Ann Mah's Blog, page 37
August 27, 2010
Provence food notes
A good vacation is nothing without good food, and I certainly had my fair share in Provence this summer. Here's a little round-up of some of the things I ate…
La Gare de Bonnieux (Bonnieux, tel: 04 90 75 82 00)
This is Bonnieux's former train station, now converted to a restaurant, and it's one of those institutions that everyone seemed to know about, except me (for a long time) because it's a little hard to find. It's kind of a genius concept, though. The lunch formule starts off with a trip ...
August 23, 2010
Summer holiday
All year long, I dream of lavendar, bright sunshine, olive oil, and the juice of a nectarine running down my chin. Happily, my dreams came true this summer, during our vacation in Provence. What did we do?
We walked through lavender fields near Sault, strolling the 5-km "Chemin des lavandes," each step perfumed by a lovely, clean fragrance.
We shopped the region's famous open markets, following them to a different village each day of the week.
I fell in love again with these fresh, speckled...
August 4, 2010
August
It's August, which means Parisians have fled their fair ville — staying in town during the dog days of summer is so terribly unchic, you know. And so, mes amis, it's just little old me alone in the big old City of Light. And, to be honest with you, I'm kind of enjoying the emptiness.
July 30, 2010
Spotted near Les Halles
Wondering what to call your shoe store? Nothing says footwear like the world's most famous talk show host.
July 22, 2010
Recent restaurant redux
I know I've been a little remiss on the restaurant posts recently, but sometimes when I'm eating out, I just want to stuff my maw instead of taking notes and photos. But then, browsing a few of my favorite France blogs, I had an epiphany: I can do a short and punchy restaurant roundup instead of a long, elaborate rumination. I can — gasp! — do whatever the heck I want — it's my blog! So, borrowing a page from the charming Sweet Freak, here's a little restaurant redux of the places I've eaten ...
July 16, 2010
Gone fishin'
I saw this yesterday, posted outside the fish shop. It's a cute sign and I'm all for long summer holidays, but SEVEN WEEKS of vacation? Good grief!
July 14, 2010
Bonne fête du 14 juillet!
Happy Bastille Day, mes amis! Here in Paris we're celebrating with giant rain showers and the military parade on TV. I was hoping to picnic this evening on the Champ du Mars, to drink rosé on the grass, eat peanut noodles and watch the fireworks, but the weather has decidedly, er, dampened my plans.
Wet grass means no picnic. Cloudy skies mean dubious views for fireworks. Temps below 70ºF mean it's too chillly for rosé. But I'm still determined to make the peanut noodles. Hey, one out of four ...
July 7, 2010
Top Chef exit interviews
Apologies for the shameless self-promotion (yet if I can't do it here, where can I?) but I am very excited to be chatting with this season's Top Chef contestants as they pack their knives and go. If you're a Top Chef fan like me, please check out my exit interviews on the Washingtonian's Best Bites blog. Each Friday, we'll grill a newly axed chef-contestant on behind-the-scenes gossip like why the h*ll they didn't taste their food. After all, as the old adage goes, if you can't take the...
June 30, 2010
Real hot dogs "New Yorkais"
Breaking news: Real New York hot dogs are available in Paris! (Side note — who knew real New York hot dogs were so fetishized?) When I saw this real, New York hot dog cart outside La Grande Epicerie, I had to stop to sample a weiner. After all, I needed to know: Is there anything different about a hot dog that bills itself as "le vrai New Yorkais" but which is found Paris?
