Macrons français simplement divin

If you are a macaron maven, Pierre Hermes Paris is definitely the place you have to visit when you are in Paris.

Magnifique - a partir du 25 janvier

Fraise, wasabi

Mogador - Chocolat au lait, fruit de la passion

Pistache

Chocolat - Chocolat noir pure origine Venezuela Porcelana

Medelice - Citron, praline noisette

Mylene Farmer - It's a Beautiful Day

♤

PIERRE HERMÉ PARIS

185, rue de Vaugirard, 15th

Metro: Pasteur (6)

Pierre Hermé - Macarons & Chocolats‎

4 Rue Cambon, 75001

Tel: 01 58 62 43 17

Main store

72 rue Bonaparte, 6th

Metro: Saint-Sulpice, Saint-Germain-de-Pres (4), Mabillon (10)

Tel: 01 43 54 47 77

On Line shopping - Pierre Hermé

MarieC1

Paris in the 7th Arrondissment on a winter Saturday

The 7th arrondissement, also a major tourist destination in Paris is where Eiffel Tower and Hôtel des Invalides, Napoléon's resting place is.

This winter has been freezing and unusually snowy in Paris. However, the last couple of days have been bright and sunny though chilly with some drizzle now and then.

Today, I took a pleasant short stroll to the Eiffel tower by my lonesome self. Stef has gone to Amsterdam for the weekend. I was thrilled to try out my new Lumix GF1 camera I bought two days ago. I absolutely think this is a superb camera to have....sure beats carrying my heavy SLR D700 around the streets of Paris! It came with a 20mm lens fixed lens (without a zoom), nice but not quite enough to meet most of my needs. The good news is it is an interchangeable lens digital camera so there are a few choices of lenses for the body. I will definitely get a zoom lens next week.

Basking at Eiffel tower

Left bank of Paris, close to the Eiffel park is the renowned Rue Cler Market

One of the pleasures of staying in this safe neighborhood is to be able to walk to Rue Cler to get my weekly groceries.

This is where I get my seafood.

Davoli - La Maison du Jambo

Davoli never disappoints me when I am in need of a take away meal.

This Italian delicatessen sells homemade specialties ranging from meat to pastas, roasted vegetables, cheeses, desserts and the best Choucroute in Paris. Chroucroute is the pickled cabbage found in Alsatian cuisine very similar to German sauerkraut.

Indisputably one of the best delicatessens on Rue Cler and in the quarter. Be prepared to line up!

Breakfast is a must, skipping lunch may be an option but never my fruits!

Espoir vous avez un week-end d'amusement aussi

Wala, Hope you have a fun weekend!

MaricC1

When Paris Meets Tokyo at Kong-Le Bar

Kong – le Bar

www.kong.fr

1, rue du Pont Neuf,

75001 Paris

Tél. 01 40 390 900

Métro : Pont Neuf (line 7) and Chatelet (lines 1, 4, 11 & 14)

Kong is a restaurant-bar located on the last two floors of the prestigious LVMH (Louis Vuitton) building above Kenzo store in Paris. As seen featured in Sex and the City, it is designed by Architect Jean-Jacguey and interior by a French product designer, Philippe Starck.

With its glass domed ceiling roof top and surrounding glass walls, you can get quite a magnificent view of the city below and the Seine.

Menu: A Japanese and French fusion cuisine by Fumico Kono

My recommendation: Cocktail and soft-shell crab

Price: Slightly on the high side

Reservation:

Be sure to book a table on the second floor and if you want to avoid disappointment, try to reconfirm a day before. Though they had confirmed a table for us upstairs on the second floor, we were given a table at their club floor where the bar and music is, instead. Don't get me wrong, I love music but when it starts to get louder my palate was confused and it became quite hard to hold a conversation. I suggest you start dinner at 8 p.m if you are at the club floor and you probably will finish in time to listen to some really great music. I was told that Kong is one of the 'in' places for people in the fashion industry and fashionista especially during Paris Fashion week.

MarieC1

Images - credit to Kong Le-Bar

Saved by "STOPPA" in Japan

I found this very effective anti-diarrhea medicine at the chemist when I was traveling in Japan last year. I can't be sure if it suits everyone but a my friend whom I was traveling with, can't thank me enough!

A single tablet is all that is needed to make the symptoms subside and it can be taken without water

Berberine, an anti-bacteria plant alkaloid, sterilizes the bacilli that give rise to food poisoning

MarieC1

A Measuring Cup/Scoop - Nuscup

Last week I found this cool space saving kitchen gadget at Harrods. Nuscup is the first ever adjustable measuring tool for the home cook that measures both liquid and dry ingredients.

Measurements displayed in ml and oz

Nuscup Halfcup 2 tablespoons to 1/2cup (30ml - 140ml)

Nuscup Mini 1/8 tsp to 2 tbsp (5ml - 30 ml)

. Measures liquid and dry ingredients

. Measures both cups and tablespoons

. Easy and quick measuring without the need of having multiple measuring cups or a scale especially when I am pressing for time.

. It has a magnetic bottom which allows the scoop to be attached on the fridge door. I would personally stick it on a metal surface on a kitchen wall

. Can be snapped apart for easy cleaning and is dishwasher proof

. Available in colors or stainless steel to match kitchen utility

Not bad really.....I think I'll give it a thumbs up!

MarieC1

Dinings Addict

A Japanese Restaurant at Marylebone

Dinings

22 Harcourt St,

London.

W1H 4HH

Tel: 020 7723 0666

Nearest Tube: Marylebone Station

I found this tiny Japanese restaurant definitely worth the visit if you are in the Marylebone area. It has a casual, unpretentious atmosphere not exactly the best interior but 'big taste in tiny space' is how I would describe it. Run by Ex-Nobu chef, Tomonari Chiba, the restaurant offers Nobu-style dishes at a reasonably lower price tag.

As you enter from the ground level, there is a sushi bar and situated in the basement is the main seating area, a layout which kind of reminded me of Japan.

Sushi and Sashimi are highly recommended. What is also a favorite in their extensive menu is the tar tar chips (crunchy potato shells filled with salmon and sweet shrimp)and Nasu miso (aubergine baked with sweet miso). Daily specials are exhibited on the blackboard. My family had the grilled wagu beef and rib eye steak, which in their opinion were cooked to near perfection. I had the spicy tuna cut roll, Agedashi Dofu, soba noodle and a glass of sweet plum wine, all of which were excellent. Do make a reservation should you decide to check it out.

MarieC1

Noodles - Hokkien Mee

VEGETARIAN & THOSE WATCHING THEIR CHOLESTEROL

Ingredients for 2 persons:
250gms Glass noodles or rice noodles or gluten-free Shirataki noodles
1-2 cups fresh vegetable stock
If egg is not a problem- use only the egg whites
Standard Olive oil for stir frying (do not use extra Virgin or virgin grades)

Condiments:
2 Garlic chopped
2 Shallots chopped

Vegetables:
Beancurd - sliced and fry in little oil
Chye Sim (choy sum) or bok choy
Beansprouts

Mushrooms like Shitaki or Matsutake

Seasoning:
Seasalt
White pepper
Bragg liquid Aminos

Bragg Aminos is made from health-giving, NON-GMO soybeans and purified water. It contains no chemicals, no artificial coloring no alcohol, no gluten and purified water. They are excellent healthy, gourmet replacement for Tamari and Soy sauce. Not fermented or heated and gluten-free.

Garnishings:
Coriander leaves
Spring onions
Crispy Onion

Serve noodles with a chilli sauce:
Sliced chilli, fresh lime juice, chopped corriander and Bragg Liquid Aminos

NON VEGETARIAN HOKKIEN MEE

Ingredients for 2 persons:

Noodles:

250 gms yellow fresh Hokkien noodles - Rinse noodles in cold water and drain water in a colander.

150 gms Meehoon (rice Vermicilli) - Scald in hot water for 2 minutes then run through cold tap water and set aside in a colander.

Lai Fun (a fresh rice and wheat starch noodle) - you may use this noodles instead of Meehoon

Lard

The key ingredient for authentic Hokkien Mee is crispy fried lard. Slice 100 gms of fats and fry in high heat until brown and crispy. Keep crispy bits for garnishing and the lard oil for frying. However, this is optional.

1-2 cups fresh chicken stock

2 Eggs

Meat and Seafood:

Chicken or pork slices marinated in bragg aminos, salt and pepper

Fish cake slices or fish balls cut into 1/3rd

Medium size Prawns- shelled and devein

Squid- sliced

Vegetables:

Chye Sim vegetable cut into 1" (separate the stems from the leaves)

Bean Sprouts

Condiments:

2 Garlic chopped

2 Shallots chopped

Seasoning:

Soya sauce (dark or light- your preference) or Bragg Liquid Aminos

White Pepper

Seasalt

Garnishings:

Coriander leaves-chopped

Spring Onions

Crispy shallots

Crispy pork fats

METHOD:

In a wok, add in some oil and when the oil is hot add in 1/3rd of the chopped garlic and shallot and fry till golden brown.

Add in the meat and when cooked add in the seafood and lastly the vegetable, Chai sim, stems first. If too dry, you can add in a little chicken stock. Season with a little salt.

Remove from wok and place aside on a bowl.

In the wok, add a little cooking oil and balance of garlic and shallots and fry till till golden brown.

Add in 3 tblsp of soya sauce followed by both of the noodles. Season with a fairly generous amount of white pepper and if not salty, can add a little salt.

Move the noodles to the sides of the wok so that you create a space in the center or side of the wok. Add a little oil and fry the eggs. When ready, mix the eggs with the noodles.

Add and mix in the cooked meat and seafood and chai sim. You may now add in the beansprouts.

Heat up your chicken stock in a saucepan and add into the the above. The trick is to add the stock only when you are ready to serve so that the noodles will not absorb all of the stock leaving the noodle too dry.

Add in the crispy lard.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves, spring onions and crispy onions

SAMBAL BELACHAN

1 inch belachan (shrimp paste) panfry without oil or grilled until brown

2 Red big Chilli

1-2 chilli padi (optional)

Sugar(a pinch)

2 Fresh Lime juice

In a mortar, add in chillies (you may remove the seeds) and pound with the pestle till fine. Then add in the cooked belachan and a pinch of sugar to taste.

When ready for serving, add fresh lime juice.

Serve noodles with sambal belachan and fresh lime. Happy indulging!

Note: If you are fond of chinese cooking, do consider investing in a wok cos it will make your cooking a whole lot easier and tastier!

MarieC1

Easy Like a Sunday Morning

Sunday's Fig & Cheese salad

Arugula salad

Fresh figs

Baby Buffalo or goat 's cheese

Dressing:

Virgin Oil

Cayenne pepper

Salt

I ♡ all animals

By MarieC1

Saturday's Pommes d'amour

You like Tomayto, I like Tomahto.....

You say either and I say eether

You say neither and I say neether

Either, eether, Neither, neether

Let's call the whole thing off

But Oh, if we call the whole thing off then we must part,

And Oh, if we ever part, then that might break my heart!

Lyrics by Louis Armstrong

Know your 'love apples' history

Buy locally and check the sticker number.

If it starts with 9 and is five digits long, it means organic.

If the number starts with 8 and is 5 digits long, it means it has been GM

If the number is 4 digits long, it is grown conventionally with chemicals and shipped before they are naturally ripe.

Oh tomatoes, combien tu m'aimes?

A number of studies suggest that tomatoes helps prevent several types of cancer, including prostate cancer.

Lycopene a carotenoid found predominantly in tomatoes is a phytochemical with potent antioxidant and substance that makes tomatoes red, giving the fruit its anti-cancer properties (second to watermelons). It is the most abundant carotenoid in the human blood tissues.

Antioxidants - There is scientific evidence that as diet high in antioxidants may protect against certain chronic diseases such as cancer, coronary heart disease and cataracts.

Carotenoids - Plant pigments.

Phytochemicals - A pure chemical substance such as betacarotene produced naturally by plants to protect themselves against disease.

Vitamin benefits - A ,B C, E, potassium, iron and phosphorus iron.

Extremely low in sodium content, therefore is appreciated by people with high blood pressure and body fluid retention.

However, the minus side is, tomatoes contain glycoalkoids which some believe contribute to arthritis symptoms. Research has not yet proven this though.

Perhaps in this instant, let moderation be your guide.

Tips:

Refrigeration dehydrates flavor of tomatoes. Best to store them at room temperature stem down.

Ingredients:

Organic tomatoes

Basil

Buratta cheese

Olive Oil

Salt and pepper

Balsamic vinegar

By MarieC1

Friday I'm In Love

Monday, you can hold your head

Tuesday, Wednesday stay in bed

Or Thursday, watch the walls instead

It's Friday, I'm in Love

Saturday, wait

And Sunday always comes too late

But Friday, never hesitate

Lyrics by The Cure

Watercress & Orange Salad

Watercress

Orange

Water apple

Olive oil

White wine vinegar

Lime juice

Paprika

Curry Powder

Salt and pepper

By MarieC1

Thursday's Caesar

Veni, Vidi, Vici

I came, I saw, I conquered

Julius Caesar

Romaine lettuce

Garlic croutons

Egg (free range)

Anchovy

Capers

Parmesan cheese shaven

Place into a food processor:

1 Garlic clove crushed

2 tblsp Lemon Juice

1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup Virgin Olive Oil

2 fillets anchovies paste

1 tblsp parmesan cheese

salt and pepper

By MarieC1

A Berry nice Wednesday

Berry and banana salad

Blueberries, blackberries and raspberries

banana

Mint leaf

Dressing:

Half lemon juice

1 orange juice

Honey

By MarieC1

Tuesday's Salad full of grace

An Inspiration from 1909, Portugese born but raised in Brazil samba singer and actress, Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha, aka Carmen Miranda.

Known for her iconic image of colorful outfits and fruit bedecked headgear, the lady in the tutti frutti hat performed in a 1945 film, "The Gang's All Here". She became a household name in the US and the highest paid female performer during World War II.

Mango & Guava Salad

Ingredients:

Unripe Mango - grated

Seedless Guava - grated

Mint leaves - chopped

Coriander (cilantro) - chopped

Salad greens

Dressing:

Pound or blend together:

Shallots

Tomato

chili (optional)

Dried prawns - pound finely and grill till golden brown

Add to the above:

Fresh Lime juice

Olive oil

Bragg Liquid Aminos

Honey or brown sugar for taste

By MarieC1

Meat Free Monday

Salad greens with pomelo, grapefruit and mango

A quick and easy salad dressing:

Lime juice

Olive oil

Balsamic vinegar

By MarieC1

La Fromagerie - One of my favorite hideaways in England

Monsieur Jean Baptiste and me

Jacket -Twenty8Twelve by S. Miller/Scarf- Alexander McQueen/Woolen cap- Chrome Hearts

Last week after pampering myself to a 'mini' shopping spree at Matches, a multi label boutique on Marylebone High street, I was ecstatic to stumble upon a quaint delicatessen-cum-cafe La Fromagerie, tugged away at the corner of Moxon Street! More happy hours ensued!

As I entered, I was greeted by a display of fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs and freshly baked bread, olive oils and dried condiments, chutneys, homemade jams, a spread of cakes,biscuits and other products. Next to the cashier there is an enclosed maturing room that is temperature controlled filled with every imaginable cheese!

I was ushered to a seat facing a window by a lovely lady named Kaya, whose name brought back fond memories of my childhood when Mom would make home made jam called Kaya!

There is no set menu. The cheese and wine selections are changed daily.

I decided to indulge myself with the tasting cafe menu as suggested by Kaya which included a selection of five perfectly ripened cheeses from the cheese room served with fresh fig, bread and a glass of wine specifically selected to compliment the cheeses. I am far from a wine connoisseur besides Mc1 and wine don't quite agree. I opted for freshly squeezed orange juice instead. I have to say I have never eaten so much cheese in my life but I was more than happy to overdose on my calcium intake for the day with such fromage delicieux! I also discovered that fresh fig is a perfect match for cheese!

The next day I returned to buy Camembert cheese and was served by an in-house affineur, Monsieur Jean Baptiste who not only knew his cheeses but was also very helpful and quite a charmeur!