More Snow in Normandy!

Soon we will be joining the great migration of cars returning to Paris. You'd think we'd learn the lesson after being stuck in three hour traffic jams between Paris and Versailles. In the meantime, being stuck in a traffic jam is a great time to take photos.

New Year's Eve Dinner in Normandy

This was Lydie's New Year's Eve quail dish! It's not every day you get to try quail - and this may be the first time we've had a New Year's Eve meal prepared at home. When it comes to New Years and Christmas, this is when French chefs really outdo themselves.

Here's what we ate:
An assortment of 'verrines' including gazpacho and guacamole (Francoise is the queen of verrines!)
Foie gras de canard with Coteaux de Layon
Quail with white grapes marinated in cognac
Beaune Burgundy
Celery puree
Sauteed potatoes
Macaroons and sorbet
Mom's refrigerator cookies

And Champagne - but, of course!

Thank you to our charming hosts, Francoise and Jean-Pierre for welcoming us into their home!!

New Years Day in Normandy

Actually, the day after. It's snowing and I'm listening to the soundtrack to Sideways for the umpteenth million time. Is there any better way to start the new year? The score framed plenty of summer barbecues in Normandy this past year and never ceases to delight me.

Sideways actually appears on occasion in Paris, but we missed the last screening at a Latin quarter cinema. If you haven't seen the film yet, don't miss it. I remember seeing it for the first time at the Little theater in Rochester. Even though it was reviewed as a comedy, the opening scenes didn't show any promise of comedy - and how could you EVER sympathize with a guy who steals money from his Mum? It just goes to show that our capacity for human compassion is much more elastic than one might imagine.

What would you like to know about Paris?

Dear Beloved Reader: I have to apologize for being so lazy - the stories have been piling up and not getting into print, so now it's your turn to tell me about what you'd like to read first:

Here are some topics:
The Gala at the Garnier Opera House: Ballet Russes
Jazz near the Champs Elysees
A good Chinese restaurant in the 13th
Can bicycles turn right on red?
The Isadora Duncan exhibit at Musee Bourdelle
The Dutch Masters exhibit at the Musee Pinotheque
and beyond Paris:
Festival of Lights in Lyon

Snow in Paris

Yes, it does snow in Paris. There's no better time to be here - if you're a photographer, but don't even think about getting in or out of town - especially in a taxi. My heart really went out to whomever hired the cab that was just in front of us, stuck in traffic on the 'periphe'.

Normally it takes just under two hours to drive out to Normandy. Yesterday (Thursday, Dec 17th, it took us three hours to drive from Montparnasse to Vaucresson (which is almost at Versailles). If you can make it to Versailles, you're home free. From that point on, it was smooth sailing and bright sunshine as soon as we passed from Ile de France into Normandy - am I starting to sound 'chauvin'when it comes to La Belle Normandie?

The photo here was taken actually almost a year ago when it also snowed in Paris during the month of February (still in 2009). This was supposed to be my Christmas card this year, but procrastination won out. Merry Christmas to my beloved blogreader!

Trivia Question for the Day

Thinking about Sara Jeannette Duncan and the Honorable Sir Rash Behary Ghose.
Just what was "The Law of Mortgages in British India" all about?

And, does anyone have a copy of Sara Jeannette Duncan's books on Calcutta? Oh, and by the way, if you want to know where to listen to a Finnish female jazz saxophonist in Paris, I can tell you!

French Dinner Conversations

Receiving a dinner invitation in France is a wonderful thing. I may not remember EVERY dinner - but many of them -- going back to the 1970s remain vibrant partly for all the great food served - but primarily for the flow of conversation.

And as Christopher noted this past weekend, people love to talk here - so what do you do when your command of the French language is less than perfect? Take the roller coaster approach and enjoy the ride.

What I love about conversing in French is that - although conversations can be just as superficial - the boundaries appear to be wider. All the etiquette books tell you to avoid discussing religion, sex and politics, but in France, the only really taboo subject is money. (Probably a close second is work).

Be prepared to talk about your president. (and regardless of your politics, don't embarrass yourself by tearing him/or her to shreds). I'm always amazed at how people can discuss politics at great length here - and often - you may never really know how people actually would vote.

And I can guarantee you that you are bound to feel sheepish about how little you really know about your own country. A case in point: Which states border Lake Superior? Usually after a dinner out, I spend the next day googling on subjects ranging from the War of 1812 to the origins of May Day in Chicago.

Sometimes a simple question can create plenty of discussion.
Example: What's the difference between an onion and a shallot?

Although it may be more difficult to speak in French than in English (with plenty of pitfalls and gaffes for sure), sometimes I feel freer to speak my heart in a second language. And thanks to that, the words are getting easier to find - even in English.