Leaving Paris with a Smile
There was a reason I went into advertising many years ago. For some reason or another, I am one of those people who is inescapably drawn to the glow of an electronic screen. If there is a television on, and it is within my line of sight, I am almost incapable of looking away.
Wouldn’t you know, there was just such a screen installed in front of me on the flight home from Paris? And despite my intentions of pulling out the laptop and trying to write a few posts, I was compelled to play round after round of video poker on the screen in front of me. For what it’s worth, I did really well.
The distraction of the screen and the crushing jet lag from last night means that the travelog from my recent trip will have to wait. It was a fabulous vacation, and it’s a really tough city to leave. There were some things that I wasn’t able to do on the last trip that I crossed off the list this time around. But there are still many many more things that were left undone.
It’s impossible for me to travel with at least a few regrets. However, I discovered a way to depart this amazing city without shedding a tear.
Pastry Here, Pastry There
Today I’m running a little late. But I’ve been late with everything all day. The worst thing was being late for lunch and now I have to wait until my next Paris trip to eat at A La Biche Au Bois.
But I had no room for lunch anyway since today was all about butterfat and only tangentially about food. Tonight I’m visiting some friends for dinner and will continue my butterfat binge with a special stop at a special cheese store beforehand.
If my mom is reading, she shouldn’t worry. I’m walking it all off. So far today I’ve taken over 20,000 steps. Thank you pedometer. I promise to fill you in on the most important details once I get back to the US. Maybe I can do some writing on the plane.
As for now, I’ve got pastry on the mind. So the timing of the below news is serendipitous.
Read more…
The Five Most Delicious Things at SPAC
[Note from the Profussor: So maybe I did have a little bit of jet lag. Luckily, I’ve been sitting on this guest post from Jessica R. who covered last weekend’s Saratoga Food and Wine Festival at SPAC. You may remember her from the Tour de Buffalo Wings: Troy Edition. Well now she’s back, and I’m glad to once again provide coverage of SPAC’s big annual food event. Maybe next year we can all go together. But for now, there is a baguette in Paris that’s calling my name.]
By Jessica R.
Daniel asked me to attend the SPAC Wine and Food Festival this past weekend to represent the Fussy Little Blog. It is an event I always wanted to check out, but never could bring myself to spend the $85 to go. So, I’m here to report to you what a first timer thought of this festival. Hopefully it will guide some of you to attend next year, or to realize it’s not really up your alley.
First off, the mood of the festival is very fun and not stuffy – something I was worried about. People are dressed in a range of things from nice jeans to dresses and suits. There are fancy cars that are fun to look at, but no velvet ropes or guards to make you nervous – you can get right up to the cars. It was a lovely day, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I’m sure there was high-society hob-nobbing going on, but it wasn’t obvious and I and didn’t feel out of place.
I’ll come right out and tell you that, in retrospect, I probably should have gone to the various seminars and food demos throughout the day so that I could report on them for you. The Pig Butchering Demo is one I really meant to attend.
You know what I did do?
AskTP – Groggy in Paris
If my plan goes according to schedule, this should get posted sometime soon after I arrive in Paris. Please keep talking amongst yourselves about the Tour de Cider Donut nominations.
It’s apparently apple season in Normandy too. Maybe I’ll be able to get some fresh cider from this year’s crop. That would be amazing. We’ll have to see. Like last time, I’m kind of playing the trip by ear.
But it’s Wednesday, on both sides of the ocean, and the last Ask the Profussor was two weeks ago. So that means it’s time to look back and answer any and all questions that were left unanswered in the comments section of the blog (at least the ones that included a question mark). This week however, there is one big catch.
The Cider Donuts Left Behind
I’m doing a terrible job at separating myself from the Capital Region. What can I say, I’m a creature of habit. And one of my habits, thanks to Stanford Steph, is that every fall I organize a tour of regional orchards to evaluate their apple cider donuts.
These donuts are a regional treasure. But donuts are also terrible for you. So, it you are going to indulge, I think it’s important to make sure you are eating something that is truly worth the calories. Most of them are, as the experience of eating warm cider donuts on a crisp autumn day is generally more about the feeling of the season than its culinary potential.
Still, not all cider donuts are created equal. Some are great. However, in order to find the great ones, an intrepid band of eaters has to head into the wilderness and spend a day eating donuts. Maybe this year you will join the FLB and its special guest tour director.
But before any of that can happen, it’s time once again for cider donut nominations.
New Jersey is Busted
It’s Monday morning and I’m already thinking about drinking.
Not in one of those depressing I’m-sick-of-the-world-let’s-forget-our-sorrows kind of ways. But more in line with the-kids-are-finally-back-in-school-and-I’ve-got-my-life-back celebratory type of mood.
Last year, after dropping the kids off for their first day of school, I met up with a few of my mom friends for a champagne brunch. That’s much more appropriate than writing about rum. But we play the cards we are dealt.
Before leaving New York, I learned one very exciting thing about New Jersey. They have loosened the regulations on distilling and have just started issuing licenses to craft distilleries. One of them just released their very first product. Given my great love for New York craft spirits, hunting down a bottle of Busted Barrel silver rum was one of my top priorities upon moving to Princeton.
One Good Place for Coffee
Princeton and I may have gotten off to a rough start. I’m really starting to warm up to the place. And it’s not just because of the coffee, but that one drink I had yesterday afternoon went a long way to making this township a great place to live.
New Year Today, Party This Weekned
Happy New Year. I know I’m probably not supposed to post on Rosh Hashanah. But this year is different from all other years. It’s actually going to be the first time in probably over a decade that I will not be spending any part of the High Holy Days in a synagogue.
It’s a long story, but to be brief, the timing just stinks this year.
Speaking about missing out on big events, starting tomorrow is the annual Saratoga Wine & Food Festival. I’ve attended the event for the last couple of years, and I’m totally bummed about missing the festivities this time around.
Based on my prior experiences at the festival, I wrote a piece for the summer issue of Mamatoga about how to get the most out of your experience. If you haven’t seen it in print yet, you can read the full text here.
It’s not too late to get your tickets for the grand tasting on Saturday, or any of the shoulder events on Friday and Sunday. Here’s what’s in store for those who make the trip.
My Princeton Kitchen – Zone One
My Princeton Kitchen sounds like a good name for a blog. Not my blog, but someone’s.
Writing about life in the kitchen is too restricting for me. Home cooking is great, but it leaves out so many other important food topics that I deeply care about. That said, when I was on the road during August it was having my own kitchen that I missed the most. And now I’ve finally got one again.
Getting a kitchen set up is a stimulating challenge. It gives you the chance for a fresh start. The cabinets and the drawers are all empty, and you are forced to ask yourself some tough questions. You know, like what are you going to put in that small cabinet over the stove?
I’ve had the chance to set up a lot of kitchens over the years. And recently I’ve tried to cook in some that just didn’t make sense. So what have I done to make my favorite room in the apartment more functional? Here’s the rundown.
The Hell Hole in Princeton
Princeton sounds like such a nice place. I’d driven through a couple of times before on my way from Albany to Haddonfield. I’d seen the edges of campus, the verdant tree lined streets, and the quaint little bridges.
But I never stopped in town. I never shopped for groceries. I never needed toilet paper.
Now, I’ve only been here for two days, and there is still so much that I haven’t seen. Pretty much all I’ve been doing is unpacking boxes. But our first night here I was thrilled to make the 15 minute drive to the best bona-fide Szechuan food I’ve had in many many years.
Except after dinner, Mrs. Fussy put the kids to bed, and I went out to the store to get some things that we needed. For all intents and purposes, this should have been amazing, because I was going on a shopping spree at Wegmans.
The only problem is its location.
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