Tag Archives: Ellise Pierce

Paris on a Thursday

7 Mar

IMG_0002My flight to Paris leaves tomorrow  this afternoon and I have all but finished packing (with room to spare).  This is a personal best, or maybe I’ve learned to just take less stuff.  More room for shopping treasures, right?  Now, I just need to pick up a new electronics adapter since my old one became a permanent resident of last summer’s  Provence rental.  Oops.

Over the last several days, cell phone lines have been a-buzzing between our trio of merry cooking school classmates, making plans for all the free time after class ends each day, and picking restaurants was definitely priority number one.  With so many to choose from, paring down the list can seem downright overwhelming.  Do we shoot for this trendy, fab place or that oh-so-comforting bistro that has been around for a hundred years?  Thankfully, sources abound in the form of expat blogs like Little Pieces of Light, where the delightful Milsters shared wonderful photos of her brunch at Merci.  Fellow Texan, Ellise Pierce, recently enjoyed a cocktail with a view at Le Ciel de Paris, and Paris by Mouth loves Verjus for its contemporary American cooking.   We can satisfy our sweet cravings with visits to places like Alain Ducasse’s new chocolate factory ,and a stop by Ladurée is definitely on the list.

So many choices, so little time.

I have been tossing about, okay researching to the point of ridiculousness, the purchase of a new camera and finally chose one *yesterday*, since the added challenge of on-the-job-training is always a good idea.  A big thanks to Millie Brown for all the helpful advice.  I can’t wait to get started!

Do you have any “can’t-visit-Paris-without-going” suggestions for us?

x Katie

Lovin’ the Cowgirl Chef cookbook

6 Jun CowgirlChef_cover

My friend, Maria, from my Paris cooking class recently turned me on to the website Cowgirl Chef, written by Texan-turned-Paris-resident , Ellise Pierce.  It is a witty, smartly-written blog about her coming to terms with living in Paris and how French takes on some home-town favorites helped ease that homesick feeling.  Her food became so popular with expats in Paris, she started a catering business which led to cooking classes which led to her new cookbook, Cowgirl Chef: Texas Cooking with a French Accent.  This Texan is lovin’ the stories as much as the recipes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recipes include such French classics as Provençal fish stew and courgettes farcies/stuffed zucchini, plus some “cowgirl way” dishes like roasted ratatouille in which she, well, roasts the chunky cut veggies before assembling the final dish; a zucchini-cilantro soup where she uses stock instead of cream plus lots of cilantro and tops it with roasted tomatoes and goat cheese.

She also gives flat-out Southern dishes a new French identity like the jalapeño pimento cheese tartine, a recipe that takes me back to my childhood, and some straight-up tex-mex dishes like fish tacos and tacos al pastor get the nod.   She finishes up with guacamole and pico de gallo, Texas chili (no beans, thank you very much) and chorizo.  What’s a Texan, or American for that matter, not going to love about these dishes?  This would make a super gift for any ex-pat friend missing the flavors of home.

With her folksy style and her home-grown attitude (read the rant about French vs Texas beef), this cookbook is a joy to read as well as cook from.  She is on a book tour throughout summer and I just signed up for a cooking class/book signing at the Central Market store in Fort Worth in July!  I’m such a lucky gal.

 

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