Monthly Archives: September 2011

Rosemary, the Mistress of Herbs

Posted on September 30, 2011 by patric

On a perfectly sunny winter afternoon there I was riding my bicycle, engrossed in impure thoughts and going downhill at great speed. Suddenly around the corner, fate, in the person of Father Marchand who was also riding his bicycle on … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health, Memoirs, Recipes | Tagged , | 58 Comments

Thyme is on my Side

Posted on September 29, 2011 by patric

We all have our favorite herbs. Personally I could not imagine a world without Thyme. Being a son of Provence, one of my earliest childhood memory is running through scented hills covered in wild thyme (something to avoid in spring … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health, Memoirs, Recipes | Tagged , | 33 Comments

The World of Infinitesimal Bites: Tapas

Posted on September 28, 2011 by patric

Barcelona happens to be my favorite city for a number of reasons (though Paris, not the idiotic girl, comes a close second). I love its architecture, the energetic Catalan people, the wondrous food, the pungent wines, and above all I … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health, Recipes | Tagged , , , | 60 Comments

Cassoulet in all of its Glory

Posted on September 26, 2011 by patric

Now that we’re inching towards colder nights, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and learn how to make this amazing dish. My earliest memory of cassoulet was when one the chefs in the family hotel declared that there was … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Memoirs, Recipes | Tagged , , | 69 Comments

The Majestic & Powerful Mustard

Posted on September 24, 2011 by patric

“La moutarde me monte au nez!”, roughly translated it means, “that mustard is going up my nose.” I knew exactly what this meant, aged 5, when I (innocently) dipped two fingers into a gigantic jar of mustard while horsing around … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health, Memoirs, Recipes | Tagged , , | 70 Comments

Vinegar, the Prince of Sour, at Your Service!

Posted on September 22, 2011 by patric

The word vinegar comes from the French vin aigre, literally meaning sour wine. Chefs (and just about every household) use vinegar to deglaze skillets & pans, marinate meats, add tang to vinaigrettes, sauces, and pickle all kinds of vegetables. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Fun, Health, Memoirs, Recipes | Tagged , , | 36 Comments

My Favorite Vegetarian Recipes

Posted on September 21, 2011 by patric

Vegetarianism can be adopted for different reasons: in addition to ethical reasons (we all have some), motivations for vegetarianism include health, religious, political, environmental, cultural, aesthetic or economic. Personally I strive to eat less meat and more vegetables! Having said … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmental Issue, Food, Health, Recipes | Tagged , , , , | 75 Comments

Cookbooks, a Love Affair

Posted on September 20, 2011 by patric

As soon as I could read, my nose would be buried into either the Larousse Gastronomique (more on that below) or stories about the early American pioneers. I was not fond of comics, I much preferred words and since it … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Memoirs | Tagged , | 16 Comments

The King of All Spices: the Mighty Peppercorn

Posted on September 19, 2011 by patric

Pepper is undeniably the top dog in the spice world as history tells us that not only it adds  a subtle fire in our dishes it is also an invaluable commodity and was often used as payment throughout the ages. … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Recipes | Tagged , , | 67 Comments

First World Food Imports Threaten Global Water Supplies

Posted on September 18, 2011 by patric

Currently, 70% of fresh water supplies are used for agriculture, but it is estimated that food production requirements will increase by 40% by 2050, rendering water scarcity a major obstacle to feeding the world. Since dietary habits are rapidly changing … Continue reading →

Posted in Desertification, Ecology, Environmental Issue, Water | Tagged , , | 83 Comments