Author name: Jim

Pantry

Making use of storm loss

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On a recent warm evening, a storm passed through Orthez, with wind and beating rain.  We were snug inside but the cherry tomatoes took a hit;  the next morning I discovered a lot of green tomatoes on the ground around the plants.  My mom used to make pickled green tomatoes using the same recipe she […]

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Slide 1

On a recent warm evening, a storm passed through Orthez, with wind and beating rain.  We were snug inside but the cherry tomatoes took a hit;  the next morning I discovered a lot of green tomatoes on the ground around the plants.  My mom used to make pickled green tomatoes using the same recipe she

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Recipes | Savory Dishes

Country bread tartines with fresh goat’s milk cheese, marinated anchovies and grilled vegetable relish

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This take on the Italian favorite bruschetta came about as a way to use leftover grilled vegetables.  I had grilled fish filets with summer veggies and had veggies left over.  Of course, you can start from scratch but it seems like a lot of work for what was, for us, a light summer supper.

Country bread tartines with fresh goat’s milk cheese, marinated anchovies and grilled vegetable relish Read More »

Slide 1

This take on the Italian favorite bruschetta came about as a way to use leftover grilled vegetables.  I had grilled fish filets with summer veggies and had veggies left over.  Of course, you can start from scratch but it seems like a lot of work for what was, for us, a light summer supper.

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Petites Histoires

Wine bar La Tartine, rue de Rivoli

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My memories of La Tartine always seem to be in black and white, from a part of my life so distant that recalling it seems like looking at an old photo.  Except that I remember the yellow of the walls, a streaky, ochre-yellow that comes from years and years of layered tobacco smoke. When we

Wine bar La Tartine, rue de Rivoli Read More »

Slide 1

My memories of La Tartine always seem to be in black and white, from a part of my life so distant that recalling it seems like looking at an old photo.  Except that I remember the yellow of the walls, a streaky, ochre-yellow that comes from years and years of layered tobacco smoke. When we

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Stuff

Drying hot chilies

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Here is a garland of fresh chili peppers ready for drying, hung on the front of our house in imitation of the method used for making Piment d’Espelette. Fresh hot peppers are not that easy to find in a Orthez, as the French taste in spicy food runs to the mild side.  So we decided

Drying hot chilies Read More »

Slide 1

Here is a garland of fresh chili peppers ready for drying, hung on the front of our house in imitation of the method used for making Piment d’Espelette. Fresh hot peppers are not that easy to find in a Orthez, as the French taste in spicy food runs to the mild side.  So we decided

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Stuff

Trouts ready for the grill

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Two lovely trouts ready for the bar-b-q!  When it is this hot – 36 C, that’s almost 100 F to you and me , not to mention the 70% humidity – I hate to turn on the over or even a burner.  The good old Weber Kettle in the back yard is the best answer. 

Trouts ready for the grill Read More »

Slide 1

Two lovely trouts ready for the bar-b-q!  When it is this hot – 36 C, that’s almost 100 F to you and me , not to mention the 70% humidity – I hate to turn on the over or even a burner.  The good old Weber Kettle in the back yard is the best answer. 

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France

Getting ready for les Fêtes d’Orthez

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Preparations are underway for les Fêtes d’Orthez, which start this Thursday and run through Sunday.  At La Maison de l’Horloge, a restaurant we appreciate for its dignified ambiance and accomplished food, looks like they are getting in 30 kegs of beer, 9 cases of Get27 (a mint flavored liquor) and 6 cases of Clan Campbell

Getting ready for les Fêtes d’Orthez Read More »

Slide 1

Preparations are underway for les Fêtes d’Orthez, which start this Thursday and run through Sunday.  At La Maison de l’Horloge, a restaurant we appreciate for its dignified ambiance and accomplished food, looks like they are getting in 30 kegs of beer, 9 cases of Get27 (a mint flavored liquor) and 6 cases of Clan Campbell

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France

A southern view into Spain

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The mountain valleys of the French Pyrenees  are a paradise for hikers.  There are routes for just about every level of hiking expertise that offer splendid views of the mountains, and often interaction with the wandering herds of cows and sheep that pass the summer in the high pastures.  The Vallée d’Ossau, just south of

A southern view into Spain Read More »

Slide 1

The mountain valleys of the French Pyrenees  are a paradise for hikers.  There are routes for just about every level of hiking expertise that offer splendid views of the mountains, and often interaction with the wandering herds of cows and sheep that pass the summer in the high pastures.  The Vallée d’Ossau, just south of

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Petites Histoires

Petites Histoires

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Over the years, I have been lucky enough to have eaten and drunk very well in France. Since my first visit in 1989, through the years of 1990-1991 when we lived in Paris, through frequent return visits after we were once again living in Seattle, until today, when we live full time in Orthez, some

Petites Histoires Read More »

Slide 1

Over the years, I have been lucky enough to have eaten and drunk very well in France. Since my first visit in 1989, through the years of 1990-1991 when we lived in Paris, through frequent return visits after we were once again living in Seattle, until today, when we live full time in Orthez, some

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Stuff

Time to fire up the barbecue!

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What a beautiful day in the sunny southwest of France!  Cool, misty morning, then sunny with clear skies, low humidity and not a cloud in the sky.  What else is there to do but to fire up the Weber kettle?  Locally, zuchini has been coming on strong for a few weeks, eggplants and peppers have

Time to fire up the barbecue! Read More »

Slide 1

What a beautiful day in the sunny southwest of France!  Cool, misty morning, then sunny with clear skies, low humidity and not a cloud in the sky.  What else is there to do but to fire up the Weber kettle?  Locally, zuchini has been coming on strong for a few weeks, eggplants and peppers have

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Recipes

Recipe Problems!

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It has recently been brought to my attention that some of the older recipe post on my blog no longer actually contain a recipe!  Opps! After a bit of research, it appears that the problems stems from a system update to WordPress (the site that hosts my blog) last fall. Anyway, the problem has been

Recipe Problems! Read More »

Slide 1

It has recently been brought to my attention that some of the older recipe post on my blog no longer actually contain a recipe!  Opps! After a bit of research, it appears that the problems stems from a system update to WordPress (the site that hosts my blog) last fall. Anyway, the problem has been

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