Galette des Rois

by Kylie

In Episode 309 of Katia and Kyliemac V.O., I talked about the Galette des Rois that the boys, Mamie and I dined upon.

The galette is a flaky pastry cake, generally filled with frangipane (almond), and is eaten in January to celebrate Epiphany - the day the three wise men visited the baby Jesus.

Mamie couldn't remember the name of all three of the magi, and I could only remember what they brought the baby Jesus, so I had to look them up. Thanks google! So if it's ever a trivia question for you, here is the answer: Gaspard, Balthazar and Melchior.

If you want a far more eloquent explanation, and that from a French person, head over to Clotilde's Chocolate and Zucchini blog (she actually makes one!!)

So the 8-year-old popped under the table, since he's the youngest, to decide who gets each piece. It's a part of the tradition. And, to my surprise, named me as the first galette slice receiver.

Now, I've eaten more than a few of these with the boys, as well as with others, and I have NEVER found the "fève" - which is a little porcelain figurine hidden inside the galette. This year I can no longer say that. For the first time in my galette-eating history, I found the fève.

Yay me.

This means that I got the crown, which, yes, I still have somewhere...

Arrrrrrrrrr

by Katia

Now I'm a legitimate pirate. And a classy one at that. Bling!

Thanks Janilani! You put glamour in glamorous!

As discussed on episode 311.

canadian moose

by Kylie

Awhile ago we met up with one of our listeners, PH, who brought us goodies from "The Great White North," aka Canada.

Amongst the treasures were Katia's Beaver that you've heard mention a time or two, and my lovely Moose that is now hanging off my bag.

Incidentally, when did hanging stuff off your purse/school bag/satchel become so popular? I don't remember doing that in my youth...

trapped in the internets

by Kylie

skyping with frog over the christmas holly-days.
this has got to be one of my favorite photos!

chocolates from the mayor

by Kylie

Apparently, the Mayor of Paris offers those Parisians of a "certain age" a box a chocolates at the end of the year.

This is the interesting fact I learned today.

Here is this year's box -

From what I understand, this is something that was started by a previous mayor as a way to encourage fuzzy feelings for reelection and has since become somewhat of a tradition. This is also something that perhaps the current mayor would like to "supprimer"* - which would not make him very popular and perhaps discourage his reelection. Hence, at least for the time being, it's still a line item in the budget...

*supprimer = delete or eliminate

roue de paris

by Kylie

After the booksigning, where I ran into Ksam, we headed over to the Marché de Noël on the Champs-Elysées, passing this little treasure on the way:

It's located right on the Place de la Concorde from November 20, 2009 to January 20, 2010 and is 10€ for the privilege to ride in one of the little gondolas (but a bit cheaper for the little childrens).

book signing

by Kylie

When I found out that Heather was making cookies to take to the book signing at Ô Chateau, it was just the hook i needed. I mean, who can resist homemade cookies?

(Hint: Not me.)

This was the door that told me I was in the right location, but the actual book signing/wine tasting was in the 'cave'. Which is where we found the authors-

Here is the lovely Heather. Check out her guide to "Naughty Paris". And you can hear her on the show in episodes: 183,184,248,263,200 & 201.

David Lebovitz was there too with some cookies.
Clearly, these two are from the Dark Side.

And then there was Canadian author, Keith Spicer who has written Paris Passions.

Christmas lights

by Katia

I found myself over at Galeries Lafayette the other day (one of the major department stores in Paris), and let out a squeal of excitement at the building, all lit up with bright lights and covered in christmas decorations.

Galeries Lafayette, from across the street

The giant Christmas tree, view from the 3rd floor

The famous dome, with giant giftboxes hanging from the ceiling

I ooh-ed and ahh-ed for a while, then headed over to Lafayette Gourmet, the place where you can find pretty much anything you want to eat. For a price, of course.

But since when have they stopped carrying Cadbury? Or was I only imagining that they did?

The booty shot

by Katia

The glorious English booty, sent to us by the lovely listener Julien, as discussed on episodes 297 & 298.

Click to embiggen - I love that you can see the k&k chat and all ;)

Oh. And Steve was frisked before he left the building.

the good old days

by Kylie

A week or two ago, while wandering around St. Paul, I came across the following in the window of a little shop there:

To Students of the Schools

IT IS FORBIDDEN

1. To spit on the ground
2. To moisten your fingers in your mouth in order to turn the pages of your books and notebooks
3. To introduce into your ear the end of your pen or pencil
4. To wipe off the chalkboard by spitting on it or by placing your tongue on it
5. To hold in your mouth pens, pencils, coins, etc.;

Would you like to know now why these interdictions exist? Ask your 'masters' who will give you the necessary explanations.

Finally, remember that you must not only obey these rules yourselves, but you also have the duty to inform everybody of them.

Coolio.

by Kylie

I would personally like to thank one Mr. Saville for managing to bring from the states the PROPER stuff to put on pumpkin pies.

the proper stuff in my humble opinion, of course. i'm sure others will be scandalized.

Mr. Saville, i thank you.

special thanks goes to Ksam who took the photo since my batteries ran out.

Big fish

by Katia

Whilst I might be fussy about things that come from the insides of animals (hello? tripe? brains?), I will eat just about anything that comes from the sea. Most Sundays we try to get to the market and pick up enough seafood for a couple of meals. I find it so exciting to discover different varieties of the same things we have in Australia.

At the moment I have a special penchance for oysters (especially the little round flat ones from Brittany), sea snails (it is imperative that bulots be eaten with freshly made mayonnaise) and razor clams (I fell in love with couteaux in Spain and now I can't get enough).

Occasionally we'll make it to the big supermarkets and get our fix there. It's kindof hard to get an idea of the scale in this photo, but behind the trays of bulots, langoustines, bigorneaux, crevettes grises and crab, was a spectacular fish, about a metre long. A couple of French people behind us gagged when they saw it. We giggled.

Thankfulness

by Katia

I'm always happy to embrace the cultural celebrations of others. Bastille Day. Chinese New Year. Thanksgiving.

I am still recovering from the onslaught of antibiotics after that horrible (spider?) bite, so I was not able to attend the belated Thanksgiving celebration thrown by a good friend here in Paris.

I was a bit pouty, but I hear that some of K_Sam's delicious dinner rolls I was craving might have been put aside for us, so all is not lost. I'm thankful for friends who think of me. And I'm thankful for all the people who I've had the chance to meet through the podcast. And I'm thankful that my family is happy and healthy. And I'm thankful that the Muffin Man still sticks by me, through toe incidents and crazy infected insect bites.

Oh, and I'm kindof thankful that I didn't have to eat pumpkin pie. Cos really, who thought of that?

ruelle des chats - troyes

by Kylie

Yet another shot taken during my visit with Vivi in Champagne...

Stuff that is nearly impossible to find in France

by Kylie

Chambord, oh, Chambord! You delightful black raspberry liqueur you!

This bottle was discovered in the local grocery store in KylieMac's America. Note the $34.96 price tag. I mean, after all, this stuff is *imported*, you know.

This modern version was inspired by a raspberry liqueur which was produced in the Loire Valley during the late 17th century according to the website. Since it is claimed to have been "introduced" to Louis XIV during one of his visits to the Château de Chambord it must be known all over France? Right?

Wrong.

Just ask Katia, who called about 50 different wine shops in Paris trying to find a bottle. If I recall, only one or two of them had even HEARD of the stuff.

We did, however, manage to find some eventually on a mini-break to the Loire Valley.

This is the blog. Part of the Official Katia and Kyliemac Empire. Cos we have LOTS of stuff to say. And the podcast? 1/2 an hour twice a week? It's just not enough.

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