local French

Hello out there…“Oui, c’est moi”… Yes, it’s me…!
still here after a few months on hiatus.

So sorry that I was gone so very long, but sometimes personal “things” take precedence over all else…
yes even food blogging…lol…

I will be back here on a limited blogging schedule of two or three times a month or so.
I hope to bring you delicious images and yummy information to wet your palate for the summer bounty ahead.

Please don’t look here for too many recipes, as this site will be evolving into a more informational and photographic venue. There are SO many recipe-based food blogs floating out there, I wanted this food blog to have a different feel as I restart it after my absence.

However, if I do find a dish that is particularly yummy, I promise to share the recipe with all of you.

I wanted to resume this blog with a photo-stroll through one of my fave outdoor markets, the French Market in Western Springs, IL that is held every Thursday from 2pm to 7pm.

With this romantic history of Parisian Markets in mind, imagine a market that you can visit and be comfortable in any weather.

At this market, you are shaded from the pounding rays of the summer sun and unexpected showers while you shop for your dinner, a fresh loaf of bread for breakfast toast, a trinket for a gift or a stunning array of flowers and pots for your garden.

I came to the market intent on focusing on ingredients for a menu for my Fourth of July feast. While shopping for my “feast”, I came across a few vendors of note.
In particular, I will be highlighting some fabulous PORK, PRODUCE and GARDEN Vendors in an upcoming post very soon.

Meanwhile here is a link to my post last year of My Favorite Local Farmer’s Markets

Wishing all my faithful blog readers a wonderful Fourth of July weekend…!

two holiday greetings...

I still have more work than I can manage...so posts here will be sporadic at best for at least another month.

But I did want to take the time to wish you all a very wonderful St-Valentine's Day

and a Happy Chinese New Year...year of the White Tiger...!

Bisous...
XXX

about absence and chocolate cupcakes...

So sorry that I have been absent for so many weeks.
I am still buried in work and this month looks as though it will be more of the same.

Yummy Gluten-free Birthday cupcakes

I just wanted to say hello to everyone and send out a sincere "Merci mille fois" to all of you that had sent Birthday greetings last month and most especially to my dear sister and brother.
Above are the decadent and truly yummy Gluten-free cupcakes that my sister baked for me.

My sister's darling cat helping me open my Birthday gifts

I promise to update you on Friday with my daily images I have taken over the last 3 weeks. I have been faithful in taking them, I just had no time to post them.
Thank you all for your patience in my abscence.
I will be back again on Friday.

Photo Fridays 365…WEEK #1

This new Friday feature comes from a fellow food blogger Lindsey of Lindsey’s Kitchen, a wonderful and personable future Chef that I met this summer at TRU Restaurant at our Foodbuzz Community Table event.

Her sister suggested that she take a single picture everyday of 2010 and Lindsey sent the word out to the Food Blogging community. I decided to participate to keep me focused on my photography and my blog for 2010.

Merci beaucoup, Lindsey…!
(The PHOTO FRIDAY 2010 HEADER is her creation...she graciously allowed those of us to participate to use it.)

Here is my first effort…some feedback is very welcome...

Merci beaucoup in advance.

1 ~ A Yummy New Year's Desert

2 ~ Vintage Tablecloth Embroidery


3 ~ White-out Snow Storm

4 ~ Winter vegetables ready for roasting in olive oil and Greek herbs

5 ~ Ice Curtain on my balcony

6 ~ Chef Mickey helps me in the Kitchen

7 - Savoy Cabbage under my Chef's knife...!

8 ~ Saganashkee Slough in the Palos Hills Forest Preserve near my home this afternoon.

I hope that you all enjoy this Friday Photo feature...

happy new year...!

To all my wonderful readers...

I wish that your New Year be filled with peace, happiness, health and good things to eat...!

I will be back soon with more pixel feasts.

Bonne Nouvelle Année…!

my gift to you…

In the spirit of this Holiday season, I send to you, my faithful readers a beautiful poem about a small Christmas tree by my favorite poet.

little tree
by: e.e. cummings (1894-1962)

little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower
who found you in the green forestand
were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you

because you smell so sweetly
i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and tight
just as your mother would,
only don’t be afraid

look the spangles

that sleep all the year in a dark box

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms

and i’ll give them all to you to hold

every finger shall have its ring

and there won’t be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you’re quite dressed

you’ll stand in the window for everyone to see

and how they’ll stare!

oh but you’ll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands

and looking up at our beautiful tree

we’ll dance and sing
“Noel Noel”

wordless Wednesday…Christmas at Tiffany’s...

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients
of a truly merry Christmas.

I wanted to share the stunning simple beauty of Tiffany’s
Christmas décor at their store in Oak Brook, IL.