Here I was, just back from a lovely weekend with friends in Brittany, and I arrived home, opened up my brand-new Mac and found that Word had decided to change the name of the important document I was working on (my next book!) as well as the file type.
Finding ready made broth is such a challenge, even to find consomme is difficult. It is a surprise to find out how many people rely on the Kobe d'Or. (which is rather disconcerting). My partner yells at me because I stock pile all the carcasses for the Chicken Roti so that I can do a chicken stock refill in our freezer!
The thing about an electric kettle is I'm always looking for a fully stainless steel one (no plastic parts), but also a stainless steel one that doesn't rust. Based on lots and lots of American reviews, that is really hard to source. I found a great one with a gooseneck spout but while it's lasted, that particular kettle is no longer available.
The company that makes the Aarke one says, "Made of durable stainless steel that minimizes the use of plastic." Stainless steel is pretty expensive to fabricate, but you might want to take a look into that one.
BTW I read your 2015 blog post on the lengthy 2-hour goodbye (https://www.davidlebovitz.com/the-two-hour-goodbye/), so should I conclude now that the so-called French goodbye is a myth? (Wonder if the Irish one is also mythical...)
Finally! Someone in Paris who has a sensible reaction to that damn crookie. I made a batch to see what all the brouhaha was about. Even I, who has been called a glutton on more than one occasion, found it overkill. Never shall a croissant and a chocolate chip cookie meat again in my kitchen.
It's....strange. Although to each there own, I suppose. There are a number of pastries that have their "viral" moment (kind of like small appliances, diets, etc) and they are all over the place...until people have moved on. I did see a French baker is now stuffing brownies into croissants, too...
Well, sort of. Paris is very prone to these kinds of fads and some stick (and stick around) for a long time, such as Mojitos, yuzu, and Stan Smith sneakers, and others - such as verrines (appetizers and desserts served in tiny glasses) and desserts (and appetizers) served in spoons, have mostly...and thankfully, disappeared, along with slate plates.
Oh , thank you David for your funny, informative, transcending writing! It is like a mini vacation!
I always learn so much and feel so relaxed and happy after reading your newsletter. One day I will get back to Paris but this summer, I will enjoy Cape Cod, where I call home.
Hi David. I love the Not Frères Poterie ... but it's trek to go to their factory. I am coming to Paris June 16-27 and wondered if you've ever seen some pieces at any of the Paris flea markets? Many thanks, love your podcasts, etc. Be well, Marguerite Manshreck-Head
I've not seen any pieces at flea markets in Paris but did find a cassole once at a thrift store. La Tuile à Loupe used to carry some of their pottery but not sure if they still do. You can send a query through his website: https://latuilealoup.com/en/
Talking about how the French love to complain, I walk my dog with a woman who finds some reason for some shocking facts every morning. My dog is best pals with her dogs, and she walks mine when I'm away, so I have learned to keep quiet and not contradict her. My favourite is, on account of her arthiritus (she mentions her aches and pains every day and how many times she woke up in the night) she'd like to live by the sea, so I asked why didn't she move there? To which she answered, houses are falling into the sea, and soon it will reach our town (we're 50 minutes from a beach). So, I pointed out that all she had to do was sit tight, and she'd soon be living by the sea!
I use my seashells in my garden for mulch / decoration...but maybe you eat a plethra of seafood and it would overwhelm your garden.
The laptop issues are no fun and cause imjmense stressors, strange how we can not be without them any longer. So much of our daily life and routines are on a pc or phone ...let alone writing a book.
I hope you and Romain have your health back in order and your skies are blue this Spring/Summer!
I'm not a fan of criticizing cooks and bakers but I am getting bleary of things/foods going "viral," just to get Likes and clicks. I do support bakeries who are doing their best to stay afloat, so understand why they're offering them. Trends come and go, so we'll see how long this one lasts ;)
David, please tell these bakeries that combining a chocolate chip cookie with a croissant is une acte de meutre culinaire!!! We are fortunate to have a bakery on the Cape ( Pain D'avignon) who make outstanding croissants and they are sold at a shop in Middletown R.I. I buy them on rare occasion because they are not to be consumed on a daily basis!!
My guess is that it's a trend that won't last long. I think the Cronut made people realize how a pastry could go "viral," and people are hoping that lightning will strike twice (or more)...so to speak.
Good luck with your computer problems. I’m a writer too and would flip out if that happened to me. I also love my electric kettle and use it every day. But I don’t understand the weird food mashups out in the world today. Why? Just why?
Yes that’s true. If there had been a comma after fishermen it would been really bad 😂 fishermen, and women . Then there’s this: “Do women in the fishing industry call themselves fishermen?
We encourage inclusive terms, but women in the fishing industry on both coasts have made it clear they call themselves fishermen, and take strong exception to what they regard as a bureaucratic, politically correct term." I'll leave the OP to make up their own mind.
Chicken stock would be a welcomed sight in the supermarkets in France. It can be added to a sauce or even when starting a soup. The best I can do is to melt bouillon cubes and it’s hardly the same.
It's hard to recommend one or the other since they are all different but mine has "flex zones" which means you can move around the pots to another zone, and the heat follows. Oddly, one side works completely different than the other on my stove, for some reason, but I think (imho) it's an overrated feature. Personally, I dislike "features" and just want a stove that turns on and off, as lets you control the heat of each element, and that's it. So I went for a relatively simple model.
If you live in the U.S., Wirecutter (NYT/subscription required, I think...)) did some feature on inductions that were very good:
David, Bottom line Crookies just look gross! We finally have a bakery in Detroit that makes a good croissant. I hope they never defile it with Chocolate Chip cookie dough. Gail
David...I didn't want to post yesterday for fear due to time differences it would wake you...or distract you from your calamity with the computer (we have all been there on some level). Please know (& I speak for all on your blog) that we need you, probably more than you need us...so we will always be
there for you. Glad you are feeling better, at least physically, and that you enjoyed your brief getaway. Cheers, Kate in Boca-adjacent.
Finding ready made broth is such a challenge, even to find consomme is difficult. It is a surprise to find out how many people rely on the Kobe d'Or. (which is rather disconcerting). My partner yells at me because I stock pile all the carcasses for the Chicken Roti so that I can do a chicken stock refill in our freezer!
The thing about an electric kettle is I'm always looking for a fully stainless steel one (no plastic parts), but also a stainless steel one that doesn't rust. Based on lots and lots of American reviews, that is really hard to source. I found a great one with a gooseneck spout but while it's lasted, that particular kettle is no longer available.
The company that makes the Aarke one says, "Made of durable stainless steel that minimizes the use of plastic." Stainless steel is pretty expensive to fabricate, but you might want to take a look into that one.
BTW I read your 2015 blog post on the lengthy 2-hour goodbye (https://www.davidlebovitz.com/the-two-hour-goodbye/), so should I conclude now that the so-called French goodbye is a myth? (Wonder if the Irish one is also mythical...)
Finally! Someone in Paris who has a sensible reaction to that damn crookie. I made a batch to see what all the brouhaha was about. Even I, who has been called a glutton on more than one occasion, found it overkill. Never shall a croissant and a chocolate chip cookie meat again in my kitchen.
It's....strange. Although to each there own, I suppose. There are a number of pastries that have their "viral" moment (kind of like small appliances, diets, etc) and they are all over the place...until people have moved on. I did see a French baker is now stuffing brownies into croissants, too...
I was at Jane Bertch's book event with Dorie Greenspan, and both said "le hot dog" is taking off in Paris. Is that your experience?
Well, sort of. Paris is very prone to these kinds of fads and some stick (and stick around) for a long time, such as Mojitos, yuzu, and Stan Smith sneakers, and others - such as verrines (appetizers and desserts served in tiny glasses) and desserts (and appetizers) served in spoons, have mostly...and thankfully, disappeared, along with slate plates.
Oh , thank you David for your funny, informative, transcending writing! It is like a mini vacation!
I always learn so much and feel so relaxed and happy after reading your newsletter. One day I will get back to Paris but this summer, I will enjoy Cape Cod, where I call home.
Hi David. I love the Not Frères Poterie ... but it's trek to go to their factory. I am coming to Paris June 16-27 and wondered if you've ever seen some pieces at any of the Paris flea markets? Many thanks, love your podcasts, etc. Be well, Marguerite Manshreck-Head
I've not seen any pieces at flea markets in Paris but did find a cassole once at a thrift store. La Tuile à Loupe used to carry some of their pottery but not sure if they still do. You can send a query through his website: https://latuilealoup.com/en/
(Note his shop is only open by appointment only.)
Talking about how the French love to complain, I walk my dog with a woman who finds some reason for some shocking facts every morning. My dog is best pals with her dogs, and she walks mine when I'm away, so I have learned to keep quiet and not contradict her. My favourite is, on account of her arthiritus (she mentions her aches and pains every day and how many times she woke up in the night) she'd like to live by the sea, so I asked why didn't she move there? To which she answered, houses are falling into the sea, and soon it will reach our town (we're 50 minutes from a beach). So, I pointed out that all she had to do was sit tight, and she'd soon be living by the sea!
I use my seashells in my garden for mulch / decoration...but maybe you eat a plethra of seafood and it would overwhelm your garden.
The laptop issues are no fun and cause imjmense stressors, strange how we can not be without them any longer. So much of our daily life and routines are on a pc or phone ...let alone writing a book.
I hope you and Romain have your health back in order and your skies are blue this Spring/Summer!
The cookie/croissant combo does not look appetizing. Thanks for doing a taste test for your curious readers. :)
I'm not a fan of criticizing cooks and bakers but I am getting bleary of things/foods going "viral," just to get Likes and clicks. I do support bakeries who are doing their best to stay afloat, so understand why they're offering them. Trends come and go, so we'll see how long this one lasts ;)
Thanks for responding and taking the time to look up and forward the articles!
David, please tell these bakeries that combining a chocolate chip cookie with a croissant is une acte de meutre culinaire!!! We are fortunate to have a bakery on the Cape ( Pain D'avignon) who make outstanding croissants and they are sold at a shop in Middletown R.I. I buy them on rare occasion because they are not to be consumed on a daily basis!!
My guess is that it's a trend that won't last long. I think the Cronut made people realize how a pastry could go "viral," and people are hoping that lightning will strike twice (or more)...so to speak.
Good luck with your computer problems. I’m a writer too and would flip out if that happened to me. I also love my electric kettle and use it every day. But I don’t understand the weird food mashups out in the world today. Why? Just why?
Yes that’s true. If there had been a comma after fishermen it would been really bad 😂 fishermen, and women . Then there’s this: “Do women in the fishing industry call themselves fishermen?
We encourage inclusive terms, but women in the fishing industry on both coasts have made it clear they call themselves fishermen, and take strong exception to what they regard as a bureaucratic, politically correct term." I'll leave the OP to make up their own mind.
synonyms - A non-gendered word for fisher…
english.stackexchange.com/questions/247400/a-non-g
Chicken stock would be a welcomed sight in the supermarkets in France. It can be added to a sauce or even when starting a soup. The best I can do is to melt bouillon cubes and it’s hardly the same.
I have seen Magi chicken stock sold in boxes in some supermarkets:
https://www.maggi.fr/nos-engagements/bouillons-liquides-marche-jour/
And Picard sells frozen pellets of stock (veal, chicken, etc) but imho, they're not terrific.
You mentioned having an induction coo top. Any tips? We are getting one this summer.
I think I may have written about it somewhere in my Paris apartment stories:
https://davidlebovitz.substack.com/s/paris-apartment-stories
It's hard to recommend one or the other since they are all different but mine has "flex zones" which means you can move around the pots to another zone, and the heat follows. Oddly, one side works completely different than the other on my stove, for some reason, but I think (imho) it's an overrated feature. Personally, I dislike "features" and just want a stove that turns on and off, as lets you control the heat of each element, and that's it. So I went for a relatively simple model.
If you live in the U.S., Wirecutter (NYT/subscription required, I think...)) did some feature on inductions that were very good:
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/is-an-induction-stove-for-you/
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-induction-cooktop/
And my friend Heidi, who lives in LA, wrote about her experiences here: https://www.101cookbooks.com/induction-stove/
David, Bottom line Crookies just look gross! We finally have a bakery in Detroit that makes a good croissant. I hope they never defile it with Chocolate Chip cookie dough. Gail
David...I didn't want to post yesterday for fear due to time differences it would wake you...or distract you from your calamity with the computer (we have all been there on some level). Please know (& I speak for all on your blog) that we need you, probably more than you need us...so we will always be
there for you. Glad you are feeling better, at least physically, and that you enjoyed your brief getaway. Cheers, Kate in Boca-adjacent.