Paris Passion

My First Serrano Ham

          I was never much of a ham person, since most of the ham in American is a chemically treated salty mess, with the exception of some country hams from the Ozarks, Tennessee and Virgina.
         Since living in France, I have sought out the wonderful hams from Italy , Spain and France, but because of their exorbitant prices, came home with only a few meager slices at a time.
            When I discovered that the Spanish specialty store Galicia, just down he street, was having a promotion on whole Serrano hams , I was immediately tempted.  After several days of trying to talk myself out of buying, I finally succumbed with " really Cherry, how many more years are you going wait"
       With its hoof poking out from my caddy, I gingerly trudged it home to the olfactory delight of my little dachshund.
            Posed in its holder it looked just like those I had seen at Galeries Lafayette, and the gastronomic salons.  Serrano meaning from the mountains, is a ham that is salted and dry cured in the cool mountains of Spain.  It is not as exclusive as Jamon Iberica, but neither is the price.  Thinly sliced, drizzled with olive oil, and sprinkled with freshly ground pepper, one savors its nutty flavor, not at all salty.  It can also be added to dishes just before serving to add incredible flavor. 
           Serrano ham is heart healthy to boot, boasting a high level of oleic acid in the fat, with promotes HDL the good cholesterol. 100 grams of thisham gives 24 % of the  daily requirement of B vitamins. So lets sing to Serrano Ham!

Belle Aimee

        Aimee completes my family portrait in her usual beautiful way. A continuous pleasure to be around as daughter and  and a delightful young woman that she is.  My compatriot in Francophilia from day one, It was a natural for her to join me in Paris, after having paved her way in the Big Apple, coming to live with me a year after I arrived. New York may be jazzy, with its own wonderful energy, but it is not Paris!
                                      Aside from her french father, Aimee as always loved all things French as much as I have.  Even as a kid, we could often talk french, especially our shopping, so no one would be privy to our conversations.  She shares my love of spirituality and medicine, hoping to soon obtain her graduate degree to hang out her own shingle as a psychotherapist too.  She is already a gifted and compassionate healer, who just needs her credentials to get going. Much more artistic than me, she has a eye for color and decor, which I find myself often in need of her advice. 
      She is also Potiron's "other" mother,getting squeals of delight when she comes home from work. We are both proud "filles de Lousiane" carving out our respective paths in the city of Lights.    

   

Dr. Potiron, my assitant , my love and the man of our house

         Potiron may look like a dachshund, which he is, but trust me he is much more.  He is my doorbell, welcoming patients with his bark, then taking his position in my therapy chair. He usually ends up dreaming in his sleep during my sessions, but if a patient is crying he will usually jump down to their knees, and for those in need to cuddle him in their sorrow, he lovingly is in thier lap.  Dog therapy par excellent!!
                 When not working he is the love our lives, our bed warmer, and loyal man of the house who protests being left alone, which he seldom has too suffer, except when  am obliged to shop in an epicerie.  I in turn am his humble canine chef, fixing sautees of beef, chicken, turkey, and chicken livers with various chopped vegetables for his delight.  He loves drinking wine from our lips, never a glass.  A decadent dachshund!!!

Back Home In Louisiana Bistro 6301

          My talented son Andre and beautiful daughter in law Amy just opened their own restaurant,in Shreveport, where Andre had been excutive chef for several years.  A dream come true since their cooking school days here in Paris.   I miss the times they were here, our sunday dinners together, and hearing everyday what they cooked.  We still go to their school when they have " les portes ouvert" to gorge on the students delightful confections.  Ecole Superior de la Cuisine Francais is a part of the Ecole Ferrandi, where some of the best French trained chefs graduate, like my son Chef Andre and Amy!   Bravo Amy and Andre!!!!

Brayden Beau Garcon

  Brayden was born on April 20, 2002.  He has a Paris connection of his own as his mama and daddy got caught up in their own Paris passion while attending culinary school here.  His impetuous smiles titillate my heart. He loves  to wake me up, when visiting with a big grin and kiss! Can not think of a better way to start the day than with Brayden! From then on it is non stop Brayden with Mama Amy and Daddy Andre trying to catch up. When he talks to Mimi Cherry, my heart just melts..   I MISS and LOVE YOU BRAYDEN!

ISABELLE MA BELLE

         

Isabelle was born on on the 16 of June, 2004.  As you can see , she is a beauty for sure!  Her Mimi Cherry misses her a lot, but we have our own little conversations now and then via telephone that melts my heart!  I LOVE YOU ISABELLE!

Pissing in the Street

        I do not consider myself a prude by any means, but men taking leaks on public streets is not a very pleasant thing to see or smell.  Call it envy because my female anatomy does not give to these sort of things or not, but if I have to wait to relieve myself, why can't they?  France is notorious for this sort of activity, so I was delighted to see this adorable sign displayed in the village, encouraging men to use toilets instead of street corners. 
       After blatantly pointing out the necessity for signs like this this to uncle Jacques, lo and behold if I didn't catch doing the same thing upon returning to his car.  At least his car was parked in a field, not the street! Maybe you just can't teach old villagers new tricks.

Fete St. Vincent in Chablis

    This past weekend was spent in the rolling hills of Chablis, which constitutes the northern area of Burgundy. Saint Vincent is the patron saint of vintners.  Along with blessings of the vines and special messes, it is also just another excuse to to have a decadent orgie of wine tasting of the region's wine.  Just slightly east of Auxerre, the communes of Chablis abound with vines of Chardonnay grapes.Of course at this time of the year the vines are pruned back to black stubbles ,resting their energies for the spring of 2006.
                                The little village of Lignorelles was gayly decorated with multi colored paper flowers hanging everywhere. Smells of boudin, andouilletes and escargots a la bourguion wafed through the frigid air, well below freezing.  Throngs of red nose and very red cheeks wine drinkers plundered and waddled along the tiny streets, most with their degustation glass dangling from their neck.  Chablis everywhere! Pale liquid sunshine , hinting of white flowers as you poked your nose deep into the glass, glided down easily. I love Chablis for fresh fruitiness of the Chardonnay grapes.  Most Chablis in France is not oaked, thank goodness.  Oaking which is way overdone in California masks the true fruit of the grape, which can be a means of doctoring up mediocre wine. 
                             Aimee;s friend Cyril has 2 uncles who are vintners in Chablis.  One Jacques, invited us to lunch saturday, and the other Sylvan Moissnier showed us around his cave Sunday.  It was a real treat to taste the new chablis 2005, drown from the cuve, still aging its way along to being a completed chablis.  Busting with freshness and floral notes, it still was in the process of clarification.  A baby Chablis, not ready to be born, but much promise for the 2005 vintage!!