While traditional American brunch has taken Paris by storm in recent years, I'm finding that I'm craving the simpler, Parisian late-morning breakfast.
Not too shabby.
Showing posts with label oysters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oysters. Show all posts
Friday, 12 October 2012
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
An Early Winter Walk
Hiya! I hope that everyone had a fantastic Christmas, Hannukah, Whatevermas. If there were latkes and mulled wine and gift-giving involved, I can usually find it in my heart to celebrate equally.
Now that the holiday crazies are done with, I love to take advantage of the sunshine when we get it, bundle up and walk. We were lamenting the lack of giant blizzard this year- last year that was a real treat to be snowed in for so many days. We took great walks and came home crusted with snow and ice, and then settled in to drink hot cider and whatever ended up in the huge vat of soup that was on the stove constantly. I really hope we get a good winter this year. Nothing makes you appreciate springtime more.
Regardless of the unseasonable warmth and muddy footing, walks were taken.
The light in winter, however brief it might grace your face, is perfect for pictures nearly all day.
The woods and underbrush were fairly silent- there were almost no songbirds at all. The deafining noise was all the from the large gatherings of big water birds- gulls, geese, grebes and ducks.
As the sun was setting over the bay and giving Manhattan a final peck on the cheek, we watched intently as gulls cracked mussels and clams on the beach.
Ever since I saw a Jamie Wyeth exhibit at the Farnsworth Museum I've had much appreciation for gulls. They are annoying as hell in summer when they are stealing from your beach bag and fighting over hot dogs and pizza crusts, but in winter, they become such interesting creatures.
It was mesmerizing to watch them.
Some of them were better at this game than others. Other birds have decided that the art of the steal is a more useful skill.
Alas, darkness fell, and we trudged back through the mud and back to our urban dwelling, craving raw shellfish in great numbers.
Now that the holiday crazies are done with, I love to take advantage of the sunshine when we get it, bundle up and walk. We were lamenting the lack of giant blizzard this year- last year that was a real treat to be snowed in for so many days. We took great walks and came home crusted with snow and ice, and then settled in to drink hot cider and whatever ended up in the huge vat of soup that was on the stove constantly. I really hope we get a good winter this year. Nothing makes you appreciate springtime more.
Regardless of the unseasonable warmth and muddy footing, walks were taken.
The light in winter, however brief it might grace your face, is perfect for pictures nearly all day.
The woods and underbrush were fairly silent- there were almost no songbirds at all. The deafining noise was all the from the large gatherings of big water birds- gulls, geese, grebes and ducks.
As the sun was setting over the bay and giving Manhattan a final peck on the cheek, we watched intently as gulls cracked mussels and clams on the beach.
Ever since I saw a Jamie Wyeth exhibit at the Farnsworth Museum I've had much appreciation for gulls. They are annoying as hell in summer when they are stealing from your beach bag and fighting over hot dogs and pizza crusts, but in winter, they become such interesting creatures.
It was mesmerizing to watch them.
Some of them were better at this game than others. Other birds have decided that the art of the steal is a more useful skill.
Alas, darkness fell, and we trudged back through the mud and back to our urban dwelling, craving raw shellfish in great numbers.
Friday, 23 September 2011
Happy Autumnal Equinox!
The geese are flying south.
Sweet potatoes are becoming my favorite comfort food once again and I'm making a voluptuous red sauce out what might be one of the last weeks I'll get tomatoes. The crisper is full of the apples that I've been waiting for since last November, and I'm trying to limit myself to a reasonable number a day. 3 maybe? 4 if they are small. Oh, they are so good.
Best of all, the colder water fall ushers in has caused Oysters to build up their glycogen stores once again. Instead of the limp, pallid, deflated creatures I've been politely slurping all summer, there is now an influx of fat, flavorful ostreidae. It's truly a New York tradition to feast on these glorious little bivalves as there are oyster middens that the Lenapes created after their own oyster feasts.
Jonathan Swift once said, "He was a bold man that first ate an oyster", and I was quite worked up on liquid courage the first time I dared myself to try one. They are probably the most amazingly simple thing to eat- all it requires is a squeeze of lemon and maybe some hot sauce, but this is all about getting the freshest oysters you can find and savoring their oceanic briney goodness.
It's also a good time to check out wine, beer and food tastings in the event. They frequently start out quiet and serious, but then turn raucous and joyful about halfway through, and then you generally meet about 20 of your new best friends.
Also, when I get 5 minutes to myself at home, I've been carding really lovely luxury batts like the batty lady that I am. Expect an Etsy shop update next week.
Sweet potatoes are becoming my favorite comfort food once again and I'm making a voluptuous red sauce out what might be one of the last weeks I'll get tomatoes. The crisper is full of the apples that I've been waiting for since last November, and I'm trying to limit myself to a reasonable number a day. 3 maybe? 4 if they are small. Oh, they are so good.
Best of all, the colder water fall ushers in has caused Oysters to build up their glycogen stores once again. Instead of the limp, pallid, deflated creatures I've been politely slurping all summer, there is now an influx of fat, flavorful ostreidae. It's truly a New York tradition to feast on these glorious little bivalves as there are oyster middens that the Lenapes created after their own oyster feasts.
Jonathan Swift once said, "He was a bold man that first ate an oyster", and I was quite worked up on liquid courage the first time I dared myself to try one. They are probably the most amazingly simple thing to eat- all it requires is a squeeze of lemon and maybe some hot sauce, but this is all about getting the freshest oysters you can find and savoring their oceanic briney goodness.
It's also a good time to check out wine, beer and food tastings in the event. They frequently start out quiet and serious, but then turn raucous and joyful about halfway through, and then you generally meet about 20 of your new best friends.
Also, when I get 5 minutes to myself at home, I've been carding really lovely luxury batts like the batty lady that I am. Expect an Etsy shop update next week.
Friday, 10 September 2010
Sette and Bouzigues
We took a day trip to the Mediterranean coast.
Sette is a picturesque town on a hill overlooking the sea.
We found it touristy, crowded and a bit overwhelming and didn't really care to linger there. So I found the town of Bouzigues on the other side of the bay.
It was a seriously lucky find. Bouzigues had oyster flats as far as you could see. Adorable cafes and degustations lined the waterfront and offered mainly oyster-based dishes. The whole town had a very laid-back and old-fashioned feel to it. I had to pinch myself.
The oysters to be had were enormous, and so fresh that some of them had live barnacles on their shells.
This was a huge undertaking. For $35 Euros, you got an enormous amount of food for 2 people and a bottle of wine to boot.
It was great times to people-watch the other huitres eaters. They eat them enthusiastically, by the dozen, and completely unadorned. I was humbled.
Profiteroles and local fromage were also irresistibly on the menu. I have nothing but love and respect for cultures that take their food so seriously.
Sette is a picturesque town on a hill overlooking the sea.
We found it touristy, crowded and a bit overwhelming and didn't really care to linger there. So I found the town of Bouzigues on the other side of the bay.
It was a seriously lucky find. Bouzigues had oyster flats as far as you could see. Adorable cafes and degustations lined the waterfront and offered mainly oyster-based dishes. The whole town had a very laid-back and old-fashioned feel to it. I had to pinch myself.
The oysters to be had were enormous, and so fresh that some of them had live barnacles on their shells.
This was a huge undertaking. For $35 Euros, you got an enormous amount of food for 2 people and a bottle of wine to boot.
It was great times to people-watch the other huitres eaters. They eat them enthusiastically, by the dozen, and completely unadorned. I was humbled.
Profiteroles and local fromage were also irresistibly on the menu. I have nothing but love and respect for cultures that take their food so seriously.
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