Jean Blanchard
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Posts posted by Jean Blanchard
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I've just very quickly gone through this thread so I may have missed it but has a date been chosen? I'd love to do this one.
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Reservations made at Barn Diva! Looks great. I'll check out the other recommendations. Thanks!
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I'm going to be staying in Mendocino for a couple of nights and one night in Healdsburg. What are my dining options in Mendocino? No real parameters. I'm up for anything that's good.
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I made the Caribean Pork Shoulder on Sunday, we've warmed it up once for a second dinner and now I have about a third of it leftover. I was thinking about shredding it and turning it into sandwiches. Any ideas on how to jazz this up?
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Going to be wandering around the PH area today. Any good places for a casual lunch that is open on Sunday?
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I will definitely look into all of your recommendations. I have already ordered The Country Cooking of Ireland from Amazon. I don't know why but it isn't available anywhere here and I can't get it from Amazon until August or Sept. My thoughts are that I'll host a dinner with my fellow travellers using his recipes. I'm sharing your thoughts so far and everyone is getting excited at the options you've suggested.
I will keep you posted as the itinerary develops.
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These places sound great Corinna and I will look through the Antrim thread also. We'll be spending at least 3 days in that area because we have relatives there that most of us have never met. Still in the beginning processes of choosing a route but I (as the biggest food lover) will be in charge of restaurants/pubs and our route can be greatly influenced by the outcome of my findings. There are a few skeptics in the group that think that Ireland doesn't have good food but having cooked for years from my Cafe Paradiso and Ballymaloe books, I'm more aware of the phenomenal food products and great chefs in Ireland. I'm very excited to "wow" my family.
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I hope you realize I was kidding about the "wrong side" thing. That was strictly tongue in cheek. I agree that it would be so much easier for us to drive ourselves but frankly, we're a little nervous so we're still working on finding a driver. I'm not really working on that aspect of the trip but the person who is is having a hard time finding someone who is okay with just being the driver and letting us plan the trip.
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Planning a trip with family to visit relatives in Antrim. I don't have the whole itinerary yet but I know we will also be headed to the SE area of Ireland. So far, I know that I want to go to Cafe Paradiso in Cork and I'd like to go to Ballymaloe but I don't know of any restaurants in the Antrim area. Any places in those two (very general) areas that I just shouldn't miss? Of course, the biggest obstacle right now is how do a bunch of Americans figure out where to hire a guide who will drive us around on the wrong side of the road?
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I am definitely going to hire a cab to take us to and from our hotel to El Bulli. I don't want to worry about the drive home. Thanks again.
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Thanks. Well, that's the second time I've heard about Rafa so I may have to visit. I'm staying in Cadaques. How far is Roses from Cadaque?
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Can Roca looks wonderful. I just put it on the list. I'm pretty sure this will be my only trip to this part of the world so I may as well take the opportunity to eat at the best places! Thanks the rec.
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I'm nearing retirement and I've wondered what I should do with my spare time when I have no job to go to. I've watched some of the young women at my office who are at the lower end of the pay scale either eating garbage from the vending machines or constantly coming back with greasy hamburgers to mindlessly swallow in the remaining 10 minutes of their lunch hour. When I've had friendly conversation with them about food, I find out that this is the way they also feed their children. They tell me they have no time to fix dinner. I've begun to think that what I should do with those retirement days is have classes that are based on that "I have no time" theory. Here's how it works. I start making tacos (with good ingredients bought from my saturday shopping) and they get in their car and run to the taco fast food restaurant. I keep the kids with me and I involve them in the prep in some appropriate manner and we talk about the food, their day, whatever. By the time she gets back from the taco place, I will have the tacos made and we'll be ready to eat. With the extra money they save, my husband can show them the advantages of putting that money into their 401K that they all tell me that can't do because they have no extra money! Now I understand that this might not work for every meal because of schedules, etc. but at least it's a start and hopefully, gets them wondering if there isn't something else they can do to make eating better and often times cheaper. Of course, the biggest challenge for some of these moms is that their kids think they know what a taco, burger, chicken nugget should taste like and the real deal is a far cry from that. Luckily for me, I never introduced my kids to that food and by the time they could try it on their own, they thought it was disgusting.
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Well, I didn't get hardly any responses for restaurants in the Costa Brava area and I'm not getting very far with my own search. Starting to make me wonder if I should spend as much time there as I planned. Of course, the natural beauty of the area is certainly undeniable.
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I don't think we need worry that he is portraying all of America as abusive in terms of their cooking and eating habits. In schools all across America this is exactly the kind of food that is being served. Also, the point is made that our government declared this town the most unhealthy in America. Jamie Oliver didn't create this particular situation, we did. I don't think there is any question that the network and he will make some money while doing this show. Michael Pollan made money on his books and also performed a great service to all that would listen to him. I'm going to look at this as a part of a new (albeit slow moving) movement to get America to pay attention to the statistic that claims that this generation of kids are not going to live as long as their parents. I can tell you that because my kids ate only whole foods without preservatives, even when they were envying their Wonder bread eating friends, they continued a healthy lifestyle and my granddaughter eats remarkably better than her classmates. If he gets these parents to start giving some thought to what they're feeding their kids, they'll carry on that practice. He can make all the money he wants if he gets even some of America to eat better.
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Thanks for the dinner and hotel rec's. The restaurant looks really spectacular.
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I have been fortunate enough to receive an invitation to join friends for dinner at El Bulli in September. I will be traveling in the Costa Brava area for about 3 days. I have never been to Spain and at this point, have no idea what places I need to see or where to eat. I also will have 3 nights in Barcelona but I'm more interested in thoughts on Costa Brava at this point. Help!
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It does seem like a long way off but I'll be waiting to see what date is decided on so that I can put it on my calendar. I'd really like to try to make it this year.
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We just returned from 8 days in Paris. Among the standouts for me was, L'Ourcine, Chez l'Ami Jean, and L'Atelier. Getting into most places is not as difficult as it has been in the past but if you want to go to L'Atelier, I'd make a reservation. I believe that they only take reservations for the 6:30 PM seating.
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Thanks! I'm going to give it a try this weekend and surprise my husband!
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Sorry. I wasn't very clear. I'm talking about the pastry rolled into a spiral with raisins and a glaze. More like a croissant type breakfast pastry.
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I've just returned from Paris and everytime we go, my husband can't get enough of these. In all of my cookbooks, I can't find a specific recipe and I could try to fake it but I'm wondering if anyone has a recipe they like.
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The prior posts pretty well capture the idea of Chalet des Iles. I’m sure that some might complain that the fare is not quite what they want; but it is good, and as PhilD observes, “Sometimes it is all about the food, but at other times the venue and the company create the best meals, this is one of those places.” So it was for us on our two visits.
Our first visit was a few years ago, after my wife, Mo, an avid walker, became tired of too many hard Paris sidewalks (and dog droppings). I suggested a stroll in the Bois de Boulogne. I was vaguely aware of a 1930s-style chalet on an island in the middle of “lac Inferieur.” I also figured, optimistically, that because my handy plan de Paris showed no bridge or other means of getting to the island, there must be some kind of boat service.
To this day, Mo marvels about how, while sauntering along on that chilly January day, we suddenly spied this beautiful chalet across the water with no visible means to get there. Not to worry, I confidently said, as we strode to a small dock and read a sign offering passage for 1 euro. Almost magically the launch arrived, and we boarded for the short trip. The lunch was fine; the food quite good, if not excellent. But the setting and the feeling – well, this could be a Mastercard commercial; priceless.
Adding to the charming and somewhat surreal atmosphere, we watched for two hours outside our dining room window during lunch as a team of three gardeners traversed the rolling winter grass with small cartloads of dormant trees, stopping occasionally and resting frequently and smoking extensively while deliberating just where to plant. By the time we finished dessert, they had tentatively located the spots for only about four trees, but we enjoyed the performance art, and vowed to return to see the trees in situ in future years.
So far, unfortunately, we’ve revisited only once, with our teenage son, who probably was not as smitten with the chalet as we – yet we did have a good little family row around the lac après-lunch in a rental boat. This is, for us, a magical site to which we will return. Indeed, sometimes it’s not all about the food.
This was off my list (I leave for Paris on Friday) but now you've tempted me again. The place sounds so charming.
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The prior posts pretty well capture the idea of Chalet des Iles. I’m sure that some might complain that the fare is not quite what they want; but it is good, and as PhilD observes, “Sometimes it is all about the food, but at other times the venue and the company create the best meals, this is one of those places.” So it was for us on our two visits.
Our first visit was a few years ago, after my wife, Mo, an avid walker, became tired of too many hard Paris sidewalks (and dog droppings). I suggested a stroll in the Bois de Boulogne. I was vaguely aware of a 1930s-style chalet on an island in the middle of “lac Inferieur.” I also figured, optimistically, that because my handy plan de Paris showed no bridge or other means of getting to the island, there must be some kind of boat service.
To this day, Mo marvels about how, while sauntering along on that chilly January day, we suddenly spied this beautiful chalet across the water with no visible means to get there. Not to worry, I confidently said, as we strode to a small dock and read a sign offering passage for 1 euro. Almost magically the launch arrived, and we boarded for the short trip. The lunch was fine; the food quite good, if not excellent. But the setting and the feeling – well, this could be a Mastercard commercial; priceless.
Adding to the charming and somewhat surreal atmosphere, we watched for two hours outside our dining room window during lunch as a team of three gardeners traversed the rolling winter grass with small cartloads of dormant trees, stopping occasionally and resting frequently and smoking extensively while deliberating just where to plant. By the time we finished dessert, they had tentatively located the spots for only about four trees, but we enjoyed the performance art, and vowed to return to see the trees in situ in future years.
So far, unfortunately, we’ve revisited only once, with our teenage son, who probably was not as smitten with the chalet as we – yet we did have a good little family row around the lac après-lunch in a rental boat. This is, for us, a magical site to which we will return. Indeed, sometimes it’s not all about the food.
PLAN: "Heartland" Gathering (In Philly) 2012
in Pennsylvania: Dining
Posted
I'll hope for early August.