Feasting in France

Bonjour mes amis! I can’t believe it is already a week into June. Summer has officially begun and I am lucky enough to welcome this blissful season from the French countryside in a charming town called Caylus in southwest France. I am currently writing this post in a daybed, listening to the comforting patter of raindrops on my skylight window with a glass of white wine on my bedside table. Ah country living… can’t say I miss that Austin traffic right now…

All of this sounds like a dream right? I keep waiting for someone to pinch me and wake me up, but so far it just keeps on going… and I’m not complaining. The best part of this dream? The food of course. How Europeans stay so fit with the abundance of bread, cheese, and wine surrounding them is beyond me… I swear if I stayed here much longer I would have to be rolled back to America!

I have been spoiled with delicious home-cooked meals for the majority of my stay, and I just had to share some of the amazing dishes we have had:

Smoked salmon with slow-cooked farm eggs– the perfect country brunch.

 Oven roasted pork with apples, zucchini, peppers, and potatoes.

Spicy chorizo pizza from Saint Antonin (a nearby town that looks like it came straight from The Sound of Music), heirloom tomato salad, beet salad, and the best eggplant salad I have ever had… Recipe pictured below:

 *Note: Aubergines means “eggplant” in French.

 Cèpes mushroom omelette with frites and a green salad. This was my first time having cèpes (one of the most decadent and meaty mushrooms I have ever tasted). I will be on the hunt for them back in America.

Lardon (i.e. bacon) salad with hard boiled eggs and tomatoes. Got to get your greens somehow right?

I can’t wait to go back home and incorporate some of these items into my everyday cooking. Although I won’t have a beautiful garden to enjoy them in, these dishes will always be a reminder of my time in the French countryside.

Here’s a little grocery list of a few essentials if you want to “eat like a Frenchman”:

• Eggplant
• Dried sausage
• Organic tomatoes and mozzarella
• Smoked salmon
• Creme fraiche
• Leffe beer (although this is a Belgium beer, it is a staple of almost every French bar and restaurant)
  
• Cèpes mushrooms
• Fresh baguettes
• Stinkiest cheeses you can find (seriously)

Mussels à la Bob

I grew up a very spoiled eater. Thanks to my dad, I have been lucky enough to be cooked meals like the one here almost every night. One of my favorite foods since I was a little girl, mussels are one of those things that I feel like I have to get whenever I see it on a restaurant menu, although I always compare it to my dad’s classic and simple recipe. The thing about mussels is that you don’t want to overpower the natural taste. I love how my dad uses ingredients that simply just enhance the flavors- not mask them. Good mussels are meaty, rich, and fresh, and a light sauce is the perfect compliment. According to Chef Bob, natural juices from the tomatoes, mussels, and garlic are all you need to dress some linguine pasta. Toss with some pepper, a pinch of salt, and chopped basil from the garden, this dish will leave you feeling more than satisfied.

Here is my dad’s recipe for those of you who want to know how to make this fabulous (and pretty easy!) meal.

1 lb dried pasta–spaghetti or linguine; 28 oz can of diced tomatoes; 1/2 cup diced onions; 2 cloves diced garlic; 1 cup of dry white wine; 2 to 3 lbs of fresh mussels; fresh basil. Saute onions in 2 or 3 TBSP of olive oil until softened, add garlic until fragrant. Add chopped tomatoes and simmer over low heat until you see a sheen on the surface (this means the water has cooked out of the tomatoes)–about 20 minutes. Separately, bring at least four quarts of water to boil, adding 2 TBSP of salt to the water. Note: an 8-quart stockpot is best for cooking pasta, and 5 quarts of water is optimal. Pasta will take about 8 to 12 minutes to cook depending on size, so time accordingly. When tomato sauce is ready, add 1 cup of white wine and mussels.Cover over high heat, steam cooking the mussels for 4 to 6 minutes (or until the mussels have opened). Discard any mussels that did not open. Drain pasta, return to the pot and immediately sauce to prevent pasta from sticking together. If pasta must wait, add 2 to 3 TBSP of olive oil to cooked pasta. Serve immediately, adding salt and ground pepper to taste. Garnish with a chiffonade of fresh basil. A hearty country style white bread grilled or toasted is a good side. Sauvingon Blanc and Pinot Grigio work well with this meal.

Affordable. Fun. Savory. Sushi.

Sushi can have a reputation of being over-priced, small portion “finger food.” Oh how wrong some people are. Sushi is probably my favorite cuisine, and I crave it whether its from a plastic to-go box at the super market or at a five-star restaurant. However, I have become loyal to two gems in downtown Austin- Maiko and Bar Chi. These restaurants have some of the best happy hours I have seen in Austin, and what a great way to indulge in all the raw fish you want without breaking the bank? From half-off sushi rolls to $1.75 saki bombs, who can resist?

Last night, my boyfriend and I went to Maiko who has ALL NIGHT happy hour (I repeat- all night happy hour) from Sunday- Thursday. Four rolls, three appetizers, two glasses of wine, and 4 saki bombs later, we were patting our stomachs with contentment- all for under $60. So guys, keep this restaurant in mind when you want to impress the ladies and order a ton a food without making your wallet want to cry. My favorite selections from last night were the bacon and scallop skewers, the tempura calamari with sweet dipping sauce, and the classic spider roll.

Bar Chi is a great place to go before hitting the town. They are known for their “reverse happy hour” which starts at 10 pm and lasts until 2 am on weekends. So if you are looking for some saki bombs and light grub before tearing up 6th street, then this is the place to go. My favorite thing to order are the raw oysters. Drizzled half and half with ponzu and a sweet chili sauce, these slippery treats are sure to have your taste buds dancing with pleasure.

San Miguel de Allende- a Food Lover’s Dream Vacation

My family has a vacation home in San Miguel de Allende, located just a few hours north of Mexico City in the gorgeous mountain region of Guanajuato. This picturesque colonial town is one of my favorite places in the world. With its original cobblestone streets, festive town square, and historical cathedral, San Miguel has an old world charm that shines through in its nearly year-round perfect weather. Last summer during our stay we shopped, hiked, took yoga, and of course- we ate.

Everyday at the market there was fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, and cheeses sold by local farmers. I couldn’t resist capturing the vibrant colors of this festive fruit stand. Can’t you just taste the fresh and juicy flavors from looking at this picture?

Who knew you could get Mediterranean fare in the central mountains of Mexico? These rosemary-coated olives and vegetable and prosciutto salad were the perfect choice for a light lunch.

These tacos were my favorite in San Miguel. Located directly across the cobblestone street from our house, “La Sirena Gorda” (or “The Fat Mermaid” for you Americanos), holds about 15 small tables and a simple menu featuring some of the best tacos and tostadas I’ve ever had. From shrimp and bacon tacos to scallop tostadas, expect fresh avocado and lime on everything. Oh and one thing- order the steamed artichoke. I still dream about this beauty almost a year later. This cantina is frequented by locals and often times tourists from Mexico City, so if you want a table it is best to stake out your spot no later than 8 pm.

I had to save the best for last. This piece of heaven is from The Restaurant, one of San Miguel’s finest dining establishments just minutes from El Centro, the main square of town. We ate at The Restaurant several times, but this picture was taken during their “gourmet burger night.” Although all of the delicious meaty sandwiches were tempting, my choice was obvious- “The In-N-Out” burger. This was their spin on the popular California fast-food chain classic and it literally blew my mind. Never has a burger melted so wonderfully in my mouth, with each bite getting better and better. Not to mention the side of sweet potatoes and homemade pickle weren’t too bad either. I think I would fly all the way to San Miguel just for the night if I could have this burger again.

Bon Appétit

Last winter I spent the holidays in the southern Tarn region of France- the “Midi-Pyrenees.” Rolling sunflower-filled hills, charming farms, and beautiful vineyards paint this unbelievable countryside. We quickly adopted the European lifestyle and found ourselves starting our day eating freshly-baked croissants from a local patisserie, talking about what we were going to have for lunch while we were eating breakfast, planning our food shopping while were eating lunch, and discussing what we wanted for dinner during our grocery trips. Food- eating it, shopping for it, and cooking it- became the main focus each day and we relished in it. Who doesn’t love an excuse to gorge themselves in buttery, savory French fare? I mean, we were on vacation… right? Below are some of my favorite meals and pictures I took during our stay.

Daily breakfast of flaky croissants, muesli, espresso, and orange juice. Believe me, there is nothing better to wake up to than the aroma of hot, fresh pastries and a beautifully set farmhouse table.

We stumbled upon this little version of a French sports bar in a nearby town we were exploring during the day. Since the French usually stop serving lunch around 3 pm, they only had their daily special left- roasted duck. Don’t even begin to think we were upset about this. I mean, look at this picture. The duck was so delicate and pulled apart wonderfully with each bite. The side of potatoes and green beans were the perfect compliment to this succulent surprise.

New Year’s Day we went out to lunch in another nearby town. This little bowl of happiness is actually chicken noodle soup with a poached egg. Never again can I open a can of Campbell’s and feel satisfied after having this amazing variation of a traditional classic.

This was a typical table setting for dinner at our house. Green salad, an assortment of cheeses, freshly sliced baguettes, and of course, red wine were the essential side dishes for every homemade meal.