn't understand.  I would go there again, AND AGAIN.  No tourists.  At least not any without a backbone.

After class on Thursday most of us headed to Luxembourg Gardens.  We had gelato, coffee, sorbet, and most important, CONVERSATION, . . . in FRENCH!!!  Crazy, I know!  Anyway, a few of us hung out late and grabbed some food.  Just fun with great folks.

On Friday I decided that I should have a party, a petit fete, if you will.  I had this great apartment, and I thought that my class should come over and hang.  They did.  It was memorable and a blast, at the very least.

There are several people who touched me in a very important way.  Carmen, the instructor for my three weeks at Alliance Francaise  made all the difference in my school experience.  She taught me not only about language, but about culture, and, in my particular case, patience!   Hsiang Chieh Lo (pronounced "Chantier" in English) an AMAZING translator from Taiwan and Gianluca Musatti, a young chef  from Italy became my very closest friends.   Hsiang Chieh is just plain special.  Not sure.  Just special.  That's all.  Gianluca is the same age as my Graydon.  Sometimes you just connect with people on a level that is hard to explain.  I hope to have them in my life, . . . .ALWAYS!!!  On our last day of class Gianluca couldn't be there because he was taking a patisserie class at le Condon Bleu.  He showed up at my apartment with a box of homemade macaroons (yes, he made them) and an apron that said, "le Cordon Bleu Paris".  The macaroons were too good to be true, and the apron was FOR ME.  I'll cherish it always.   Afterward, Maria (beauty from Valencia, Spain), Martin (some kind of genius physicist from London), Martina (cute girl from Norway), Gianluca, Hsiang Chieh, (coolest people ever!) and I ran around Paris trying to find GOOD CHEAP food.  Oh, did I mention that it was raining cats and dogs?  Ended up at some dive, but steak frites is always a good bet.  We were so hungry that it didn't really matter.  ALTHOUGH, I did see that they had "horse steak" on the menu.  Didn't really work for me.  Not at all!

I got homesick, although I absolutely appreciate the opportunity and don't regret the choice for a minute.  I gained some cherished memories and lifelong friends.

The trip home was okay other than about six hours of delays.   I was pleasantly surprised by American Airlines.  They were polite and helpful at every turn.  However,  I can't say that for all of the travelers.  Sorry to say that all of the rude folks were AMERICANS!!!  Not sure what that was about.

All that said, I was smiling so big when I got to Chicago that the customs agents were kinda laughing.  When they asked what was up, I said, "just glad to be back in the US".  That's true.  At the end of my second week of French class, we had a little Q and A from all of the students to each student, taking turns.  They asked if I preferred Paris or Austin.  I said (in French),  I LOVE PARIS, but AUSTIN IS MY HOME, and I can't wait to get there!!!

Loved Paris, loved the experience, love my new friends.

Glad to be home ya'll!!!

Getting ready to tear up my kitchen, a little.  I'll blog about that.  I'll need an outlet.  Before that, however, going to NYC to see the kids and then the Cape to  . . .?????  Afterwards, heading to Marietta, Ohio for the Sternwheel Festival with my folks for some family time, and working on my pickle recipe.  Stay tuned.

EAT PRAY LOVE

So last Thursday I went to see "Eat Pray Love" with my friend and neighbor Ellie.  The first part of the protagonist's (Elizabeth) journey happens in Rome.  She is focused on food.  Not too difficult to identify with for a girl like me.  Anyway, ever since I saw her eating pizza and spaghetti, I've had a hankerin' for some good old Italian cuisine.  To that end, I made a heavenly pot of marinara today.  Heavenly!!!

Twenty five or so years ago my dear friend Madeline's mom Nanette Cellante taught me to make marinara.  Well, if she were with me right now, she would probably scold me for not doing it exactly as she taught me.  Fast forward to my friend Nick, who in my opinion owns the finest Italian restaurant I've ever been to (at least in the U.S.).  I didn't do what he told me to do either.  He always adds Italian parsley and usually I do too.  I was too lazy to get out into the weekend tourist traffic to go after it.  Sometimes you just have to make an informed decision.  Nonetheless, there's a theme here.  I have to make recipes and dishes my own!  I have taken advice, the best advice, and incorporated it into my cooking, but the bullheaded girl that I am has to do it her own way. 

Luckily I had all the ingredients that I needed at hand.  First of all, I grow basil, oregano, and thyme at home.  It's convenient!  Really convenient!  Tomatoes come in a can, but herbs have to be fresh.  First, I finely chopped some fresh garlic and yellow onion.  (For my Texan friends - I would have used 10-15 onions if I could have gotten my hands on them.  Just that Texan pride showing.)   I sweated the onion in organic extra virgin olive oil, added the garlic and then the tomatoes.  I always use San Marzano tomatoes.  You can't beat them.  They come whole, crushed, or pureed.  Today I used crushed.  Crushed and pureed just cut down on the cooking time.  I added some red wine, kosher salt, black pepper, crushed dried red pepper, (I like spicy food - arabbiata) a pinch or two of sugar, lots of fresh oregano and simmered for three hours on low to medium.  Toward the very end I added a ton of fresh basil.  Everything tastes better with basil.  The more the better.

I made a lot of sauce.  This afternoon I'm surprising Ellie with some gorgeous imported angel hair, a hunk of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and a container of marinara. 

This is a simple recipe.  Well, there really is no recipe.  Anyway, I love uncomplicated food with the best of ingredients.  Eat what sounds good, what's fresh, and what's in season.  Remember, it's your kitchen.  You're not making a mistake unless of course you have to call the Fire Department.

Depending on who might be around this week, I'm thinking of another Italian dinner.  Only this time, I'll do it at my dining room table.  That movie really got me thinking about Italian food - in a BIG way!  Stay tuned.

Time to eat.  I'm starving!