Holy hell….my life has just changed. For the better? I don’t know, only time will tell, but I have just tasted creme fermier
for the first time and there is no looking back. No more Australian boring old cream for me. It’s what the people of Normandy call "produced on a farm" cream. The real deal. I couldn’t slurp up enough of it from the bottom of my bowl which was filled with pesky mussels that kept getting in the way of my gluttony. If I could have intravenously hooked it up, I truly think I would have.
How was I to know that a little day trip to the countryside would change my belief system. The day started out pretty normally. With books, camera and an overly sweet and crappy vending machine coffee in our hands, we bordered the early morning train to Normandy. A lunch date with our friend Janyce in the seaside village of Etretat awaited us.
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The waiter, who only spoke to us in French must have actually understood us as he arrived a moment later with exactly what we’d ordered … two bowls of taboule aux legumes du marche and a bottle of rose wine.
Holy shit…I think we’re finally French!
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Earlier today I fell in love.
The most gorgeous vintage teapot, made in France, is now settled snuggly in my suitcase. With its gorgeous flower detail and dark green leather handle, I handed my 30 euro over to the old French monsieur who’s cigarette hung comfortably and expertly out the side of his mouth.
Only in France.
To celebrate my new love - we ordered our third coffee of the day. In fact, it turned out to be the best coffee of the day.
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This is where I celebrate my birthday when I'm in Paris. I love that I can say that.
It's my third time here and the food is still as delicious as the day I first tasted it.
Four simple courses. No choices. Just whatever is fresh from the market that morning.
My favourite today was the beginning and the end.....
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We picked up a baguette traditional (our baguette of choice, chosen over many years of research and bad mistakes) to have with our fromage for dinner. It was still warm, almost hot to the touch, when I lifted it up off the bench in it's paper bag as I said merci. Fresh from the oven. I couldn't stop smelling it as we walked the two blocks home to our little apartment in the Marais. Salivating the whole way.
When at home I eat gluten/wheat free. My dicky thyroid feels better when I do and my tummy does too.
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It's no secret that I love a limited menu. I adore restaurants and cafes that have only a few select dishes lovingly made for that particular day based on the seasons and what's fresh. Lovingly created ready for me to be inspired by.
I love everything about this place.
From the bonjour we received upon walking through the door, the gorgeous styling inside, to the organic food that greeted me.
This place is not about fancy food. It's real food.
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This tiny "hole in the wall" coffee shop in Paris gets a lot of social media attention.
It was on our "must try" list, so when we stumbled upon it by accident one beautiful sunny day, we pulled up a stool and ordered our coffee.
It was ok.
Maybe our hopes were too high. Maybe we're becoming too French and no longer use to such a strong flavoured coffee. Whatever the answer, we've been, we've tried....c'est tout!
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We have found a winner people!
Yes. A bold statement, but I think I have found one of the loveliest coffees I've actually had in Paris.... EVER.
If you wander down an almost deserted little lane way in the 6th arrondissement
in Paris, you will, I promise you, find wonderful eggs Benedict, friendly service and creamy, smooth, lip licking coffee.
Did I mention the coffee?
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When I see the word Ratatouille, it instantly conjours up pictures of Summertime in Southern France. Think the Mediterranean shoreline, a bright blazing sun and warm blue waters.
Ratatouille (a Provencal ragout of vegetables) is one of those infamous recipes that everyone in France makes slightly different, and everyone else's recipe is wrong. The French would cringe seeing this interpretation, but I LOVE it. Even thought this version may not conjour those warm Summer months, it makes me think of cosy Winter nights rugged up under a blanket in front of a roaring fire. Perfect for Winter in Melbourne!
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When it comes to food and meal times, I am not a "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of girl.
I'm a planner.
Whilst munching away on breakfast, you can bet that I've already planned what I need to pick up for my lunch and dinner later that day, so the discovery of this little bakery located Rue des Martyrs in the Montmartre district of Paris suited me perfectly. While heading off to lunch, we had dinner safely packed away in our bags....phew....everyone can relax now!
The quality of the ingredients (sourced from small producers) is what stands out in this organic bakery run by a Franco-British couple, where you'll find huge bowls of freshly made salads, daily soups, quiches to die for, and not to mention mouth watering puddings.
Be prepared to queue and wait!
It's so worth it!
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