Hiatus

I will be in the good old USA for Thanksgiving and my cousin Kourtney's wedding.  


I'll again be "a Karen in Paris as of December 1.  


A tout a l'heure!

xo,
aKiP

French food

An interesting article from the Independent today.  (Copying the text/photo here as it will eventually be taken down from the link below.)

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/french-dinner-table-ndash-now-a-un-heritage-site-2136080.html


xo, 
aKiP

French dinner table – now a UN heritage site

By John Lichfield in Paris

Wednesday, 17 November 2010

• • NORMAL
  • LARGE
  • EXTRA LARGE

ALAMY

Unesco has decided that the rituals associated with fine dining in France deserve recognition

The ritual of the long and detailed French meal was yesterday declared part of the world's official, cultural heritage. A committee of the UN cultural organisation, Unesco, decided that the French mealtime tradition, and the place of food in French history and society, should be included in its list of the "intangible" jewels of mankind.

Confusion seems bound to arise, but the Unesco decision is not – in theory – a declaration that French cuisine is superior to other cuisines. Nor is it a declaration that coq au vin or bouillabaisse are endangered gems of world culture.

Nonetheless, France hopes that the decision will be seen as an endorsement of French culinary prowess at a time when other countries – including, horror of horrors, Britain – make claims for the superiority of their own celebrity chefs and top restaurants.

Paris suggested two years ago that the French mealtime tradition, with all its social rituals and associated skills and crafts, should be included in a new Unesco list of "abstract" achievements of the human race.

Unesco's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, meeting in Nairobi, agreed yesterday to accept the bid. This was the first time that a gastronomic subject has been admitted to a list which already includes traditions and institutions as disparate as the Royal Ballet of Cambodia and the Mexican festival, the Day of the Dead.

The French success was quickly followed by the acceptance of a joint submission by several countries on the qualities of the "Mediterranean" diet. A Mexican submission on the importance of the centuries old maize-based culture of Central America has yet to be judged. Other traditions to join the Unesco pantheon yesterday were Spanish flamenco dancing and Chinese acupuncture.

The significance of being included on the Unesco's list of intangible jewels of the human spirit is not clear. In theory, the French government – which sponsored the bid in the first place – will now be obliged to take action to preserve the country's mealtime rituals.

The committee's decision yesterday spoke especially of the importance of food in a France as a "traditional social custom, for the celebration of moments in the life of individuals or groups". This could be equally true of almost any country or social group in the world.

More specifically, the French bid drew attention to the ritualised pattern and paraphernalia of the big family meal or dinner party in France, from the number of courses to the proper deployment of forks, glasses and napkins.

"A meal is an experimental laboratory for a food culture – it brings together all of its quirks and customs," said Annick Vin of the French heritage and gastronomy mission (MFPCA), which was placed in charge of the French bid. Ms Vin hopes that the Unesco success will encourage the French government – and French people generally – to stem a rising tide of snacks, fast-food and TV meals which threatens to transform the country's habits.

"We need to transmit (the love of food) and educate children if we don't want our food culture to be standardised," she said.

President Nicolas Sarkozy supported the French candidacy which – despite the small-print – has often been portrayed in France as a move to declare French cuisine per se part of world heritage. Many celebrity French chefs have supported the campaign. Others have been doubtful, arguing that it will give the impression that French cuisine is an "endangered species".

The Unesco list of intangible human heritage was created in 2003. There is also a list of sites and monuments of global importance – ranging from the Giza pyramids to the Loire valley.

The rival cuisines

Mediterranean

Fresh, simple and flavoursome, the Mediterranean diet is widely regarded as one of healthiest in the world. Linked with a range of health benefits including lower rates of heart disease and cancer, Mediterranean cuisine is characterised by its emphasis on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans and olive oil. However, many swear it's the leisurely pace of meal times and the moderate consumption of red wine that are the real key to its benefits.

Mexican

Authentic Mexican cuisine is different to the Tex-Mex mix found in American-style chains. Varying by region, Mexican offerings include doughy tamales, slow-cooked meat barbacoa, or tortillas. But chocolate is Mexico's most historic culinary export. Chocolate was originally drunk not eaten, and the name is derived from the Aztec for "bitter water".

Duck duck first and last...GOOSE!

I had foie gras for the first time today.  As I was eating it, I learned that my ability to eat it was as a result of some awfulness that was done to a goose.  


From wikipedia:
"Animal rights and welfare groups such as PETA,^[69] Viva!,^[70] and the Humane Society of the United States^[71] contend that foie gras production methods, and force feeding in particular, constitute cruel and inhumane treatment of animals. Specific complaints include livers swollen to many times their normal size, impaired liver function, expansion of the abdomen making it difficult for birds to breathe, death if the force feeding is continued, and scarring of the esophagus. PETA claims that the insertion and removal of the feeding tube scratch the throat and the esophagus, causing irritations and wounds and thus exposing the animal to risk of mortal infections."


That being read, that will be my last foie gras.

Mahrie-ah-juh

In an conversation today in which I had to explain the difference between a "wedding" and a "marriage."  (The French call a wedding a mariage.  Mahrie-ah-juh) 


This is what I came up with.  On the fly.  "A marriage is the commitment and time you spend with someone that you get married to.  The WEDDING is the ceremony that starts your marriage." 


I actually CAN teach English.  Really.


xo,
aKiP

Fruitful

I got a job to tutor 2 children on Wednesday mornings.  I'll teach them songs in English as well as basics like simple sentence structure and vocabulary.  Looking forward to it.  

Speaking of things I'm really looking forward to, I am heading home a week from today.  I will be busy with something every single day I'm home.  So much to do, so many people to see, so little time there.

Today, I went to Galleries Lafayette Gourmet grocery store to stock up on goodies to bring back to NJ with me.  It was a fruitful trip. 

Christmas lights are popping up everywhere.  GL had amazing Christmas (Nöel) window displays up already.  It's nice and everything, but I'm not ready to conquer Christmas until post-Thanksgiving.

So, everything is good here.   Settling in and feeling more and more comfortable with the family each day.  At home babysitting tonight.  Gonna finish watching the movie the girls had on, Mamma Mia, because it's actually in English (a language that I FULLY understand).

xo,

aKiP

Open House Bon-Voyage Details

Well, the thought was that I would go to Paris for 6 weeks, find a job, come home for a visa, have a going away party and then return. Things didn't go according to plan, and now I'll only be home briefly around the time we carve the giant turkey bird before returning to Paris for a YEAR.

So, I've decided to take the opportunity of my brief visit home for the Turkey Day holiday to visit with as many friends as humanly possible! Stop by my parents house any time from 3-7, and bring whatever you wanna...a friend, a drink, a dish, a dessert, or just YOURSELF!!! :) We'll be sure to have some goodies to nosh on as well. Can't wait to see you!!



Sunday, November 28 · 3:00pm - 7:00pm

xo,
aKiP

An "Any Rainy Sunday" Update

Sorry about the sound not aligning with the video...Blogger doesn't like my vids.

xo, aKiP

Ahhhhh, Pareeeee.

Back in Paris now.  We got back around 10:45 on Tuesday night.  Left at 6 on the dot, and made a stop for dinner at a rest stop.  We actually ate inside a Shell (the same gas station we have in the US) rest stop.  Can't say it was good, but it did the trick.  The drive was about 4 hours long.  Amazingly, no one fell asleep in the car.


Wednesday was fun.  The older girls and I had lunch together while the baby napped and then we went to the Museum of Dolls in the third arrondissement here in Paris.  They loved it.  We also visited a park dedicated to Anne Frank, and my favorite bakery in the third.  (The one I used to frequent!)   Museum website (in English)  The girls each bought a porcelain doll.  They picked very pretty dolls.


Yesterday morning, Laure left for NYC.  Clement is running in the NY Marathon, God bless him!  It's this Sunday.  Seems like they'll have good weather for it.  He's been training really hard for it.


I got my CELTA certification and final evaluation in the mail.  I got a Pass B.  I'm happy with that!!  (You can get a Fail, Pass, Pass B or Pass A.  Something like 5% of all students taking CELTA in the world get a Pass A.  Most get a Pass.)


So, I'm alone with the girls this weekend.  I could get used to being a full-time, stay-at-home Mom, I think. I think I'm pretty good at it.  Both yesterday and today went smoothly.  I was tired yesterday, but today I was fine.  The girls are so good and Ines has been so pleasant.  Everything is going well.  (I hope I'm not jinxing it by saying that!!)


There's a raucous party going on next door tonight.  They're playing jazz and blues live in the house next door.  It's something I'd really appreciate if I lived alone....it'd be so cool.  But, when you've got 3 little girls in bed at 11 PM, it's not so cool!


xo,
aKiP

Bye bye, Bretagne.

I've just finished helping to pack all of the girls' belongings, doing some laundry, and emptying the fridge of any and all perishable goods.  I'll help load the car when Laure gets back and then we'll pick up the girls from the pony club, and set off to Paris.


I had an interesting pedicure today...an hour and 15 minutes long...and no water.  Hmmmmm....


Gonna go pack the car.
xo,
aKiP