Flower Power

I'm not sure why but perhaps the first image that springs to my mind when someone says "Europe" is a balcony covered in flowing plants and beautiful flowers.

A balcony somewhere in Paris

Yesterday, in an effort to fit in with the locals, Melanie and I bought some hooked metal basket holders, some planters and potting soil, then we walked to a fleuriste in Montorgueil and picked out some pretty spring flowers.

Of course, we can't go to Montorgeuil without stopping for some bread, cheese, and meat. So we stopped at our favorite fromagerie, and a nearby boulangerie, to get snack supplies for later.

After planting our flowers we felt very European...

This batch got a little wilted in our shopping trolley

After a hard day of "gardening" we rewarded ourselves with the aforementioned mid-afternoon snack.

Fresh bread, truffled salami, a goat bleue cheese, some truffled brie...  It doesn't get much better than this.

At about 8:30 last night we went down to the bistro near our front door for a few drinks and a light dinner.

Life is good.

The French and Their Cheese

Since moving to Paris, Melanie and I have learned a lot about French cultures and customs. Assimilation was a big concern before we arrived, and I vividly recall looking at some pictures of France one night and thinking, "We can't do this! How can we live in another country?? Everything is going to be completely... foreign!!!"

On the whole I think my fears were unfounded.  In fact, I've been rather surprised at how similar life is here compared to the United States. When it comes right down to it, people are people. They laugh, they cry, they eat, they drink, they sleep, they are grumpy on Monday mornings and they have a hard time concentrating on sunny Friday afternoons.

Not to say that there aren't a few differences, of course. For example, I learned that it's very important to say "bonjour" when you arrive at work or a shop. And you always want to say "bonne soirée" (or "bon week-end" on Fridays) when you leave. It's frowned upon to talk about money, and of course French people prefer to greet their friends with a kiss on each cheek, as hugging is too intimate.

Another difference between France and the U.S. is the importance of bread and especially cheese. The French absolutely LOVE their cheeses.  It is said that you could have a different kind of French cheese every day of the year and still not try them all.

Cheeses are associated with the different regions in France

I grew up eating Cheese Whiz, string cheese, and extra sharp cheddar.  All pasteurized, of course, as it is illegal in the United States to sell cheese made with unpasteurized milk.  (Somewhat ironically, this process is named after Louis Pasteur, a French scientist.)

French cheeses are almost like a different food group.  They are often made with unpasteurized milk, they are frequently a little (or a lot) stinky, and they almost always have some kind of rind.  When they are served at room temperature, varieties like Camembert and Brie will literally ooze onto the plate.

This is what happens to Camembert at room temperature

We've had some okay cheeses from our local supermarché , but if you want really good French cheese you have to find a decent fromagerie.  The fromagers will not only help you make the best choice they will even ask when you are planning to eat it to ensure that the ripeness is perfect!

Our favorite cheese shop is just up the road on rue Montorgueil

I was at our favorite fromagerie a few weeks ago and I asked the merchant for a recommendation. He thought for a moment and then pointed to one of his bries.  I've had brie before and found it a little flavorless, but before I could decline he offered me a small taste.  I didn't want to be rude so I tried it. The conversation then went like this:

"Mmmm.  That's good.  Yeah, I was thinking about something a little -- "  Suddenly, there was a cheddar-like sharpness that I wasn't expecting. "-- Wow!  That's actually quite good."  Just when I thought the cheese was done with me, the aftertaste arrived, with notes of toasted almonds and truffles.  "I was thinking maybe -- WOW!  Yes, please, I believe I'd like some of that!"

Melanie had a similar reaction when I brought it home.  She said it was possibly the best cheese she's ever had.  We later learned that we were eating Brie de Meaux.  It is said that the dying wish of King Louis XVI was a tasting of this cheese, and in 1814 the European Tournament at the Congress of Vienna, awarded Brie de Meaux the "Le Roi des Fromages" (the King of Cheeses) for its unarguable flavor and texture.

In France, a cheese plate is frequently served as part of a multi-course meal, just before dessert.  And we've found cheese in the strangest places here.  Our favorite sushi restaurant has cheese sushi and cheese yakitori, and last night our Indian Naan was stuffed with cheese!  (They were all delicious.)

Well, crap.  Now I want some cheese...

What the French Think Americans Eat for Breakfast

While taking a nice walk yesterday, Melanie and I stumbled across an American style diner.  The sign out front caught our attention:

Yep, just an average American breakfast...

Ah, this brings back such fond memories of my childhood in the United States.  I'd climb out of bed, put my pajamas in the hamper, throw on some clothes, and rush downstairs, heady with the smells of a home-cooked typical American breakfast:

• 3 scrambled or fried eggs
• poultry sausage
• potato pancakes
• bacon or smoked salmon
• baked beans
• coleslaw
• french toast
• BBQ sauce
• fresh fruit salad
• two pancakes with chocolate syrup and pancake syrup
• fresh orange juice
• a choice of hot drinks

Really?  This is what French people think we eat for breakfast??  I know some of us are heavy, but sheesh.

Okay, a "real" American breakfast is more along the lines of two eggs and some sausage or bacon. (On the weekends we might have pancakes or french toast).  Of course, by Parisian standards that's still a LOT, as a breakfast in France is usually:

• a plain croissant
• a cup of coffee
• a cigarette

I've Never Been Pooped On By a Bird!

Guess I can't say that anymore.  <sigh>

"What the hell was that???"

It was Ascension Day in France, a national holiday, so Melanie and I took a long walk to enjoy the beautiful Spring weather.  We stopped at a brasserie for lunch and shortly after we finished it hit me. Literally.  I'm a bird aficionado so I think it would be appropriate to say that the "merde hit the fan".

But hey, I was out with my best friend, eating terrific food on a warm Spring day in Paris.  Kind of hard to complain.  :-)

You Live in Paris and You're Eating Frozen Food???

Melanie and I love living in Paris, but we've discovered, as one might expect, that it's a very difficult place to be on a diet.  We're surrounded by delicious food and treats here, and even when we try to avoid them it's almost impossible.  For example, every Wednesday there is a very short company meeting and the company brings in a veritable mountain of flaky crescents, delicate pain au chocolate, and other pastries.

Some of the leftovers after our last company meeting

It doesn't help that Melanie is a very good cook; we always start with the best of intentions but when she makes something delicious for dinner I tend to go back for seconds and sometimes thirds.  To help us with our portion control we decided to grab some frozen dinners, as they are easy to prepare and the serving sizes are very manageable.

As luck would have it, Paris has an incredibly awesome store chain that specializes in gourmet frozen foods.  Picard is sort of the French version of a Trader Joes, in that their menu changes with the seasons and pretty much everything is super delicious!

There are Picards all over Paris, and we have one only about 3 blocks from our apartment

I'd read about Picard before we arrived in Paris, so I was excited to give one a try.  But when I stepped inside I was surprised.  It felt almost... clinical... which is unusual for such a style-conscious city.

In addition to full meals and desserts, Picard sells frozen vegetables, fruit, meat, and fish

I quickly discovered that Picard is NOT just the French version of the frozen food aisle at Safeway. For one thing, the food is beyond good.  For another, I came home with about a dozen meals the other day and it only set me back about 25 euros!

Picard has a very eclectic selection, with lots of exotic foods along with many French favorites.  For example, last night I had puffed pastries stuffed with veal sweetbreads in a creamy mushroom sauce.

Here's what I had for dinner last night. It was amazing!

Okay, okay, I probably didn't need to eat BOTH of them, but Melanie and I like to splurge a little on the weekends, then we hit our diets hard during the week.  So glad we found Picard!