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localfoodandwine · 4 years

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by Paige Donner

Welcome to the first Paris GOODfood+wine podcast of the new decade! 2020 has come in like a bolt of lightning, and riding on these vibrant waves we take a page from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night for the theme of episode 52, dedicated to music.

If music be the food of love…play on!

Listen to Episode 52 of Paris GOODfood+wine on Spotify

LISTEN HERE

This famous quote from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night sums up our interview with Catherine Braslavsky and Joseph Rowe, two composer-musicians who have taken ancient texts and songs from the Mediterranean and created a concert performance out of them.

Paris GOODfood+wine Season 6 is generously being brought to you by IoTShipping.xyz

‘Never lose track of your assets’

EPISODE 52 IS ALSO BEING BROUGHT

TO YOU BY PARIS FOOD AND WINE ;

AND BORDEAUX FOOD & WINE

Our interview show here doesn’t incorporate any of their transportative music, so I encourage to find video excerpts of them on our show notes at LocalFood.wine and also Chérie du Vin.wordpress.com.

Catherine Braslavsky & Joseph Rowe

NaturalChant.com Catherine Braslavsky & Joseph Rowe

Une vidéo de Tonnerre Esprit Parfait que nous jouons dans le spectacle : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFhD82z7aJQ

I was also inspired to do this show dedicated to music in response to the popularity this year, at least in the media, for ‘Dry January.’ It seems that Dry January is a call to stay off alcohol drinks for the month of January as a way to atone for the assumed excesses of the holidays.

Assumed is the key word here, because not everyone is excessive in terms of alcohol consumption, during the holidays. Nonetheless, it provided me a convenient excuse to deviate somewhat from our strictly food and wine theme and incorporate musicians into the show.

The other inspiration came from a wine dinner I participated in here in Paris during the holidays, where a different celebrated piece of music was paired with each course of the meal. So not only were food and wine pairings astutely made, but a pairing of music made each course a triumvirate of wine, music and food. Exceptional was the privilege of witnessing my fellow dinner guests delighting as much or even at times more so in the music than even in the Michelin starred food and 100 pointer wines.

Anyway, whatever the excuse or inspiration for this show was, the fact remains that music feeds the soul and is as inseparable from wine and food as are the stars and the moon from the night sky.

And for those who continue to consume in moderation, we have an excellent Bordeaux white as well as a St.Emilion Grand Cru to recommend you this month. Both are from the impressive Domaines Rollan de By whose owner and director Jean Guyon’s MO is ‘Wine is an Art.’ You can find more about his exceptional wines in our show notes and also on Bordeaux Food And Wine.com.

Thank you for joining us in this new year. And we wish you all a fantastic start to 2020!

We paused here for a moment to take some photos at the charming Theatre de L’Ile St. Louis located on the Quai d’Anjou in Paris’ 4th district. This where Catherine and Joseph will be performing their Ave Eva concert through February 2nd. You can contact the theatre directly for tickets and reservations by searching Theatre Ile St. Louis and we’ll also provide a link in the show notes at LocalFood.wine.

Here below, please find a few fun tributes to the theme of wine and music.

http://www.naturalchant.com

https://www.theatre-ilesaintlouis.com/

https://dryjanuary.fr/

And for all of us not observing ‘Dry January,’ and also for the rest of the year, our recommendation for these outstanding Bordeauxs:

https://www.domaines-rollandeby.com/

Hide The Wine by Carly Pierce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpy5Kfdhp8o

The Days of Wine & Roses – Henry Mancini

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nikPwhewdmk

I Get A Kick Out of You – Frank Sinatra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IXFmv5uaPw

‘Water Electric’ – by Noisy Oyster

‘Lifetime In A Day’ – by Enrico Altavilla Music free of rights from FreeSoundTrackMusic.com

Show Notes: LocalFoodAndWine.wordpress.com & BordeauxFoodAndWine.wordpress.com ChérieduVin.wordpress.com

Contact Host-Producer, Paige Donner @http://PaigeDonner.info

TO CONTACT PAIGE DONNER FOR SPEAKING/HOSTING/PRODUCING PAIGEDONNER.INFO FOR MORE INFO ABOUT PARIS GOODFOOD+WINE AND A COMPLETE SHOW LINEUP GO TO LOCALFOODANDWINE.WORDPRESS.COM AND OUR WEBSITE PARISFOODANDWINE.NET & PARISFOODANDWINES.COM

INSTAGRAM @PAIGEFOODWINE TWITTER @PARISFOODWINE

Listen to Paris GOOD food + wine on :

iTunes – Paris GOODfood+wine /

Media Engagements, speaking and collaborations: contact PaigeDonner.info

Episode 52: If Music Be The Food Of Love…PGf+w by Paige Donner by Paige Donner Welcome to the first Paris GOODfood+wine podcast of the new decade! 2020 has come in like a bolt of lightning, and riding on these vibrant waves we take a page from Shakespeare's…

#Bordeaux #Catherine Braslavsky #Domaines Rollan de By #Dry January #France #IoTshipping #IotShipping.xyz #Jean Guyon #Joseph Rowe #Mediterranean music #music #Naturall Chant #paige donner #paige donner photography #Paris #paris GOOD food and wine #parisfoodandwine #podcast #Theatre Ile St Louis

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localfoodandwine · 5 years

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49: La Tour d'Argent Somm Julien Touitou; Burgundy's Franco Bowanee & Karina Laval

49: La Tour d’Argent Somm Julien Touitou; Burgundy’s Franco Bowanee & Karina Laval

by Paige Donner ©

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE : Episode 49 Paris GOODfood+wine

Now Playing On Soundcloud

Autumn has come quickly this year. Following our very warm summer, punctuated by two historically infernally-hot heat waves, ones which toasted grape vines in the south of France, 2019 looks to have yielded vintage worthy harvests in both Bordeaux and Champagne. As of now, though, we are well…

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#Burgundy #chablis #Chatainier #Chateau de Vault de Lugny #Franco Bowanee #Horse Chestnut tree #IoTShipping #julien touitou #Karina Lava #la tour d&039;argent #Local Food And Wine #marron #Michelin Starred Chef #Paige Donner #paige donner photography #Paris Autumn #paris food and wine #Paris GOODfood+wine

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localfoodandwine · 5 years

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by Paige Donner ©

More about remarkable trees in Paris, click on Photo (by Un Jour de Plus à Paris)

Walking through the Jardins de Luxembourg with my dog here in Paris, it’s fun to watch her raise her snout and sniff the breeze to catch those Fall whiffs of fallen chestnuts and amber leaves. Here in France, a sure sign that the season has changed to one of yellows, rusts and orange, is the sight of street vendors selling cones of roasted chestnuts. As I exited the Musée d’Orsay on Sunday, after spending the afternoon looking at the Degas à l’Opéra exhibit, the soothing, delicious smell of roasted chestnuts greeted me. It’s one of those smells which, for me, will always be Paris.

The Horse Chestnut Tree , le châtaignier in French, is ubiquitous all over the city. At this time of year, Paris streets and parks are laden with its gleaming, dark brown, shiny nuts called Marron. The marron are the edible nuts. It’s admirably enterprising of these chestnut roasters since undoubtedly they simply harvest their nuts from the many Parisian parks, set up a mobile roasting cart, and sell these delicious, sweet and nutty warm treats outside popular Parisian landmarks, like the Musée d’Orsay, the Louvre and the Pont des Arts.

According to August Chevalier, writing in 1941, we don’t know the origin nor the history of these chestnut trees here in Paris. But it’s thought that they were cultivated since the Middle Ages by the monasteries and abbey monks who numbered significantly throughout the Paris region for at least the past 1000 years. The same holds true for the once abundant olive and walnut trees in the region.

In these show notes, you will find several links to books and blogs that will help you delve more deeply into Paris and its beautiful trees, trees whose leaves are synonymous with the changing aubergine, amber and orange colors of Fall.

But right now, we’re turning our attention to wine and truffles. Notably, this episode of Paris GOODfood+wine takes you to the famous La Tour d’Argent, long regarded as Paris’ finest restaurant, and certainly still the very best wine cellar in the whole city if not all of France.

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We’ll be speaking with the newly appointed Chef Sommelier, Julien Touitou, who has just been handed the reins by the iconic David Ridgway who is now in semi-retirement.

Then, we head to Burgundy. This is truffle country and we happen to be visiting the Chateau de Vault de Lugny which has its very own truffière, or truffle garden. Truffles are harvested so abundantly here some years that the husband and wife who run the exquisite chateau hotel sometimes even offer their guests a complimentary truffle upon check-in. Beware, though, these are the real kind and not chocolate truffles as one American visitor once mistook them for. Though he quickly realized his error as soon as he bit into it.

You can read more about my visit to the Chateau de Vault de Lugny on 10BEST.com in my article Fairy Tale Vacation: The best chateaus to visit.

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But for this interview, we are focusing on the husband and wife team who runs the Michelin starred restaurant, Louis XIII. They are both originally from the Mauritius Islands. She, Karina Laval, is the Chef Patissière, specialized in ice cream. In fact, she is the very first woman in France to compete for the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF) in ice cream. He, Franco Bowanee, delights in picking his fresh vegetables in the garden out back and then serving them just a few moments later on your plate. He has truly found his niche by subtly blending exotic island spices from his native home with classic French dishes. You’ll be astounded by how wonderfully this pairs with a gorgeous, crisp Grand Cru Chablis which is their local wine region.

So, let’s get started. First up is Julien Touitou….

Music is Parrot Cove by Rick Dickert, provided free of rights by FreeSoundTrackMusic.com

Show Intro/Outro music is by Bensound.com ‘Groovy’, all rights and use permissions granted

Show Notes: LocalFoodAndWine.wordpress.com &ChérieduVin.wordpress.com

Contact Host-Producer, Paige Donner @http://PaigeDonner.info

INSTAGRAM @PAIGEFOODWINE TWITTER @PARISFOODWINE

Listen to Paris GOOD food + wine on :

iTunes – Paris GOODfood+wine /

Media Engagements, speaking and collaborations: contact PaigeDonner.info

49: La Tour d’Argent Somm Julien Touitou; Burgundy’s Franco Bowanee & Karina Laval by Paige Donner © Autumn has come quickly this year. Following our very warm summer, punctuated by two historically infernally-hot heat waves, ones which toasted grape vines in the south of France, 2019 looks to have yielded vintage worthy harvests in both Bordeaux and Champagne.

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localfoodandwine · 5 years

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Bordeaux, France

by Paige Donner

Barge cruising is a thing here in Europe. In France, it is a niche luxury market and caters to people who prize relaxation during their vacations, but who still want to explore small French villages, dine on extraordinary gourmet foods and sip the nectar of Gods, namely good French wines.

For details on the 6-day river cruise through Bordeaux, along the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, see my upcoming 10BEST.com/USAToday travel article.

For now, I hope you’ll enjoy sharing in some of the photos of the gorgeous Bordeaux region, its fabulous wineries and the wonderful crew and cuisine aboard Le Tango Barge.

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Paige Donner writes for USA Today’s 10BEST.com on travel and lifestyle. Watch for her upcoming article on 10BEST.com about best Loire Valley châteaux to visit. @ParisFoodWine @10BEST

Bordeaux River Wine Cruise on Luxury Barge, Le Tango Bordeaux, France by Paige Donner Barge cruising is a thing here in Europe. In France, it is a niche luxury market and caters to people who prize relaxation during their vacations, but who still want to explore small French villages, dine on extraordinary gourmet foods and sip the nectar of Gods, namely good French wines.

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localfoodandwine · 5 years

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Loire Valley, France

by Paige Donner

Until you’ve actually visited these majestic edifices, the former country residences, hunting lodges and abodes of retreat from court life that France’s Kings, Queens and nobles escaped to centuries ago, they just look like mountains of stone.

But what is so electrifying about walking these halls of steadfast stone and architecture is that they were once, and now, again, still are, filled with life.

There is continuity in human history. Amidst the apocalyptic cries of today’s youthful generation, visiting a 500-yr.-old French château helps to put things into perspective.

All of these French châteaux were extraordinary but my favorites were Château de Chenenceau for its flowing femininity and Château de Vault de Lugny, technically in Burgundy (though equi-distant between Sancerre and Chablis), for its warmth and serenity.

I hope you will enjoy a taste of this magnificence through some shared photos:

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Paige Donner writes for USA Today’s 10BEST.com on travel and lifestyle. Watch for her upcoming article on 10BEST.com about best Loire Valley châteaux to visit. @ParisFoodWine @10BEST

Loire Valley Châteaux in Photos Loire Valley, France by Paige Donner Until you've actually visited these majestic edifices, the former country residences, hunting lodges and abodes of retreat from court life that France's Kings, Queens and nobles escaped to centuries ago, they just look like mountains of stone.

#10BEST #Chamord #Chenenceau #France Tourisme #French chateaus #Loire #loire valley #paige donner #paige donner photography #paigedonner.info #summer travel #travel in France #USA Today #Vault de Lugny

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localfoodandwine · 5 years

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by Paige Donner

This episode of Paris GOODfood+wine, April 2019 is dedicated to my father, Eugene Martin Donner. He passed away on April 11th.

It was his love and passion for life, and his appreciation for fine wines and good food that started me on this path discovering exceptional terroirs of the world. Thank you, Dad. Your wisdom and guidance enriched my life immeasurably in countless ways since the day I was born. And will continue to do so, even though you have now departed this world and evolved into the next.

My dad, Eugene Martin Donner. b. February 27, 1932 – d. April 11, 2019. Pictured here May, 2015.

The French have an expression. It’s C’est la vie.

“Ç la vie,” sums up so much about life. Perhaps only ‘I love you’ are three words more potent and full of meaning.

C’est la vie is both acceptance and resignation. It’s that recognition of changing the things we can and accepting the things we cannot change.

This past month of April in Paris has been most certainly a C’est la vie point in time.

As the world stood and watched Notre Dame Cathedral burn, in people’s shocked and stricken faces, there was a sense of powerlessness in the destruction of this great monolith of love.

Whether one is Catholic or not Catholic, Christian or perhaps not even practicing any kind of religion, the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris is so symbolic of French culture, of Paris, of the uniting of the world’s peoples in prayer and love, that watching it consumed in flames, was a devastating and heartbreaking moment.

As I stood on Pont de la Tournelle, at 8pm on Monday April 15th, watching my beloved neighborhood church burn in bright red and orange flames, I couldn’t contain my sorrow.

But my overwhelming sorrow was not just for the church. My father had passed away only days before, and watching the spire of Notre Dame burn felt like watching my father’ funeral pyre.

The great church came within about 30 minutes of being completely destroyed. But in the end, France’s firefighters were able to save it.

It has been just over a week now since the fire. It has been roughly about the same amount of time since my father’s soul and spirit have been set free from his human body. For if anything, that is the message I’m getting from my meditations this week. It’s that God’s love and the human spirit are eternal. And whether they are housed in a church or in a human body, or liberated from these outward structures, they live on. They exist. In eternity.

They live now in an invisible realm. But in God’s love, they exist eternally.

The Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris survived on this earth for 850 years without destruction or significant damage. That historical fact changed on April 15th , 2019

My father, Eugene Martin Donner, survived on this Earth for 87 years, without significant damage or destruction. That historical fact changed on April 11th, or 12th if you consider Paris time, 2019.

A very strange, and even somewhat spooky coincidence, is that the architect of the spire that burned along with Notre Dame’s roof, was named Eugène Viollet Le Duc. Of course it is just a coincidence that my father and he both shared the same first name. But it feels significant, in a sort of God’s winking kind of way, nonetheless.

Both the spire of Notre Dame and my father, who had a terrific sense of wit, comedy and irony – his favorite writer was Mark Twain – and who resembled to a great degree Jean Paul Belmondo, and who had a heart and soul full of love for humanity, in all its forms, colors and expressions, will be sorely and sadly missed.

I thank him for so many things, including his unwavering love for me, but also for instilling in me such a great appreciation for good food and wine. It’s thanks to him that I was set forth on this fascinating discovery of God’s and Earth’s fruits and elixirs. As Benjamin Franklin once said,

Wine is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

My father always seconded that. Cheers to you Pops. May God’s love keep you eternally forevermore.

Our April show of Paris GOODfood+wine is one focused on wines.

First we speak to Samuel Montgermont of Domaine and Clos St. Patrice in the Côte du Rhône.

With his wines, we are firmly in Chateaneuf-du-Pape territory. In fact, we’re right in the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. He has a lot to say about his unique wines. Interestingly, he is a musician as well as a wine master blender.If you haven’t heard the term master blender coupled with wine before, don’t worry. He’ll explain all that to you during the interview.

Following that segment, we then go to Burgundy. In fact you are being whisked off to the Cuverie des Ursulines which is an ancient convent that was once inhabited by Ursulines nuns.

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The family Boisset, of Jean Charles Boisset fame, has just renovated and built an impressive and absolutely stunning Cuverie, or chai, a wine estate, around this historical property in Nuits St. Georges. Nuits St. Georges is, of course, one of the most prestige areas just outside of Beaune in Burgundy wine country.

Along with opening up this Cuverie in 2018, they have also now instigated daily wine estate tours. It is open to the public, you just have to call and reserve in advance. The tour includes a visit to the tank room, also outside into the ancient convent’s gardens dating all the way back to 1717, and then concludes with a barrel tasting and then a tasting of a total of 6 of their wines in the historical Ursuline cellars down below.

It is one of the most comprehensive, friendly, and educational wine tours you will get in all of France, and certainly in Burgundy, that is open to the public. It lasts about an hour and a half and costs only €32. Though if you want to organize a special group and throw in a lunch after the 10am tour start time, just communicate that to the Boisset team and they’re happy to make your wishes come true in a bespoke way.

So, ç la vie. Life goes on. The cathedral of Notre Dame will be rebuilt. And Dad, I’ll see you in heaven one day when I get there.

Hemingway: As people bring so much courage to this world, the world has to kill them to break them. So of course it kills them. The world breaks everyone and afterwards many are strong in the broken places. But those it will not break it kills… It kills the very good, and the very gentle, and the very brave impartially. – Ernest Hemingway

Another big new development this season is the release from Domaine Clarence Dillon of their new range of Clarendelle wines.

Launch Soirée, Clarendelle, Paris, photo by Paige Donner

There’s Clarendelle Rouge, Blanc, Rosé and Clarendelle Amberwine.

All are inspired by Haut-Brion the estate’s famous and historic 1855 Grand Cru Classé chateau in Bordeaux. The rouge comes in several expressions, including Médoc and St. Émilion.

All are accessible and are perfect for when you have a taste for fine quality, but perhaps don’t feel like opening up your First Growth wine that very moment.

I particularly enjoyed the Amberwine. Especially so because it isn’t always easy to find a sweet wine that expresses that balance between the honey-like sweetness brought on by the natural botyritis and a fresh acidity that keeps it fresh with every sip. The Clarendelle Amberwine achieves this by using both methods: grapes are allowed to develop botyritis as in the grand tradition of Sauternes, and then others are late harvest which allow the grapes to sweeten on the vine with their ripe maturity. The wine takes its name, Amber, from the beautiful color achieved by this assemblage. The varietals in this fine wine are the traditional Graves Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc with a bit of Muscadelle.

The wines are available widely now. Though I encourage every listener who gets to Paris to pay a visit to the Cave du Château located near the Champs-Elysées on Avenue Franklin Roosevelt. It is hands down one of the very finest wine shops not just in Paris but the world over. Here you will find famous and rare wines as well as handpicked affordable coup de coeurs that you can put all your faith in that they, guaranteed, won’t disappoint.

Check our show notes for the wine shop’s address. Or just do an online search for La Cave du Château, Paris.

31 Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt, Paris 75008 lacaveduchateau.com

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Paris GOODfood+wine.

A big thank you to all who helped make this show possible.

Music:

Jazzy Piano from Bensoundmusic.com

Terry Jacks, Seasons in The Sun

Ilya Truhanov, Miracle from

FreeSoundTrackmusic.com

Show Notes: LocalFoodAndWine.wordpress.com &ChérieduVin.wordpress.com

Contact Host-Producer, Paige Donner @http://PaigeDonner.info

INSTAGRAM @PAIGEFOODWINE TWITTER @PARISFOODWINE

Listen to Paris GOOD food + wine on :

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iTunes – Paris GOODfood+wine /

Media Engagements, speaking and collaborations: contact PaigeDonner.info

Episode 46: Eulogy to Dad, Notre Dame, Clos St. Patrice, Cuverie des Ursulines by Paige Donner This episode of Paris GOODfood+wine, April 2019 is dedicated to my father, Eugene Martin Donner.

#Boisset #Bordeaux Food And Wine #Burgundy #clarendelle #clos st Patrice #cote du rhone #cuverie des Ursulines #Domaine Clarence Dillon #Eugene Donner #fire notre dame #hemingway #notre dame cathedral #Nuits St George #paige donner #paige donner photography #Paris Food And Wine #paris Goodfoodandwine #podcast #samuel Montgermont

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localfoodandwine · 5 years

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Domaine Saint Amant

by Paige Donner

The Côte du Rhône has, of course, some superstar apellations. Think Châteauneuf du Pape, Crozes-hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Saint Joseph… to drop some of the big names.

But it’s always worth taking a look at smaller producers and less well-known villages in these prestige regions. Here is where you will find wines made with tender loving care, often by family owned and operated…

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#beaumes de venise #christmas wine #cote du rhone #cote du rhone villages #dentelles de montmirail #Domaine Saint Amant #french wine #Paige Donner #paige donner photography #paris food and wine #red wine #white wine

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cherieduvin · 5 years

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by Paige Donner

The feast is in the first bite. I came across this phrase recently listening to a science program on the radio about how human taste buds function.

Click on the Above Picture or HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

It was scientifically explained that in fact with each subsequent bite of food, there is a diminishing sensory enjoyment insofar as the taste explosion in your mouth. So in this season of joyful excess, we can reassure ourselves that the feast is indeed in the first bite.

INTERVIEWS:

Nina Métayer, Executive Pastry Chef, Café Pouchkine: Start Time – 7′ 30 seconds

Chef Ludo Lefebvre of Trois Mec, Los Angeles: Start Time – 25′ 49 seconds

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

As I sit here at my desk in my office in the Marais recording this, I realize that this 2018 holiday season here in Paris will go down in history as the Yellow Christmas.

This month of Saturday protests of the GiletsJaunes, the Yellow Vests, here in Paris have marked the season with closed shops and whole shopping districts such as the Champs Elysées, Saint Germain des Prés, and even here, in the normally bustling Marais, shuttering their doors and boarding their windows.

Even as I write this, a parade of protesters are marching in the street just below my window.

But perhaps the timing is truly right on message, because when many of us can celebrate a time of plenty and abundance, with joyful family members, lots of good things to eat and drink, and happy times all around, it’s important to remember that for an ever-growing segment of the French population, indeed the world’s population, this is not necessarily the case. Not during the holidays, and not during the rest of the year.

This is what we have come to call the Working Poor. People who don’t sit idly by or accept handouts but in fact put in full work weeks and still cannot make ends meet for themselves or their children or their elderly dependents.

This holiday show, then, is dedicated to all those mothers and fathers and adult children of elderly parents whose desperation has brought them to the streets of Paris these past weekends to demonstrate and protest in what can only be called a desperate cry for help.

As we raise our glasses and forks in good cheer this year, let’s generously remember all those who may be less fortunate than ourselves.

***

Joyeux Noel

Another theme of this show is traditions.

As an avid listener of US Public Radio, I heard interview excerpts and snippets following the Thanksgiving holiday of people in the US who eschew the traditional holiday meal of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and what we call “the works.”

And while there is no obligation to respect the traditions of your own country or your adoptive country, I do feel that there is great value in upholding traditions and that this can offer a kind of anchor to our ever-increasingly fragmented society.

Culinary traditions are a big part of culture. They play an important role in cultural identity. That’s something I’ve learned quite well here in France.

To this effect, I interviewed one of France’s top young pastry chefs for this show. Here in France, the Christmas Cake, le bûche de Nöel, plays a central role in the traditional holiday Christmas meal.

One of the themes for Chef Nina’s 2018 bûche de Nöel:

* MORE PHOTOS OF Nina Métayer’s Christmas Cakes on Instagram @PaigeFoodWine *

As such, the country’s talented pastry chefs put great thought, creativity and love into their cake designs, often planning them a year in advance, as we hear Nina Métayer, of Café Pouchkine, explain to us. She’s been singled out as one of the Top Under 30 culinary stars to watch by the French media. She is the Executive Pastry Chef of Café Pouchkine, which is owned by a Franco-Russian family.

The next talent we hear from for this Christmas and holidays 2018 show, is a Los Angeles based French chef; Ludo Lefebvre. He tells us how his childhood memories of the Family Christmas meal here in France are even more vivid than his memories of what toys Santa brought him. His main talking point is that very French sense of the Art de Vivre.

He emphasizes that enjoying a holiday meal is mostly about spending time with friends and family, where any sense of hurry or watching the clock is thrown out the window in favor of spending quality time with one another.

He has shot to fame with his fabulously successful Trois Mec restaurant and also his cooking shows Ludo Bites America and now Ludo à la Maison. As you’ll hear in this telephone interview, Chef Ludo hails from Burgundy and has strong and fond memories of the traditional family Christmas meals he enjoyed as a child.

*****

One more interesting tidbit to pass on for this holiday season, is that for the first time ever, Americans are spending more on eating out than on their groceries. So, to this effect, in the show notes, you’ll find links to Holiday Meal Kits that can be delivered both here in Paris and also in the US. Note that in keeping with American traditions, the link for that meal kit includes a honeybaked ham, and the link to the Paris meal kits includes delivery of fresh oysters by Maison Rostang.

Wishing all of you, listeners and friends and family, a peaceful, joyous holiday season, full of love and good cheer. May food be the fabric of our harmonious coming together and the commonality that binds us as human beings, each one of us a child of God.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Joyous Blessings this Holiday Season

LINKS

Café Pouchkine Paris & Pastry Chef Nina Métayer, Executive Pastry Chef

https://ninametayer.com/

https://cafe-pouchkine.fr/

Chef Ludo Lefebvre

https://www.ludolefebvre.com/

Holiday Meal Kits Delivered

USA – Cracker Barrel https://crackerbarrel.com/order-online/holiday-meal

Paris – Maison Rostang Oyster Kit recommended by Marie Claire https://www.marieclaire.fr/reveillon-services-livraison-domicile,1246215.asp

Americans Spending More On Eating Out Than Groceries

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-07-26/first-time-americans-spend-more-eating-out-food-home

AND truth be told French chansons (#music) are some of my favorites. Here is some French holiday listening pleasure: https://www.talkinfrench.com/christmas-songs-free/

And Garou: Joyeux Noel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVe-znmgL7Q

Music by Jingle Punks thanks to Youtube Audio Library, Free of Rights.

Deck The Halls

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Paris GOODfood+wine intro and outro music by BenSound, Groovy Jazz.

Production and Sound Editing by Paige Donner

Merci Beaucoup to all who helped make this show possible!

Wishing you and all of Earth’s Children Peace, Love & Joy this season and for 2019

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BOOK your wine tasting with Paris Food And Wine ! In Paris, we take you on a 2+ hour wine and food pairing tasting romp through the heart of the city, visiting wine bars, cheese and wine shops, with generous gulps and nibbles all the way! GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT! Contact Paige directly for bookings PaigeDonner.info Or on the website:

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Listen to Paris GOOD food + wine on :

iTunes – Paris GOODfood+wine /

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Episode 42: The Feast Is In The First Bite – Chefs Ludo Lefebvre & Nina Métayer by Paige Donner The feast is in the first bite. I came across this phrase recently listening to a science program on the radio about how human taste buds function.

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