More From France

A few more pictures of delicacies from France, just to make you jealous... We made it to a few very good restaurants and managed to eat well nearly the whole time we were there.

First up, the Breizh Cafe, a Breton restaurant specializing in galettes (buckwheat crêpes) in the Marais. This one was found on David Leibovitz's recommendation.

They also have an extensive selection of cidre, the traditional slightly-alcoholic apple cider also known for being a Breton specialty

My galette had mushrooms, egg, cheese, cream, and a little red pepper

Maman got one with some rustic sausage, a hash of fishy potatoes, and greens

Another stellar dining experience was at the cafe for the Jacquemart-André Museum. Their menu consists mostly of beautiful salads, a lovely dessert tray and a nice selection of teas.

My salad had smoked salmon, a lobster terrine, and a small spinach souffle.

Mom got a meatier one.

A slice of the pistachio-flavored bûche.

Let's end with something sweet, shall we? Berthillon is very famous but I never made it there during my study-abroad sojourn, so it was on my list of must-do's for this trip. We went to the little Berthillon storefront on the Ile-St-Louis. It was a lovely room, and not crowded late on a Monday night.

Mom got apricot and fig sorbets - and I think would have been ready to eat here for the rest of her life.

Pour moi, the mandarin sorbet and nougat-honey ice cream, with whipped cream (crême chantilly) and raspberry coulis

Holiday Greetings from France

I was lucky to spend Christmas week in France this year, and got to sample some of the holiday foods associated with the season in that country, that I'd never had before...

The bûche de noel, a staple item in window displays all over the city, all decorated differently and in different flavors.

Pretty holiday cakes, also with decorations on top

It wasn't just sweets that were on display - many stores were selling prepared foods, including stuffed lobsters, foie gras, and escargots...

And nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a dessicated pig leg

In the Marais, Jewish bakeries had goodies on display as well

Not special for Hanukkah, I'm guessing, but I did lust after those donuts

I've been curious about marrons glacés for a long time, and got to try one from Fauchon. This one was "nature" i.e., not flavored with anything - and it was cultivated in France (yes, I got to choose the "terroir" of this candied chestnut)

It was kind of tasty on its own, but, having purchased two, I ate the second one with some thick yogurt, and enjoyed its nutty sweetness more that way.

On Vacation (from the archives)

Gentle readers: Your loyal blogger is going on August recess for the next couple of weeks, so in the meantime please enjoy some of my early ventures into the realm of food photography. These are all pictures from my study abroad term in 2002; back then I thought of it as a travelogue, but in new places, the food (if it's interesting) so quickly becomes an important part of the overall experience...

Fresh seafood at an open-air market in Aix-en-Provence

I believe these are scallops, also known as coquilles St-Jacques

Fresh tunas await their fate

Marzipan fruits (also in Provence)

Window display of Easter chocolates in Paris

Restaurant-made crepe, in Paris

Learning how to make crepes at home

A large bowl made of bread (in Rome)

My friend and fellow gastronome Vanessa longing after Spanish sweets (Toledo)

Consuming churros con chocolate for breakfast (in Seville, I think)

French pastries! (Paris)

Closeup on those same beautiful pastries.

Can you believe there's a shop like this in every neighborhood in Paris?

Vegan Dining in Dallas

Made a trip to Dallas last weekend, for my cousin's high school graduation. Dallas is not usually thought of as a hotbed of vegan activity, but I managed to have two vegan meals while I was there, both of them quite decent.

First was the Spiral Diner in Oak Cliff, located at an intersection where the other businesses are car repair shops and fruterias. 

Outside the diner

Inside the diner

Agave-sweetened sodas in the fountain

Vegan biscuits and gravy!

I could have gone for seconds.

Vegan migas (tofu scramble)

Later, we grabbed a quick dinner in Highland Park Village, home to high-end retail and an unassuming burger joint called Who's Who. They offer a nicely done veggie burger, as well as fancy beef burgers and hot dogs.

Specially-made patty and mushrooms 

top all the veggie burgers