It was a rainy day in southern France and I sat around cracking walnuts with my godfather. There is something deeply soothing about a repetitive motion like cracking nuts - it keeps the hands busy and allows the mind to wander. It is perfect for long conversations or contemplative thoughts. In this case it was the former, but when my hands are … [Read more...]
Asparagus is a quintessential spring vegetable -- full of green flavor, only around for a short season, and a harbinger of more summer bounty to come. It's one of my favorites and I always try to make an asparagus-focused dish to kick-off the season. Last year it was spring quesadillas and this year it was asparagus with lemon and … [Read more...]
As a last hurrah to my time in France I decided to cook rabbit (lapin in French). I'd seen them in all the markets in Paris and it is certainly not something I can easily get in the States. I was a bit daunted about making this since I don't cook meat often, but a friend in Paris shared the idea of cooking rabbit in hard cider and it sounded … [Read more...]
Exciting news at One Beet! I have my first guest posts up on Green Earth Guide reviewing two of my favorite organic spots in Paris - Galette Cafe and Boco. Please take a moment to check them out! I'll be continuing to partner with Green Earth Guide during my trip and sharing my eco experiences along the way. Stay tuned! … [Read more...]
I'm trying to cook as many traditional French meals as possible while I'm here. My most recent conquest was french onion soup and it was a total hit. I honestly don't know why I've never tried making it before -- it's totally delicious and surprisingly good for you. I always assumed that rich, creamy flavor came from loads of cream and butter, … [Read more...]
I'm taking cooking classes at Cook'n with Class (terrible name, but excellent Parisian cooking school). This morning was French baking and I was blown away by the process of making croissants. First of all, the croissants we made were delicious and rival those found in bakeries around the city. I wasn't totally sure what to expect from this … [Read more...]
Honey has popped up a few times since we've been in Paris and provided the perfect reminder of it's potent healing properties. Honey first appeared when we were walking through the Luxembourg Gardens. Amazingly they have a working hive in the garden filled with the cutest little huts for the bees. I am impressed by this commitment to actually … [Read more...]
I've been eyeing these delicious bistro salads that are served all over Paris. They are the perfect antidote to rich food and have a fitting spring quality to them. After tasting a few different varieties over the past few days I decided to try making my own. It was wonderful! I used red leaf lettuce, mache, and parsley as my base of greens. … [Read more...]
We moved into our Paris apartment on Tuesday and celebrated by cooking our first french meal. We spent a lovely afternoon walking through the markets on Rue Mouffetard and stocked our kitchen. This meal really felt like "One Beet goes to Paris" -- lots of french ingredients, but definitely my cooking style and focus on healthy, delicious, simple … [Read more...]
We made it! We're in Paris and enjoying our first few days. So far it has been cold, but sunny and beautiful. It feels great to be here and to officially begin the Big Trip. The most surprising thing so far has been feeling the freedom of time. I'm used to traveling on a tight schedule and running from one thing to the next. T and I are … [Read more...]