Pepe Le Puy

All the introductions are over and the handshakes and smiles have been shared. I think we have all settled down just a bit Those how have had jet lag should have recovered be now. This weekend I found myself in a rag tag group of females (story of my life) journeying in a neighbouring town of Yssingeaux called Le Puy. It was about a half an hour drive away from where I am. The drive alone was cool...I can see why people backpack their way through Europe...the landscape is beautiful. We passed a castle and some other structure that were breathtaking. On arriving to Le Puy, we decided to the drift towards the centre of the village passing the ever omnipresent patesserie and like the pastry chefs in training we all are walked into one and stared at everything they had in the display case. Soon each of us left the store with our own little bundles of joy that were waiting to be eaten. And that's what did next...found a place to sit down to take pictures and dissect the petite four gateaux. I bought a rather large pink macron that was filled with pastry cream, lycee and raspberries. It was good!!

After we all got off on the flavours and the overall presentation of what we just ate we decided to wonder around the farmers market and the flea market that was up. As the some of the girls flocked to the shoes and the clothing I moved towards the olives and cheese and mushrooms!!!

Next we drifted to the monuments in the town. the Notre Dame du Puy, L'Egisle de St. Michael et Le Virgn. In the town apparently the running joke is: Have you been in the Virgin. And I can successfully say 'yes I have' after climbing those stairs was not not going into her. LOL. I made a funny.

I love being in foreign countries..the people watching is such an event. Most of the women and some of the men look like they come out of a bloody Vogue magazine. Anyway the first day is soon to begin and I have prep work to done. Peace out cyberspace. Z.

No Catchy Title

Well ladies and gentleworms! How are we doing this fine evening. I had settled in just a bit and enjoying the stay so far. We got through orientation in on piece, though it felt like a brocher for the south of region of France. Which I really did not have a problem with, it just makes my life a little more difficult seeing that I have limited funds and limited possibilities. So I believe I will be bankrupted after this trip. However the journey so far has been marred by my damn stomach. Ever since I touch down it has not been co-operative with me. Not good. But I dove into my pharmacy and got the right stuff...but for future reference..Pepto tablets need to be added to that list. But I have been popping pills like skittles so I think I'll be fine after a week on them. Things aren't that expensive but also are so you have balance how you want to spend it. Eating out is definitely expensive...so I'll be cooking quite a bit of food but that would be mainly on weekends and on evenings on weekdays. Most of the group seems ok..but it is early days yet. I have afternoon labs (1pm - 8 pm) with a seemly nice bunch on females. But once again time will tell. On a brighter tone have been taking pictures which I'll post soon and I am practicing my french so hopefully I'll be fluent enough. Or at least confident enough. Went to the bowling alley today with the rest of the lot. And girls will be girls! Beautiful to observes. C'etait super! A bientot Z. PS: Thinking about changing the names ...suggestions?

Je suis arrive!

Well my fifth form French teacher would definitely cut my ass for that title. Ce n'est pas parfait!! Missing an accent or two but hey no one read the shit I type anyway. Moving on. As some might have guessed by now that yours truly is not in the land of Yanks and more but of the French. Oui c'est vrai. But look at that it just might come back after all these years then again that is just written word. Spoke word is a bit more challenging one has to formula the response in the correct tense and place the subject, the object and all related syntax and grammar rules. However pour le premier jour..je pense que je vais bien. Fingers cross. I usually bounce in and out of the language. Just don't want to butcher the language. Oh well we shall see. So far Lyon seems to be nice. Passed a number of farmland areas on the way to the hotel but other than that I have not a clue what the city itself is like. It all begins tomorrow so well shall see what happens next.... Peace out cyberspace. Z

May Be An Arm And A Leg...

Well the countdown to France continues. It is now down to 3 days..And I am relatively excited. I am itching to get back into a kitchen where I can learn. Seeing what friends are doing in school and my sitting in Brooklyn doing nothing is getting very aggravating. But I am rubbing my pressure points. However I do have good news..I am going to a food photography workshop. I was an arm and a leg but I was able to negotiate down the price to $200 originally down from $350. I feel bit bad...I was never good at haggling prices. I usually feel guilty afterwards. But he agreed so I am off tomorrow to his studio. I'll keep you posted. Later to inter-web.... Z

Huff & Puff & Blow Your House In?

Well that was not much of a hurricane. Actually when the so-called hurricane finally made land fall in the Brooklyn area it had been down graded to a tropical storm. Now tropical storms, though they don't pack as much of a punch as their big sisters, are and should be taken seriously. Bleh. A few drops there and a puff-puff there; Irene didn't really impress me.

Around 1 pm I ventured out of the house to see what the 'hurricane' had done. To my surprise there were a number of people out, running, walking their dogs, even going to the supermarkets which once again to my surprise were open and fully functional. Even some restaurants and bakeries were bustling with patrons waiting for coffees, assorted pastries and whatever they were selling.

The streets were not too bad a few leaves and branches but no real damage could be seen. However the 24 hrs news coverage, which is a bit much but I believe Americans are trauma addicts, reported differently. As predicted the low laying areas which effected by the storm surge and the rain. Floods and downed powers were also reported through different parts of the city.

I, however, another than feeling like a caged animal I started to think about two things actually. First, I wondered if RISD has a photography course worth doing and no surprise there there is. One that you can actually a certificate for. The bad news is that it would take 2 - 4 yrs to complete. WTF! Right? There is also a web design course which would be cool to have on a resume. The other thing on my mind was; how the ass am I going to survive the next 3 weeks. I keep seeing job listings but I shouldn't work (it's illegal) and if I was indeed brave enough to risk it who would hire me for 3 weeks, really not worth the investment.

Anyway a special day is coming up and I am thinking about buying either a tripod (a decent one) or a poly carbonate chocolate mold. Peace out cyber world. I wonder who reads this shit..

I Think I Have Found Heaven And It's At Costco.

Yep you read correctly my connoisseurs of everything organic and high end. Costco is the place I'll be..well not me but someone will spread my ashes. I have been there twice and after realizing that it is this what 'Pricemart' copied I understand why. The place is epic.

First it has two levels. Not one but TWO huge ass levels.

Second, and this a comparative level, things are relatively inexpensive. Yes yes I understand the whole bulk buying drives costs of certain items down but I am looking at the simple math of it all with respect to what I have experienced at home. The best sample of that is the price of honey. At home honey comes in a 275 ml glass bottle and at $110 TTD ($20 USD) no wonder the grocery stores put anti-theft devices on them. Now at Costco..for 3 lbs of clover honey (ok not the greatest) $7 USD ($42-45 TTD). There are other examples as well but they are really to numerous to list out.

Actually I do remember one. From what I have heard, people give Costco a lot of shit for generic (not the word I want to use) everything from socks to cakes and other everyday items. Buy my aunt bought her son's birthday cake at Costco and that was some decent cake. I have had better but the masses out there this cake was apparently the highlight of the birthday.

So to Costco congrats..And for the unfortunate soul who has to deal with my body after I 'pass on to the after life' put some ashes at a Costco for me. I'll give you rest of the places later on.

Oh and dinner tonight is chicken soup with sweet and yellow potatoes, radishes and other hearty vegs. Would warm my soul if I had one.

Later

Ok DUMBO..I Don't Think We Are In Chinatown Anymore

Fitting title for such a long day.

It was just like yesterday....No actually it was only 6 - 8 hours ago. I cooked up this half brain idea to do the cliche tourist thing and walk over the Brooklyn Bridge for where I am in Brooklyn. So like any modern day person..I googled "Brooklyn Bridge" for directions. According to the site it would take me 2 hours and some minutes to get to Manhattan. Reasonable. Oh was I wrong. The walk wasn't that hard..no serious hills in NYC, to borrow a phrase from a friend, 'thank AB' for that small mercy. Anyway while on the way to the bridge I got 'lost' in DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, catchy eh?), looking for a cafe dubbed 'The Best Chocolate Cake Ever'. Phst..now if anybody or any store that makes a claim like that I hope they know I am coming to eat what ever it is to judge appropriately. Unfortunately, after much walking around in the trending, hip area I could not find the cafe. Darn! I know. I did however find Jaceque Torres' Chocolate and Ice-Cream stores but I wasn't in the mood for chocolate or ice-cream not matter whose name is behind it.

All broken hearted I strolled across the bridge and stood and marveled at the city's skyline and well of course the people walking along side me. And that's when two things happened to me. First, I think I am in love. I have been in this city for roughly 2 months off and on and I think it is an awesome place. Beautiful people beautiful scenes. (I mean so far most of my living expenses have been paid for while I was there and I have no jobs to drag my feet to, so I guess when you look at it for that perspective who wouldn't enjoy themselves). And second my feet were screaming at me. I could hear them - "Yo jackass..you have walking for three hours. Time for a *&#$ing rest". (Yeah that sound like them). I took their advice and sat got my bearings and my next plan of action.




And that plan was the walk around Chinatown and the East Village. The word on the wire is that the East Village has some of the best eating spots in the city. And they were right...every few feet there were cafes, bars, restaurants and little eateries and bakeries spotting the district. Along with some beautiful people. I really can't get over that. Oh and the redheads/gingers seem to be the best of the lot. Sorry getting side tracked.

Finally I got to 14th Str Union Square (said in my best metro announcement voice) and I completely forgot that the day today. Wednesdays there is usually a farmer's market. Peaches, pears, plums, honey, bread, cookies. FOODIES heaven. You could smell everything..especially the peaches. I felt like making cobbler or something fresh and tasty. In the end I ended up buying a bunch of radishes, to do what with I was still unsure.

Got home with out my feet falling off and made dinner. Seared cumin encrusted chicken breast and braised white wine radishes and leftovers. Tasted good.

To whom ever reads this. Peace out. Going to rub my feet.

Oh I saw this sign in the window of a shop. Rather funny. What talent can they possibly need?