3 hours (or less) from Paris: Tasting Aubrac #1

July was the perfect time to visit this fairytale region just north of Provence. Few tourists, incredible weather, and easy-to-nab rooms made our stay here perfection and, as every region in France, Aubrac came through with its own signature specialties: aligot, red label boeuf d'Aubrac, Cantal cheeses, punti, farçous, tripous, estofinado and fouace, to name a few.

Above: village of Estaing; driving in the countryside; a walk along the river

Below: breakfast awaits

 

Tomorrow: to market to market

Gift list

A sign inside a boulangerie on my street yesterday.

Much to be thankful for.

Eat street

I used to live on narrow rue des Trois Frères on what locals call "the Abbesses side" of the butte, a street reputed for its diverse restaurants such as (recommended):

Le Potager du Père Thierry #16
Le Refuge des Fondus (wine / all drinks served in baby bottles) #17

Le Dan Bau (Vietnamese) #18

Le Jardin d'en Face #29
La Famille #41

Summer cafés

Less people in Paris means squares can be turned into terraces with tables and chairs.

Below: with room to spread this café takes up an entire square

Good starts

All over Paris the traditional French breakfast of coffee, or tea, and a tartine is being pushed aside for more substantial fare.

Above: 1) fruity chia bowl of grains, strawberries, blueberries and raspberry coulis 2) organic eggs, spinach French toast, crisp bacon 3) poached egg atop sweet potato purée, toasted hazelnuts, fresh herbs and button mushrooms 4) feta and shredded zucchini "quiches" with peaches and tomato

Thanks to:
Le Pain Quotidien
Hardware Societé
Frenchie To Go
Ten Belles

The dance

The original of this sculpture on the façade of Opéra Garnier is in the Orsay Museum.

Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux
La Danse (1868)

Three top chefs

Three great men.

Paul Bocuse, Anthony Bourdain, and today, Joël Robuchon.

R.I.P.

"Cooking is an act of love..."