Feeling Springy

Paris Hotel De Ville in Early Spring

I'm happy to say I have survived my first winter in Paris and boy am I ready for Spring!  This past weekend the weather warmed up and everyone peeled off their winter layers and went out to get some sun.  I had a nice picnic with friends on Saturday in the Jardin du Luxembourg with LOTS of other people, it was quite crowded.  

Maybe it is just the removal of heavy sweaters and jackets, but Spring just makes me feel lighter, or uh springy? It also affects the way I eat and cook.  I turn to lighter dishes, salads, fish, lots of fresh veggies and fruit.  I try to go with the seasons when eating as well.  Here in France the strawberries are coming over from Spain and they are beautiful and bountiful, and very hard to resist.  I'm sure pineapple is not in season, but I saw one at the market and couldn't resist.....the price was reasonable as well.  

Romain and I have been hosting a lot of dinner parties lately for friends and guess who has been doing the cooking?  Last night was no exception.  So combine the feeling of wanting light, fresh food, with a small kitchen and trying to use up an overstock of heavy cream (leftover from a chocolate making class) and here is the menu I came up with:

Savory Tart of Salmon and Zucchini

Baby Spinch, Mache, Avacado and Chickpea Salad 

with Lemon Thyme Vinergrette and Red Onion

Vanilla & Ginger Panna Cotta with Fresh Pineapple and Strawberries

Baby Sugar cookies

Didn't get around to taking pictures of the dinner once it was all finished, I was bit too busy stuffing my face. However, I did document the best part: the dessert. 

Kitchen Tour

 My French Refrigerator Poetry

A few months ago I saw an article online about the tiny apartment kitchens of professional chefs living in New York City.  By American standards the kitchens were rather small and not what you would expect a professional chef to have.  Many said they rarely even use their home kitchens, so the size wasn't too much of an issue for them.  One chef said the lack of storage space forced them to store things in their oven.  A full size oven!  What a luxury that would be for me!

You've heard my talk about the space challenges of my kitchen and even seen a few glimpses in my photos, but today I invite you on an official tour.  A few improvements have been made since I moved in permanently in November and I must say it is feeling quite like home.  I still have my dreams of space for a Kitchen Aid mixer and a real size oven, but I think am adapting quite well to my Paris kitchen. 

Come on in.......