So enjoy getting your newsletter! I also bought your book; L'appart, can't wait to read it.
As mentioned I am coming to Paris next year - June. I was wondering if you had a kitchen store suggestion as I would love to bring something unique home from Paris. I will be staying in the 6th arrondissement. Also a cheese place, can you bring cheese back on the plane? Is that crazy? Thx!!
Ah, the birds...In April 2023, our electric/gas provider (PG&E) clear-cut 14 acres of mixed woodland two doors from my home. One of the upshots was there were no birds all summer. Odd, not one eating the peaches or cherries.
It is now late October, and the little piping fall birds have returned to chitter-chatter away. And of course, they are enjoying my chard patch very much. I guess I can share if I can hear the avian songs.
I did cover the chard today with mosquito netting.
David, my experience with figs has been the same in the US. I’ve used both the shiny tape and the cd disks and they did not work at all. Then of course the year I choose to move and leave my fig behind the birds, possums, and raccoons share the figs with me. There is always next year and I wish you many figs. Fortunately there are always leaves for your ice cream which is delicious.
Cheers to you for setting boundaries! Life is to be enjoyed.
I'm headed to Paris in a few days and will be sure to try the œufs mayo at Brasserie Martin. When I lived in Paris I always wanted to get things with mayonnaise, especially eggs with mayonnaise, but I didn't really know where to go. Are there other spots you recommend for oeufs mayo? What other mayo-centric things should I be eating? Love, a mayonnaise enthusiast.
I've had it and it's good, but there are other places to have it. There's actually an organization, ASOM, that is all about œufs mayo and you can see some addresses are their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/asom_oeufmayo/
Thank you so much! This is wonderful Of COURSE Paris had a contest for the best oeufs mayo. I saw Grande Brasserie in another post of yours, so perhaps I will try that one. Thank you for the links...much to explore.
Hi, David. It is always a good day when one of your newsletters hits my inbox.
In re your figs: Maybe you should try the peregrine falcon defense. Does it work? Who knows! But so mesmerizing to watch it dip and soar as we sip our wine in the early evening light.
Hi David, hope you are recovering well, pity about getting older and the things we have to put up with. Sounds like there are several of us who follow you who have been in the same boat, and as for trying to find seating that you don’t have to climb out of and isn’t deep is very difficult. As usual you have created great conversation, great food plus a good lot of humour and good advice. I challenged some scammers when in Paris several years ago, trying to warn the people they were talking to, they didn’t like it a bit, the back up person pulling out a knife, definitely made me walk away.
Yes, unfortunately some people have been spit on or threatened with a blade or razor. You do need to be wary when intervening in a situation, which is why I wanted to remain visible but didn't want to inflame the situation or have anyone get injured. Fortunately the people (I hope) got away from the people I saw with the petitions.
Hi David...this is not a cooking/dining question. But what is your assessment of the "bed bug crisis" gripping Paris (or at least the news agencies covering Paris) these days? We are planning to spend the second week of November in Paris.
I don't really have an assessment but I haven't gotten them and don't know anyone who has. However I don't take the métro much anymore nor do I go to the movies, which seems to be the places getting the most press.
Thanks David, much appreciated. How many questions am I allowed to ask on this forum? I know you are busy. I just have a couple more questions right now? Thanks so much, Jane
One additional caution for riders on the Metro.... My daughter and I have been to Paris three times in 2023, and we take the Metro often when we visit. We have not had any trouble or been pickpocketed, but during an extremely crowded ride to a concert at Stade de France in June, a man in plain clothes flashed a badge and said he was the Police, and told my daughter to come with him. He did not give a reason why. I grabbed her arm and told her not to move. He had two other young girls with him. He and the two girls backed off the Metro as the doors closed. Another woman suggested to me that he might be a sex trafficker. It was very very unsettling. Please be aware of this situation.
Hi, David, First, I hope your surgery recovery is going well. Also, I want to thank you so much for all of the joy and yummy food your talent, infectious energy and enthusiasm and passion for life have brought into my life, as well as that of those with whom I have shared the results of your recipes over the years.
I would love to get clarification, please, on your Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie. I made the pie this past weekend for a neighborhood gathering. I am recovering from COVID (testing negative), and when I was making the pie, I had an especially bad case of COVID head, which I want to blame for my using 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar (3 x 1/2cup), instead of the 3/4cup (3 x 1/4 cup) called for in your recipe (I got my recipe copy from your blog).
When I realized what I had done, it was too late to make another mixture, so I tasted the mixture I had, and it was good - not too sweet as I had thought it would be --I had also used Guittard semi-sweet chocolate chips -- So, I decided to go ahead and bake the pie, worried about what the consistency of the filling would be, etc.
The pie was a hit, and I have had several requests for the recipe. I want to give folks the best recipe.
I was curious why all of the extra sugar worked pretty well and was curious if perhaps there might have been a typo in the recipe (please know I certainly do not mean to offend you in any way!) So I did a web search for others using your recipe where they gave you credit, and each had the dark brown sugar at 3/4 cup. BUT, they all had the bourbon at THREE tablespoons, not TWO like what was in the recipe I used from your blog.
Perhaps it is because the others just enjoy more bourbon but before I give out copies of the recipe to neighbors, I wanted to see if I could ask you to please confirm how much bourbon to use. I used 2 TSPs with the 1 1/2 cups of dark brown sugar, and it seemed to work well and added to the pie’s lovely aroma.
Again, certainly do not mean any disrespect in any way by asking - and I know there can be flexibility in recipes, but just want to share the best recipe.
Thank you again for all you do, and thank you very much for your time and consideration!
The recipe are written is what i usually make with those quantities of sugar, etc. My friend Elise (who has very reliable recipes on her website, Simple Recipe, which she no longer owns) uses 1 cup corn syrup and 1/2 cup of brown sugar.
I have a Bourbon Pecan Pie recipe here that's more bourbon forward with 3 tablespoons:
Have you thought about "tenting" the fig tree with cheese cloth netting? You can also buy netting at many big box stores too. I use to sew them together for my mother to cover her berry bushes. It does work. Good luck, Gail
"-Other scams are people tying a string bracelet around your wrist or finding a gold ring on the ground in front of you, then they try to sell it to you". YES this happened but was not carried through. Outside of Notre Dame a man 'found a gold ring' and wanted to give it to us. I am a jeweler and I'm also from "Jersey" so instinctively I knew it was a scam. He wanted to give it to us, I said no, you keep it, we said no thank you and walked away, then a bird s-t on me...hah Oy! this was September 2019, a really great trip in any case.
It's a weird scam as it doesn't seem obvious, at first. But it's amusing to watch the 'acting' on their behalf, how surprised they are to find a gold ring on the street...and how generous they are to let you buy it from them : - )
I am going to Paris next year. Thanks for the tips about pickpockets, will be vigilant.
Would love your recommendations for Paris restaurants, Boulangeries, and Patisseries. They don't have to be fancy, just have delicious food. Thank you in advance.
David, we went to five of your recommended restaurants when we were in Paris a couple of weeks ago. They were all worth trying. I mainly wanted to comment that my wallet got stolen out of my bag on the Metro but they apparently didn't try to use the cards, just took the cash. It makes sense from your explanation that they didn't want to be caught with UK cards. I was just too relaxed and will be more vigilant next visit. Thanks for the tips about the other scams.
Glad you ate well but sorry someone got your cash... It's annoying that it happens here and they haven't found a way to curb it but it's a problem other cities face too.
So enjoy getting your newsletter! I also bought your book; L'appart, can't wait to read it.
As mentioned I am coming to Paris next year - June. I was wondering if you had a kitchen store suggestion as I would love to bring something unique home from Paris. I will be staying in the 6th arrondissement. Also a cheese place, can you bring cheese back on the plane? Is that crazy? Thx!!
Ah, the birds...In April 2023, our electric/gas provider (PG&E) clear-cut 14 acres of mixed woodland two doors from my home. One of the upshots was there were no birds all summer. Odd, not one eating the peaches or cherries.
It is now late October, and the little piping fall birds have returned to chitter-chatter away. And of course, they are enjoying my chard patch very much. I guess I can share if I can hear the avian songs.
I did cover the chard today with mosquito netting.
David, my experience with figs has been the same in the US. I’ve used both the shiny tape and the cd disks and they did not work at all. Then of course the year I choose to move and leave my fig behind the birds, possums, and raccoons share the figs with me. There is always next year and I wish you many figs. Fortunately there are always leaves for your ice cream which is delicious.
Cheers to you for setting boundaries! Life is to be enjoyed.
I'm headed to Paris in a few days and will be sure to try the œufs mayo at Brasserie Martin. When I lived in Paris I always wanted to get things with mayonnaise, especially eggs with mayonnaise, but I didn't really know where to go. Are there other spots you recommend for oeufs mayo? What other mayo-centric things should I be eating? Love, a mayonnaise enthusiast.
According to the contest to decide the best œufs mayo in Paris, the winner is at Grande Brasserie: https://actu.fr/ile-de-france/paris_75056/le-chef-de-la-grande-brasserie-a-paris-sacre-champion-du-monde-de-l-oeuf-mayonnaise_55198334.html
I've had it and it's good, but there are other places to have it. There's actually an organization, ASOM, that is all about œufs mayo and you can see some addresses are their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/asom_oeufmayo/
Thank you so much! This is wonderful Of COURSE Paris had a contest for the best oeufs mayo. I saw Grande Brasserie in another post of yours, so perhaps I will try that one. Thank you for the links...much to explore.
Hi, David. It is always a good day when one of your newsletters hits my inbox.
In re your figs: Maybe you should try the peregrine falcon defense. Does it work? Who knows! But so mesmerizing to watch it dip and soar as we sip our wine in the early evening light.
Hi David, hope you are recovering well, pity about getting older and the things we have to put up with. Sounds like there are several of us who follow you who have been in the same boat, and as for trying to find seating that you don’t have to climb out of and isn’t deep is very difficult. As usual you have created great conversation, great food plus a good lot of humour and good advice. I challenged some scammers when in Paris several years ago, trying to warn the people they were talking to, they didn’t like it a bit, the back up person pulling out a knife, definitely made me walk away.
Yes, unfortunately some people have been spit on or threatened with a blade or razor. You do need to be wary when intervening in a situation, which is why I wanted to remain visible but didn't want to inflame the situation or have anyone get injured. Fortunately the people (I hope) got away from the people I saw with the petitions.
Hi David...this is not a cooking/dining question. But what is your assessment of the "bed bug crisis" gripping Paris (or at least the news agencies covering Paris) these days? We are planning to spend the second week of November in Paris.
I don't really have an assessment but I haven't gotten them and don't know anyone who has. However I don't take the métro much anymore nor do I go to the movies, which seems to be the places getting the most press.
Thanks so much for your quick answer. And I love your newsletter and blog!
Tony Hitchcock (loyal subscriber!)
Thanks David, much appreciated. How many questions am I allowed to ask on this forum? I know you are busy. I just have a couple more questions right now? Thanks so much, Jane
One additional caution for riders on the Metro.... My daughter and I have been to Paris three times in 2023, and we take the Metro often when we visit. We have not had any trouble or been pickpocketed, but during an extremely crowded ride to a concert at Stade de France in June, a man in plain clothes flashed a badge and said he was the Police, and told my daughter to come with him. He did not give a reason why. I grabbed her arm and told her not to move. He had two other young girls with him. He and the two girls backed off the Metro as the doors closed. Another woman suggested to me that he might be a sex trafficker. It was very very unsettling. Please be aware of this situation.
Hi, David, First, I hope your surgery recovery is going well. Also, I want to thank you so much for all of the joy and yummy food your talent, infectious energy and enthusiasm and passion for life have brought into my life, as well as that of those with whom I have shared the results of your recipes over the years.
I would love to get clarification, please, on your Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie. I made the pie this past weekend for a neighborhood gathering. I am recovering from COVID (testing negative), and when I was making the pie, I had an especially bad case of COVID head, which I want to blame for my using 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar (3 x 1/2cup), instead of the 3/4cup (3 x 1/4 cup) called for in your recipe (I got my recipe copy from your blog).
When I realized what I had done, it was too late to make another mixture, so I tasted the mixture I had, and it was good - not too sweet as I had thought it would be --I had also used Guittard semi-sweet chocolate chips -- So, I decided to go ahead and bake the pie, worried about what the consistency of the filling would be, etc.
The pie was a hit, and I have had several requests for the recipe. I want to give folks the best recipe.
I was curious why all of the extra sugar worked pretty well and was curious if perhaps there might have been a typo in the recipe (please know I certainly do not mean to offend you in any way!) So I did a web search for others using your recipe where they gave you credit, and each had the dark brown sugar at 3/4 cup. BUT, they all had the bourbon at THREE tablespoons, not TWO like what was in the recipe I used from your blog.
Perhaps it is because the others just enjoy more bourbon but before I give out copies of the recipe to neighbors, I wanted to see if I could ask you to please confirm how much bourbon to use. I used 2 TSPs with the 1 1/2 cups of dark brown sugar, and it seemed to work well and added to the pie’s lovely aroma.
Again, certainly do not mean any disrespect in any way by asking - and I know there can be flexibility in recipes, but just want to share the best recipe.
Thank you again for all you do, and thank you very much for your time and consideration!
Take good care. Kindest regards, Kim Y.
The recipe are written is what i usually make with those quantities of sugar, etc. My friend Elise (who has very reliable recipes on her website, Simple Recipe, which she no longer owns) uses 1 cup corn syrup and 1/2 cup of brown sugar.
I have a Bourbon Pecan Pie recipe here that's more bourbon forward with 3 tablespoons:
https://www.davidlebovitz.com/bourbon-ginger-pecan-pie-recipe-thanksgiving/ so you can certainly add another tablespoon to the mix of the other recipe. Hope that helps!
Thank you very much, kind sir! Happy Fall and Be well!
David
Have you thought about "tenting" the fig tree with cheese cloth netting? You can also buy netting at many big box stores too. I use to sew them together for my mother to cover her berry bushes. It does work. Good luck, Gail
I use mosquito netting. It is easy to hang and birds don't get caught in it. I will last many years if you put it away after harvest.
Any thoughts on the current bed bug situation? It seems like much being made about nothing by the media. Should we worry?
"-Other scams are people tying a string bracelet around your wrist or finding a gold ring on the ground in front of you, then they try to sell it to you". YES this happened but was not carried through. Outside of Notre Dame a man 'found a gold ring' and wanted to give it to us. I am a jeweler and I'm also from "Jersey" so instinctively I knew it was a scam. He wanted to give it to us, I said no, you keep it, we said no thank you and walked away, then a bird s-t on me...hah Oy! this was September 2019, a really great trip in any case.
It's a weird scam as it doesn't seem obvious, at first. But it's amusing to watch the 'acting' on their behalf, how surprised they are to find a gold ring on the street...and how generous they are to let you buy it from them : - )
well he wanted to 'give' it to us...but it definitely seemed like a trick.
I am going to Paris next year. Thanks for the tips about pickpockets, will be vigilant.
Would love your recommendations for Paris restaurants, Boulangeries, and Patisseries. They don't have to be fancy, just have delicious food. Thank you in advance.
Those are on my website and I update the list frequently. You can find them here:
https://www.davidlebovitz.com/paris-pastry-shops-chocolate-bakeries-patisseries-french-france/
https://www.davidlebovitz.com/paris/
I've also categorized restaurant write-ups here on the newsletter: https://davidlebovitz.substack.com/s/paris-eating-and-drinking
Have a great trip!
David, we went to five of your recommended restaurants when we were in Paris a couple of weeks ago. They were all worth trying. I mainly wanted to comment that my wallet got stolen out of my bag on the Metro but they apparently didn't try to use the cards, just took the cash. It makes sense from your explanation that they didn't want to be caught with UK cards. I was just too relaxed and will be more vigilant next visit. Thanks for the tips about the other scams.
Glad you ate well but sorry someone got your cash... It's annoying that it happens here and they haven't found a way to curb it but it's a problem other cities face too.
Beautiful flan and spectacular figs!! What a deliight.