I just emailed my manuscript off to my editor. 55,000 words on New York and Paris, macarons and cupcakes, croissants and muffins, Pierre Hermé and Ladurée, friends and family, Velibs and more Velibs, French toast and le pain perdu, ecstasy and depression, Milo and my treehouse...
I am happy, relieved, and sort of in awe that, oui, that was my life. Two sublime (though sometimes difficult and maddening) years in Paris.
Thank you ALL for your support, insights and camaraderie—you are part of the story! Thank you, merci from the bottom of my grateful heart. Let the transatlantic adventures continue! xo
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
My Vegan Mondays
This week, it will be a Vegan Tuesday. Please forgive me. But after three+ weeks of alkalizing and non-stop writing, reading, editing, revising, I needed a break. I was actually going along so well today. Green juice… avocado toast… carrots and hummus… But when my dear friends from LA asked if I wanted to join them for dinner at Balthazar, all bets were off. There was no way I wasn’t getting that goat cheese and caramelized onion tart.
Needless to say, dinner was over-the-top delicious. Balthazar remains my favorite restaurant in the city, especially when shared with great friends. Chris and Butch got the three-tiered Balthazar seafood platter: king crabs, lobster, oysters, shrimp, clams, ceviche.... I nibbled some of that, had my tart and chicken pallaird and butter on my bread. Plus champagne and chocolate cake for dessert. Pourquoi pas? I’m celebrating. The book goes in on Wednesday, the article on Friday, and I am a free woman come Saturday. Hallelujah!
Needless to say, dinner was over-the-top delicious. Balthazar remains my favorite restaurant in the city, especially when shared with great friends. Chris and Butch got the three-tiered Balthazar seafood platter: king crabs, lobster, oysters, shrimp, clams, ceviche.... I nibbled some of that, had my tart and chicken pallaird and butter on my bread. Plus champagne and chocolate cake for dessert. Pourquoi pas? I’m celebrating. The book goes in on Wednesday, the article on Friday, and I am a free woman come Saturday. Hallelujah!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
The little things I love
French blues...
Courtyards...
Pavés...
Ohh, I love, love, love the chairs in les jardins...
And the street numbers...
Courtyards...
Pavés...
Ohh, I love, love, love the chairs in les jardins...
And the street numbers...
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The final countdown
It’s sunny and 80 degrees in New York City (ahhhh). Memorial Day weekend is on the horizon (yay!). I have dear friends from LA coming to town (so fun!). And… one week to finish the book (gulp). One week to finish the book!!
It’s a blockbuster start to summer, mes amis! What’s on your agenda?
It’s a blockbuster start to summer, mes amis! What’s on your agenda?
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
My Vegan Mondays
I did it! Two full weeks without sugar, chocolate, caffeine, dairy or meat. Since 70% of your food can technically be acidic on the alkaline diet, I am still theoretically doing the diet. But I’ve had fish and booze and Haribo Tagado (ohhhh) and one sublime Jean-Paul Hévin truffle (mmmmmm). My goal this week is to really see how these acidic foods affect my energy and body when I eat them. Do I notice a difference?
Overall, the diet was a success. It was an interesting exercise in being really, really mindful of what you put in your body and being in control of what you eat. I’ve enjoyed relying so much on greens. But, for me anyway, it’s just not sustainable. I love food too much. Sandwiches and oatmeal and fish and toast, to say nothing of cupcakes and bonbons and wine and chocolate chip cookies. I could never give that stuff up for good. But here are a few rules I will try to implement:
I’ll try to keep my morning routine of green tea, green juice and fruit.
Pizza no more than once a week.
Peanut butter toast no more than once a week.
Baked goods one day during the week and one day during the weekend.
As often as possible—at least 4 or 5 days a week—a giant salad as one of the day’s main meals.
As for today, it was back to regular Vegan Mondays:
Morning
Green tea
Green juice (kale, celery, parsley, lemon juice and banana)
Blueberries
Banana
Afternoon
Pasta with tomato sauce
Green salad
Apple
Evening
Roasted asparagus and carrots
Overall, the diet was a success. It was an interesting exercise in being really, really mindful of what you put in your body and being in control of what you eat. I’ve enjoyed relying so much on greens. But, for me anyway, it’s just not sustainable. I love food too much. Sandwiches and oatmeal and fish and toast, to say nothing of cupcakes and bonbons and wine and chocolate chip cookies. I could never give that stuff up for good. But here are a few rules I will try to implement:
I’ll try to keep my morning routine of green tea, green juice and fruit.
Pizza no more than once a week.
Peanut butter toast no more than once a week.
Baked goods one day during the week and one day during the weekend.
As often as possible—at least 4 or 5 days a week—a giant salad as one of the day’s main meals.
As for today, it was back to regular Vegan Mondays:
Morning
Green tea
Green juice (kale, celery, parsley, lemon juice and banana)
Blueberries
Banana
Afternoon
Pasta with tomato sauce
Green salad
Apple
Evening
Roasted asparagus and carrots
Sunday, May 22, 2011
I'd rather be...
...taking a cooking class in Paris.
In a big fancy kitchen...
...the sight and smell of fresh ingredients everywhere.
Getting my hands messy, learning a trick or two, and anticipating the feast.
Creamy parsnip soup...
...sole Meuniere...
... and fruit carpaccio.
Sigh.
In a big fancy kitchen...
...the sight and smell of fresh ingredients everywhere.
Getting my hands messy, learning a trick or two, and anticipating the feast.
Creamy parsnip soup...
...sole Meuniere...
... and fruit carpaccio.
Sigh.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Fire up the questions
My head has been swimming in Paris in the weeks since I’ve been back. It was such a great trip. The perfect balance of visiting mes amis (miss you!), writing and working on the book, and basking in Paris’ charms and graces. The sublime weather didn’t hurt either. (Nor did the almond croissants.)
Then I came home to New York and got sick. Again. It’s been raining for six days in a row now, making this an epic Bad Hair Week. And, in case you haven’t heard, the world is going to end tomorrow.
In other words, I’m starting to wonder just what the hell I’ve been up to since I’ve been back in NYC. Has it really been three weeks? Sheesh. I did have that most lovely meal at Buvette, plus a heavenly lunch at ABC Kitchen. I saw the Generationals. I’ve taken walks in Central Park and along the Hudson River Park and have gone shopping at Chelsea Market. But mostly I’ve just been eating kale and trying to finish my book. 10 days and counting. It’s time to start thinking about what kind of champagne to get when it’s done. (Ruinart Rosé. Duh.)
The fiercest part of the alkaline diet is over and I say that with a Haribo Tagada in my mouth. Done. I’ll still go big on greens and maintain a healthy pH as much as possible, but 14 days is a long time to resist sugar. Sugar may not good for you, but it’s so good.
And then there’s this idea I have of investing in a life coach. I feel like this has been a major transition, returning to New York. I haven’t had time to really figure it out but things are percolating. It seems like it’s the right time to make a change. To go for something big. To take a risk. Or just get a new wardrobe or something. I’m taking notes and trying to really focus on what my next chapter will be. What do you think? What should the next chapter be? ?
Then I came home to New York and got sick. Again. It’s been raining for six days in a row now, making this an epic Bad Hair Week. And, in case you haven’t heard, the world is going to end tomorrow.
In other words, I’m starting to wonder just what the hell I’ve been up to since I’ve been back in NYC. Has it really been three weeks? Sheesh. I did have that most lovely meal at Buvette, plus a heavenly lunch at ABC Kitchen. I saw the Generationals. I’ve taken walks in Central Park and along the Hudson River Park and have gone shopping at Chelsea Market. But mostly I’ve just been eating kale and trying to finish my book. 10 days and counting. It’s time to start thinking about what kind of champagne to get when it’s done. (Ruinart Rosé. Duh.)
The fiercest part of the alkaline diet is over and I say that with a Haribo Tagada in my mouth. Done. I’ll still go big on greens and maintain a healthy pH as much as possible, but 14 days is a long time to resist sugar. Sugar may not good for you, but it’s so good.
And then there’s this idea I have of investing in a life coach. I feel like this has been a major transition, returning to New York. I haven’t had time to really figure it out but things are percolating. It seems like it’s the right time to make a change. To go for something big. To take a risk. Or just get a new wardrobe or something. I’m taking notes and trying to really focus on what my next chapter will be. What do you think? What should the next chapter be? ?
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