Who's Hungry? I'm Hungry. Lets talk about Food.

I don't think that I have ever
eaten so well on any vacation.
Or so adventurously for that matter.

If anyone reading this has known me
for more that 3 years you will know that
I used to be an awful eater.
Think no veggies, and many pizza rolls.
It really makes me cringe when I think about it.

Thankfully that is no longer, and I am proud to say
that on the trip I tried escargot















foie gras































a stuffed pigs foot



















and bone marrow.
















Of the 4 I'd say that I enjoyed the foie gras and bone marrow
the most. I ate 2 snails but the second was hard to
get down- it wasn't bad. the texture just got to be too much.
And the stuffed pigs trotter was good, but it just
had a whole lot going on. Many different parts were stuffed in there..


A note about the foie gras....the 2 dishes pictured are
foie gras stuffed ravioli in cream with truffle oil,
and then there is foie gras carpaccio with honey and toast.
These 2 dishes were absolutely outstanding.
Rich, delicious and totally different from our culinary norm.

We're Back!

The bf and I returned to nyc after
a long flight yesterday afternoon.
I am obviously still on Paris time
as it is 6.40am and I am wide awake.

I don't really know where to begin with the trip.
It was amazing.

The city has a kind of charm and beauty that
is completely hypnotizing. It was my second time
visiting and I am so glad that I really got to
know the areas a little better this trip.

I did some things that I wanted to do last time
like, eat ice cream from Berthillon
















I had a scoop each of wild strawberry and peach,
and the bf had chocolate with a rasberry creme' chantilly
aka. rasberry whipped cream...yes. fact.
















This time I couldn't miss the Sacre Coeur, so we caught the view
and I went in and lit a candle for Mom Mom. We then picked up
baguettes and wandered the non-seedy Montmartre area.
FYI: There is a definite distinction
between the two areas...





























We really had such a great time, it's definitely going to
take more than one blog to talk about it all.
The next will be the food blog on all the places
that we ate.

But before I go here are some more photos.

Just Say "Bon Voyage"

We leave for Paris tomorrow.
I have so much to do, I don't know
where to begin!

I'm completely nervous about using my
french on actual frenchies. Perhaps
if we just let them know that we are New Yorkers
they will embrace us as fellow city folks.

Despite my fears, I know that we will be fine.

In other news last weekend was my nephews
1st birthday party. Which, I promise you,
was like no 1st birthday you've ever seen.
As I looked through my photos I realized that I
didn't even have any pictures of Joelie.
Poor thing was being passed around from person
to person all day long.

I do have many pictures of me with purple teeth though,
as I apparently saw fit to drink an entire bottle of
Temperanillo. Why? The same reason I decide it's ok
to drink a bottle of Rose at work.
When it hits your lips, it tastes so good.

But it wasn't just me that was drunk.
Most of the guests were-that especially counts for
my immediate family. But it was all in fun.

Here are some photos from the party.
Feel free to laugh at the shade of my teeth and lips.


These are my younger sisters and I, the non redhead is
the mom of the birthday boy. NanMom.















I love this picture of Fink, Rick, Carly and I
















Pile ups always seem appropriate















My brother and I















Big Big Mees and Fink. Yes she sits on chairs.















My Mom, Aunt Ju-Ju and I















My mom has a super adorable picture of Joelie
in his birthday hat.
I'll post that asap.

Ok enough with the blog. Off to pack
or start something productive.

Stuffs

This Saturday is my nephews first birthday party.
Its hard to believe that it has been an entire year
since he decided to to pop out prematurely.

Joelie has been through more in this past year than most
have to deal with in their lifetimes. But I am
pleased to report that he is a healthy
and happy chub-a-lub.

For his birthday the bf and I got him the
Dr. Seuss birthday book




















and I made him this, it says
" l'explorateur du fond de la mer "
it means the explorer of the bottom of the sea
in french.
















I like the phrase so much that I might make one
for myself. But next time I will silkscreen it
because that stencil tested my patience.
and as some of you may know, my
level of patience for anything is very low.

We leave for New Jersey on 2 days, and then
for Paris in 7. Sooo excited for these trips!
Especially Paris!

Hey New Yorkers...

Did you know that you can bring your compostable items
to the greenmarket to donate to their compost pile?
fact.

Every day that the greenmarket is open, from 8am-5pm
you can drop off your scraps. Their table is usually right across
the street from Barnes and Noble on the North side of the park.

You can also purchase their potting soil mix and vermicompost.

This is the perfect way to put your compostable waste to good use,
without having to compost yourself!

check out their website here

Greenmarket Finds

Here is what I found at the Greenmarket today!















Milk from Milk Thistle Farms (a favorite of mine!)
Dozen Eggs
Rhubarb
Radishes
Multi Whole Grain Bread
Bacon
2 Gala Apples
and a small bouquet of lilacs

I also had purchased a rasberry danish...
but that was eaten en route.

Definitely making more french toast
with the bread/milk/eggs.
(it's so addictive!!)
and debating trying to make a
strawberry rhubarb jam...
eh I'll probably just make a dessert again.

As for the radishes I am thinking of pickling them.
Anyone have a good recipe for that?
I'm into pickling things lately.

Latest Harvest

It's that wonderful time of year when all of my
favorite fruits and veggies come back to the
greenmarket.

Each week is more exciting because there are
always new harvests. Seasonal cooking is the best.

The 2 new additions to the market today
were rhubarb and asparagus. So for breakfast
I made Hobo eggs with asparagus and parmesan.
The bread was a Whole grain from the Bread Alone
Bakery. I got the approval from the bf, and I thought
that they were pretty delicious too.

As soon as I saw the rhubarb I needed strawberries
and I had to make a pie. This is currently baking in my oven.
I really hope it turns out well.















I didn't have enough dough to make the pretty lattice
pattern on top. So I cut out circles from what I did have.















Needless to say, I will not be photographing the pie
as a whole. So here is a slice.
It tastes delicious. FYI
















I also got a lovely item in the mail today!
A few days ago I had entered a contest for a
new wine book on twitter via SterlingBooks.
and I actually won! I never win anything!

















It arrived today, and I am excited to read it,
definitely need to improve my knowledge of french
wines before the trip...though I'm just going to ask for
Beaujolais anyway...kidding. Its funnier at work.


Oh! and before I go, check out the new banner at my etsy shop!
It was made by my very dear friends Carly and Rick.
I love it as much as I love them

Whew!

The Spring Fling Market was today,
and it went really well!

I had 11 sales, which is more than I
could have hoped for, and I had
so many friends come out to support.

I even had my Friday night bar regulars
Tom and Eleanor come out to Queens,
it really felt good to get support from
so many people. (big thanks!)

I fell absolutely delirious right now,
from lack of sleep ,and waking up early.
So I am just going to post some photos
from today. and Then pass out on my couch.
After my nap I need to clean up the hurricane
style mess that I have created in the living room.


My Table!















The bf doing his best Esperanza impression.
(Esperanza=the owner of our laundromat.
He likes to sleep with his pants unbuttoned.)




















Little Bunny Banner
















The real little bunny.





















More tomorrow...