It is 10 pm here i left my apartment at 7:45 this morning, too tired to write anything interesting or witty about my day but will someone PLEASE take some pictures of the Andy Warhol statue in Union Square, so sad not to see it in person!
Thanks, more tomorrow I promise.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Quiche Lorraine and Spring Showers
We have moved into the dough section of our demo and practical classes. So far I have learned a simple bread dough, a pasta dough, a savory tart dough, and a puff pastry. Basically I have been getting my fill of flour, egg, a little yeast, and of course this being France, butter, lots of butter.
Today we made quiche, a simple quiche Lorraine, which is a typical egg mixture, bacon and small amount of cheese. I haven't tasted it yet but I think it looks pretty good....
Well it's whats for dinner for me tonight,
Anyone want the recipe let me know!
I also got caught in my first Parisian spring shower today leaving school, being the blonde that I am I didn't know it was going to rain, so with my bags and my quiche I hustled to the metro getting completely drenched on the way, somethings will never change... April showers will bring May flowers.
Today we made quiche, a simple quiche Lorraine, which is a typical egg mixture, bacon and small amount of cheese. I haven't tasted it yet but I think it looks pretty good....
Anyone want the recipe let me know!
I also got caught in my first Parisian spring shower today leaving school, being the blonde that I am I didn't know it was going to rain, so with my bags and my quiche I hustled to the metro getting completely drenched on the way, somethings will never change... April showers will bring May flowers.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Man and a cat
Today I saw a very proper looking gentleman, bow tie and all, walking a very fat white cat, I kid you not the cat had a collar and leash, only wish I had a camera. I thought after being in New York for a few years there was very little that could make me look twice, this made me look twice.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Chicken and fish
I think I have explained how Le Cordon Bleu classes work but just to recap, before I cook anything I will have a 3 hour demonstration class and following that I will have a practical class where I will cook what was shown to me in the demo. Practicals are graded from 1 to 5 but we are not told our scores until half way through term we will receive our average, but before that no real feed back on how we are doing.
So with that information in mind let me tell you about my Friday. My first class was at 830, meaning cooking starts at 830 so I'm in the practical kitchen by 815 at the latest. And I happen to have to make lemon sole with a Bercy sauce. So yes at 830 on Friday morning I was cutting fins off a lemon sole and trying my best to fillet, and not massacre the poor fish like a hungry ally cat. All I can say is thank god we had 2 fish to fillet because I only got 2 fillets that anybody with eyes would but on a plate and serve. The other ones were so small that you could eat them in 2 bites all due to my poor knife skills, it's not the fishes fault. But all in all chef liked my dish, well minus the "you Americans always use too much pepper" comment.
So after the fishy Friday morning I had a little break and then another demo, this time a whole poached chicken with a supreme sauce and a risotto-style rice. Don't want to bore you with all the details but the highlight would be that I now know how to truss a chicken, for those of you who don't know in simple terms trussing is how to sew-up a chicken and make it look pretty.
In short, my Friday began with cutting fins off a fish and ended with me stitching up a chicken, who knew I would be such a domestic....
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So with that information in mind let me tell you about my Friday. My first class was at 830, meaning cooking starts at 830 so I'm in the practical kitchen by 815 at the latest. And I happen to have to make lemon sole with a Bercy sauce. So yes at 830 on Friday morning I was cutting fins off a lemon sole and trying my best to fillet, and not massacre the poor fish like a hungry ally cat. All I can say is thank god we had 2 fish to fillet because I only got 2 fillets that anybody with eyes would but on a plate and serve. The other ones were so small that you could eat them in 2 bites all due to my poor knife skills, it's not the fishes fault. But all in all chef liked my dish, well minus the "you Americans always use too much pepper" comment.
So after the fishy Friday morning I had a little break and then another demo, this time a whole poached chicken with a supreme sauce and a risotto-style rice. Don't want to bore you with all the details but the highlight would be that I now know how to truss a chicken, for those of you who don't know in simple terms trussing is how to sew-up a chicken and make it look pretty.
In short, my Friday began with cutting fins off a fish and ended with me stitching up a chicken, who knew I would be such a domestic....
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Vegetable Soup
Yesterday was my first real day of class. It is an exhausting format, imagine a 3 hour lecture and then immediately after having to reproduce precisely what you learned. The demonstation classes move very fast but the cooking classes while stressful are extreamly rewarding.
Our first dish was a "simple rustic vegetable soup". I have never had to chop vegetables so thin and precisly for anything referred to as rustic before. Did any of you know that you really should peel celery, well according to Chef Stril you do. Cooking for Chef Stril is not for the faint of heat and I mean that literally, there was butter and salt bacon in this soup... and to all the moms out there I bet you could have gotten a lot of us kids to eat our veggies faster had you included butter and bacon in them, I'm just saying.
Anyway I am off to bed, I have an early morning of fish filleting tomorrow. Doesn't that sound better than thousands of emails, no? Well to me it is infinitely more appealing.
bisous
Our first dish was a "simple rustic vegetable soup". I have never had to chop vegetables so thin and precisly for anything referred to as rustic before. Did any of you know that you really should peel celery, well according to Chef Stril you do. Cooking for Chef Stril is not for the faint of heat and I mean that literally, there was butter and salt bacon in this soup... and to all the moms out there I bet you could have gotten a lot of us kids to eat our veggies faster had you included butter and bacon in them, I'm just saying.
Anyway I am off to bed, I have an early morning of fish filleting tomorrow. Doesn't that sound better than thousands of emails, no? Well to me it is infinitely more appealing.
bisous
Monday, March 21, 2011
The after pictures...
17 Rue Saint-Romain before...
Add IKEA, Sylvie being able to put together furniture and my skills with power tools and you get...
It is amazing what blood, sweat, tears, and a bucket load of stress can accomplish, now it looks like home. Officially exhausted, I will update you all on school tomorrow.
IKEA!!!
As you may have been able to tell form the previous post my furnished apartment was far from furnished.
So in the land of Hermes and Chanel yours truly was only focused on IKEA!!!!
We arrive at Ikea Friday morning, waiting for the doors to open, I don't wait for the doors to open at Barney's warehouse sale, but Ikea is another matter. After 5 hours of shopping, under the impression that we could get all items delived the next morning if we finished by 3:30, we find out they will only deliver 4 out of 115 items that we bought. No problem Sylvie has a French driving licence, we will just rent an Ikea van.... not so fast... without paperwork proving where she lives Ikea thinks Sylvie wants to steal the bright yellow van. So we took the bus, to the train, the train to the airport, and thanks to Amex had a car rented at the airport. Well it was supposed to be a van, the van was not there. Oh no we are fine this car has enough truck space Sylvie and I think... WRONG!
Two cars (thanks to Sylvie's friend Annie) packed like this...
And then add a rainy night and Paris traffic
2 hours to go 20km (if I wanted I could have run faster)
It equals me...
to top it all off, my elevator was broken.....
..... oh and it "never breaks down" says the little old man living below me.
So up 7 flights of stairs I ran. Apartment pictures to follow
So in the land of Hermes and Chanel yours truly was only focused on IKEA!!!!
Two cars (thanks to Sylvie's friend Annie) packed like this...
It equals me...
..... oh and it "never breaks down" says the little old man living below me.
So up 7 flights of stairs I ran. Apartment pictures to follow
Ireland
March 15 we treked to Ireland. Sylvie and I happily got to the airport via train with our small little carry-ons, can you imagine me with only 2 pairs of jeans, I felt like I was roughing it! Got on our very crowded AerLingus flight, I hapily slept the whole way. We arrived in Dublin and Sylvie and I go retrieve our medium size car....
Everytime we got in it Sylvie skreeched "THIS IS NOT A MEDIUM SIZE CAR!!!" Hertz I wish you well when the wrath of Sylvie Remingol comes down upon you. Our nugget car served us well but a warning if you are over 5 foot 10 do not attempt to drive unless you remove the front seat and sit in the back!
Ireland was beautiful I met some of the wonderful people that Sylvie has spoken so much about and even dealt well with her friends' small children, well the beer may have been a helpful in my amicability.
Ireland is very green and has many many sheep, this did not stop me from "baaah"-ing at them or yelling "sheeeeep!" everytime I saw one. Good thing for Sylvie we were only there for 48 hours.
On our way to Dublin's St. Paddy's Day celebration Sylvie and I took the scenic rout via Wicklow, it truly looks as if leprechauns hid here....
Dublin was crazy and for my liver's sake it was a good thing our flight left that evening!
Ireland was beautiful I met some of the wonderful people that Sylvie has spoken so much about and even dealt well with her friends' small children, well the beer may have been a helpful in my amicability.
Ireland is very green and has many many sheep, this did not stop me from "baaah"-ing at them or yelling "sheeeeep!" everytime I saw one. Good thing for Sylvie we were only there for 48 hours.
On our way to Dublin's St. Paddy's Day celebration Sylvie and I took the scenic rout via Wicklow, it truly looks as if leprechauns hid here....
Dublin was crazy and for my liver's sake it was a good thing our flight left that evening!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Un Petite Problem
Thinking that I would be ahead of the game and move into my apartment early the fearless Sylvie and I call the rental agency and ask if we can pick up the key early, sure no problem, just be sure to get here before we break for lunch, ok so its not New York they take a lunch hour, I am still adjusting.
Sylvie and I find ourselves at the office just before the lunch hour, and Theirry our ever so helpful rental agent casually informs us that there is "un petite problem", water damaged occurred in the apartment last week but do not worry, he tells us, he is sure it has been fixed. He goes in search of our keys. No keys to be found, they are with the cleaning lady. This is fine we where not supposed to get keys until the 15th, we understand. Theirry helpfully says we can meet her at the apartment, she is scheduled to be there at 2pm, see if the water damage is fixed to our liking, if it is we can take the keys from her, if it is not then he has another apartment to suggest.
We are off, In typal Kate fashion I suggest we walk, off we march.We take our walk, have our lunch and arrive at the apartment exactly at 2. Well 1 cleaning lady, not the one we were supposed to meet, 4 buzzers, 1 helpful neighbor, 4 flights of stairs, 3 phone calls, and 1 hour waiting on said stairs the cleaning lady shows up with our keys.
Apartment looks nice, just as advertised on the website, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, living room, and dining room, HOWEVER left corner of dining room cieling is missing! Yes the leak has stopped but water damaged fixed? I think not.
Yes Theirry I belive we woudl like to see the other apartment now....
Back to the office, another search for keys ensues, another contract signed, and another trek back to the previous neighborhood.
This apartment is nice, better building, so something good came out of our adventures, it is a bit sparse so an adveture to IKEA is forthcoming.... but a St. Patty's trip to Dublin is next, here is hoping I come back in one piece, who knows Sylvie is driving.
Sylvie and I find ourselves at the office just before the lunch hour, and Theirry our ever so helpful rental agent casually informs us that there is "un petite problem", water damaged occurred in the apartment last week but do not worry, he tells us, he is sure it has been fixed. He goes in search of our keys. No keys to be found, they are with the cleaning lady. This is fine we where not supposed to get keys until the 15th, we understand. Theirry helpfully says we can meet her at the apartment, she is scheduled to be there at 2pm, see if the water damage is fixed to our liking, if it is we can take the keys from her, if it is not then he has another apartment to suggest.
We are off, In typal Kate fashion I suggest we walk, off we march.We take our walk, have our lunch and arrive at the apartment exactly at 2. Well 1 cleaning lady, not the one we were supposed to meet, 4 buzzers, 1 helpful neighbor, 4 flights of stairs, 3 phone calls, and 1 hour waiting on said stairs the cleaning lady shows up with our keys.
Apartment looks nice, just as advertised on the website, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, living room, and dining room, HOWEVER left corner of dining room cieling is missing! Yes the leak has stopped but water damaged fixed? I think not.
Yes Theirry I belive we woudl like to see the other apartment now....
Back to the office, another search for keys ensues, another contract signed, and another trek back to the previous neighborhood.
This apartment is nice, better building, so something good came out of our adventures, it is a bit sparse so an adveture to IKEA is forthcoming.... but a St. Patty's trip to Dublin is next, here is hoping I come back in one piece, who knows Sylvie is driving.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
What is in a name
Maybe I should explain where the name for this blog came from. The french phrase "a la bonne franquette" means to dine casually with friends and family. As many of you know from my Sunday dinners this is my favorite way to get together with those people closest to me. I look poetic license with the name to make it more personal. I hope you enjoy!
Eurodisney
I have finally recovered from my trek to Euro-disney with the Remingol family. For those of you who do not know Sylvie Remingol is my beloved Nannie who is helping me adjust to life here in Paris. She had promised her nieces that she would take them to Disney. I, not having been to Disney in over 15 years, naively said "sure I'll go!" A word to the wise DO NOT GO!!! Unless you have children or are supremely invested in the children you accompany this place is hell on earth.
Firstly the cost, 65 Euros? ok fine I get it the Mouse has to make a buck, but the lines, holy hell the lines... I stood in line for over hour to ride Dumbo with Sylvie, her sister in-law and her niece, the Dumbo ride lasts less then 2 minuets. Then there are the ill-beaved children, they like to wait in lines less then I do and the parents are just as irritable, happiest place on earth, I think not. In total I spent 65 Euros, 9 hours at the bloody park, 5 hours in lines, and 20 miniuets on rides, I hope this is not what Walt had in mind.
Have I mentioned its not warm out, I wore my ski coat and was freezing and wet at the end of the day.
All in all it was a exhausting day, but I think the kids, who I met the day before and am not "supremely invested in" had a good time and I guess that is all that matters. But my final feeling is ....
Screw you Mickey
xoxo
Kate
Firstly the cost, 65 Euros? ok fine I get it the Mouse has to make a buck, but the lines, holy hell the lines... I stood in line for over hour to ride Dumbo with Sylvie, her sister in-law and her niece, the Dumbo ride lasts less then 2 minuets. Then there are the ill-beaved children, they like to wait in lines less then I do and the parents are just as irritable, happiest place on earth, I think not. In total I spent 65 Euros, 9 hours at the bloody park, 5 hours in lines, and 20 miniuets on rides, I hope this is not what Walt had in mind.
Have I mentioned its not warm out, I wore my ski coat and was freezing and wet at the end of the day.
All in all it was a exhausting day, but I think the kids, who I met the day before and am not "supremely invested in" had a good time and I guess that is all that matters. But my final feeling is ....
Screw you Mickey
xoxo
Kate
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Arrive
I have arrived in Paris and still fell very much like I am on vacation, not that this will be my home for nearly 10 months. Not sure when this will change but I am sure reality will hit me soon. I am off to EuroDisney with Sylvie and her family in a few hours. We are quite the site, 6 petite french people and then me a 5 foot 9 blond, ( one of these things is not like the other....) I will try to post pictures tomorrow of the adventure. Now the jetlag is getting the best of me. Bonsoir
xoxo
xoxo
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
7 days and counting...
"Don't throw away this adventure, just jump in"
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
10 days and counting...
It's March 1st. I have been accepted by Le Cordon Bleu. I just picked up my visa from the consulate. I confirmed my apartment last week. My flights are booked. I even bought new duffle bags for the trip, because, well, because it's me and if there is an excuse to buy something new under the guise of being practical then I am going to do it. You may that I am all set to go, that I'm a prepared for this adventure but I am not. Honestly what the fuck am I doing... It seemed like great idea 4 months ago when I quit my job working for the "dragon lady" and had this romantic adventure planned. I even have a great summary of what I expect to do after my 9 months in Paris but truth be told I have not idea if this whole thing is going to work out. I have had 3 drastically different careers since graduating from college a mere 3 years ago. I am not a flake I just haven't found my niche. If this cooking doest work out I think I may be running out of ideas.
But if you don't take big risks there are very rarely big rewards, so fingers crossed as I take a leap of faith across the atlantic ocean.
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But if you don't take big risks there are very rarely big rewards, so fingers crossed as I take a leap of faith across the atlantic ocean.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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