We are off to Paris for a few days, in great honor of the Apartment Therapist's birthday. The site will be quiet, although we encourage you all to hop on the open threads and get cooking together.
While in this fine city, we'll be collecting our usual list of great food finds (after all, it's not hard in Paris). Before we depart, if you have any recommendations or questions, fire away. We'll be checking until later this evening.
Have fun in the open threads while we're gone! Au revoir!
where can we find drinking hot chocolate ( french )in NY. I drank one at La Madeline in Dallas -
Try Mariebelle in Soho (www.mariebelle.com) or Jacque Torres on Hudson just south of Houston, or in DUMBO, www.jacquestorres.com.
I love la Grande Epicerie! My husband and I went to Paris for our 10th anniversary and put together a really nice picnic (wild strawberries, epoisses, baguette, bottle of bordeaux..), which we ate in the Jardin Luxembourg. Truly memorable.
Other favorite spots: Rue Mouffetard (medieval street with really great food market--featured in movie Amelie), Jardin des Plantes (nice Alpine garden and zoo), Les Fontaines--a restaurant near the Sorbonne (9, rue Soufflot) with great food and reasonable prices (try the fruit soup)...ooh, I envy you!
Have a wonderful trip and take lots of pics for all of us back home.
crepes and nutella. you can't go wrong! :)
my own question: i just bought some extra-firm tofu on a whim, but don't have the slightest clue as to what to do with it besides stir fry. anyone have any ideas?
There's a great street market on Rue de Levis in the 17th arrondisement... food to linens and everything in between. If you're in the neighborhood, which is very Parisian and not very touristy -- be sure to also check out the corner patisserie (I believe it is called "Le Vendome" across from the Villiers metro stop.) They had a star-shaped pistachio mousse torte that is truly out of this world.
liz -- I use tofu often to make Nigella's curry but a vegetarian version. I make it with coconut milk, chicken or veg stock, fish sauce, turmeric, curry paste, tofu, chickpeas, squash and sometimes some baby bok choy. I skip the lime leaves and lemongrass usually just because I don't keep them around the house. Click my name for the recipe.
I also make fried rice with tofu and basil and some veggies and chili sauce occasionally. But I love tofu and am always looking for more recipes so I hope more people will post them...
Liz, I like to cut firm tofu into 2x2x1" squares (8 pieces per regular container), and instead of pressing it, *boil* it in water for a few minutes and then drain on a tea towel, flipping it over once, so both sides dry. (Something about the boiling process firms it up even more and also warms it right through). It can then be fried up nicely in olive oil with any seasoning you like. I love to eat it with rice and steamed vegetables topped with hot sauce and furikake (Japanese condiment with toasted sesame and nori).
You can also "scramble" it like eggs (chopping it up in the pan with the edge of a spatula as you cook) and have it with toast.
i know you are not going to believe me on this one, but it is so good if you try it.
I make a dressing with a bit of soy sauce, some sesame oil, a couple spoons of chili paste (I love sirachi), and some olive oil and toss cubes of firm tofu, thinnly sliced red bell pepper and one or two avocados..... Try it. it is the most delicious salad, either over greens or by itself. OH and some cashews are nice on top.
Avocado and tofu were born for each other.
happy birthday to maxwell.
the last time i was in paris friends took me to the take out window of Chez Marianne (in the Marais) for a falafel sandwich that was transending and spectacularly delish.
have a great trip (if you read this in time).
yum! i can't wait to try these recipes! since it's still chilly out, i might try the frying method first...
I am an American who has lived in France for 18 years...and still Paris amazes me! Go to any corner, any market, any places, anywhere in Paris and every sense comes alive! Paris is magical! Do not go with any addresses!!! Let it discover YOU!!
the Rue de Seine in the St. Germain is a great small food street, with lovely shops, and seafood and oyster vendors on the street corners. One vendor looks like Rumplestilskin--beard, fairy tale boots and all.