Navigating Old-Town Annecy
Find the canal, turn left at the fish mongrel, and walk past the first two restaurants. The third, with its little candy-cane-striped poles bordering the entrance, is the most delicious and affordable food you’ll find in Annecy.
We stumbled upon this gem our first night there. As of 9 am that morning on our train ride to Switzerland, I desperately wanted a salad, and at 7:30 pm, my craving had yet to be fulfilled. Strolling down the cobblestone streets, we meticulously inspected every menu we passed, but the first 9 didn’t offer dishes that could satisfy everyone’s picky palates. Continue reading for recipe.
Market Culture
Californian Farmer’s Markets come once a week, and they sell ripe, delicious produce to regular people. In France, their markets open multiple times throughout the week, and both townspeople and restaurant chefs buy from the same vendors. So that whole-wheat artisan bread we smelled in the morning as we bought some carrots showed up on our table in a restaurant’s bread basket later that night.
Which means that French menus are constantly changing. In the US, only the restaurant’s special tends to vary and depends on the fresh produce or catch of the day. But across the Atlantic, chefs adjust their salad toppings, side dishes, and especially their desserts according to what they bought earlier in the day. Continue reading for recipe.
I Spy… A Tourist!
It’s easier to spot American tourists in Paris than fireworks on the Fourth of July. The expensive digital cameras, huge detailed maps, and shopping bags of souvenirs are all pretty good clues. But the dead give-away? Their shoes. Continue reading for recipe.
Boulangerie Bliss
If Gustave Eiffel never designed his infamous Eiffel Tower for the World’s Fair in 1889, the baguette would be the unofficial national symbol of France. French culture entirely revolves around this irresistible bread. Every other block in Paris contains a boulangerie, and picnic lunches always include bread and cheese or a sandwich on a baguette. Every café or restaurant begins its meal with a basket of fresh bread, it’s impossible to get on the metro without spotting a Parisian wielding a baguette, and Marie Antoinette never would have said, “Let them eat cake!” if the French didn’t depend so heavily on their bread. Continue reading for recipe.
A Beginner’s Guide To Paris
After my third trip to France, I could practically be a tour guide and personally show you the best sights and secrets of Paris. Not just the famous places like the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame, but also the lesser known (and even more impressive!) Hôtel de Ville and Opéra de Paris Garnier. But since I’m not brave enough to quit my day job just yet, I’d advise purchasing Paris: Eyewitness Travel Guides and following these 5 helpful hints. Continue reading for recipe.
Foods for the Soul 