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

116 entries — 116 participants

What a number! Quel chiffre!

Thanks so much! The voting started, so stay tuned and come back in the second week of July for results!

The complete gallery is to be found here.

Thank you again to all! Merci encore à tous !

Technorati Tags: La Tartine Gourmande, Food Photography, DMBLGIT

Technorati Tags: Food Styling, La Tartine Gourmande, Food Photography, vitelotte, Purple Potato