mardi 31 juillet 2007
Cough cough cough
I don't know why I am coughing. Maybe it was because I am allergic to Normandy deep down inside, or because it has been unusually rainy this summer, and I don't dress well. In any case, I find myself cancelling a rendez-vous this evening, and hunkering down with some soup, boudin noir, and good bread for the evening. Pinky can keep me company.
lundi 30 juillet 2007
Just what I needed
That is exactly what I needed, a tranquil week-end in Normandy with a good book (Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi). I didn't want to go out at all, I was content to by my baguette from the bakery 50 feet away, and I just wanted to stay in bed. It has been a long time since I've passed such a peaceful weekend. I appreciate it, even if I did wind up catching a cough due to the wet cold of Normandy.
We went to the Chantecler restaurant owned by the couple Pinel, in Bourth, to celebrate our engagement with his parents. It was as charming as always, with a new server to muddle things up a bit. I had a caviar d'aubergines, with yellow and red peppers crowning the ensemble. It was cool, refreshing, exactly what I needed. Next, the caille au vinaigre de cérises was savory to the last bite, especially since it rested on a small toast laden with foie gras! The feuilleté de roquefort and salad was a bit heavy for my taste, but I love roquefort, so I will not complain much. My dessert was the house specialty-soufflé froid au calvados. It was exquisite, a fluffy sweet cloud laced with Calvados. I felt satisfied but not overwhelmed by the meal. I know I will be entering into a good family here.
I spoke with his parents alone about our engagement, and their principal concerns are about working in the States v. Europe. He is in a precarious situation, with the potential for huge success, if he comes to the US, but if he stays here, he is set for life. No worries. I understand their concerns, of course, and I think I am much more flexible than him in the long run. It just depends on what one is looking for. If he is going to be here for the rest of his life, though, there may just have to be long periods where I am just not going to be there. I can't stay in one place like he can. I don't have those same close ties with people dating back 20 or 30 years. I've never been like that.
In any case, I am rested, coughing, and hungry again. I also HIGHLY recommend that you read Persepolis.
We went to the Chantecler restaurant owned by the couple Pinel, in Bourth, to celebrate our engagement with his parents. It was as charming as always, with a new server to muddle things up a bit. I had a caviar d'aubergines, with yellow and red peppers crowning the ensemble. It was cool, refreshing, exactly what I needed. Next, the caille au vinaigre de cérises was savory to the last bite, especially since it rested on a small toast laden with foie gras! The feuilleté de roquefort and salad was a bit heavy for my taste, but I love roquefort, so I will not complain much. My dessert was the house specialty-soufflé froid au calvados. It was exquisite, a fluffy sweet cloud laced with Calvados. I felt satisfied but not overwhelmed by the meal. I know I will be entering into a good family here.
I spoke with his parents alone about our engagement, and their principal concerns are about working in the States v. Europe. He is in a precarious situation, with the potential for huge success, if he comes to the US, but if he stays here, he is set for life. No worries. I understand their concerns, of course, and I think I am much more flexible than him in the long run. It just depends on what one is looking for. If he is going to be here for the rest of his life, though, there may just have to be long periods where I am just not going to be there. I can't stay in one place like he can. I don't have those same close ties with people dating back 20 or 30 years. I've never been like that.
In any case, I am rested, coughing, and hungry again. I also HIGHLY recommend that you read Persepolis.
Cars
I don't know why Americans don't drive more manual cars. They are more fun, and they use less fuel.
I am learning how to drive a manual car! My dad would be so proud of me if he knew. I have the best learning course in the world, the Norman countryside. There are no cars, only small roads that lace through small villages. I drove a bit yesterday, my first time in over a year. Last year, I first drove around those famous beaches of Normandy, and I stalled about every 10 seconds. Yesterday, I didn't stall at all! It was quite a personal accomplishment. I am preparing myself for achieving my dream of driving my own Ferrari on the Autobahn. I'm working on all of those aspects of it--car, driving, Germany.
Yesterday was a good start. I felt more synched with the car, I could feel when I needed to shift gears, and at what speed I needed to be. Girls don't usually care for this sort of thing, but why not??? You are forced to feel turns to know when to accelerate, or shift gears.
I am learning how to drive a manual car! My dad would be so proud of me if he knew. I have the best learning course in the world, the Norman countryside. There are no cars, only small roads that lace through small villages. I drove a bit yesterday, my first time in over a year. Last year, I first drove around those famous beaches of Normandy, and I stalled about every 10 seconds. Yesterday, I didn't stall at all! It was quite a personal accomplishment. I am preparing myself for achieving my dream of driving my own Ferrari on the Autobahn. I'm working on all of those aspects of it--car, driving, Germany.
Yesterday was a good start. I felt more synched with the car, I could feel when I needed to shift gears, and at what speed I needed to be. Girls don't usually care for this sort of thing, but why not??? You are forced to feel turns to know when to accelerate, or shift gears.
vendredi 27 juillet 2007
Airs pour Farinelli
Yesterday, my friend and I attended a concert at L'Eglise St. Julien le Pauvre. The music was sung by contre-tenor Duy-Thông Nguyen, and he was accompanied on the piano by M. Olivier Dauriat. I have long loved baroque music, and have been fascinated by the castrato for quite some time. However, this was my first time listening to music composed for castrato performed live by a contre-tenor.
The venue, the Eglise St. Julien, is the oldest church in Paris. The acoustics are echo-y, and are not the best I have heard, but that does not diminish the magic listening to a well-sung aria reverberate throughout the building. Prayer candles lent their soft glow to medieval icons hung on the walls. A large grill threw its flickering shadow on the stone walls. It felt like a sacred place, more than, for example, the much more famous Cathédrale de Notre Dame just across the river. This church was tucked away in a small pedestrian street, and demanded to be searched rather than seen.
The singer began in the back of the church, and slowly made his way to the front as he sang his first aria. Unfortunately, I recognized none of the songs and cannot give you their names! However, he sang Baroque pieces during the first half. His voice was not sufficiently warmed up to tackle the difficult runs and trills of the Baroque with 100% ease, but I could still feel my hairs standing on end listening to his voice. It was as I had imagined, the masculine power and endurance imbued into a delicate high tone. I was enraptured during the entire concert.
The second half of the concert was dedicated to the romantic era. I sensed that the singer prefered this type of music, and was better warmed-up, as his voice gained clarity and embraced the music easily. During one well-known piece, the Ave Maria by J.S. Bach, he drifted into the sides of the church so that all that remained to the audieance was his light voice filling the interior. It was truly wonderful. He was singing so well by the end that I did not want the concert to finish.
I went home on the metro that night with the voice of angels in my head.
The venue, the Eglise St. Julien, is the oldest church in Paris. The acoustics are echo-y, and are not the best I have heard, but that does not diminish the magic listening to a well-sung aria reverberate throughout the building. Prayer candles lent their soft glow to medieval icons hung on the walls. A large grill threw its flickering shadow on the stone walls. It felt like a sacred place, more than, for example, the much more famous Cathédrale de Notre Dame just across the river. This church was tucked away in a small pedestrian street, and demanded to be searched rather than seen.
The singer began in the back of the church, and slowly made his way to the front as he sang his first aria. Unfortunately, I recognized none of the songs and cannot give you their names! However, he sang Baroque pieces during the first half. His voice was not sufficiently warmed up to tackle the difficult runs and trills of the Baroque with 100% ease, but I could still feel my hairs standing on end listening to his voice. It was as I had imagined, the masculine power and endurance imbued into a delicate high tone. I was enraptured during the entire concert.
The second half of the concert was dedicated to the romantic era. I sensed that the singer prefered this type of music, and was better warmed-up, as his voice gained clarity and embraced the music easily. During one well-known piece, the Ave Maria by J.S. Bach, he drifted into the sides of the church so that all that remained to the audieance was his light voice filling the interior. It was truly wonderful. He was singing so well by the end that I did not want the concert to finish.
I went home on the metro that night with the voice of angels in my head.
jeudi 26 juillet 2007
Déchirée
Je me sens complètement déchirée entre tous les amours de ma vie--ma famille en Californie, et mes propres intérêts pour la France et l'Europe. Je ne sais pas lequel choisir. Si je choisis un, cela ne diminue pas mon amour pour l'autre, mais ils sont tellement éloignés que je ne peux pas les avoir simultanément. Je n'aime même pas la Californie, il n'est que l'endroit où se trouve ma famille. Pourtant, maintenant c'est le momen pour moi de choisir un travail, et je dois être à un endroit ou à l'autre. On ne peut pas être en Californie pour dîner à un restaurant vietnamien et à Paris pour se promener avec l'amour de sa vie dans la même journée.
Quelle voie dois-je choisir? Je dois postuler à des postes à partir de la semaine prochaine, et l'emplacement est un élément clef dans toutes mes décisions maintenant. Je veux passer du temps avec ma famille car on n'a pas eu l'occasion de partager notre vie depuis 6 ans maintenant, mais ma carrière commence, et je sais que je veux travailler à Paris au long terme.
Est-ce que je sacrifie un an ou deux pour être avec ma famille, surtout mon frère adolescent dont cette période je ne veux pas rater, mes grands-parents qui ne cessent pas de vieillir, et ma mère qui vient de découvrir son indépendance? Ou bien, dois-je suivre mes rêves tout de suite, sans penser aux autres, suivre mes désirs. J'ai l'impression d'avoir fait cela depuis longtemps maintenant. Je dois beaucoup à ma famille, bien sûr, et je veux garder notre relation proche, mais cela devient difficile lorsque je suis en France, à 9 heures de décalage.
Enfin, je parle de l'été prochain, pas un an complet. Je pourrais passer un été en Californie et ensuite passer à Paris sans me culpabiliser. Cela pourrait être difficile pour lui, pour nous, car nous avons des projets de couple à réaliser un jour. En même temps, ils me sont précieux en Californie.
Un été, cela ne me paraît pas trop long, pour la Californie. Et je suis toujours jeune.
Quelle voie dois-je choisir? Je dois postuler à des postes à partir de la semaine prochaine, et l'emplacement est un élément clef dans toutes mes décisions maintenant. Je veux passer du temps avec ma famille car on n'a pas eu l'occasion de partager notre vie depuis 6 ans maintenant, mais ma carrière commence, et je sais que je veux travailler à Paris au long terme.
Est-ce que je sacrifie un an ou deux pour être avec ma famille, surtout mon frère adolescent dont cette période je ne veux pas rater, mes grands-parents qui ne cessent pas de vieillir, et ma mère qui vient de découvrir son indépendance? Ou bien, dois-je suivre mes rêves tout de suite, sans penser aux autres, suivre mes désirs. J'ai l'impression d'avoir fait cela depuis longtemps maintenant. Je dois beaucoup à ma famille, bien sûr, et je veux garder notre relation proche, mais cela devient difficile lorsque je suis en France, à 9 heures de décalage.
Enfin, je parle de l'été prochain, pas un an complet. Je pourrais passer un été en Californie et ensuite passer à Paris sans me culpabiliser. Cela pourrait être difficile pour lui, pour nous, car nous avons des projets de couple à réaliser un jour. En même temps, ils me sont précieux en Californie.
Un été, cela ne me paraît pas trop long, pour la Californie. Et je suis toujours jeune.
La Table Corse
Despite my protestations, we wound up dining at a small restaurant called La Table Corse, located in a small street in the 5ème arrondissement of Paris. We had reserved a table for 19H45, but we were the first diners there.
The interior is very charming, and very warm. The walls are beige, ochre, and orange stone, and paintings of Corsica line the walls. The tables are covered in creamy tablecloths, and the menu is in fact a small blackboard carried to the table by the server.
We spent a good five minutes debating what to order because, quite frankly, we wanted all of it. Foie gras with pain aux figues for an entrée? Or millefeuille d'aubergine? Or better yet, some renowned Corse charcuterie? I settled on a velouté de châtaignes avec amandes effilées et chanterelles, while he chose the foie gras. The portions arrived, and his slice of foie gras could have been a meal in itself. My velouté had just enough flavor to bring out the châtaignes, and was topped with a dollop of cream. I was starving, and was ready for the next dish!
The main dishes were even more difficult to choose than the entrées. The specialty of the house was sanglier braisé, so he decided to take that. I didn't want the same dish, but I was torn between the foie de veau and the carré d'agneau. Eventually, the absence of meat in my diet led me to the carré d'agneau. It seemed more appetizing on paper, I have no idea if this is true. However, my carré d'agneau was excellent, and was accompanied by châtaignes, chanterelle mushrooms, a delicate purée de pomme de terre and haricots verts au citron. If I could, I would have finished it all, but I certainly tried. Personally, I preferred my agneau to his sanglier.
By the end, we were both extremely satiated, and decided to skip out on dessert at the restaurant before taking a walk to l'Île de la Cité and stopping for some Berthillon ice cream (a.k.a. the best ice cream in the world). I was in a rich mood, so I took mocha and black chocolate, while he chose raspberry and pear sorbet. I think he may have made the better choice, but only to economize on stomach space. I don't know how Berthillon manages to capture flavor so well, but I could have been drinking a cup of coffee, the flavor of the ice cream was impeccable. If you ever have the chance to have Berthillon ice cream, do not miss the fraise des bois sorbet. There is nothing like it. Berthillon has managed to put fraises des bois in frozen form, with the occasional morsel of a fraise des bois. Perfection.
We strolled home from there, and went quickly to bed, as the food coma was settling in. I am glad to have been able to enjoy such a fine meal! I rarely go to restaurants nowadays, but when it happens, and the restaurant is as excellent as last night's, the meal stays in my memory long after the last bite!
The interior is very charming, and very warm. The walls are beige, ochre, and orange stone, and paintings of Corsica line the walls. The tables are covered in creamy tablecloths, and the menu is in fact a small blackboard carried to the table by the server.
We spent a good five minutes debating what to order because, quite frankly, we wanted all of it. Foie gras with pain aux figues for an entrée? Or millefeuille d'aubergine? Or better yet, some renowned Corse charcuterie? I settled on a velouté de châtaignes avec amandes effilées et chanterelles, while he chose the foie gras. The portions arrived, and his slice of foie gras could have been a meal in itself. My velouté had just enough flavor to bring out the châtaignes, and was topped with a dollop of cream. I was starving, and was ready for the next dish!
The main dishes were even more difficult to choose than the entrées. The specialty of the house was sanglier braisé, so he decided to take that. I didn't want the same dish, but I was torn between the foie de veau and the carré d'agneau. Eventually, the absence of meat in my diet led me to the carré d'agneau. It seemed more appetizing on paper, I have no idea if this is true. However, my carré d'agneau was excellent, and was accompanied by châtaignes, chanterelle mushrooms, a delicate purée de pomme de terre and haricots verts au citron. If I could, I would have finished it all, but I certainly tried. Personally, I preferred my agneau to his sanglier.
By the end, we were both extremely satiated, and decided to skip out on dessert at the restaurant before taking a walk to l'Île de la Cité and stopping for some Berthillon ice cream (a.k.a. the best ice cream in the world). I was in a rich mood, so I took mocha and black chocolate, while he chose raspberry and pear sorbet. I think he may have made the better choice, but only to economize on stomach space. I don't know how Berthillon manages to capture flavor so well, but I could have been drinking a cup of coffee, the flavor of the ice cream was impeccable. If you ever have the chance to have Berthillon ice cream, do not miss the fraise des bois sorbet. There is nothing like it. Berthillon has managed to put fraises des bois in frozen form, with the occasional morsel of a fraise des bois. Perfection.
We strolled home from there, and went quickly to bed, as the food coma was settling in. I am glad to have been able to enjoy such a fine meal! I rarely go to restaurants nowadays, but when it happens, and the restaurant is as excellent as last night's, the meal stays in my memory long after the last bite!
mercredi 25 juillet 2007
Or...
I like this one too, it is smaller, and more stable, it seems. It is also prettier than the Chinook, in my opinion : The Minstrel.
The waiting time for this one is much longer, probably at least one year as opposed to a couple of months, but it may be worth it. In the end, they are both pretty similar, but I am looking for one I could more easily take on a plane. Oh but I do like the luteback....decisions decisions decisions that I am not even going to make yet. I don't know.
The vielle à roue is such a firmly French instrument. I guess it is only natural that I would fall in love with it. I think i will give it a name when I get it. I was thinking Solange is nice, but then again, I have about two years before I will get one. My mind will probably change.
The waiting time for this one is much longer, probably at least one year as opposed to a couple of months, but it may be worth it. In the end, they are both pretty similar, but I am looking for one I could more easily take on a plane. Oh but I do like the luteback....decisions decisions decisions that I am not even going to make yet. I don't know.
The vielle à roue is such a firmly French instrument. I guess it is only natural that I would fall in love with it. I think i will give it a name when I get it. I was thinking Solange is nice, but then again, I have about two years before I will get one. My mind will probably change.
Inscription à :
Articles (Atom)