(by Shauna, guest contributor)
We discovered the rustico the same day we discovered we were out of clean underwear. Going to the Laundromat at home is a chore, in Italy it’s a cultural adventure. If you ever want to feel a sense of accomplishment, do laundry in a foreign country.
If you have read any food magazines over the past 10 years you know that "Gastronomic" science is raging across the world. In a recent article in the New York Times a very famous Spanish chef calls out this trend. I found the article a good start to the debate...Is it food?
Despite our poorly equipped kitchen—no oven, no food processor or blender, just a two-burner hot plate—David and I have been cooking up a storm here in Spain. We make a lot of Italian, Middle Eastern and Asian dishes, but one thing that's been conspicuously missing from our it's-a-small-word repertoire is Spanish food.
Mis en place is a term used in kitchens to mean “everything in its place.” At L’Ambroisie mis en place means perfection in every aspect of the restaurant—and none could be truer than in the food. L’Ambroisie is not a place to find foams, edible paper or any other item that you need directions to eat. At L’Ambroisie, the food is pure, honest and beautiful. The care taken in selecting each ingredient is evident in every dish. Each element of a dish can be tasted and savored individually, yet the harmony in which all parts play is greater than the sum. L’Ambroisie is a true foodie’s paradise.
(with a nod to Safiya Henderson-Holmes, whose work I much enjoyed in another lifetime)
An article in the New York Times today gave me reason to cheer. With all the craziness of astronomical fuel prices and food shortages in the air, it's heartening to see that community/urban gardening is starting to show some legs. It may not be the complete answer to the food crisis, but it's a positive piece of the puzzle.
Happy Wednesday!
The last time I came to Paris I was making $8.50 per hour, had bleached blond hair, and was content to eat crepes and bad Brie. I've changed. Now when I come to Europe I seek out dining experiences that will inspire, excite, and enthrall. Not having been to Paris in seven years, I emailed a group of industry contacts that travel to Paris often and asked for their suggestions. I was greeted with excel spreadsheets, vast email lists, and word documents. I also purchased Pudlo Paris 2007 - 2008 by Gilles Pudlowski, a highly regarded Paris restaurant guide, to cross reference the suggestions my colleagues sent me. Of all the restaurants that were recommended, one always was at the top of the list: L'Ambroisie.
(ed. ~ Shauna, guest restaurant reviewer, chimes in under Jeff's name. Going forward, she'll be posting under her own. Welcome, Shosho!)
We ended up going to Hier et Aujourd’hui twice in four days (actually, we went three times in five days, but I’ll get to that later). Pudlo Paris gave the restaurant “This year’s value for money award” and after being denied entrance on Monday night (full, or we got there too late…that whole language barrier thing), we couldn’t wait to go back Tuesday, this time with a reservation.
My friend Thomas and I are always asking each other, "Have you eaten anywhere good?" and we generally have but each experience is never note-worthy or singular. The foods are fresh, clean, well prepared but rarely are they riveting or classic. We both dine often (Thomas is out almost 4 nights a week!) and have had many good meals but we are always looking for that definitive meal. It is not about money, famous chefs, or ratings from critics. It is about the food, the flavor and the experience. Well...a new place has been found.
Valentine’s Day is a day that I don’t pay much attention to. When I was in middle school and had my first girlfriend I did but now Shauna and I are more concerned about what is happening on Lost and who the next survivor of Oceanic Flight 815 is. It is not that I don’t want to express my love to my wife or how much better my life is with her but it is the fact that there is a whole ad campaign telling me that my love wants the diamond circle necklace or roses or chocolate. I guess I just don’t like being told what to do…
Last week I turned 31. Not a number that conjures up grand parties or great reflection, but for me it was a day of simple pleasures and lead to a wine discovery this week. On January 21st, I was invited to see the Golden State Warriors with three good friends. I am an avid Warrior fan, and the chance to sit two rows off the floor on my birthday was not something I could pass up.
The four of us met up in the parking lot pre-game for a little wine geek tailgate: A bottle of Bollinger Champagne and a bottle of Italian rosé that I cannot remember at the moment. This is the way everyone should do the pre-game. Before we went into the arena JD, one of my pals and owner of a very small wine importer/distributor gave me a bottle of Catina Tollo Pecorino (no it is not bottled cheese). I put the bottle in my trunk and off to the game we went. The Warriors lost by one point with one second left, tough loss.
