Series

The best thing about doing work that you love is that you never have to come home from a vacation feeling down. Instead, you get to sit back down at your desk refreshed, full of energy and ideas, ready to dive back in with renewed focus.

In my case, I am hitting the ground running to work on my new book, tentatively called TASTING PARIS, which will convey the flavors of Paris through one hundred fabulous dishes. I am just finalizing the master list of recipes with my editor, and I am so. excited.

This, however, does not prevent me from still savoring the best moments of our vacation, and I wanted to share the following edibles with you.

Continue reading »

Have you had a chance to go on vacation yet? Will you be skipping town later, or not at all this year? Whatever your situation, I hope you’re having a beautiful summer full of small joys and vibrant flavors. Seeking summertime inspiration? Here are my best summer recipes!

• I love height-of-the-summer tomatoes so much it hurts! The producer who delivers a weekly selection of vegetables to our door every Monday has switched to full-on tomato mode with fruits of every color, every shape, and fabulous flavor; I couldn’t be happier. If you want to see what his selection looks like on any given week, watch this Facebook Live video. As for my favorite tomato recipes, check out my panzanella, my gazpacho and the tomato panade that’s included in The French Market Cookbook.

• I was out running some errands in the grands magasins neighborhood (= the Printemps and Galeries Lafayette department stores on Boulevard Haussmann) and I dropped by Café Pouchkine. Their blueberry bostock caught my eye, and I’m glad it did: it’s a slice of brioche garnished with almond cream à la almond croissant with a blueberry filling tart enough to balance out the overall sweetness of the pastry. Mind-blowing!

Continue reading »

The end of the school year is fast approaching, and I attended my first end-of-year party (in French, une kermesse) as a parent, twenty years after graduating from high school. Twenty years! I get dizzy just thinking about it, but if I was offered to push a button and go rewind my life to that day, I’m really not sure I would. As Paul Nizan wrote, “I was [sixteen]. I won’t let anyone say that it’s the most beautiful age of life.”*

June Eats and Accomplishments

Continue reading »

When you’re out and about in Paris, it’s good to remember to look up, so as not to miss a special architectural detail, a beautiful play of light between buildings, or an especially striking perspective. (You do want to look back down at your feet often enough, though, as some Parisian dog owners shirk their responsibilities in a despicable manner.)

And sometimes it’s sideways you should look, such as here, at the foot of the Sacré-Coeur, where a steep little slope on your right allows you to get this trompe-l’oeil view of a “sinking” building on rue Lamarck.

Good Eats

• We had a delightful dinner at Yard, a pocket-size restaurant in a super cute micro-neighborhood of the 11th that serves market-fresh dishes and natural wines in a fun, unpretentious atmosphere. The stand-out for me was this starter of trout with slim grilled zucchini and almond cream. I would have licked the plate clean, but their beautifully crusty bread volunteered to mop up the sauce.

• Whenever I’m in the Belleville area, I can’t not get a fabulous banh mi from Saigon Sandwich. Maxence and I have been total fans of their Vietnamese sandwiches for years and years, and in fact, they were my first meal after I gave birth to each of my sons, special-delivered by Maxence to my room at the maternité. My favorite is the chicken (poulet spécial) with extra chile peppers.

• I was happy to discover the Compagnie générale de biscuiterie, the brand-new cookie shop that star pastry chef Gilles Marchal (formerly of La Maison du Chocolat) opened in my neighborhood. (Montmartre is becoming more and more of a must-not-miss destination for pastry enthusiasts. Ask me about my walking tours!) It’s a workshop-slash-boutique where you can see the team at work making puff pastry treats and butter cookies. I recommend the paper-thin arlettes and the chocolate chip sablés.

• If more proof was needed that Montmartre is on the rise (ha ha), Melbourne coffee shop Hardware Société chose it to establish its Parisian outpost. It’s a gorgeous space with lots of light, a beautiful view, and a wall of butterflies you kind of want to take home with you. On the menu: all-day brunch (what’s not to like?) such as these poached eggs served with grilled mushrooms, ricotta, mâche and watercress on a thick toast of walnut bread. (On weekends, get there early or late to avoid the crowds.)

Find my top Paris spots on this map of favorites, and follow me on Instagram to see many more food shots and Paris recommendations throughout the month!

Latest Reads

More reading recommendations »

Food Blogger Pro Enrollment

Not long ago I told you about Food Blogger Pro, a membership site that offers invaluable resources for food bloggers. I continue to draw great value from my own membership, and you can read about it here; I’m especially excited about the new food styling course that they just added in. The current window of admissions is closing on June 2, so if you want to give it a try, this is your chance. (You can sign up for just one month if you’re unsure, and they have a 60-day money back guarantee.)

5 Cool Links

1. My friend and fellow food writer Caroline Mignot has a YouTube channel where she shares behind-the-scenes videos with the best food artisans. I especially enjoyed her recent video on massaging butter and the one with pastry chef Johanna Roques of Jojo & Co. It’s in French, but just watching is enough!
2. The elaborate politics of using the grocery belt divider at the supermarket.
3. Puzzled about edible seaweed? This quick guide should clear things up.
4. Do you let your kids near sharp knives and hot stoves? (Related: My Parents Who Cook series.)
5. Surprise surprise (not) there’s a big gap between what “foodie culture” presents and what people actually cook and eat. I’m no elitist and think that any kind of home cooking is a win. What are your thoughts?

Follow me on Twitter and like the C&Z Page on Facebook for many more links throughout the month.

Note: This post contains some affiliate links. This means that if you decide to make a purchase using those links, I will receive a commission from the vendor, at no extra cost to you. Your support is greatly appreciated.