The Quetsche

These little prune plums have been appearing in my local market for a few months now. They are a traditional fruit from Alsace. They are seasonal in Autumn, but perhaps the hot weather has brought them in early - or maybe I am just in denial about the end of summer.

They are commonly used in clafoutis or in brioche type numbers, but I decided to make some wholesome jam. I confess they are quite bitter and, being in my usual sugar-economy mode, I failed to add enough sugar. The result was a delicious, but quite a tart, jam.

A ridiculously easy jam recipe (and one which doesn't need gelatine) is to sprinkle sugar and jam over the fruit and leave them to macerate in the fridge overnight.



Then put them in a heavy based pot and let bubble away (no need to add extra water) and add sugar. Slowly bring to the boil and cook for half and hour to 40 mins. The way that you can check if the jam is set is to put a plate into the freezer for 5 minutes and then remove it and immediately add a teaspoon of the jam to the plate. Run your finger through the middle and if the jam holds its shape - ie. remains in two separate halves, it is done.



The whole putting into sterilised jars is a drag, but worth it if you make enough (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/get_cooking/recipes/071.shtml for video tips). Then, speaking from experience, you can give it away to your boyfriend's workmates who will often return the favour.

Blessed be the jam makers.

Philosophy for Life (and Cai)

I recently had the pleasure of a trip to San Sebastian and Bilbao (or Bilbo in Basque - one cannot be too PC about these territorial issues). Not sure what else goes on in Bilbao, but the chief purpose for our trip was the Guggenheim Museum. Sometimes (I hesitate to say often) the building of a museum is as beautiful as the work inside. This was so of the Guggenheim. The best work inside the museum was the work of a Chinese artist by the name of Cai Guo Qiang. (I have absolutely no affinity for Chinese names, so no matter how many times I was told his name, I simply could only remember "Cai" (and then only when prompted by M. Glasson)- apparently pronounced "Sigh"). Sigh...

Cai was the designer of the fireworks at the Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony. Remember those feet lighting up the sky? Well, that's him. His primary medium for art is fireworks. He also inspires other works (has ideas and gets others to carry them out). I visited his website this afternoon and there was a lovely post from one of his interns (http://caiguoqiang.wordpress.com/category/installation-process/). Quite the way I feel about life aujord'hui:

My previous internships in the banking industry were associated with numbers and deadline pressure. Contrary to banking, art has taught me to observe every detail and moment in life; it has relaxed my mind and heart. All of a sudden, I have started to observe life, taking time to view sprouting spring grass and ground fallen into the shade of summer trees. I have given up my old habit of rushing through the street without even lifting my eyes to see the direction. What I have learned from Cai Studio is the philosophy for life and the ability to feel happiness. – Jing Liu

see also: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/magazine/17Fireworks-t.html

Red Currant and Chocolate Tarts

Delish, summery and pas trop sucrée. For recipe see the gorgeous la tartine gourmande site and add some chocolate shavings or bits.

Georgia...

This was playing in my neighbourhood organic market this morning (Bio Nature Ave Gen Le Clerc 14e).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thls_tMuFkc

Beats the hell out of whale noises at Champion...

Mon Quartier

Le Weekend en Aout

In August the majority of Paris departs to warmer and more seaside-friendly locations, leaving the city to the tourists and, as it turns out, us. If you can handle the fact that many shops and restaurants close down in Paris in August, it is a great time to be here.

Promenade Plantée and the Chateau de Vincennes

This weekend we walked the beautiful Promenade Plantée and hired the Velib's at the

end to cycle up to the Bois de Vincennes where we ate ice cream and drank beer and ventured on to the Chateau de Vincennes, housing a 17th century palace by Louis Le Vau, the architect of the palais at Versailles and the church of St Sulpice (amongst others). The chateau was first established as a hunting lodge and then built with walls and moats int

o a serious fortress for protection of the French royal family during the hundred years war with England. It lost its status of Royal Residence with Louis XIV moved permanently to Versailles in 1682.*

At the Chateau de Vincennes, we explored the medieval keep and dungeon, up and down stone stairs, past Leadlight windows and into cool stone halls. The glorious daylight filtering through the windows (which could be shut up to deny prisoners any light) made it hard to imagine the gruesomeness of the keep's history.

Parc de Villette

Judging the day too sunny to spend it in the church (which is modeled on the exquisite Sainte Chappelle on the Ile de la Cité in the centre of Paris) or the library (and also being cheapskates - they require tickets) we moved on to prepare for a picnic for the Cinema de Plein Air at Parc de Villette. What a great space that is. Looking forward to returning for the Jazz Festival which starts on 1 September!

Picnic on the Seine

Sunday afternoon we practically had the Seine to ourselves as we picnic-ed on bread and cheese and watched the ubiquitous flirting Parisian teenagers. Had they all negotiated with their holidaying parents to leave them at home in the city?? Good thinkin'. Dinner at home with friends with a surprisingly good, last minute, thrown together peach bread and butter pudding.

* see http://vincennes.monuments-nationaux.fr/fichier/m_docvisite/261/docvisite_fichier_062007a.VINCENNES_anglais_HD.pdf