On the third and last day of our stay in Portland, we are promised a visit to the Saturday farmer’s market. I am glowing with excitement. I’ve heard a great deal about the markets of the West Coast, and after seeing Seattle’s and San Francisco’s, I’m impatient to see a new one for myself that morning.

When I wake up, the sunlight cracking past my bedroom blinds assures that the day will be gorgeous. I can’t believe how lucky we are with the weather. It’s Oregon, people!

Holly who works for Travel Oregon is meeting us in the breakfast room. Her smile is warm, and the tone of her voice full of energy. I like her right away.

A few taxis line up in front of our hotel, and we joyfully hop inside, like children going on a field trip.

I know it’ll be special, I keep thinking while holding my heavy camera on my lap.

I’m thankful for our early start since, when we arrive at the market, the displays are full. They are gorgeous with fruit and vegetables and local produce–beyond everything I have imagined in my mind.

Vegetables and fruit, cakes and flowers are creatively arranged. They look like a rainbow of cheerful colors that make me wish I could bathe amongst them. It’s bound to put anyone in a good mood, I cannot help thinking. I am surprised to find so much abundance and diversity, in fact.

“September for us is what August is for many,” Holly says with an inviting smile. She and I chit chat in French, which relaxes my body even more, and then she tells me about how much she loved to move to Portland a few years back.

“I would have too,” I respond. “Just for the market!”

As we continue to explore the market, a young father holding a little boy stops me and asks: “What is going on?” He is staring at our group that looks like a bunch of paparazzi hovering near a famous movie star. “Who are you?” he then adds. His question amuses me. “Just a bunch of food writers!”

I am overwhelmed by the abundance of local produce, each one prettier than the other, and I feel compelled to buy everything. Except for the fact that I know I can’t since neither the tomatoes, apples, artichokes nor the flowers I spot on the way will hold during my journey back.

For the market alone, I later email to P., I would move to Portland in a heart beat. Portland has the best quality driven farmer’s market I’ve seen in the US so far.

Near a flower stall, Erin from Sassafras Southern Kitchen is waiting for our group. She’s come to finish her shopping for the preserving and canning class that she will teach to our group later that morning. We have a hard time leaving the market but eventually hop on the tram that takes us to another part of town where we are welcomed inside KitchenCru, a shared use community kitchen and culinary incubator.

“You will be doing a tomato relish,” Erin adds. Which right away pumps renewed energy inside me.

The kitchen is spacious and extremely well-equipped. While some of us are busy chopping onions and spices, others chop scrumptious-looking Heirloom tomatoes picked at the market. They are red and yellow and orange and look like juicy beads that I refrain from not popping inside my mouth. Erin and Jennifer talk about cooking temperatures and show us each step involved in the canning process, and after a few hours, we are able to sample their signature tomato dish. A perfect balance of flavors that celebrates summer.

“I hope I will still find beautiful looking tomatoes like these to make the relish at home,” I whisper to Helene who is sitting next to me. We are speaking French and it feels good again to relax my mind into it.

When the rest of our group returns from sampling teas and chocolates, another amazing lunch is served. Local chefs and winemakers have come to bring to us dishes with pairing wines that use the best local seasonal produce. A salad with freekeh and cherries adorned with edible flowers brings ooh and aah to our dining table. We eat octopus and grilled trout with summer squash. We sample chocolates and eat vanilla-flavored ice cream with salted caramel.

Cousins Kim and Tyler Malek run Salt & Straw, a “farm to cone” ice cream company that celebrates a family effort. Their success business story is inspiring.

They’ve come to talk about their methodology and have us try our hand at it too. When Tyler stands in front of our group and explains the method he uses to refine a flavor, his words showcase his passion for what he does.

“No eggs?” I ask intrigued after eating a spoon of salted caramel and vanilla ice cream. It feels light in the mouth.

“No, no eggs.”

“We only use cream,” he goes on.

During our session, we sample different flavors, among them strawberry ice cream with coriander, lemon sorbet with basil and melon ice cream with coppa. Each ice cream leaves a unique impression. Each has an original story to tell.

By five, I am exhausted. We are done with the activities of the day. But not the weekend.

After a short stop by our hotel to rest, another bus is waiting for us outside. But this time, we are heading to Willamette Valley wine country for the final reception dinner to seal our weekend visit in Portland.

The drive outside the city follows winding roads that reveals rolling hills with orchards, vineyards and gorgeous trees that I want to photograph. I wish that our bus driver stops but I know that it’s just not possible.

I’ll have to come back I note to myself with my eyes staring outside the window.

Inside the bus, the atmosphere is loud and joyful, which contrasts with the peacefulness we find an hour later, when we finally arrive at Penner-Ash Wine Cellars.

It’s a beautiful evening. In an exceptional setting.

Despite bellies full from the samplings of the day, I am hungry. And dinner is scrumptious.

“It’s going to be hard to be back home and cook,” I tell Danielle who sits at my table. The expression I read on her pretty face tells me she feels the same way.

How could we feel differently? During three days, we’ve been so welcomed.

But in a way, I should have guessed since even before arriving, I am already convinced that I will love Portland and Oregon.

I am not disappointed.

During three days, I’ve met amazingly talented and fun people. They are food or travel writers, artisans and organizers. They come from all across the country and Oregon. Between all of us, we may only have one thing in common: food.

But it works its magic. During three days, it brings us together. Then it leaves us with a story to tell. And memories to preciously keep.

Thank you Travel Oregon for making such an amazing culinary experience possible.

I will surely come back to indulge in the Oregonian culture more.

Why can I have neglected to visit Cape Cod more often? I wondered.

I didn’t expect that Cape Cod, the Cape as we Bostonians call it, would look so beautiful with its near-to empty beaches and warm September sunlight.

But it did.

I found out this last week when P., his father, Lulu and I drove to Truro near Cape Cod National Seashore where we spent five days to celebrate the end of summer. P.’s mother was supposed to come too, but an event kept her in Ireland, so eventually she could not come. For a while, we were hesitant as to whether we’d go. But in the end, we decided that the four of us would make the trip anyhow.

We didn’t regret once. As to Lulu, she was simply happy to have her grandpa all for herself.

Of course, in the thirteen years I’ve lived in Boston, I’ve visited the Cape on many occasions. But the truth is that I somehow always avoided to come, finding excuses like “It’s too hot“, “It’s too busy” or “I just cannot deal with US 93 and Route 6 traffic to get there“. Each time, I dreaded Cape Cod’s summer crowd and its touristy side, despite the fact that it was right there, at my doorstep.

But this time…how could I have guessed that it’d be different? And that the five days we spent in our rental house would charm me in such an unexpected way.

Between Wednesday and Sunday, we flew many kites on beaches near Wellfleet and Truro, trying a new one every time. Finding each one always almost empty.

We built sand castles, drew faces on the sun-warmed blond sand and wore hoodies, excited to feel cooler temperatures announcing fall. We watched small crabs in the marsh near Uncle Tim’s bridge and chatted with a friendly fisherwoman who told us interesting fishing stories about bluefish and seabass. We saw seals and watched the ocean surf. We ran on the beach and then when we were too tired to continue, we skipped stones. We made 60-piece puzzles with Lulu and told her about crickets singing loudly every night. We visited Provincetown Saturday farmer’s market and Truro vineyards.

And between every single one of our activities, we ate very well.

“It’s weird,” I told Eddie, my father-in-law, one day as we were waiting for our fish tacos at The Juice. “It almost feels as if we could be somewhere in Europe, doesn’t it?”

“So true!” he exclaimed, perhaps thinking about Ireland where he grew up. We couldn’t explain exactly what it was but the feeling was perceptible. We could all feel it.

We were hungry for seafood, and felt lucky to find it so fresh and tasty everywhere we stopped for lunch.

One day, I chose mussels and the following day, an order of fish tacos and lobster rolls were the foods that pleased our bellies. At the fish market in Wellfleet, I bought lobster and little necks clams that I cooked in a coconut milk and white wine sauce to serve with spaghetti and zucchini for dinner one evening.

“What are you making?” Eddie asked on our last night when he saw that I was busy peeling a few peaches before slicing them finely.

“Not sure,” I said. “Dessert.”

“Of course! ” he went on, smiling.

We always have dessert, no matter where we are. And how simple it is.

“Just something nice and simple to use up ingredients before we leave.”

“How do you call it?”

“Not sure either. A gratin clafoutis maybe?” I responded hesitantly, not certain which word was the right one to use.

“Glad you came?” I went on.

He smiled again.

We were all so glad to have come.

I’d fallen in love with the beauty Cape Cod offers during the low season.

I was impressed.

“Tu fais des crêpes aujourd’hui ?” (Are you making crêpes?) my mum asked when she called to ask how we were handling the snow? The snow storm we’ve had on the east coast had made the news on the other side of the Atlantic, she added.

“Pourquoi ?” (Why?) I said.

“C’est la chandeleur aujourd’hui.” (Today is crêpe day.)

I had completely forgotten. The 2nd of February. Of course. How could I have forgotten? As a kid, I would never miss the day of La chandeleur.

There goes the French with their love for crêpes.

My brother and I absolutely loved crêpes. And frankly, we never waited for D Day to enjoy them. He and I were masters in the art of having my mother cook stacks of them for us.

I feel that Lulu will be the same. Thankfully.

When I brought a plate of crêpes on the table, Lulu a.k.a my sweet stomach monster reached for one.

“Mam, mam,” she exclaimed with her mouth full.

Then she had another one.

And another one. She liked to spread hers flat in front of her on the table, then grab it by one end before biting in the middle. It looked very organized. I preferred to spread passion fruit syrup on mine and roll them.

We were both content.

Tomorrow is the day when we leave. Can you tell that I am happy and excited?

Well, I am ready!

But I meant to share an exciting piece of news with you before going. It has to do with tomorrow Thursday April 24th too. I did something that I’d never done before — and oh oui, I was nervous! But what fun!

I was honored to be invited as a guest on NHPR‘s radio show, a Word of Mouth, hosted by talented Virginia Prescott. The show will air Thursday April 24th in New Hampshire, between noon and 1 pm EST. Here are the call numbers:

88.3, Nashua, WEVS
89.1, Concord, WEVO
90.3, Nashua, WEVO
90.7, Keene, WEVN
91.3, Littleton, WEVO
91.3, Hanover, WEVH
97.3, Plymouth
99.5, Jackson, WEVJ
103.9, Portsmouth
104.3, Dover, WEVO
105.9, Colebrook
107.1, Gorham, WEVC

And it will be available on line after that time on the NHPR Word of Mouth’s website — I will update with the detailed URL when it is available.

What is it about?

Food blogging, bien sûr, what else?

I cannot wait to hear the show, of course. I mean, how often does something like this happen? I am sure I will find my voice weird — like it is not mine — but then, this always happens, non ?

Many thanks to the very friendly staff at Word of Mouth.

Anyway, I will be in touch while traveling around.

A bientôt ! And stay healthy and eat well!

Well well, what can I say?

Thank you!

I have just found out this morning that La Tartine Gourmande was nominated in two categories in the Food Blog Awards organized at Well Fed.

You are really nice to me, once more.

Of course, I have this wish that, if you decide to vote, you will do so for my blog (come on, I would be lying otherwise). But at the same time, how can you not fall for the talent found in all of the other food blogs nominated? They have plenty!

In any event, thank you so much again for your consistent presence, and support. My blog would just not feel the same without all the feedback you take the time to give.

Happy Voting. You have until Friday December 14 th 11:59 pm EST to cast your votes.

See the complete list of all the nominees, in the fourteen categories selected.

Do you remember the amazing event organized by Chez Pim called Menu For Hope?

The Menu for Hope charity raffle brings together food bloggers around the world in the fight against hunger. Food bloggers offer prizes that readers may buy virtual raffle tickets to win, with the proceeds going to the U.N. World Food Program.

This year, prizes run from dinners out at fancy restaurants, autographed cookbooks to appliances and kitchenware, delicious homemade foods to even food tours.

To get a complete list of the prizes offered worldwide, visit Chez Pim.

Serious Eats is taking care of gathering all the prizes generously given by food bloggers on the US East Coast. Check the list here.

My prize?

The lovely cookbook by Jody Vassallo, photography by Deirdre Rooney, entitled Salt and Pepper, prize code UE29

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To Donate and Enter the Menu for Hope Raffle

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Choose a prize or prizes of your choice from our Menu for Hope above

2. Go to the donation site at Firstgiving and make a donation.

3. Please specify which prize you’d like in the ‘Personal Message’ section in the donation form when confirming your donation. You must write-in how many tickets per prize, and please use the prize code. Example:

Each $10 you donate will give you one raffle ticket toward a prize of your choice. For example, a donation of $50 can be 2 tickets for EU01 and 3 tickets for EU02. Please write 2xEU01, 3xEU02. Example:

4. If your company matches your charity donation, please check the box and fill in the information so we could claim the corporate match.

5. Please check the box to allow us to see your email address so that we can contact you in case you win. Your email address will not be shared with anyone.

Check back on Chez Pim on Wednesday, January 9 for the results of the raffle.

Thanks for your participation and generosity, and good luck in the raffle! Every participation matters. And you can be part of it!

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It is indeed this time of year, isn’t it? But please tell me, do you feel just as I do, when you think about where the year went? Where did it go indeed? Zoomed in, and zoomed out! Just like the wind.

Since I have happily received requests to make a calendar this year again, I have finally managed to sit down and do it. So here is my new 2008 Calendar. It has a collection of some of my 2007 food shots, newer and older ones. I hope that you enjoy them.

To purchase the calendar, visit this link here at Zazzle.com,

or use the Buy button below:

make custom gifts at Zazzle

If I could have bought more, I would have. This is how fascinated I am now by the many varieties of aubergine/eggplant on the market (Aubergine for us the French and the English, Eggplant for the rest of the English speaking community). White, pink, dark or light purple; striped like a zebra or plain; Thai, Indian, Italian, Sicilian or Chinese; round, teardrop-shaped or oval-elongated. Aren’t they beautiful? Not forgetting to mention the lovely curvy shapes they can describe. When I was growing up, I only knew one sort. Things have surely changed.

I chose these ones because of their color and funky elegant shapes. Without thinking much, I dropped them in my basket because I knew that I would be dying to photograph them before even considering how I was going to cook them. Eggplants are not vegetables that keep for a long time. But as beautiful as they are, I now only wished that they kept their attractive, sexy color once cooked. Quel dommage, non ? ( a shame, don’t you think?)

So, what are your favorite ways to cook eggplants? And, do you belong to those who love them or those who hate them? Because truth being said, eggplant does trigger these kinds of debate, doesn’t it?

Me?

I prepared a vegetable mille-feuille and a chicken tajine, amongst other things. As much as I love them, I realized that I had not yet presented many recipes. So come back to see, if you like aubergines, that is!

Technorati Tags: Food Styling, La Tartine Gourmande, Food Photography, Eggplant, Aubergine, Sexy Vegetable

There were three main categories: Edibility, Originality and Aesthetics, an Overall Winner Category, and a total of 116 entries. We were 6 people to judge (Matt, Aun, Jules, Stretch, Fred and myself). I would like to extend a special thanks to my great team of judges, for the effort and time spent scoring every one of these great pictures. Merci ! You did a great job!

And so, because there were so many entries, I thought that instead of only giving out the first three winners, I would also include the list of the Ten Leading Pictures. A big thank you, merci, to all of you for participating.

And without waiting, here are the results:

Many congratulations to all of our winners! The first three winners in each category can now proudly display a Good Looking Blog badge on their blog. Choose your color!

Technorati Tags: Food Styling, La Tartine Gourmande, Food Photography, DMBLGIT

Liz Crain writes the Blog Feed column for Culinate.

“Culinate features articles and essays that address the multitude of intersections between food and the rest of our lives. “ (Source: Culinate Wesbite)

A week ago, she asked me whether I would mind answering a few questions for an article she wanted to write about my blog. Of course I did not mind! I discovered her write-up yesterday. If you think you need to know a little more about me, you can check it out here. But if you think you know enough already, then just check their site, for a lot of fun food reads.

Thank you Liz!

Technorati Tags: Food Styling, La Tartine Gourmande, Food Photography, Culinate