More Pics from Nimes
We arrived in Nimes late that evening, slept in the next morning; we went to the Nimes open market in the mid-morning, had a cool picnic lunch then went to the coliseum and saw the ruins.
http://www.arenes-nimes.com/fr/nimes/
Later that evening we went to the Cheval Blanc (white horse) for dinner where I had an amazing fresh white sardine & olive salad and pork chops that were so tender-grilled to perfection w/ creamed potatoes …..Dessert was a fresh fruit tart!
The next day we drove to Pont du Gard to visit the aqueducts, http://www.pontdugard.fr/index.php?langue=GB AMAZING!!! Then we drove on to Le Tain-L’ H’ermitage where we visited Chaputlier vineyards and winery where we participated in a formal wine tasting, http://www.chapoutier.com/
then on to Hotels les 2 Coteaux http://www.hotel-les-2-coteaux.com/ an amazing hotel in an amazing city! That night we went to an amazing dinner on an outside patio. I dined on rabbit pate, and scate fish and a fabulous cloufutis for dessert.
The next day we went on a walk-about through the town, stopping in at the Valrona Chocolate Factory and boutique…….CHOCOLATE!!!! http://www.valrhona.com/ A light lunch of lamb guirros and French fries held us over till later.
Later on we drove up to the Musee de l'Olivier where a charming and funny old man who chased skirts w/ drifting eyes told us all about olives, brining, curing, etc… and olive oil….. fantastique!
http://www.guideweb.com/musee/olivier/
Later, that evening, we had another charming prix fixe dinner… duck confit salad, salmon w/ lentils, and chocolate cake!
Le Tain-L’ H’ermitage is a beautiful little town in the South of France, I could have spent the rest of my life there, but we must press onward.
Our last day in Paris, we visited the Musee Jaquemart Andre
( http://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/fr/jacquemart/ ) where we learned about French History through an art collection to die for! Not only were they avid art collectors, but the palace they built was a dedication and/or celebration to the European Art scene of the times! A shrine to the Gods of European Art…. In your mind’s eye, you could almost see the Executive carriages being drawn by Ivory horses, the passengers being deposited at the base of the grand staircase…you can hear the orchestra tuning their instruments, you can see the ladies in waiting gossiping amongst themselves…..
We dined on a lunch of quiche and fine herbs and fois gras salad and a selection of decadent pastries…swishing it all down w/ a beautiful rose… not your typical museum food.
We departed and headed towards the Champs de Elyceeses http://www.parisdigest.com/promenade/champselysees-information.htm
and strolled through the French sun as we headed towards the Arc de Triumph
http://arc-de-triomphe.monuments-nationaux.fr/
where I climbed all 284 stairs! It is a tribute to Napoleon, The un named soldier, all the French wars, and victories, etc… From there we departed, had an early dinner of Charcuterie & gourmet melted cheese bread followed by an ice cream and nougat terrine. Then we headed to the hotel to gather luggage, take a crazy bus ride to the train station where we boarded a TGV for Niece
Next, we went to visit La Fromagerie d’ Auteuil where Michel Fouchereau reins king as one of Paris’s 5 M.O.F.’s…..amazing! Visit here for more info:
http://www.whytraveltofrance.com/category/cheese-fromage/
http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Shopping/Paris_fromageries4.shtml
http://www.lafromageriedauteuil.fr/
While we were there, we were lectured on how to ripen cheese, pairing cheeses w/ wine and food, and pairing cheese w/ the season. We also learned about French laws and their cheese…over 365 region varieties!! We had lunch at the home of Stephanie Curtis, (Ambassador of the English Language Program at E’Cole Ferrandi). We were treated to an incredible meal of charcouterie, fresh salad, a formal wine and cheese tasting, followed by Tart T’atain (caramelized upside down apple tart) and café. Wow!
That evening we split into 2 groups and dined out. I had an incredible assortment of appetizers… roasted escargot, quiche, charcoterie, and fois gras. Next I had the bavette (skirt steak) med rare in a Roquefort cheese sauce, french fries, and ratatoille. It was followed by the most perfect crème caramel I ever had. We finished the meal w/ an digestife of French cognac!!!
Today we went to Poilane Bakery, one of the premier bakeries in Paris ( http://www.poilane.fr/ ). In their flagship store (which operates 24/7) we saw a chandelier made out of bread! These people take bread seriously…it has been rumored that most French people eat twice their weight in bread per year! We visited the oven room, which stays a toasty 92 constant degrees and although we only saw one level, I am comparing this to Dante’s Inferno! There, we watched a master baker monitor a brick oven fueled by wood teach an apprentice on the “pull”… pulling over 400 loaves of bread out of the oven using varying lengths of wooden peeles. We nibbled on butter cookies, and bought bread!... God, the French know how to eat!
Sorry for not updating sooner, internet access spotty, time is short. French-Morrocan dinner was amazing. Stews, cous cous, curried lamb and hericot vert....really cool tea service followed by a procession of pastries accompanied by a date/ coffee liquor! Je l'adore cusine en France!
I was sooooo tired from traveling, but didn't want to take a nap because I knew I'd never get back up...lol, so I stayed up although there were a few moments during dinner that I almost fell asleep. I went to bed and got a great solid sleep. Woke up w/ just a wee bit of jet lag, but otherwise none the worse for the wear.
After an incredible breakfast of French cheeses, pastries, and croisants we ventured out onto the Paris Metro (subway). Amazing....those trains really fly! The labarynth of subway tunels and passageways can be a little overwhelming..(thank goodness we have an incredably knowledgeful guide!) We arrived at Ferrandi....Paris's premier school of culinary instruction... http://www.egf.ccip.fr/international/ We were giuded through the school and shown a chefs dream of classrooms, labarotories, and lecture halls. After a brief infomercial of enrollment we dined on a light lunch of cheese and bread, meats, fruits, and tart au chocolate.
After a brief cafe au lait we ventured into the Culinary Equipment Paradise of E.Dhillerin. It's like a candy store for chefs! http://www.e-dehillerin.fr/en/index.php There, I purchased a pastry pin, some tart pans, and a couple different ice cream scoops. Amazing!!
More navigating the Paris Metro brought us into the First district where we were dazzled w/ fine wines, cognacs,and French pastries. Our guide brought us into several shops including a mustard boutique! Finally we went into the Epicurian Paradise.....Fauchon http://www.fauchon.com/ where I tasted jams and jellies that defy the immagination ! I purchased a jar of baba au rhum's, a jar each of chestnut jam, rosepetal confit sucree, and a jar of cinnamon plum jam! More navigating the Metro finally brought us home. I sit here, after a brief freshening up awaiting dinner! Deatails soon to follow........
After arriving, a good freshening up was in order! Once I was suitable, I ventured out into the neighborhood to introduce myself to Paris!! I fumbled through introductions, and managed to buy a warm croissant and a couple of French macaroons. Having my immediate appetite temporarily sequestered, I navigated my way through the neighborhood surrounding my hotel. Later, our group took a boat tour on the Siene River on the Bateaux Mouches http://www.bateaux-mouches.fr/ . It was fabulous!! All of the major Paris sights along the Siene were pointed out...Notre Dame, The Louvre, The Eiffel Tower.....Later, we had an all seafood dinner at Le Zeyer http://www.lezeyer.com/ It was amazing!! Our appetizer was an introduction to Local Cuisine..... escargot, bay shrimp, prawns, and raw oysters!! Our entree was a beautifully prerpared poached fish...it was searved w/ these amazing croutons soaked in butter, and torneed Yukon Gold potatoes. For dessert, we were served an amazing casis sorbet and a vanilla tuille on the side. We drank a very light sauvignon blanc and toasted the night away.
Wanted to let you know i just got in and checked into my hotel. Paris is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was born and raised in Troy, N.Y. I left home at the age of 18 and headed west. Over the past 15 years I have amassed an education that has been comprised of Real Academia, The School of Hard Knocks, and life experience. I have recently obtained my A.S. in Culinary Arts w/ Honors from City College of San Francisco. I have worked professionally as a chef for more than 15 years. Recently, I have just accepted a cooking position at Deadhorse Camp in Alaska (06/20/10-12/...)...(I'll be posting pictures and videos soon enough!) I love to travel....I have lived, worked, and played in several cities across the U.S. fom New Orleans, Chicago, Salt Lake City, and of course, San Francisco...just to mention a few. I love to travel, and will soon be posting pictures of my upcoming "Culinary Conquest" of France (05/29/10-06/17/2010). I also love to cook, bake, collect cook books, hike, travel, dine out, taste fine wine & cheese, camp, and have pure non-sensical fun. I love to watch movies, especially at home with a friend & Chinese take-away....I'm a cynic wrapped in an optamistic blanket, a liberal Democrat, and I'm Agnostic in views of faith & spirituality. I speak out when no one else will, and shout obscenities on a frequent basis...giggles....oh yes!.....I'm also addicted to cookies....actually, cookie dough, but any cookie will do...rotflmfao
