Anticipating Paris: A Proper French Lunch
May 11 2011 · 7 comments · Eat at Home, French, Travel
I’ll be in France very soon, and it’s honestly all I can think about. This will be my first time in Paris, or “the city of deliciousness” as I’ve come to call it. I can’t wait to buy crepes off the street, drink my weight in wine and slather a giant slab of butter on a fresh baguette…every morning (the baguette part is the only thing I’ll do every morning).
I’m also looking forward to shopping the legendary French markets, where I’ll buy the fixings to cook a few classic dishes—you know, a little coq au vin or duck l’orange, and maybe a gratin or two. I’ll even be armed with a few carefully chosen French cookbooks to support this coming culinary prowess.
Which leads me to the meal pictured here. My husband’s cousin Kay, probably the most accomplished and passionate amateur chefs I know, offered us free reign over her gargantuan French cookbook collection when she heard about our trip. She also insisted on making us a traditional French lunch while we perused the stacks of Patricia Wells, Daniel Boulud and Julia Child titles.
The midday menu included an insanely addictive plate of freshly baked cheese puffs, a meticulously structured Niçoise salad, and a beautiful Tarte aux cerises (cherry tart). Kay said the tarte was overcooked, but it was still one of the best things I’ve eaten this month.
I can only hope my own attempts at French cuisine are have half as successful…I’ll let you know.
-Valentina
P.S. Make sure to stop by next week—I’ll be posting Paris photos everyday!
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