One of the joys of having an apartment rather than a hotel room in Paris is that we have a kitchen! And we are making good use of the resources in our neighborhood and cooking and eating at home often.
Our typical day starts around 9 unless we have reason to wake earlier. Breakfast always includes a croissant (that one of us walks to the corner and buys fresh) or several slices of fresh baguette with the best butter we’ve ever tasted (raw milk butter with actual crystals of salt in it!). Rick still insists on having his eggs and orange juice in addition, but even these are special – farm fresh eggs and freshly squeezed OJ.
We typically spend the middle of the day exploring by Metro and on foot and, by about 3 we’re ready for something to eat. There is no lack of bistros and sidewalk cafes no matter where we are, so it’s easy to stop for something small and a half carafe of wine.
On a day such as this, we really don’t want a big dinner and we’re just as happy to eat in. So our choices are cooking or heading up to the boucherie for something we can eat at home.
I found a small bag of Carnaroli rice (reputedly better than Arborio) and, with it, I made a wonderful risotto, with crevettes from the local fish market and parmasean from the neighborhood fromagerie. Another evening the risotto had local mushrooms in it. Hard to say which was better… We have enough rice to do this for several more meals.
Several times we’ve picked up rotisserie chicken parts that are soooo much better than the stuff you get at the Safeway! And the other night, our dinner consisted of escargots (sold by the dozen already stuffed with garlic parsley butter, and ready in 15 minutes in the oven) and beef carpaccio (prepared by the boucherie…all we had to do was add the shaved Parmesan and olive oil!)
Last Saturday, we tackled the most ambitions cooking project yet, foie gras. Rick found a whole foie gras on sale (!) at an upscale frozen foods store, Picard. For those of you who know Rick, you’ll appreciate that this pushes two of his pleasure buttons – foie gras AND a bargain! We opted not to follow the directions on the box (they were in French, and even the translation seemed overly complicated) but went with a recipe I found on line. Thank goodness for the Internet!!
It turned out well and was delicious, if a bit rich for our American stomachs!
Sounds delicious and delight!
Rich or not–it looks great
Dear Kathy and Rick, you both are so very kind to take us with you you on your wonderful adventures by was of your blog. I just love reading all you send and thank you for sharing. What you are doing is just fabulous . I have not seen anyone take the bull by the horns and do what you are doing. The pictures ,the description of the food , and your visits to the stores makes me feel that I am there with you.!!
Looking forward to the next chapter of adventures.
All the very Best….. safe,
Marion
Wonderful fun to read of your daily adventures.
Life in Chicago continues settling in. We had a great week in Pasadena CA seeing friends, great lectures and wonderful museums, LACMA, Getty, Gamble House ( Greene & Greene architects), Hollyhock House ( Frank Lloyd Wright) plus other privately owned properties.
Yesterday we spent lunch with one friend and then dinner with another.
My training at the Frank Lloyd Wright house continues, hopefully leading to my giving tours. Tori has decided to restart her relationship with The Chicago Architecture Foundation with which she was a 15 year docent and sat the board. She has to be interviewed before possibly being admitted for retraining.
Keep up the good life and letting us share.
Ray
Yummy!
Keep ’em coming Kath! It sounds like you two have established a wonderful Parisian lifestyle. I enjoy reading these at work and wishing I was having a half carafe of wine at a bistro in Paris instead!
Yum, it all sounds rough up our alley!! We are enjoying it with you!
Michael and I savor every flavor of France you continue to share with us. You are so resourceful with all the amazing local delicacies…and the Internet to help you prepare delicious meals!! The photos have us salivating!
I noticed the staples of life on your kitchen counter — two bottles of lovely wine. How wonderful to shop daily and run to the corner for croissants for breakfast. Makes me remember living in a small German town back in the ’60s!! My mouth is watering!!