Home » Archive for August, 2009

“Vous avez dû attendre pendant longtemps ?” (Did you have to wait for long?) my parents asked. We were standing at one end of terminal E in Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport, hugging and kissing. My parents were as eager to see us as we were to see them. But I knew that, in fact, [...]

Stuffed Eggplants “Tu ne peux pas partir avant d’avoir mangé des tomates farcies!” (You cannot leave before eating stuffed tomatoes) my mother exclaimed as she walked in the kitchen with a basket full of tomatoes picked in the garden. Of course not! Les tomates du jardin (tomatoes from the garden) are always delectable, making me [...]

Verrine fraicheur: cucumber, yogurt and smoked salmon It’s been so hot since I’ve returned from France that the oven has remained unusually quiet. Almost untouched — beside the berry sabayon au gratin and coconut macaroons I made (and that’s because I was too bored, upset to feel stuck inside all day.) So I am patiently [...]

Vitamin-boosted black quinoa salad with golden beets Quinoa is, by far, one of my favorite grains*. I remember when we traveled to Peru a few years ago and we ate quinoa at almost every meal, in soups, salads, warm savory dishes and desserts. Quinoa was to Peruvians what rice is to Asians and pasta to [...]

“Why don’t you like them?” my friend S. asked. “Les figues ? Well, I don’t know, they’re just not citrusy enough!” It’s true that it’s what I am typically after in a fruit. I want juice. I want to taste food with a bite. I am looking for a burst of flavor in my mouth [...]

Heirloom tomatoes I really think it’s going to be difficult to appreciate tomatoes in other seasons than summer. Tomatoes are really meant to be eaten now, even if this year has been somewhat a hard one for them. I’ll come back to tell you more.