I remember The Magic Pan! My mom used to make crepes although she called them “Aunt Dottie’s Pancakes” so I didn’t realize they were actually crepes until I was an adult.
I really love reading your newsletter each month, I feel you put your heart into them . From the two examples of AI, they both felt so impersonal. They definitely weren't the funny, warm stories you put into your newsletter. Glad you agreed :)
The Magic Pan! I’m sad crepes went out of style. I remember my mom making sole with Mornay sauce - for her kids on a school night! Other 70s foods I miss: Black Forest Cake, a big tray of lasagna with garlic bread, Irish Coffee in the glass mugs with handles and a linen napkin around it, liverwurst sandwiches, and potato chips with sour cream and onion soup mix dip.
Oh I had forgotten about the Magic Pan. There was one in the big mall in Braintree,MA. It was SO cutting edge at that time. At least, some of us thought that. And there was another creperie on Newbury St. , may have been another Magic Pan but I don't remember. Oh so long ago.......sigh
I agree 100% with you about that episode of The Bear. Phenomenal! We watched it twice and I would watch again. It was truly spell-binding. Jamie Lee Curtis was amazing.
I tried watching The Bear at someone's house (who had a Hulu subscription) and turned it off after the first episode, because I couldn't get into it. But I subscribed here in France (it's on Disney+) and watching on my laptop, which is more intimate, the series was a lot more interesting. I also thought the episode The Fork just after was also brilliant.
Yes! It was lovely to witness Richie’s transformation through his internship. So many meaningful storylines in this show - and superb acting. Was happy to see all their Emmy’s recently and can’t wait for season three, which starts filming soon!
Yes, watching the episode of The Bear with Jamie Lee Curtis was incredibly anxiety producing.
I knew that Maison Ferrand was going to change the Plantation name. I'm not wild about the new name, sounds like someone at Disney made it up. I guess as long as they don't change what's in the bottles it will be okay, eventually.
Stop it, I’m trying to lose a few extra kilos, it is probably just as well I don’t live anywhere near a French Patisserie, it is enough that there is a date and walnut cake in the fridge which I am letting my husband finish off. Re cycling is a big thing here in Australia, although the plastic bag recycling has disappeared into the ether after great work by everyone putting them in bins at the supermarket to be collected by a re-cycler who did nothing with them other than bale them up and leave in a huge warehouse. Another great read David, always a joy to receive your newsletter in my inbox.
In the early 1980's I managed a Magic Pan in Concord so that photo took me way back to those days. I made a lot of crepes working there! I also remember eating at the original Magic Pan in Ghiradelli Square in San Francisco, and that might have been in about 1970 or so. La Chandaleur is tomorrow so maybe I will make some crepes to celebrate.
I worked in a restaurant and someone came in to try out for a job cooking. He wasn't really up to the job, and couldn't do anything. But then the chef asked him to make some crêpes...and he pulled out 6 pans at once, heated them on the burners, and starting making crêpes rapid-fire, like a pro. When asked he said he'd worked at a crêpe restaurant - I wonder if it was at The Magic Pan?!
Thanks for the AI trial. Mon dieu, how lame. When I have used it, it just parades a bunch of clichés.
I've been reading your writing for years, and it just gets better and better. Your voice, sense of humor, wisdom and yes, snark make for great writing. Nothing can replicate that. Well, you could spend a lot of time training AI to write like you. But I think your time is better spent huffing by bike up to Buttes-Chaumont for that Gallette des rois. (Drooling over here!)
Keep writing and experimenting. We appreciate you!
I don't quite understand it but they keep saying it'll get better as it learns. I don't know if it'll ever replace recipe writing and travel writing, since those things really depending on having a trusted source research them (because no one wants to make a recipe that's a dud, or go to a restaurant in Paris and find out is doesn't exist!) - but it's probably useful for certain things, however I didn't sign up for ChatGPT...yet.
You have to spend a couple of hours training it to be more specific to what you want. I used it for research for a book proposal. That was handy until I realized I would need to fact check all the data.
I think you are right that the work you are doing is much less replaceable. Especially your voice and your personal stories, which are inimitable.
I remember The Magic Pan! My mom used to make crepes although she called them “Aunt Dottie’s Pancakes” so I didn’t realize they were actually crepes until I was an adult.
I really love reading your newsletter each month, I feel you put your heart into them . From the two examples of AI, they both felt so impersonal. They definitely weren't the funny, warm stories you put into your newsletter. Glad you agreed :)
I agree with you.
So glad you didn't like the AI results...Your writing is so, so much more informative and engaging.
Oh, The Magic Pan. I'd forgotten about it. Toronto lunches with my mother or my step-mother and my toddler.
The Magic Pan! I’m sad crepes went out of style. I remember my mom making sole with Mornay sauce - for her kids on a school night! Other 70s foods I miss: Black Forest Cake, a big tray of lasagna with garlic bread, Irish Coffee in the glass mugs with handles and a linen napkin around it, liverwurst sandwiches, and potato chips with sour cream and onion soup mix dip.
Oh I had forgotten about the Magic Pan. There was one in the big mall in Braintree,MA. It was SO cutting edge at that time. At least, some of us thought that. And there was another creperie on Newbury St. , may have been another Magic Pan but I don't remember. Oh so long ago.......sigh
Where is your recipe for Tarte Tatin?
It's linked in the newsletter but also here:
https://davidlebovitz.substack.com/p/lowfat-apple-tarte-tatin
I agree 100% with you about that episode of The Bear. Phenomenal! We watched it twice and I would watch again. It was truly spell-binding. Jamie Lee Curtis was amazing.
I tried watching The Bear at someone's house (who had a Hulu subscription) and turned it off after the first episode, because I couldn't get into it. But I subscribed here in France (it's on Disney+) and watching on my laptop, which is more intimate, the series was a lot more interesting. I also thought the episode The Fork just after was also brilliant.
Yes! It was lovely to witness Richie’s transformation through his internship. So many meaningful storylines in this show - and superb acting. Was happy to see all their Emmy’s recently and can’t wait for season three, which starts filming soon!
No way AI will every reproduce your wonderful sense of humor!
Yes, watching the episode of The Bear with Jamie Lee Curtis was incredibly anxiety producing.
I knew that Maison Ferrand was going to change the Plantation name. I'm not wild about the new name, sounds like someone at Disney made it up. I guess as long as they don't change what's in the bottles it will be okay, eventually.
Stop it, I’m trying to lose a few extra kilos, it is probably just as well I don’t live anywhere near a French Patisserie, it is enough that there is a date and walnut cake in the fridge which I am letting my husband finish off. Re cycling is a big thing here in Australia, although the plastic bag recycling has disappeared into the ether after great work by everyone putting them in bins at the supermarket to be collected by a re-cycler who did nothing with them other than bale them up and leave in a huge warehouse. Another great read David, always a joy to receive your newsletter in my inbox.
In the early 1980's I managed a Magic Pan in Concord so that photo took me way back to those days. I made a lot of crepes working there! I also remember eating at the original Magic Pan in Ghiradelli Square in San Francisco, and that might have been in about 1970 or so. La Chandaleur is tomorrow so maybe I will make some crepes to celebrate.
I worked in a restaurant and someone came in to try out for a job cooking. He wasn't really up to the job, and couldn't do anything. But then the chef asked him to make some crêpes...and he pulled out 6 pans at once, heated them on the burners, and starting making crêpes rapid-fire, like a pro. When asked he said he'd worked at a crêpe restaurant - I wonder if it was at The Magic Pan?!
I love your blog. At the age of 80, I cook less but read more and look forward to receiving everything you write.
Thanks for the AI trial. Mon dieu, how lame. When I have used it, it just parades a bunch of clichés.
I've been reading your writing for years, and it just gets better and better. Your voice, sense of humor, wisdom and yes, snark make for great writing. Nothing can replicate that. Well, you could spend a lot of time training AI to write like you. But I think your time is better spent huffing by bike up to Buttes-Chaumont for that Gallette des rois. (Drooling over here!)
Keep writing and experimenting. We appreciate you!
I don't quite understand it but they keep saying it'll get better as it learns. I don't know if it'll ever replace recipe writing and travel writing, since those things really depending on having a trusted source research them (because no one wants to make a recipe that's a dud, or go to a restaurant in Paris and find out is doesn't exist!) - but it's probably useful for certain things, however I didn't sign up for ChatGPT...yet.
You have to spend a couple of hours training it to be more specific to what you want. I used it for research for a book proposal. That was handy until I realized I would need to fact check all the data.
I think you are right that the work you are doing is much less replaceable. Especially your voice and your personal stories, which are inimitable.
It was great to have you in the mix on Dive Bar Jukebox!
Happy to (virtual) hang with you!
I LOVE your blog !!! We used your restaurant suggestions on our last trip and was
rewarded with wonderful experiences and great food
In addition, your books are terrific and I gave several of them to friends for birthdays etc
THANK YOU