All Wrapped Up in One

It's not just the people who are beautiful in Paris. 

Jacques Genin's ultimate lemon tart.  See how we spit it? We are nearly virtuous!  (PARIS)

Worth their weight in gold (literally). Passion fruit puree and gingerbread caramels from Jaques Genin. (PARIS)

Gorgeous birthday lunch at Bistrot Bruno Loubet: Beetroot ravioli with shredded rocket and crispy parmesan. (LONDON- CLERKENWELL)

Birthday cocktails at the Zetter Townhouse (LONDON- CLERKENWELL) 

Birthdays, Paris, Lots of cake, VIP guest lists.  Each in their own right could warrant their own blog post. But seeing as I appear to have been out for 15 of the past 17 evenings (I now realise where my new accessory called "the belly" has come from) I thought I'd try and wrap up some of the most exciting news for food happenings in Dana's world  - and maybe, if lucky, come up with one mamajama of a story for you.

Let's start in Paris.  The last weekend in September I was invited to visit the gorgeous YL for a pre-birthday celebration.  Her pitch?  "Come visit and let's do a patisserie crawl around the city!"  SOLD.  So while in the end we didn't venture too far out of the Bastille / Marais area we were well onto our sugar high by noon having consumed more chocolate croissants slathered in homemade apricot jam than is healthy (I say "we" but the honest truth is that it was just me - but thanks YL for taking one for the team).

After browsing some lovely shops and buying and assortment of treatakins at le petite atelier de paris (seriously how cute is their stuff?) we headed over to Jacques Genin.  Immediately upon entering the holy shrine to all things both gorgeous and delectable the heart palpitations began, the seratonin started flowing, and the general state of patisserie perfection began clouding my vision and making everything go a bit soft and fuzzy.

Side bar: This is why I never got into recreational drugs.  Exquisite baked goods/confection appear (for me) to have what I imagine would be a similar effect of such narcotics.  

Even though we were already filled to the gills from brunch we decided to share a tarte au citron.  At a delicate size and the perfect ratio of pastry and tart and creamy filling, YL and I had many a moan worthy moment.  Even though we shared, we were also served two (each) of Jacques handmade chocolates (basil ganache and cinnamon ganache).  All were slowly savoured with tiny mouthfuls.

Jacques Genin is also famous for his hand made caramels.  Having read about his passion fruit puree caramels and knowing that Mama Cupcakes loves passion fruit (arguably more than some of her offspring now and again) I thought I'd try and work on my standing in the favourite child category. Certainly if I could send some over to her in New Hampshire I could move myself up a notch or two?  She reported back that she savoured every single one.  However, in response to my "am I your favourite child now?" question, what was returned back was a laugh and nothing more.   I think she's playing me for more caramels. Smart woman.

I'd like to say that the desserts ended there...but alas...there was more to come, manifesting itself in a pair of hot from the oven custard tarts from Comme a Lisbonne.  Funny thing though, after going back to YL's apartment for a bit of a power nap (sugar coma) we (again, just me) woke up starving! All I could think about was sinking my teeth into a bloody piece of meat after all that sugar. Successfully accomplished later that evening at a nearby Bistro.

Now fast-forward one week and I was able to celebrate my birthday in London with a few friends.  I had a bit of an internal debate (party? dinner? lunch? cocktails?) on what to do.  Unlike the past few years when I've thrown a shindig, invited the masses, cooked and baked for weeks before to prepare, and quasi bankrupted myself in the process, I decided on the simplest of activities for me, a late lunch followed by cocktails for those who couldn't make one or the other.

In the end I went for lunch at Bruno Bistro Loubet which was absolutely wonderful.  My favourite eat of the day was my starter of beetroot ravioli, rocket salad, fried breadcrumbs and parmesan.  I could have stopped there and been happy (of course I didn't).  My main wasn't nearly as exciting although it was certainly tasty - having another craving of red meat I went for the grilled steak with little gem caesar dressing, and a red wine sauce. We opted against dessert and went on straight to the Zetter Townhouse, without a doubt one of the coolest cocktail bars in London - complete with experimental cocktails to match.  Having been out the night before until 4 am drinking pink champagne with an assortment of characters (eccentric artist, professor of art history, former military/expert in middle east relations) my birthday festivities on the Saturday ended at a very civilised (read: getting old) hour of 8 pm.  But to be honest, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. For those of you wonderful friends who did make it out to join me - muchos gracias from the bottom of my 29 year old heart.

Foodie Pen Pal - Take 2

Foodie Pen Pal Treats - Take 2

This month's foodie penpal was the lovely Suzzane over at avocado and basil. It's arrival coincided on my birthday, which was an absolute treat! I know that wasn't part of her master plan, but thank you Suzanne and the Postal Service for a job well done.

As soon as I opened the package I was overtaken by the wonderful smell of fresh basil which Suzanne had lovingly picked from her windowsill and wrapped in some tissue.  She'd also spent the weekend before in Italy so I benefited from some chocolates and cavatelli pasta.  Added to the mix were some of her favourite food stuffs like pukka tea (also in my tea caddy - but some new flavours for me to try),  a nakd bar (looks healthy AND delicious - who knew?) some ginger candies (not yet consumed but waiting patiently for me on my kitchen counter) and some chocolate and hazelnut meringues (must stop eating but can't stop eating)!

Thank you Suzanne! Job well done! :-)