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jeudi 21 juin 2012

Artisanal America: Bags That Were Born in the USA

As a thunderstorm rumbles outside, announcing the arrival of another poor excuse for a Parisian Summer, I am compelled to pack a suitcase and take off for my homeland- where seasons seemed to synch up with my expectations in such a satisfactory way.

You can't change the weather, but you can always attempt to escape it- and my rose-colored vision of Summers in the US makes the motherland seem like a perfect asylum from this crumby continental weather. Which is why I'm counting down the days until I get back on my native land this August.

I know I won't be able to bring back any sunshine in my bags once the holiday is over, but I will be making some space for happy souvenirs and maybe even some extra carry-ons to contain them.

The Made-in-America bag scene seems to be booming Stateside at the moment, with those privy to the new fad sporting handmade sacs from every corner of the country.

I first noticed the trend while reporting on the Keep Portland Weird festival when Portland bands and fans convened at the Gaîté Lyrique in April.

At the concerts and various events, I noticed proud Portlanders rocking Chester Wallace bags, which are made in Portland by Portlanders. The waterproof bags are made out of waxed cotton and a sturdy adjustable strap.

Chester Wallace bags are touted as being the perfect parcel for carrying six packs across town while biking to a house party, making the City of Roses' obsession with the brand pretty logical.

Chester Wallace bags come in various colors and start at about 150 USD. You can buy them online or at selected stores in New York and Portland.

If you're looking for something a little classier than a canvas beer-toting bag, check out Brooklyn-based leather workers Rabbitneck + Dotty. Graphic design and fashion fuse to create their line of original handbags whose designs include repurposed drawer pulls, lighting fixtures, and other unexpected bits of hardware.

Keeping it classy, the Rabbitneck & Dotty design team coat all hardware in 16k gold which accents the European-bought leather used to make their line of bags, belts, and wallets. Prices vary and orders can be placed online via their website or at their store in Brooklyn.

For the international traveler whose trek requires a bag of both stellar form and function, Langly Camera Bags are the perfect fit. Evan Lane, the bag's creator, sites a desire to make something that is "functional but also fashionable" as the inspiration behind this craftily conceived bag.

Having a camera doesn't have to make you look/feel like a tourist and this pitfall of documenting your travel will be entirely avoided if you've got a Langly bag on your back. The California-made backpack has got you covered- with ample space for your camera, lenses, and even a special slot for your laptop.

Head to the brand's Kickstarter page and pledge to support the project. A pledge of 160 USD will get you you're very own Langly bag and pledges of various amounts will get you all kinds of other Langly-related goodies.

So whether you are in the US, or just wish you were, there are tons of ways to support the local, burgeoning bag-makers movement and score an awesome accessory to go with your Summer memories!

Libellés : artisanal, made in america, travel

lundi 28 novembre 2011

Eating Abroad: Bio in Boston

Given its rough seasons and unpredictable weather, one may not think of Boston as being capable of locally sourcing itself all year round. However, a visit to this fair city proves the contrary. On my last trip to the great Northeast, I found that Beantown serves up plenty of home-grown fare.

Boston’s proximity to the water allows access to amazing fish and seafood- most notably awesome meaty oysters- the best I’ve ever had. An acquired taste, Paris primed my appetite for this slimy delicacy, but Boston solidified my love of this magnificent mollusk.

Eastern Standard (528 Commonwealth Avenue), which should not be missed for its cocktails and all around exceptional meals featuringlocal ingredients, serves up standardly priced (2.50 /ea) oysters sourced from nearby Barnstable. Paired with a white wine chosen from the extensive wine list, you’ve got a great start to what promises to be an excellent dinner out.

If drinking at home is more your thing, you can stock up your personal cave à vin at the Wine Bottega (341 Hanover Street), a wine shop specializing in biodynamic and natural wines. I was excited to speak with the Frenchman manning the cash register when I visited the store, but my mood was further buoyed by the bottles stocked by the Bottega which included selections of European alcohols not often drunk this side of the pond- like artisinal Poiré from Normandy and Italian Lambrusco.

If you’re interested in finding out more and planning on being in Boston, I recommend you check out the Wine Bottega’s website, where you’ll find their schedule of events and can choose a tasting you’d like to attend. Locals can even sign up with the store to participate in their “Farm to Glass” program and receive 6 or 12 bottles of organic, biodynamic, and natural wines delivered to your door.

My trip to Boston was both for business and pleasure, with the wedding planning involved straddling the divide between these two distinctions. One order of planning business that quickly became classified as pleasurable was my tasting with the caters Season to Taste. Full-on food activists, the staff of Season to Taste takes local to the extreme- proposing ever-changing seasonal menus that are entirely sourced by local farms and fisheries.

Every product on their menu is locally grown, pasture fed or line caught, and native to the region. Our private tasting with Chef Sam was an absolute delight and brought us on a tour of the treasures of the Northwest, with seafood including fresh striped sea bass, crab cakes, and oysters.

Autumnal vegetables held their own against the proteins, with the fennel, snow peas, mushrooms, and fresh herbs making an argument for visiting the farmer’s market the next day (I spotted two great Farmer’s Markets during my visit- both on Saturdays, in Jamaica Plain and the other right on Copley Square).

Chef Sam ended the meal with chocolate truffles he had whipped up that afternoon and then sent us each home with a jar of homemade strawberry jam, a souvenir to keep until we meet again in August for the nuptial meal.

My last night in Boston was commemorated by one last opportunity to enjoy a Massachusetts-sourced meal. Ten Tables (locations in Jamaica Plain, Cambridge, and Provincetown) describe their food shopping habits as “European” meaning that they stick close to home when picking out proteins and produce. The restaurant's philosophy, however, seems quintessentially American- with a focus on being part of the community through being “good neighbors, by supporting the efforts of our local partners and by welcoming you to feel as comfortable as you are in your own home.”

Me and my sister certainly felt at home in the cosy and just-the-right-amount crowded restaurant. We started with some delicious cocktails- as one does on a last night in town- and I discovered the pleasures of White Linnet which was the base of The Gaston 76 (White Linnet, cucumber, and tarragon). I then delved into a roasted beet salad accented with greens a walnut and black pepper purée.

For our main dishes I enjoyed a Portuguese fish stew which owed its excellence to the inclusion of delicious clams thqt I couldnùt get enough of. My sister took advantage of an opportunity to eat ethical meat and ordered the Hangar Steak with bread pudding.

The high note of our meal came at the end when the cherry on top was not a cherry at all, but an unparalleled salt brittle atop a pumpkin crisp with molasses ice cream. Hats off to you, pastry chef! After stuffing my face with cupcakes all week (more wedding business/pleasure tasting), this light yet filling fall dessert hit the spot!

Ten Tables also has an enticing bar menu and the vibe on that side of the resto is just as cosy- I would highly recommend pulling up a bar stool for a wine pairing and enjoying the ambience that this neighborhood restaurant has created- it’s enough to make you want to become a local!

And so my Northeast adventure ended, with plenty of new addresses, memories, and the promise of oysters left unturned and more of the unexpectedly rich bounty of the Boston area.

Libellés : artisanal, boston, local, organic, organic booze, organic restaurants, seasonal, slow food, travel

lundi 31 octobre 2011

Marché du Mois: Marché Jean Jaurès

I'm slowly cultivating a list of my Top 10 local producers present at the many marchés of Paris and, as I work through my list of marchés by arrondissement , I find that it is rather difficult to find even one local grower at these not-so-farmer's markets.

A case in point is the Marché Jean Jaurès where, on my visit in the early afternoon last Thursday, I noticed that none of the vendors were attached to a particular farm or region in France.

Granted, I should get to the market earlier (add this to the list of this blogger's New Year's Resolutions) when the market is probably more abuzz, but I find it is often the case that the stands are filled with fruits and legumes from all over and nowhere in particular, with the vendors having no specific link to the land their goods came from.

Having said that, there was one cheerful vendor at Marché Jean Jaurès who seemed to be making the effort to stock local and artisinal products, such as confiture faite maison, various nuts from different regions in France, and beautiful French tomatoes that reminded me of Céline's lovely article about her favorite tomato varieties of Southwestern France.

Marché Jean Jaurès is small and unimpressive when it comes to it's selection of fish and meat, but one should hesitate judging a market by it's coverage, because the treasures of this marché can be found in the simple pleasures of the season's last local tomatoes and the abundance of Fall's nuts and squash.

While my quest for local producers continues, the Marché Jean Jaurès is a fine place to stop by for residents of the 19th arrondissement looking for a few local gems.

Marché Jean Jaurès

185 ave Jean Jaurès

m° Porte de Pantin (line 5)

Hours:

Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday

7h-14h30

Libellés : 75019, artisanal, local, Marché of the Month, open Sunday, open Thursday, open Tuesday, seasonal

vendredi 30 septembre 2011

Marché du Mois: Marché Couvert Beauvau

I love the Ledru-Rolling neighborhood and I try to make a habit of stopping by. I would advise any hungry visitor of this coin to grab a great croissant at Blé Sucré or to dine at Le Cotte Rôti while strolling this quartier.

Recently I got my hands dirty visiting my friend Terresa's community garden which is just a few blocks away from Ledru-Rolling and the place Aligre, where you'll find this month's marché.

The Marché Couvert Beauvau is the covered market that sits next to the outdoor Marché Aligre, which offers a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and flea market fare. If you're looking for a nice selection of produce, I'd hit up the outdoor market. But don't miss the discoveries that await undercover at Marché Beauvau.

First of all, the seemingly endless cheese counters, stocked with regional artisinal cheeses of all sorts. There is also a wide selection of lovely Italian hard cheeses, like pecorino and parmasean.

Meat lovers will also find their cut of meat at either of the boucheries at the marché and just in time for our late Summer weather, overheated shoppers can pick up some artisinal and all natural ice cream made by Terre Adélice.

My all time favorite find at Marché Beauvau, however, was -in typical drunkard fashion- the beer stand. Stocked with beers from around Europe and the world, this is a great spot to pick up Belgian brews and Germans quaffs of all different styles.

I'm lucky to have a Meilleurs Vins Bio boutique down the right down the street and I'm even luckier that they stock my favorite brewed-in-Brussels beer Cantillon.

This spontaneously fermented beer is an aquired taste which quickly becomes an addiction. Les Meilleurs Vins Bio carries the Gueuze Cantillon variety, but the beer stand at Marché Beauvau also carries their Kreik and Rosé de Grambinus, the raspberry flavored lambic.

All this talk of adult beverages is making me thirsty, and luckily one of my favorite watering holes in Paris is also located in the Aligre area. The Baron Rouge is a wine bar that makes one feel like a kid in a candy shop, it's extensive wine list contains no glasses over 3,50 euro, with most verres hovering around 2,50 euro.

The Baron Rouge is a great spot for an apero, and if you're feeling nippish you cna order an assiette of the fromage from the market next door as well as some charcuterie.

The Baron Rouge gets bustly so get there early because sitting space is limited and they close their doors shortly after the Summer sunset (16h on Sundays and 22h Tues-Sat). If you don't get enough wine sur place the bar has a to-go option: bottles and bulk wine!

Grab anyone of their bottles, many of which are biodynamic, or get a consigned bottle and choose a barrel. Sold by the liter, prices range from 2,80 - 3,60 euro for a reds, whites, and rosés. Just in case you missed it the first time- bulk wine straight from the barrell. To take home with you. That should be a regular part of your life, shouldn't it?

Marché Beauvau

Place d'Aligre 75012

m° Ledru-Rollin (line 8)

Hours:

8h-13h & 16h-19h30 Tue-Sat

8h-13h Sunday

Le Baron Rouge

1 rue Théophile-Roussel

75012

m° Ledru-Rollin (line 8)

Hours:

10h-15h & 17h-22h Tue-Fri.

10h-22h Saturday

10h-16h Sunday

Libellés : 75012, artisanal, Bulk, Marché of the Month, open Friday, open Saturday, open Sunday, open Thursday, open Tuesday, open Wednesday, organic booze

mercredi 18 mai 2011

Beer Me in Gay Paris!

On June 10th the Gallia boys will be hosting a one year anniversary of their resurrected Parisian beer brand. Their success in launching the brand, shared among peers including Ky Lorch at Demory and local microbrewers such Florent of the Zymotik Brasserie in Montreuil and the Brasserie Chevreuse in Versailles, proves that these young entrepreneurial beer lovers are making their mark on the local beer scene, a scene was previously almost non-existant.

In celebration of the brewing beer scene in Paris, I'd like to point out a few spots in the city where you can go to stop your wine-ing and grab a pint. In a city that loves to sip, you'd be surprised how many beer bars are are just a hops(s) skip and a jump away!

Laurent Cicurel, who organizes Les Soirées Maltées, a series of regionally themed beer tasting events that take place regularly throughout the year, was recently kind enough to suggest some of his favorite beer hunting spots around the city.

On top of Laurent's list was Brewberry which recently set up shop in the charming Mouffetard neighborhood. This address is a must for any beer connaisseur. Owned by the former manager of the Academie de la Bière Brewberry's staff and stock is proof to this place's savoir-faire when it comes to la bière.

The first time I stopped by Brewberry I had just returned from Brussels and experiencing Belgian beer withdrawal. To my delight, Brewberry's shelves are filled with beers from Belgium, as well as France and Germany, with a few organic selections included in the mix. This is a great spot for an apèro, as you can settle in and taste beers as well as order cheese or charcuterie plates to go along with your selections.

While the chill atmosphere of Brewberry is a welcome calm among the Mouffetard madness; there are plenty of more lively locations you can go to enjoy microbrews. In Paris, there are two bars where beer is brewed sur place: The Frog Pubs chain and the Brasserie O'Neil .

Both breweries make enjoyable beer and offer the brew pub environment that many an American or Englishman may miss when spending an extended period in Paris.

While the Frog pubs tend to attract a crowd that most of us aim to avoid (a little too young, a little too loud, a little too drunk after one demi) I can highly recommend the Frog at Bercy Village, which is one of the few places in Paris where you aren't squeezed into your spot at the bar or booth. The spacious design and high ceilings of this multi-level pub make bumping into things a less immenent event (you will still have to watch out for people walking into you during their busy happy hour or weekends).

Last but not least, my favorite new beer address has just become even more interactive! For those of you that love beer and want to get in the game, the Brasserie Zymotik is now offering a series of beer brewing lessons.

For 100 euro you can enroll in the lessons which take place over two sessions; the first is a brewing session and then 10 days later you get to come back for the second installment where you bottle your beer and take it home with you! The fee includes all materials, lessons, bottles, and some quality beer tasting.

If you're not ready to start brewing, you can still visit the Zymotik Brasserie and see where the magic happens. Florent holds a weekly apero, on Tuesdays from 18h-20h, where you can taste the beer and buy your favorites for a very reasonable price. Zymotik is located at 65 rue Danton in Montreuil (metro° Marie de Montreuil, line 9).

The sun is shining and the apèro is calling, what better time to grab a cold one and discover what the City of Pints has to offer!

Libellés : artisanal, fermentation, organic booze

samedi 14 mai 2011

Profile d'un Producteur: Audrey Fallope

Audrey Fallope's business-magical shoes caught my eye at A Little Market's temporary boutique a few months ago. The shoes radiate both professional sensibility and girly style, a creative and rare pairing with stellar results. It was a great pleasure to discover this line of shoes, and an even greater one to meet their maker at ALM's boutique. Audrey introduced herself and told me a little bit about how she came to find and love this metier. I'm honored that Audrey agreed to share her story with Paris Paysanne because she is a shoe-in for one of my favorite Parisian producteurs.

Audrey's passion for shoes started at a young age and was in part inspired by her own father's respect for fancy footwear. Audrey described her dad's weekly shoe waxings, "my father wore beautiful shoes, and every Sunday he took them out to wax and buff them. He could spend hours shining them, making them sparkle." This masculine influence is apparent in Audrey's shoes, which are adorned with mensweary touches such as tassles and little leather laces.

While studying at art school, Audrey began designing shoes and found her calling. A helpful professor indicated which classes she would need to take in order receive the proper training for her dream job and a little over a year later Audrey was ready and eager to design and assemble her own shoes. "It's great," Audrey said of her professsion, "sometimes it feels like I'm dreaming, I'm so happy. I love knowing that I'm capable of designing a shoe and then being a part of every step of its creation, from A-Z. It's thrilling!"

Audrey is deeply invested in every aspect of the shoe-making process, in fact it's one of her favorite parts of the job, "I really love the work involved in the creation and conception of a shoe" she explained, listing the various responsibilites in the process of shoe making, which include finding the materials, deciding on what form (and heels) the shoe will take, and creating interesting mixtures of shapes and colors.

Her attention to detail and the obvious fun that Audrey has contrasting colors and styles make these shoes truly unique. For Audrey, the one-of-a-kind element is among the most compelling arguments for buying hand-made goods. Buying artisinal goods, Audrey explains "is recognizing the handiwork of others, the production of a one-of-a-kind object means that you won't be wearing the same thing as your neighbor...it will be designed personally for you and for your tastes and needs."

Buying Audrey's hand-made shoes is not only a way of distinguishing yourself from others,-it's also a way of rewarding a special kind of work and talent. When we support artisans, Audrey argues we "recognize the beauty of the acts and knowledge of people who dedicate a great deal of time to creating beautiful products that will improve over time."

If you want to get some orginal Audrey Fallope's on your feet, check out her site where you can see more pictures of her shoes and get information for ordering your own personalized pair!

Libellés : A Little Market, artisanal, gifts, Profile d'un Producteur

samedi 7 mai 2011

Marché du Mois: L'Echoppée Locale

This month's marché is special because it is the only one of its kind. While not a marché in the traditional open-air market sense, L'Echoppée Locale embodies the farmer's market spirit more fully than many of the city's weekly outdoor markets. This is because L'Echoppée Locale stocks only products from producers in the Ile-de-France region.

The people behind L'Echoppée Locale are clearly loyal to their shop's mission statement, refusing to stock any product that wasn't made within the confines of the region, and the result is delightful. The shop manages to offer a wide variety of products (mostly bottled, canned, or preserved in some way) and shopping their is like taking a true tour d'Ile de France.

While there are few fresh vegetables for sale, one has a tempting choice of items that would make great gifts for your favorite locavore or creative accents to your next meal. La Rose de Provins and Le Coquelicot de Nemours make several appearances as pretty-in-pink limonades, bon bons, honey, and even in vinegar. A coquelicot liquor was also packaged up among a selection of great under 15 euro gifts which included local mustards and confitures.

Local beers are also on display, I picked up a bottle of Biere de Brie that I didn't get a chance to taste at the Ile-de-France Soirée Maltée. Next time I go back, I'll be sure to pick up a bottle of local wine, the Vin des Coteaux de Suresnes (15.80 euro). I'm sure this vin de table would go well with the Echoppée Locale's cheese selection, which advertises artisinal Brie amongst its choices.

Overwhelmed by the choice, and wanting to take something home that I could try that night, I settled on the Beer de Brie (6.30 euro) and a bottle of Coquelicot Limonade (5 euro) that I mixed with some of my homegrown mint and (store bought) vodka to make a refreshing pink and green cocktail.

L'Echoppée Locale is a requirement on the route of any locavore, check it out and take some of the Ile-de-France home with you!

L'Echoppée Locale

237 rue Saint Martin

Paris 75003

Open Tues.-Fri. 10h-19h

Saturday 14h-20h

Libellés : 75003, artisanal, gifts, local, Marché of the Month

mercredi 27 avril 2011

Being Local Abroad: From Northern California to North Carolina

I am so ashamed that this is my first blog post in over a month! I refuse to believe that my absence is due to the fact that I've taken an almost-full-time day job and will blame my blocked writing instead on the fact that I have been either sick or traveling (or both) practically this whole month. But I'm back now, and I'll try to squeeze in as many articles as I can before April comes to an end!

While I was traveling from coast-to-coast in the U.S. this month, I experienced the familiar pangs of travel, the missing of home along with the looking for a home away from home.

I missed my balcony garden, which was starting to grow like crazy and I also missed cooking in my kitchen during this excting moment of the season where courgettes and spring veggies start showing up at the coop. What was missing above all were all things local since, by definition, you can't bring local with you. But you can find other people's local while abroad, and thanks to some good friends and good luck, I was able to peak into local scenes in other people's neighborhoods, from San Francisco, CA to Southern Pines, NC.

Locavores shouldn't have to give up their principles while on the road and I regretted not availing myself more of guides to being local while en route, incidently does anyone have suggestions as to where to find this sort of guide? In appreciation of these guides and traveling localites in general, here are my contributions to the list of ethical pit stops to include in your travel itinerary.

My friend Carlo, who is the head chef at Comstock Saloon in San Francisco, took me out to brunch while I was visiting the city. I knew that as a chef, and pretty much the coolest person I know, Carlo would have a great idea for a place to eat so I hopped in his car and trusted that he would take me somewhere pretty great. Blind faith rewarded, we ended up at Bar Agricole, a cool and quiet restaurant that is completely sourced through local organic and biodynamic farms. The bar is also stocked exclusively with biodynamic and fresh ingredients.

The cocktail list at Bar Agricole reads like an alternate universe Sex and the City episode, offering an opprotunity to get excited about indulging in drinking fancy and exotic-sounding cocktails (like the Rye Cocktail with Hibiscus bitters or the Brandy Fix with local honey to name a few) without feeling like a cosmopolitan sipping douchebag. I started my brunch with fresh squeezed orange juice and biodynamic champers, and Carlo had the alternate universe Bloody Mary, which was called something totally different, but had all the elements of spice and veg, with lovely pickled radish on the side.

Bar Agricole is fresh and simple, and perfect for sharing with friends- both the space and the plates are comforting and cozy. The food and drinks menus are both delicious and palpably political in it support of local farmers and producers.

Bar Agricole also has a patio seating area, where raised flower beds house the herbs they grow on site. When I saw the growing parsley I felt a twinge of homesickness and thought about how my mint must be growing out of control in Paris. The sentimentality subsided once I realized how reassuring it is to see these Californian cousins of my little urban garden growing and accenting San Francisco cuisine.

Bar Agricole is located at 355 Eleventh St. in San Francisco. They are open from 18-22h during the week, 18-23h on weekends, and serve brunch every Sunday from 11-14h, make reservations at 415.355.9400.

Though it's far more likely that you'll be wandering the streets of San Francisco than following the train tracks to Southern Pines, NC- it is not impossible that some of you have Grandparents that live in this wooded region of the state. If you ever find yourself dropping by (and in doing so reducing the average age of the county by about 20 years) and are dying for some real coffee and under-retirement age company, I suggest you stop by Swank where you can get a little of both, and then some.

This cafe cum artisan craft show provides a refreshing retreat from wicker and porcelein ducks, offering in response screen-printed t-shirts, hand-made camera straps, totally wearable jewelry, and lots of little things you didn't know you needed.

Swank functions as a cultural center, lending space to local artisans and welcoming community members with the smell of fresh and locally roasted coffee and a schedule of events and classes that allow anyone who is interested in doing someone with their hands to have the opportunity. This inviting environment and openess to the entire community results in a local address that happens to be not too far from a college, but doesn't seem to owe its existence to that fact.

Swank is located at 232 NW Broad St. in Southern Pines, N.C. and is open 7 days a week (check their Facebook page for hours).

So there you have it, a few of the souvenirs I brought back from my trip. I'd love to hear about any places you've discovered while globe trotting, or any new places you love in your very own neighborhood!

Libellés : artisanal, local, organic

vendredi 25 mars 2011

Marché du Mois: A Little Market

This month's marché is special because it marks A Little Market's first ever crossover from virtual to "ephemeral", with the launch of its temporary boutique in the 1oth arrondisement. Since March 8th, 15 vendors from A Little Market's online store have been womaning stands at Lieu 37, an open space for artists and artisans of all sorts.

In an earlier post on this blog, I raved about what a great idea A Little Market is, and how commendable it is that the site aims to bring together local artisans and give them a way to enjoy both community and visibility. The temporary boutique is great because it extends this sentiment even further.

I had the opportunity to visit ALM's offline site and I was truly inspired by all the creations I saw there. On display is a wide array of products, ranging from children's clothing, jewelry, bags, and even hand made shoes.

For a limited time only, Lieu 37 is not only allowing these women to share their handiwork with others, but is also offering the opportunity for visitors to meet the vendors and hear the stories behind their craft.

While browsing in the boutique, I heard the fairytale story of Audrey Fallope who not only got her gorgeous slippers, but makes them, too! After years of wanting to be trained in the art, Audrey eventually realized her dream of making hand made shoes that she now creates made to order. These classy leather shoes blend business and girly, and you can't get any more one of a kind.

Another favorite producer was Oh La La! Paris , who makes bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings using bold and simple forms. This brand's signature necklace, a fashinably french moustache on a simple chain, shares shelf space with equally adorable acessories, including a new line of engraveable necklaces. Check out their site or take the opportunity to visit the market to find out more.

There's much more to discover at A Little Market's boutique, and not much time left to do it! So don't miss out on this special opportunity, which is the first of what the team hopes to be a of many "real life" boutiques to come!

A Little Market Boutique Ephémère

37 rue des petits écuries

75010 Paris

m° Bonne Nouvelle or Château d'Eau

Open until April 8th

Monday-Saturday 11h-20h

Special Sunday openings on 27 March and 3 April

And don't forget the site that started it all, www.alittlemarket.com, where you can discover even more locally based vendors.

Libellés : A Little Market, artisanal, local, Marché of the Month

jeudi 10 mars 2011

Saveurs Paris Ile-de-France: La Marque Régionale

I found out about the Saveurs Ile-de-France brand while wondering around the Salon de l'Agriculture. It was in the Saveurs sponsered section of the salon that I discovered great regional and artisinal beers. I hadn't realized that the brand extended beyond marketting at the Salon until I unloaded the stash of organic beer I bought from Brasserie Chevreuse and noticed that the bright green Ile-de-France tote bag that the brewer had sent me and his beer home with contained information about this regional brand.

Saveurs Paris Ile-de-France is an ambitious and organized system of classifying agricultural, artisinal, and even industrial food products that come from the Ile-de-France region (which includes the areas surrounding Paris to total a little over 12,000 km of land).

Broken down into three distincts colors, these brands are an easy guide to use when you want to be sure to buy local. Here's a little translation of the color coding, in case you stumble upon the brand, or try to seek it out:

Green Saveurs labels denote that the agricultural product
was cultivated or produced within the Ile-de-France,

Blue labels indicate that the product was made by an artisanal food producer within the region, and

Grey labels mean that the item was produced by a small or mid-sized agro/food business located in the Ile-de-France.

The brand and its coding system were created by an association called CERVIA (Le Centre Regional de la Valorisation et d'Innovation Agricole et Alimentaire). Created in 2007, the association works to increase the appreciation of local agriculture as well as engender support for producers in the Ile-de-France region, combining both promotion and innovation in the field.

While the labels are probably their most visable contribution to the local cause, their website is also worth visiting. I was really impressed by how informative and interactive it is. My favorite feature is the fact that you can find recipes inspired by local products. The "Cuisiner et Savoir" section of the site allows visiters to chose an item that is typical of the Ile-de-France region (asparagus, apples, even croissants!) and then be offered a variety of recipes in which local produce plays the starring role. Regional alcohols are also included in the list. So, if your looking for local cocktail ideas, why not try the Gentil Coquelicot (The Nice Poppy)?

Le Gentil Coquelicot
For 1 Person:
3 tsps Liqueur de Coquelicot (from Provins)
2 tsps Cointreau
Crémant de Loire

Pour your liqueur and Cointreau into a Champagne flute, then top off with your Crément, or any sparkly wine of your choice.

I'll bet you could find a nice apèro to go with this cocktail, just check out their site!

Libellés : artisanal, labels, local, solidarity

lundi 7 mars 2011

Farinez-Vous: Move That Bakery!

It is a testament to the French's ability to keep you on your toes that this normally cerebral and rather reserved country does, at times, embrace the sappy and sentimental. When this occurs, maudlin Americans like me are happy to reap the benefits. An opprotunity to do so arises with the cheesy makeover and rennovation shows that are all the rage on France's less sophisticated television channels.

I'll be the first to admit that I cry while watching Ty Pennington's Extreme Home Makeover. There is certain humanizing and reassuring affect this reaction has on a person who regularly growls at noisy babies on the metro (I'm sorry Mommy friends, but it's true, the Line 13 makes me mean!). It's nice to be reminded that my capacity for sympathy and loving thy neighbor is still in tact, albeit a bit too buried under urban soul decay.

However, the true tragedy present in Ty's show is not the families and their stories of sickness, death, and disaster. The true tragedy is that this show exists at all. If you take a moment to wipe your bleary eyes and see the show for what it is, it is sorrowfully obvious that the real tragedy is the fact that Ty Pennington and his team are doing the job of the American government.

While donated goods from Sears and other giant corporations may seem like an appropriate way to solve a problem in a world where The U.S. and France offer monetary aid to Haiti (which finds ways of not getting there in its entireity) instead of arranging for reparations to make up for the colonialism and subsequent debt that has burdened the country for years. I argue that instead of a bus of interior designers from Los Angeles salvaging the remains of the only free clinic that existed in a hurricane-ravaged town, perhaps the American government should simply provide health care and hospitals that are accesible to the locals and kept up by their tax dollars.

The reason I'm ranting about the US government and Ty Peninnington on my "Life in Paris" blog is because France is not immune to the poor governing and politics that leave citizens to pick up the slack and help out their fellow man. That's where Farinez-Vous comes in. Parisian bakery, located in the 12th arrondisment, not only espouses an artisinal and locavore approach to the trade (their flour is milled in the nearby Normandy region and all their ingredients are seasonal) Farinez-Vous is also engaged in the type of social action that picks up where the French government pathetically drops off.

Farinez-Vous's goal is not only to make equitable and delicious baked goods, but also to "be a place conducive to solidarity and sustainable development." One way the bqkery engenders development is by hiring employees who are in a state of "conversion", or in other words people who lost there jobs and have found themselves in a country with an overwhelming unemployment rate and an unquenchable thrist for diplomas corresponding to every imaginable career choice.

At Farinez-Vous, professional or academic background is irrelevant, employees working here get to start from scratch and nurture, as their website explains, "two primary strengths: training in a rewarding job and real opportunities in terms of employment."

It is rare to find an employer who sees beyond age and background and offers the opportunity to grow and learn in a new trade and that's why Farinez-Vous gets my, "I-wish-our-country's-politics-didn't-make-your-existence-necessary-but-I'm-glad you-exist-all-the-same" medal of honor. If any of you know Ty Pennington, could you see if he'll come over and award it? I'll translate through my tears.

Farinez-Vous

9 bis rue Villiot

75012 Paris

Metro: Gare de Lyon (Lines 1 & 14)

Open: Monday-Friday; 8h-18h30

Libellés : 75012, artisanal, bio bakeries, organic, seasonal, solidarity

samedi 26 février 2011

The Salon de l'Agriculture

It doesn't take an advanced degree in the the agricultural arts to understand the appeal of Paris' annual Salon de l'Agriculture.

Every year, the Salon attracts about 650,000 visitors who are drawn by the promise of meeting regional and international producers and tasting the fruits of their labor.

But the taste testing is only half of the Salon's fun, after noshing on artisinal cheese, meats, wine, and beers, one can wander over to a neighboring Pavillion and hang out with over 4,000 farm animals.

During this week dedicated to all things agricultural, the Paris Exposition center at the Porte de Versailles houses a wide variety of animals including horses, cows, donkies, sheep, pigs, and rabbits.

The giddy Parisian toddler or the tipsy and toddling urbanite can enjoy getting up close and personal with these awesome animals, which is needless to say a rare opportunity in Paris intramuros.

This year, I was particularly smitten with the donkies, but I strongly recommend making the rounds to find your own spirit animal amongst the stys.

Aside from donkies, I took a special interest in locally brewed beers during my visit. I was happy to find two beers brewed in the Ile-de-France region, which Paris calls home, that offered especially tasty amber ales.

The first beer I tasted was La Gâtine, a beer which is made from hops grown in the region and brewed sur place in the Pays Gatinais, located 100 kilometers from Paris. This brasserie brews both a blonde and a pleasing amber ale that dares to embrace a bitter taste that one doesn't usually discover in French beers on tap in Parisian bars. La Gâtine makes a good argument for changing that unfortunate state of affairs.

Even closer still, the Brasserie Chevreuse, is located near Versailles, a mere 20 kilometers from Paris. The team brews their beer in the town of Bonnelles, using organic hops and barley bought from Germany and France.

The brasserie's "Volcelest" line of beers includes a Blonde, Amber, Stout, a Brown Ale, and their Triple beer, fermented three times to reach a level of 8% alcohol. Their Blonde and Triple beers were a bit too sweet for my taste, but the Brown Ale was delicious and I'm disappointed I didn't take home more than one bottle.

If you want to get in on some bottle tasting and barnyard action, get yourself to the Salon tout de suite! This is the last weekend it's on so take advantage before it's too late! If you want to make the most out of your visit, be advised that Pavillion 7 is where you'll find the French products (wine, beer, and food) and Pavillion 1 is where you can go hang out with the animals afterwards.

The Salon de l'Agriculture

Feb. 19-27; 9h-19h

Paris Expo Porte de Versailles

m°Porte de Versailles (line 12)

Want to find out more about artisinal beers from the Ile-de-France?

Check out the site for Les Soirées Maltées, where you can buy tickets for their March 3rd event featuring several local brasseries, including the Brasserie Chevreuse.

Tickets are 12 euro in advance and 16 euro at the door, act fast while they're still available!

Libellés : artisanal, fermentation, local, organic booze, Salon de l'Agriculture

vendredi 18 février 2011

Profile d'un Producteur: Oskar Viljasaar

Welcome to my first installment of "Profile d'un Producteur". This new addition to the blog is inspired by all the creative Parisian "producteurs" that I've been meeting lately.

In this addition to the blog, I'd like to turn the spotlight on the people in our neighborhood who have fully embraced a DIY spirit and made unique artisinal objects to share with us.

I hope to make this a regular feature on the blog, so if you or anyone you know is a local producer and would like to share your story, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me, either by e-mailing: Emily@parispaysanne.com or posting your info on the forum.

Withour further ado, I present our first producteur, Oskar Viljasaar. Oskar has come up with an ingenious and energy efficient artisinal computer that he makes himself. Oskar's computer is not only eco-friendly, but it also has an unmistakable "French Touch", I'll let him tell you all about it:

Hello! My name is Oskar, and I'm selling wineboxes for ~300-350 euros a piece. It's not very cheap for a box of wine, but it has its advantages.

My take on a box of wine would be that it wouldn't really have any bottles in it (although it's possible to get them too), but instead would have a small energy-efficient computer for daily usage.

One of its goals would also be to promote small wine producers, as this would be an unusual and original way to do it for them. One of the big advantages of it would be that it would take less power than a lightbulb, and be totally noise-free, so at a first glance it could be a bit shocking for people to use it :)

The origins of this idea/project can be traced back to around 2006, when I got the crazy idea of putting a whole computer in a box of wine. I successfully did it, albeit with old spare (antique) computer parts I had lying around in my room, so it was relatively noisy. On the other hand, it was used for about six months daily, so this very fact confirms the viability of the idea of assembling a computer in a box of wine.

The difference with the first box of wine (I would call it Prototype #-1, yes, Minus One) would be that Prototype Zero would have no mechanically moving parts, eg. no hard disk drives (replaced by a solid state disk), no fans (replaced by less heating parts) and would be, as I already said, energy-efficient. Exact power usage numbers would [possibly] be max 30 watts. I don't really know if this is achievable, but it is a goal I'm setting to myself.

For the geeks reading this, Prototype #-1 was made out of an old motherboard, a dedicated graphics card, a PCI ethernet card and a 250watt Codegen PSU.

Prototype #0 would be based on a Mini-ITX motherboard (Intel Atom is the way to go), would have no optical reader (there's always the possibility to buy one pluggabe to an USB2 port), discrete graphics (exact chipset would be decided upon, probably Intel, but for the gamers out there, there is a possibility of including nVidia Ion), two gigabytes of RAM and a 32gig SSD.

The inclusion of Wi-Fi would be on demand, as at the moment, Wi-Fi-licious Mini-ITX motherboards are more expensive than those without. This would be reflected in the price, too.

If you're really interested in this (maybe even in buying it!), please leave a comment or mail me: oskar.viljasarr@eesti.ee

If you're excited about this idea or want to hear more, get in touch with Oskar, he'd love to hear from geeks, wine producers, interested buyers, and everyone in between!

Thanks Oskar for being my first "Profile d'un Producteur" I'm looking forward to publishing more of these stories in the future!

Libellés : artisanal, local, Paris Paysanne, Profile d'un Producteur

mardi 8 février 2011

Valentine's Day: Local Ways to say "Je t'aime"

The 14th of February has a special significance for me. This is because the date represents the fact that we're halfway through February.

Getting mid-way through this month is a great relief to me as I am not a Winter person by any means. By the time I get this far into the cold season, I'm usually counting down the days to the end of the longest short month of the year.

I'm not just a weathered Seasonal Affective Disorder vicitm (pun intended), though- I also suffer from an acute case of Spring Fever. The promise of the arrival of Spring is enough to make me swoon, and any signifier of the progression of time that brings me closer to the solstice with the mostest is more than welcome, so that's usually what I celebrate when Valentine's Day rolls around.

However, I must admit that the fact that sometime around the 14th (give or take two days) my dude usually brings a flower home for me isn't so bad, either. I don't mind ringing in the daffodil season with a hearty rose or two.

Still, the Hallmark holiday aspect and the vulgar marketing of the event (I saw a vaccum being sold at a "low Valentine's Day price" in an advertisement in the metro the other day) can make Valentine's Day a very boycott-worthy event. I get it. But, for those of you who are suckers for the tradition (the newly-coupled, those who cry at the end of Pretty Woman, and the fleur-o-philes among us) I offer a few Valentine's Day themed artisinal and local products that you can have fun finding and sharing with your chèri(e) on the 14th.

If you have the habit of planning ahead for this special date, I suggest penciling in a visit to the weekend's organic markets or placing an order for some of the local and creative gifts that are available within 100 km of our lovely City of Light.

Ekeing in at just under the 100 km mark at 95 km from Paris, Provins is certifably local and certainly lovely. The region's pride and joy is the Rose de Provins, which was brought back from the crusades by Thibaud IV of Champagne in 1240 and has become emblematic of the surrounding area.

This sustainable souvenir is the main ingredient of the region's several local specialties. Oils from the rose are prepared as “confits” and syrups, as well as liquors and bon bons. Honey from bees in the region and rose petal tea are also also a by-products of the famed fleur.

If you want to give some one a rose that keeps on giving, check out the city's online boutique where you can find the above-mentioned products and more information about Provins and its artisans.

If you prefer to stay within the confines of the metro lines, I recommend hitting up either one of Paris' 100% organic markets - Batignolles or Raspail- and picking up some artisinal-as-it-gets chocolate.

My friend Terresa recommended I check out this chocolate made by a woman who retired from her day job (making chocolate) and then came back to the chocolate trade, to the delight of any organic market-goer who has tried her milk, dark, and white chocolate varieties (either plain or with hazelnuts and almonds, 45.20 euro/kilo).

At the Marché Raspail or Batignolles, look for the stand that sells dried fruits and grains, it will also be equipped with boxes of bars of chocolate and the lovely women who (wo)man the stand will be happy to hook you up.

The chocolates are sold in bulk and then sent home with the buyer in a little plastic bag. It's no heart-shaped box, but as Terresa points out, "The beauty is in la bouche". While at the market you can also pick up some fresh flowers or some organic honey for your honey.

If you can't make it out to Batignolles or Raspail on the weekend, or if fresh flowers aren't your thing, head over to the 9th arrondisement and visit Aurore Capucine (3 rue Rochechouart, 75009 Paris m° Cadet, ).

This little salon de thé/bakery offers a bouquet of floral delights, including lavender and rose flavored cookies and cakes (1.20-3.70 euro) and their speciality, the macaron.

I tried the fleur d'oranger macaron and thought it was quite good, but found it no more special than their sablés; which are perfect for dunking in thé.

Complemented with ginger, honey, and apricots, Aurore Cupucine's variety of confections make a perfect treat for sweetheart. For the more traditional, chocolate versions of most baked goods are also available.

Wherever Valentine's Day takes you, and whomever it brings you together with, I hope you'll find yourself with good company and something sweet to eat, it's the least we can do to get through these dwindling days of Winter.

I've switched things up a bit this month (February madness?), so if you want to send me a valentine, here is my new contact information:

E-mail: Emily@parispaysanne.com

Twitter: @parispaysanne

website: www.parispaysanne.com

Libellés : artisanal, gifts, markets

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Farinez-Vous: Move That Bakery!

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Profile d'un Producteur: Oskar Viljasaar

mardi 8 février 2011

Valentine's Day: Local Ways to say "Je t'aime"

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