Man vs vegetable!  That’s what I’ll call my nocturnal battle to eat what I like and play up to the picky taste buds of mon mari.  If it were up to me, everything would be christened with lemongrass and a handful of cilantro.  But alas, this is France!  It’s not about chasing culinary fireworks, but enjoying quality ingredients in their unadulterated state.  But I take this with a grain of salt and a star anise.  But I am always up for the challenge, looking out for enticing meatless recipes which could get past Monsieur Meat & Potatoes himself.

I wish I could take full credit for this winner, but I found inspiration from a smoky beet burger recipe on one of my go-to blogs SPROUTED KITCHEN. I knew these burgers would be an easy sell.  Beets recreate the crimson hue of ground beef.  And pulsed mushrooms and chickpeas give the burgers a toothsome texture and the right amount of umami to lure mon mari for the second bite.  Under a silken cloak of sauteed mushrooms and melted brebis cheese, this was one veggie burger incognito.  Accompanied by handcut french fries, it was an easy sell.  Victory is mine!

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Beet burgers (inspired by SPROUTED KITCHEN)

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 yellow onion  chopped

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped

1 cup grated beets

2 cloves garlic, smashed

1/2 cup chickpeas, cooked

1 egg

1 teaspoon soy sauce

2 cups cooked short-grained rice

1.)  Heat olive oil over medium heat.  Saute onions, walnuts, mushrooms, beets, garlic, and chickpeas until tender, about 10 minutes.  Let cool slightly.

2.)  In a food processor, pulse sauteed vegetables with egg, soy sauce, and rice until coarsely mixed.  Season to taste.  With wet hands, form mixture into 8-10 1-inch thick patties.  Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat.  Saute burgers for 5 minutes until crust forms.  Flip and cook for 10 more minutes until caramelized.

P.S.  Charlotte Brunet photo. Jessie Kanelos Weiner style.

P.P.S. Check out my BOARDING PASS on Prêt à Voyager!

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Voila!  A rare slice of sunshine on the magnificent IÎe-aux-Moines, a tiny island off the coast of Brittany, nestled in the Gulf of Morbihan.  Although the sunshine was as sporadic as our worries, I reread The Great Gatsby and relived Gatsbian decadence at a 5-day wedding soaked in champagne and good cheer.

Let me share with you the ideal day on IÎle-aux-Moines…

10AM

Enjoy a coffee and croissant on the terrace of San Francisco with its tony view overlooking the busy port.

11AM

Rent a bike and take a spin around the island while taking in its coastal views and prehistoric treasures, including the dolmen of Penhap.  Be warned, although it’s easy to get caught up in the romantic, rainy charm of IÎle-aux-Moines, renting a tandem bike with your French other half does not come with a bilingual communication manual…

1PM

It’s always a sign of an oyster’s freshness if the person shucking it is wearing waterproof yellow overalls. Save yourself and buy a douzaine direct from the ostréiculteur at Ets MARTIN including an obligatory glass of white.

4PM

Tea time!  Hands down, the only place to get an authentic crepe fix on the isle is Lonely Galettes.

8PM

Book at table at Le Cagou for regional slow food, the freshest fish, and an enticing prix-fixe menu. Langoustines, Saint-Pierre, and far breton (Brittany’s ubiquitous prune clafoutis) will top off a perfect day on IÎe-aux-Moines.

As always, thanks to mon mari for the photos!

Bon week-end, everybody!

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Lemon curd, meringue, passion fruit, fraise gariguette, & mint.

My perfect picnic-friendly springtime DIY dessert.

Photo Charlotte Brunet – Style Jessie Kanelos Weiner

Reed and sugarcane dinnerware MERCI

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We are en route to Île-aux-Moines for a 5-day wedding celebration. After dress hunting and drawing seasonal vegetables all week long, I’m ready to move onto my next prey, mollusks!

A skeleton has recently come tumbling out of the closet.  Mon mari revealed he is unfamiliar with the musical stylings of a certain Beyoncé Knowles.  And I plan to take all 5 hours of this roadtrip to properly educate him.  Hold onto your halo!

In the meantime, accept this humble springtime promise that I will be back very soon…

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Had to share a few snapshots of last week’s kale workshop at Wanderlust.  Thanks to mon mari for the photos.  Like most guests who passed through, he was a kale first-timer, reluctant to pick up a kale leaf, but unapologetic in putting down the kale chips.  I think we’re on to something…

“So, is it true that American girls….”

Behold!  A kale bouquet™!

Rosé R US!  Kristin from The Kale Project and I rewarding ourselves on the terrace after job well done!

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I am elated to share my recent contribution to Julia Restoin Roitfeld’s gorgeous new blog, Romy And The Bunnies.

http://www.romyandthebunnies.com/beauty/diet-the-japanese-way/

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Two years ago now, I was forcing two garment racks of designer clothes through the middle of Times Square in knee-deep snow as my phone blew up with Starbucks orders.  Flash forward to now.  Halleluiah, I’m only buying coffee for myself!  Although my heart still beats for New York and my previous life working in wardrobe for film and tv, I have found an extraordinary metier drawing kale from the comfort of my own home and searching high and low for yellow plum tomatoes for a photo shoot.

Nevertheless, when I met Kristin, the beautiful mind behind The Kale Project, we quickly bonded over how our New York lives turned Parisian, passionately re-devoted to food.  Leaving her advertising job behind in New York, Kristin discovered that kale was nowhere to be found in Paris.  The stuffy wartime vegetable did not have the superfood credentials as its American cousin.  In fact, it had been completely forgotten in France.  Although it can often be seen nestled amongst the flowers in public gardens, it was nowhere to be found on plates.  For a little over a year, Kristin has been working directly with farmers, raising awareness, and documenting the movement on her blog. Most recently she can be found sharing her kale creations at Paris’ newest coffee jaunt, Loustic.  Although a simple idea, the movement is indebted to Kristin’s courage and dedication and proof that one person can make a significant change (or insert Ghandi quote here).

I am happy to announce that his Saturday, we will be hosting a free kale workshop at Wanderlust!  Kristin and I will be playing with the aesthetic side of kale by inviting guests to create an edible kale bouquet.  The bouquet can then be turned into a simple spring salad.  And we will be sharing the superfood powers of kale and fun surprises along the way.  We hope to see you this Saturday April 20th from 2-5pm!

Wanderlust, Quai d’Austerlitz, 75013 Paris

http://www.wanderlustparis.com/events/workshop-adultes-the-kale-project/

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Last Tuesday, I was invited to a private degustation of the latest spring cupcake flavors at Sugar Daze. 

Although there seemed to be a cross-cultural aversion to licorice, this little violet and licorice beauty was the shining star of the evening.

Tasting 6 cupcakes before dinner was no easy task.  Although I will willingly re-accept the challenge any day.  Luckily, I did halvsies with Meg.  Check out her take on the evening here.  And don’t forget to drop by Sugar Daze for a super vixen of your own.

Takes one to enjoy one, right?

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Bon app’, everybody!

Charlotte Brunet photo - Jessie Kanelos Weiner style

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Parfum by Balenciaga.

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