La Famille

Every now and then, you discover that rare jewel of a restaurant that just makes you go wow! La Famille, a French neo-bistro in Montmartre here in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, is that type of place. Though it's been around for quite a while now, I didn't know of it until walking by not too long ago and then reading about the bartender Houssin's artsy cocktails via 52 Martinis. But when Mei-i (a.k.a The Displaced Cook) recently made a business trip to Paris, we decided to have dinner there. And what a good decision that was!

Cardamom Panna Cotta: An Indian twist to an Italian classic

If ever asked, I would be really hard pressed to name my favorite spice (as The Mistress of Spices, I naturally love them all!). Without a doubt though, cardamom would be somewhere near the top of my list. This aromatic spice is found in the form of green, brown or black pods which when split open, reveal little clusters of tiny black seeds on the inside. The whole pods are commonly used in rice and meat dishes, as well as coffees and teas, in Indian, Persian and Middle Eastern cuisines, while the little black seeds, finely ground into a powder, are a key ingredient in many desserts and sweets from that part of the world.

Spicy Broccoli Cheese Soup

Have you ever had one of those days? When getting out of bed is a struggle, when you have a bad commute, when nothing seems to go quite the way you want at work...and you spend the whole day in a generally blah mood. Today was one of those days for me. There was no particular reason why, other than the onset of chilly, dreary weather here in Paris and the continuation of the general strikes that are currenly plaguing France. The combination of these two things seems to have everyone here in a sour mood lately, and I was certainly no exception today.

Fête des vendanges de Montmartre 2010

 

Even though I've been in Paris for over four years now and have been living in the 18th arrondissement for the last two, just a stone's throw from Montmartre, this weekend marked my first visit to the annual Fête des vendanges de Montmartre. Celebrated since 1934 at the beginning of October, this wonderful neighborhood festival marks the arrival of the wine harvest from the small vineyards at the top of Montmartre, the area surrounding the Basilica of the Sacre Coeur which marks Paris's most bohemian and artsy area. 

Chili Paneer "Samosas"

For a spice mistress who also happens to be a lover of cheese in all its forms, there is nothing better than chili paneer! This classic of Indian-Chinese cuisine, made with the Indian cheese known as paneer and spiced up with ginger, garlic, ketchup (yes, ketchup!) and chili sauce, has always been one of my favorites. I have been making it for years, but last night I decided to use it as a filling for "samosas," and the result was fabulous! Perfect as an appetizer for an Indian-themed dinner party or apéro or as an anytime snack!

Wine 101 with Ô Chateau

Whenever I'm travelling or back home in the States and tell people that I live in Paris, they get excited. Oooh la la! I get tales of childhood family vacations to France, recollections of high school French (bonjour, je m'appelle Sophie, je suis américaine et j'aime les frites) and more than a few questions about whether I spend my time sitting in cafes, eating baguettes and cheese and drinking wine all day long.