HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Wishing everyone happiness, prosperity and health-y appetites, the start of 2018 is made fabulous thanks to resolutions.
Yes, you’ve read right! Love them or not, resolutions are not to be feared. Paris dreaming – myself – I’m resolute to start off the year with a taste of France. And while a real-deal French escape sounds alluring so, too, is the next best thing: Parisian-inspired eats, ‘chez-moi.’
Needless to say, if you can’t go to the magical “City of lights,” why not bring Paris – or, replace with your fantasy destination – to you? Keen on keeping my vow to enjoy more French fare, “Vive la France” doesn’t ring anymore true than starting the day right with this classic breakfast staple: buttery rich yet light and flaky croissants.
Finding no judgement here, you may by all means purchase croissants and enjoy them as-is. Elevating an already scrumptious pastry, I have almond croissants in mind for my ‘petit déjeuner.’ Cheating, ever so slightly, I create almond frangipane from scratch but, proceed to use Pillsbury Crescent Dough – and, I’m glad I did! Sorry but not sorry, I lay out the triangles on a parchment-lined baking sheet and add a spoonful of the creamy almond filling prior to rolling. Oven set at 375 F, I proceed to bake the eight crescents for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. End result: a perfectly warm and tender almond-filled pastry that is nothing short of divine. Mildly nutty and equally fragrant, you don’t have to travel far for these parcels.
Pleasantly evoking memories of Paris, there’s no doubt this breakfast plate of ‘la nostalgie’ makes for a very delicious attainable goal. Already 1-0, resolution-trepidation is literally a thing of yesteryear – happy resolving!
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Out and about, 
Notably pure tasting of real cream, butter, fruits and nuts, to name a few, dessert selects are synonymous with authentic quality ingredients as much as overall freshness. Also catering to one’s preference for subtle sweetness, pastries are ever so slightly kissed with sugar. Heavenly thanks earned, these cakes are made right! Using enough sugar to rightfully allow the vibrant profile of fruit, spices, and floral essences to shine, this bakery truly yields applause-worthy delights that are light in texture, delicate in taste and visually stunning. Good news: there’s more!
Sighting row upon row of edible confections, I order a fleet of temptuous ‘beauties’ for take-away, including: lavender, pomegranate, saffron, pistachio, coffee and chocolate single-serve cakes in addition to hazelnut chocolate and pistachio cream-filled sponge rolls. Some sampled and others shared, the saffron cake tops my list of three “must-indulge” items. Upon first bite, I’m immediately reminded of ‘bastani sonnati,’ a popular Persian-style ice cream that encompasses all that’s nostalgically reminiscent of a summertime favourite 
Equally making the grade, the pistachio cream-filled sponge cake roll is divine. Everything a sponge should be, this pastel-hued roll remains moist while springy to the touch, and is sufficiently embedded with chopped nuts and real cream. Honestly, find no complaints here! 
Happily expecting the unexpected, I also recommend the tart pomegranate cake for it’s element of surprisingly good taste. Clearly, sweet and sour is not a new pairing but, 
‘Gâteau’ galore, I’m temporarily distracted by coffee and occasion cakes. Soon enough, proceeding to finalize my order, last requests are made for a couple of skillfully crafted French classics. Sharing an affinity for French fare, Heavenly Delights transforms ‘choux’ into generous hand-sized cream-filled profiteroles. Similarly, these artisan-made cream puffs are light as air and offer more than two-bites to satisfy anyone’s appetite. While the list of cakes, pastries, baklava and cookies are endless, there’s one more thing I simply can’t leave without. Ordering a square portion of mille-feuille layered with custard, this grandiose treat lives true to its namesake, the Napoleon – “Vive l’empereur,” indeed! 
Keeping my icebox well stocked, ready-made puff pastry will soon be your next ‘staple’ item. And, here’s why: ‘mille feuille’, turnovers, cheese or cinnamon twists, beef wellington, ‘pithivier’, chocolate dipped ‘palmiers’, and the list goes on. Clearly used to elevate any appetizer, dinner or dessert spread, who can live without layers of buttered dough? Truly making my life easier, I know I can’t! 
Taking out a frozen package of ‘puff,’ I leave it aside to slightly defrost. In the meantime, I prepare almond frangipane – combination of finely ground almonds, butter, sugar, almond extract, flour, and eggs – and sieve the fruit preserve, as I prefer no seeds. Success being inarguably sweet, a shortcut to successful soon-to-be dessert is inevitably sweeter. 
Let’s bake! Starting with a trusted basic shortbread recipe, I double up the ‘necessities’ – flour, salt, sugar, butter and vanilla – and divide the cookie dough. Humble as-is in its original form, the possibilities are endless when it comes to enhancing shortbread. Letting your imagination run wild, simply take any shortbread instruction and add dried fruits and/or nuts of choice. As for my interpretation on a classic, I prepare the following: crystallized ginger stars, pistachio and dried cranberries, nutty almond rounds, fragrant earl grey discs, and lemon and lavender.
Pursuing a bright Christmas, the citrus and perfumed profiles found in the lemon and lavender duo remains a surprisingly good pairing. Vibrant and earthy, this combination was so tempting that they didn’t last to see the day – “picture day,” that is!
Moving on to the next, gingerbread is an all-time wintry favourite. Preferring a naked cookie over a decorated one – no icing, sprinkles or dragées – simplicity found in an undressed molasses and spice cookie is truly my kind of wonderful. Appreciating the nuanced taste of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and ginger, this cookie dough is a breeze to make and just as easy to roll out. Better yet, my “go-to” recipe – courtesy of Martha Stewart – yields delightfully soft gingerbread cookies that will remain such even post baking and cooling periods.
Saving the best for last, homemade trifle is the proper way to end a triumphant meal. F.Y.I.: you can bake two loaves of orange pound cake in advance and assemble this showstopping dessert the day of – ‘et voilà,’ you’re well on your way to a stress-free holiday dessert. Adhering to Ina Garten’s recipe for this indulgence, I get my ingredients and layer flavours via raspberry jam, orange custard, fresh berries, and sweetened whipped cream. Well worth the time and effort, sharing good food with good company goes hand in hand. On that note, Happy Christmas to you and yours – and to all good eats, cheers!
Facing the Atlantic Ocean and bordering Spain, the sandy beaches of Biarritz are among one of my favourite coastlines. Designating summer days with basking under the sun, what’s one to do once the temperature drops? I don’t know about you, but soaking up the rich Basque history that is synonymous with BAB – Biarritz, Anglet and Bayonne – is what I have in mind. 
Gravitating toward the sweet aromas of pastry shops 
Happily pursuing chocolates, cakes, and pastry, these conquests are nothing short of successfully sweet. Yielding appetizing treasures to be devoured and shared, I find ‘my people’ – chocolate lovers and s’more – scanning shelves and rejoicing over display towers of sinfully delectable artisan crafted delights. Equally taking time to study unique cakes and cookies, Maison Adam is reputably the originator of the Basque macaron. Stopping to sample both, why not order some more? Requesting a little bit of this and that, I take away the famous almond cookie, Basque g
But, that’s not all! Dessert excursion halfway complete, another lesson in tradition awaits at Chocolatier Henriet. Food-spotting between one pastry house to another, Henriet literally evokes history in the making as seen with their production of elegant French p
Speaking volumes about the coast with the most, I leave this well-stocked boutique of treats – like the one before – with a handful of boxed up beauties. Sailing through this inland shopping experience, I’m ready to sample my ‘Basquette’ full of heavenly selects. Best part of all, this voyage need not wait on Mr. Sun or that bikini body – phew! Certain to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth, Maison Adam and Chocolatier Henriet are a couple of Biarritz’s finest locally-situated dessert houses – sugar rush, guaranteed! 
Overcome by a spectacle of confections – cassata siciliana, sfogliatella napoletana, crema e pinoli, marmellata, paste assortite, cannoli, cookies, and brain-freeze selects – the commotion of eager patrons will certainly bring you back down to earth, and in no time you’ll soon remember why you’re here in the first place: “Gelato, por favor!” Sure enough, crowd control is in check and, so too, is the step-by-step ordering process: first, place your order – one, two or three scoops – then, pay the cashier and receive a receipt to present to one of many ice cream servers. At this point, don’t be shy to make your request and be heard, especially since there’s no formal queue and the servers are beckoning ice cream lovers to efficiently make their way to the counter. Essentially, your wish is your command. Literally, the sooner you voice your ice cream desires the sooner you’ll grab it and go – just be prepared, and know what you want.
Keeping you well informed, here’s a little taste of what I spotted along the streets of Rue Monge, Paris. Not to be confused with ‘mange’ that means ‘eat,’ Rue Monge is not your typical tourist attraction and, however quiet, it remains worthy of some notable buzz. 
Too mesmerized to ask their origin, whether Medjools or not, there’s no mistaking these dates were certainly fresh with a soft outer layer, meaty in size – not dried up or shrivelled like some other varieties – and, jam-packed with sweetness. Surely, a date or two is the perfect lightweight snack to keep anyone energized. Consisting of more happy surprises, each corner of this small shop carries pockets of nature’s beauty. For instance, while indulging in ruby red currants and organic strawberries did amaze, the one that got away – hopefully, to be sampled on a future trip – was the box-load of 
From land and sea to farm fresh and freshly baked or cooked, there’s an endless list of gastronomic stops to recount. Briefly, for those with a sweet tooth, Rue Monge is also host to an array of ‘viennoiserie’ and classic French pastries – pain au chocolat, brioche, croissant, flan, tarte aux pommes, macarons, etc. – as well as simple cheese sandwiches, all courtesy of Maison Gr
Having said that, those after a more hearty lunch or late night dinner must-visit and must-walk further along Rue Monge and take a detour – all within walking distance, I promise – to Rue Mouffetard. Once there, behold: foodie central! Taking a late night promenade to Rue Mouffetard, myself, I find this street to be lively and boasting with a m
Venturing to satisfy sweet and savoury senses, I opt for a cheese and egg-filled paper thin cr
Ultimately, request is made for a delicate yet vibrant trio of: rose, pistachio and strawberry gelato. Taking time to savour this ‘fleur,’ each petal layer at a time, the distinct combination of the three gelati did make for a pleasantly memorable experience. Undeniably fragrant, this perfumed hand-crafted rose smelled sweet as much as it tasted intoxicatingly true to the essence of rose water – simply, magnifique! 
Looking for an ideal grab ‘n’ go snack, 
What’s more, word of mouth still works! And, in little to no time you’ll find crowds gather by this hotspot. So in case you’re running low on energy or simply can’t wait to get your falafel fix, be in-the-know of the how-to’s when it comes to speedy service at this restaurant. Taking out the guesswork, here’s what to expect for takeout: first, spot the staff/rep – most likely standing outside, infront of the venue, already taking orders – then, find your place amid the open air queue of patrons and submit your request. In following, provide payment directly to the ‘outdoor’ staff who will, in exchange, provide a paper receipt to be presented to the cooks. Simply put, the invoice is key: no paper – proof of purchase – no falafel. 
Luckily for tourists, both English and French are spoken/understood here. A
More than ‘a’ chickpea, it’s the culmination of chickpeas 
A picture worthy of thousands of words, who wouldn’t capture this Kodak moment of sorts? Politely asking permission 
Wanting a bit of this and that, here’s what I enjoyed: Madagascar Vanilla, coffee, chocolate, Mogador (duo of milk chocolate and passion fruit), Ispahan (evoking hints of rose, litchi fruit and raspberry), Infinitely Jasmine, and Montebello (a signature combo of pistachio and raspberry). Unequivocally divine, macarons by 
Instantly made for “insta” yum, no-churn ice cream is the answer to all things delicious and frozen. Essentially, 
Having fun with the making of several ice creams, I couldn’t stop at one or two. Essentially setting up my own ice cream parlour – if only for a day – going for gold is the aim. And so, when a couple flavours just don’t cut it, 
