Sanna's Delicious Garlic Tarte in 10 easy steps

Hi lovelies!

A few weeks ago my good friend Sanna invited us to the magnificent Buttes Chaumont Park in 19e arrondissement in Paris. For a mid-October day the weather was incredible. The sun was shinning and there was not a cloud in the sky. Sanna had inadvertently picked the perfect day for a potluck picnic in the Park. Before I get into the amazing tarte that Sanna brought let me tell you a bit about the Buttes Chaumont. This giant park in the northeastern part of Paris offers rolling hills, lakes, and panoramic views of the entire city of Paris. On a sunny day you will find the area saturated with people lounging, drinking wine and having a great time.

For me, it was my first time visiting the park, and I was stunned by the beauty. I showed up around 2pm with the baguette, wine, cheese, and saucisson mix that are a staple of the classic French picnic. I met Sanna and her small group on an open hillside under direct sunlight. It was so warm for an October day that I quickly shed my scarf and jacket before looking around at what the others brought to the picnic. I quickly picked out the most intriguing item to be a sort of quiche/pie/tart with garlic. Sanna then cut me a slice and explained to me that this was one of her classic healthy recipes. It took me just one bite to realize how delicious her tart was.

So without further ado...

Sanna's Delicious Garlic Tarte.

Ingredients:
125 grams of Mozarella (the original calls for Goat cheese)
125 grams Boursin Cheese (Sanna recommends any soft goats cheese or Greek feta)
400 grams ready to use Puff Pastry
20 garlic cloves (peeled)
250 mL of water
2 tbps of olive oil
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp of fresh rosemary
1 tsp of fresh thym
2 eggs
1 tbps sugar
250 grams Creme Fraiche
salt and pepper

(1) Lay out ingredients 

(2) Prepare your Puff Pastry and set aside

(3) Boil your garlic cloves for about 2-3 minutes in a sauce pan

(4) Strain your cloves and add olive oil to the same sauce pan.

(5) Add the Balsamic Vinegar, thym, rosemary, and sugar. Bring to and boil and simmer until a caramel coating covers the cloves. 

(6) CHEESE! 

(7) Prepare a mixture of the eggs, Creme Fraiche, and salt & pepper. 

(8) Crumble all the cheese on the bottom of the Puff Pastry.

(9) Pour the mixture from step (7) over the cheese and Puff Pastry.

(10) Place your delicious pie in the oven for 30-40 minutes at 180 C (375F). 

Et Voila! A fantastic garlic tart, eat warm and serve with a glass of wine. Have a beautiful day!

Bisous fois dix.

What to eat when...

HAPPY MONDAY! I know double blah. It's always around this time of the year when it starts getting colder day by day. After a successful Thanksgiving weekend here in Paris, it's back to the daily grind. P.S, is it just me or does is everyone at work sick?! Enjoy this post of what to eat when...

(1) You can't afford to get sick.

Grab a slice of watermelon. It's packed with an antioxidant called glutathione and it will help you replenish necessary fluids.

(2) You are restless and absolutely need to fall asleep before your big meeting tomorrow!


POPCORN! Yup, that's right. Help yourself to two cups of popcorn. The carbs will create serotine allowing your body to relax and de-stress.

(3) You are stressed out. 


Chocolate. A few squares of dark chocolate will do the trick and fight those raging hormones.

(4) You are feeling mega negative. 

Prepare some fresh salmon in the oven or frying pan. The omega-3 fatty acids will lift your spirits.

(5) You are heading to the gym and starving. 


Make yourself a smoothie about an hour before you go. Combine fruit, low-fat milk and protein powder.

(6) Urg, Migraine. 


Prevent those bang-your-head-against-your-desk headaches by eating a hearty breakfast with a cup of oatmeal and almonds and a glass of green tea. The oatmeal and almonds are full of magnesium and the green tea is infused with anti-inflammatory magic that will bring down the swelling in your blood vessels.

(7) Falling asleep after a hearty lunch. 


Almonds and pistachios! (Not too many, they are very high in calories) The fiber and protein will give you a boost. Oh, and try some cranberries for that sugar boost.

(8) When are you taking antibiotics. 

Yogurt will give you the necessary calcium to keep you strong while your body fights against whatever you are battling.

If you are in France. STAY WARM. Paris is getting colder and colder. Have a beautiful day!

Bisous fois dix.

Taco Friday!

Let's go to MEXICO! (for the evening at least). Source

Happy Friday all!

I hope you are ready and raring for a relaxing Thanksgiving weekend.
I thought I would share a top secret step-by-step recipe for our rustic mouth-watering tacos.

Give these a go over the weekend if you've had enough of the Thanksgiving leftovers.

Finished product: VOILA!!

Tortilla Recipe:

1kg Flour
2 Table spoons Salt
1 Table spoon Baking Powder
1.5 Cups Warm water
1 Cup Cooking Oil

Mouth-watering additional ingredients:

Feta CHEESEEEEEEEEE (drool)
Cilantro (double drool)
Shredded Chicken
Tabasco Sauce
Re-fried Beans (home made: heat up in frying pan, add a little bit of oil and mash away!)
Diced Tomatoes
Limes
Shreddred Cabbage (for that extra crunch)

Pill up the additional ingredients on those fresh off the frying pan tortillas, squeeze that lime, squirt that tabasco sauce and indulge.

I hope you enjoyed my first step by step recipe! Many more to come, brace yourselves.

Have a beautiful greyish day in Paris and I hope its much nicer anywhere else!

Bisous fois dix.

Restaurant Review: Ave Maria

Do you feel like getting lost in Brazil, surrounded by Parisiens? Eating food that melts in your mouth? This place actually exists. I promise. It's called Ave Maria. The best kept culinary secret in Paris. Ave Maria is frequented by local hipsters flocking together from each corner of Paris. Beware: reservations are not accepted. I recommend arriving at 20h00 to avoid the dinner rush. Dress code is casual and the decor of the restaurant represents the food that they serve, eclectic and all over the place.

Metro Oberkampkf on the 9 line or Metro Parmentier: 1 rue Jacquare, Oberkampf, 75011 Paris, France 01 47 00 61 73

The cuisine is Brazilian mixed with African soul and a little bit of caribbean spice. Example main courses : Amazonian Fish and Chips, Woman On Top, and Himalayan Dream. Price range from 16-29 €.

The Woman on Top : Before

The Woman on Top : After

For me, the best part about this hot spot are the cocktails. A perfectly well made mojito (which is, to say the least, extremely rare in Paris). A succulent Batida (coconut milk, white rum, served with mint) and frostry margaritas for 6-7 €.

Enjoy the atmosphere and mouth watering food with a group of 2-6 people (I say this because 7-8 people is too much for this humble hole in the wall). 4-6 is perfect because seating is limited to benches and picnic tables.

I know it doesn't have the glamour of a Parisien bistro BUT I am all about delicious and well priced food. SO this if you are like me, check this place out.

Overcast in Paris today. Today is the day for some marathon training.

Bisous fois dix

Candelaria

Ok ok ok... This may be one of the upcoming-hipster-place-to-to-be in Paris at the moment. Candelaria is the SPOT for Mexican treats (guac and tosdadas) and delicious cocktails. Unfortunately it has become so popular... so be prepared to be standing on your feet the entire night (even while eating).

Hopefully you aren't Hangry (Hungry + Angry) before you get there and don't have a lot of patience like me. You can reserve a table a few nights ahead of time and Mondays the lounge in the back of the restaurant is reserved for events. I got to see Vanessa Bruno last time I went on a Monday.

The cocktails are expensive and take a while to prepare but they are definitely worth the wait. I suggest the Pisco Disco cocktail.

The restaurant in the front holds a maximum of 15 people and you enter the lounge through a non-obvious door past the kitchen. The place is always packed! So dress to impress and order the Nopal Taco (hard taco shell with re fried beans, cooked cactus and cheese).

Picture courtesy of Candelaria on Facebook

The address is on the website! Have fun and be sure to get there around 8pm to ensure a good seat. 

I hope you enjoyed my first restaurant post!

Bisous fois dix