One my favorite spots for tea in New York was a little palour called Tea & Sympathy, all doilies and scones. I finally caught up for tea in Paris with Karin, a fellow blogger (an alien Parisienne) and one of the first readers of the Lunch in Paris blog. It was such a treat to transform an online connection into a real life one - a uniquely 21st century encounter.
The blog will be a year old next month. After I finished the book - I knew I wanted to continue sharing stories and creating recipes from Paris. But I was very new to the online community - afraid I would be writing into thin air. Instead I've discovered a world full of enthusiastic, like-minded indivduals checking in to say hi, share their tips and Paris longings - and of course, their recipes.
Karin is a big gluten free cook - and she brought over some lovely carrot muffins made with coconut flour courtesy of almond flour fairy Elena Amsterdam of Elena's Pantry. I'm normally suspicious of gluten free pastries (I'm a texture nut), but these were moist, not overly eggy - and the coconut flour added a tropical ray that was just right with the grated carrots and juicy raisins. Never mind the fact that it was gloomy and chilled in Paris in the middle of June - we had the perfect excuse (and nibbles) to sit and talk the afternoon away.
PS - Karin changed a few things from the original recipe. She used Agave syrup instead of Yacon, and made 9 regular size muffins (baked for 20 minutes), instead of 32 mini muffins. Enjoy!
Hi there!
ReplyDeleteAfter a busy weekend, I made it here. :)
I cannot thank you enough for the time we got to spend during the afternoon last week. You are every bit as delightful a person in person as you have written about yourself in your book. LOL. I hope that makes sense.
I guess what I mean to say and what I would love people to know is that you are the "real deal": a lovely, authentic, caring, intelligent, and astute person, just as you have depicted yourself in your writing. You have a lot of integrity, in the most basic sense of the word that "what you see is what you get." You are "the shizz," to put it more colloquially. ;-)
Thank you for the shout-out about my blog -- and hey, that's right: we started writing ours about the same time. My blogiversary is next month, too. Happy almost-blogiversary to us!
Thank you especially for the kudos on the muffins. As someone who has defined herself most of her life as the "Anti-Martha" -- a non-cook, non-baker (except what came out of a box), I have graduated to someone who cares about food, in part because I have to for my health. I was a little nervous about bringing the gluten-free fare for us to share, especially to such a gourmand, so I was really delighted and comforted to know that you really liked them. Thank you, Elana, for coming up with terrific recipes, too! :)
Be well, thank you again for everything, and I hope that we can meet again one day soon.
Bonjour Ms. Bard,
ReplyDeleteI had the great pleasure of attending your reading at the French Library in Boston (now the French Culturel Center), those chocolate lava cakes were formidable! Reading your blog today regarding your favorite tea place in NY, it occurred to me that you might enjoy Mariage Freres in Paris. Pres de Metro St. Michel. Have you been? If not, it is well worth a visit. My favorite is the "The Rouge Marco Polo".
Best reagrds,
Susan Fagan
Hi! I just want to mention how much of an inspiration you've been to me these past few months! :D Because of your book, I've started baking and cooking again, even when I had miles of assignments to get done!
ReplyDeleteI'm a college student, so sometimes I'd feel like all I was doing was work or watching tv..but your book helped me get out of that boring routine! ;)
merci beaucoup!
<3
Envisioning Tea & Sympathy and hearing about gluten-free reminded me of one of my favorite spots in the Willage: the Soy Luck Club, right across the street. Tres delicieux!
ReplyDeleteHi Elizabeth - I have literally just finished reading your book! Love it! The only problem is now I am on the hunt for Creme de Violette... Not an easy thing to find in Australia apparently.
ReplyDeleteYour honest and open approach to writing your story can only be an example for others, and man am I looking forward to the day when I can visit your beloved adopted home. Maybe we'll bump into each other over the produce at a market stall! I now have a year of your blog to catch up on, please excuse me (and a hearty congratulations too, by the way!).
oh wow, just discovered your lovely book! will have to order it from Germany here! hope it works out! wanna read it in English! such illustrations! who was the artist!
ReplyDeletedearest greets!
http://some-kind-of-style.blogspot.com/
Yummy.....these sound totally delicious, xv.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say thanks for inspiiring me back into the kitchen again. I loved Lunch in Paris, & it has taken me over a month to read it as I wanted to make so many of the recipes. I went to cooking school in my late teens (over 35 years ago) & with the family all gone, cooking had become limited, but my husband is thrilled to find so many 'French' recipes filling our table. THANKYOU Elizabeth . Also, I just found your website & it looks great too. Keep up the good work. Congrats.
ReplyDeleteI just read Lunch in Paris, in two days! While also doing an art fair Sat and Sun. (I make metal jewelry) You see, I am going to Paris and Rome July 2 (paid for with jewelry sales!) and I was so happy to see your book Elizabeth in the library. It has been the best book to prepare me for our trip. I think we are staying in your neighborhood, we are at the Hotel Bellvue, and I was very excited to find out it is near a huge fabric store. I don't even have time to sew any more, but I still collect fabric hoping someday I will be able to sew again. If you read my post before we leave, please, please tell me where the best croissants are in that neighborhood. I will eat almost anything as long as the animal who used to have it didn't use it to process food, or think about his next meal. (organ meat, ish!)I am looking forward to rare beef, cheese, bread, DESSERTS, ICE CREAM, ESPRESSO, well, you see.
ReplyDeleteNow, I promise, I will buy the book when I get back, talk it up to the local bookstore if they don’t have it, and cook some of the recipes.
I just hope my husband doesn’t make me and our teen son go to every tourist spot in Paris, and take some time to be Parisian for a while. Our son only wants to go to the Army Museum and Versailles, he has been taking French in school, so we have been telling him to pay attention, and his teacher knows we are going also, so maybe he has learned more than he knows.
Well, come to think of it, if you see my post after we have left, tell me anyway, because the hotel has internet.
Thanks for a great book, I hope another will be on the way soon, you have great style.
Oh, yes, we will only be there four days, we have to go to Rome.
Roxy
I found your blog through Karin’s An Alien Parisienne. I am pleased you mentioned Tea and Sympathy. I looked at their site which says it is a little corner of England. I miss England but am going to New York in September so I’ll check them up. I wish I could have been at your café Etienne Marcel in Paris and talked about mixing French and American culture harmoniously. I need this in the reverse, that is I am a French expat in an Atlanta suburb – however there are not many French people in my neighborhood and French culture is not considered too great around here. I saw an article in the local paper saying that the French teacher in the high school nearby had too much to do because of budget cuts. I offered to come and help her, free of charge, saying I was French and could help with French conversation – she did not even answer me. Tant pis pour elle! Cela m’est égal. I did talk to some high school kid at the supermarket who was bagging my grocery. When he heard my accent he told me he took 4 years of French at that high school but he could not even answer me when I asked him “est-ce que vous aimez parler francais?” Sad.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, really enjoyed your book and plan to buy a copy for my sister who is a chef. Your story was delightful to read and congratulations on its success!
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
meg.