The Young Foodie

Best. Dinner. Ever. A few nights ago we went to the Grande Cascade restaurant in Paris, located in a huge park where Napoleon used to go hunting. In fact, the restaurant is his old hunting lodge! We had a seven-course meal that was amazing.  Here's what we ate:  A cheesy gougere--that's a pastry made from a special batter called choux. I learned how to make these in my cooking class this spring.  A cold pea soup with an almost buttery cream on top and a light and airy corn chip on the side.  A tower of fresh crab topped with a lime foam and a little bit of caviar.   A macaroni stuffed with truffles and cheese and a bechamel sauce with more truffles.  Truffles for days! My favorite course-- a medium rare beef with a bordelaise sauce, mini potato souffles that were basically empty potatoes and cabbage-wrapped chanterelle mushrooms Dessert #1 -- a puff pastry made in a waffle maker dusted with cocoa powder and powdered sugar, filled and topped...

Earlier this week, we went to Bastille Market. It was so big it made Pike’s Market in Seattle look small. It was a huge market filled with food and crafts that were as fresh as you can get. We got fresh cheese, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and fresh salmon and other seafood. Then we made dinner with the ingredients in our Paris apartment. Magnifique! If you happen to be in Paris, the Bastille Market is open on Sundays and Thursdays.

This week, I'm in Paris with my family on vacation! As you all know, France is famous for food. So I'm going to keep you updated about all the awesome food and food stores I eat at and see. First, I want to tell you about a place I went to earlier called Maille . It is famous for its gourmet mustard by the tap. My family bought a small jar of their white truffle mustard. It is the best mustard on the face of the planet. They also sell other gourmet sauces and ingredients that go well with the sauce and seasonings. We also got a small container of their truffle salt. Delicious! I will keep you posted on the rest of my vacation. Merci, au revoir!