January 2, 2007
Best of 2006
Happy New Year! As we slowly ease into 2007, recover from the holiday season and draw up virtuous resolutions we'll promptly forget so we can unearth them in December and have a good laugh, let us take a moment to bid a fond farewell to 2006 (where do years go when they're over?) and reflect upon the good things it has brought. Here's my Best of list:
Most Inspiring Cookbook: Rose Bakery's Breakfast, Lunch, Tea. Contenders: Mes Recettes pour votre ménage and The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating.
Favorite Fancy Meal in Paris: Lunch in the gardens of Le Bristol. Contender: Dinner at Le Sensing.
Favorite Fancy Meal Elsewhere: Dinner at Cordeillan-Bages, where Thierry Marx officiates. Contender: How could I not mention El Bulli in Roses, Spain?
Favorite Simple Meal in Paris: a côte de boeuf pour deux with garlic potatoes at Corneil.
Favorite Simple Meal Elsewhere: The Crack'd Conch in Key Largo, Florida.
Favorite Soup Recipe: Beet Soup with Anchovy-Walnut Paste
Favorite Main Course Recipe: Le Poulet de Muriel served with Chicken Family Green Beans.
Favorite Addition to my Baking Repertoire: Gâteau Sirop.
Favorite Cooking Class: Tomoko's sushi class. Contender: Pascal Barbot's carrot-centric class.
Favorite New Technique: Absorption Pasta.
Favorite New Tool: my chick yellow Coquelle. Contender: my firetruck red stand mixer.
Favorite Fear Conquered: Fear of yeast.
Favorite New Ingredient: Violet Extract. Contender: Olivier Roellinger's spice mixes, and most particularly his Poudre Equinoxiale.
If you are so inclined as to share your own Best of 2006 list -- feel free to make up your own categories of course -- the comment section is wide open!
More Entries Like This One:
~ Best of 2008
~ Best of 2007
~ Best of 2005
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Comments (38)
Permalink | Posted by clotilde in Interlude - [nopic]
Favorite cookbook: The Bon Appetit Cookbook
Favorite C&Z recipe: Cacao & Zucchini Absorption Pasta
Favorite tool: My smoky red le creuset pot
Favorite new cheese: Morbier
Favorite store: Tony Caputo's Market in Salt Lake City (can't believe I didn't discover it sooner)
Favorite meal in SLC: The bleu cheese house cut potato chips and miso glazed atlantic salmon with a crispy black bean cake at Bambara
Posted by Krissy on January 2, 2007 4:53 PMBonne annee a CZ et a vous Clotilde. J'espere que vous viendrez presenter votre ouvrage a New York en 2007!
Posted by Melanie on January 2, 2007 5:23 PMPS: je reviens d'argentine (fabuleux)... auriez-vous quelques recommandations bonnes recettes a base de "dulce de leche"?
Favorite cookbook: The Gourmet Cookbook; contender, Tartine
Fear conquered: candy making
Favorite candy to make: English Toffee
Another fear conquered: Choux pastry
Favorite store: our new Trader Joe's (their chocolate chips are the best!) contender: A Southern Season
Posted by Michele Little on January 2, 2007 6:11 PMFavorite New Gadgets: Kitchenaid Mixer, Kitchenaid Food Processor
Favorite Class: Intro to knife skillz where I cut my thumb *doh*
Favorite Cooking Phrase: Zesting
Favorite Cookbook: Bobby Flay Cooks American (haven't found a bad recipe in it yet!)
Favorite thing about food blogging: Meeting fun, interesting people both online and (even better) in person!
Posted by Jeff on January 2, 2007 7:19 PMGreat list! I especially agree with "Nose To Tail Eating!"
Come check out my list on my blog:
http://ulteriorepicure.wordpress.com/2006/12/31/best-dishes-of-2006/
Happy New Year C&Z!
u.e.
Posted by ulterior epicure on January 2, 2007 9:24 PMFavourite restaurant in Paris : Giufeli, 14th arrondissment
By the way, congratulations for your interview in Olive magazine!
Posted by kitchenette on January 2, 2007 10:23 PMHi Clotilde....I'm a first time poster and wanted to say hello and to tell you how much I love your site :)
My list (so far):
Fav Cookbook: Chez Panisse Desserts
Posted by Susan on January 2, 2007 11:26 PMFav Kitchen Toy: Kitchen Aid Stand mixer
Fear conquered: Pie dough
Fav C&Z recipe: Fregola pasta w/zucchini (yogurt cake is a close second!)
Fav French meal (in SF): Chapeau!
This is fun. I totally had to steal this idea for my blog too :)
Favorite souvenir brought home from Paris
Mauviel copper pot and saucepan
Favorite crazily expensive meal experience
Charlie Trotter"s, Chicago
Favorite use of endive
Tatin of Endive and Goat Cheese at L"Epi Dupin, Paris
Worst home cooked meal
Our attempt at L"epi Dupin"s Tatin of Endive and Goat Cheese
Favorite newly learned culinary term
Saint Jacques (I always just called them scallops)
Favorite (ok,only) cooking class
Divina Cucina in Florence
(Best bonus:
My story on the cooking class is being published next month!)
Favorite cheese experience
Obika Mozzarella bar in Rome
Best risotto
with fresh white Alba truffles at Les saveurs de Flora in Paris
Most overdue home cooking purchase
A *gas* range - we"ve been cooking on electric 16 months, far too long!
The only food experience worth getting up at 4:30 a.m. for
Posted by Dana on January 3, 2007 12:04 AMTour of Rungis Market in Paris.
favourite looking forward to cookbook...Clotilde's :-))))
Posted by Joan on January 3, 2007 1:09 AMA very happy new year to you, dear Clotilde! :-)
Posted by Elvira on January 3, 2007 1:23 AMaren't lists fun??
Posted by jules on January 3, 2007 3:00 AMI posted my 06 highlights recently too.
wishing you all the best for 07
Favourite cookbook: Patricia Wells's Paris Cookbook (as much for the nostalgia trips as the recipes)
Posted by Rachel on January 3, 2007 3:16 AMFavourite restaurant meal in Paris (French): L'Avant Gout, 13th arr. (La Famille is a close second)
Favourite restaurant meal in Paris (not French): Chez Dom, 10th arr.
Favourite C&Z recipes: Fregola with zucchini and cake au chocolat, gingembre et abricots
Favourite food book I didn't read because it was wrapped up to give my boyfriend for Christmas (oooh, the torture): Julian Barnes, The Pedant in the Kitchen
Cookbook most looking forward to in 2007: Clotilde's, of course! ;)
Happy New Year!
Favourite Cookbook: "The Hare Krishna Book of Vegetarian Cooking" -- finally Indian food I can make...
Favourite new ingredients: Sage and Thyme -- I can't believe I never used them before.
Proudest cooking moment: baking bread :-)
Posted by vasilisa on January 3, 2007 6:04 AMMeilleurs voeux! tantissimi auguri!
peggy
Posted by peggy on January 3, 2007 8:21 AMBonne année 2007, Clothilde.
J'aime ce retour sur l'année écoulée. Je m'y prêterai aussi.
Posted by tarzile on January 3, 2007 6:05 PMHappy New Year!
Favorite Cookbook: Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Bread
Cooking fear conquered: Baking bread! I was even brave enough to bake crackers to go with home made cheesespreads for Christmas presents.
Favorite new tool: Also a new red Le Creuset pot
Favorite new ingredient: fresh fennel bulb
Favorite new place to shop: 17th St Market here in Tucson ..best selection of fish and organic produce.
Posted by dragonfly on January 3, 2007 6:31 PM* Favourite cookbook: "Made in Italy" by Giorgio Locatelli
* Favourite C&Z recipe: Muriel's chicken and your basic muffin recipe which I have used numerous times
* Favourite addition to my kitchen equipment: Le Creuset omlette pan
* Favourite ingredient: Mostarda (from mustard fruits)
Happy New Year
Posted by Jen on January 3, 2007 6:53 PMNow I'm dying to try the absorption pasta. Sounds as good as risotto and easier to make. Oh, I know risotto isn't hard, but it's tedious.
Regarding tools, I've just been raving about the DIREKT Whisk, a little $2 whisk from IKEA. Its flat, heat-resistant plastic head lets you mix up sauces in shallow sauté pans while they cook, without worrying about scratching non-stick surfaces.
Posted by Terry B on January 3, 2007 8:02 PMBonne Annee, Clotilde!
Since you mentioned your meal at El Bulli, I think you'll enjoy this article from the Washington Post.
I'm still putting together my list but so far:
Favorite New Tool(s): couldn't decide on one-
Rice Cooker (no more burnt rice as I get distracted and doing something else!)
Ergonomic Silicone Spoon- I got mine @ Linens 'N Things in the US but this is it.
Favorite New "Local" Restaurant: Chloe Bistro
Favorite New Cookbooks: A Return To Cooking, Eric Ripert &
Vegetarian Planet, Didi Emmons
Favorite "New" C & Z recipe(s): Gâteau au Yaourt & Fondant Chocolat Noix de Coco
Favorite Store: Penzey's Spices ...
Posted by Robin on January 4, 2007 3:23 AMHappy New Year!
Thanks for a year of good reading, Clotilde.
Posted by Meg on January 4, 2007 8:36 AMThank you so much for the more precise advice on getting reservations at El Bulli - dear California friends who go to Sitges each year with me, but they've been making various mistakes. Maybe next year we'll get in...
Posted by Paul on January 4, 2007 9:02 AMI loved your list.
My favourite current cookbook is "the instant cook" by Donna Hay. delicious, different,good looking & quick recipes.
Favourite current eating place (part restaurant & part deli) "The Wild Olive", in Greenside, Johannesburg (S.Africa)
Current cooking preoccupation. baking bread - thanks to you - I've just spent my three weeks summer beach holiday producing daily loaves, precipitated by your recipe for "Holy Bread" and progressing from there ........ it's addictive. (Fortunately the kitchen in the beach shack is fairly well equipped...)
Can't wait to try the beet soup .... I serve baby beets as a salad - quartered, roasted and tossed in a dressing with blue cheese chunks and walnuts.
Happy new year, may we have the time to cook and only good food!
Posted by Penny on January 4, 2007 2:21 PMI just made the absorbtion pasta for dinner after seeing this yesterday. It was delicious (I made it with broccoli and sausage), though I need to work on the technique a little bit. I put the broccoli in a little early and added a bit too much broth. Very good though; my husband and I both ate seconds and it was nice not to wait for water to boil, etc. I feel like for any pasta served with something besides a straight tomato-based sauce, this is a great technique.
Posted by Kate on January 5, 2007 2:30 AMFavorite fear conquered - fear of making dark chocolate truffles
Posted by Cara on January 5, 2007 3:52 AMFavorite cookbook 2006 - Tartine
Favorite cookbook 2007 - Clotilde's of course
Favorite C&Z recipe - Tarte aux Quetsches et Crème de Noix
Favorite fancy meal Paris - La Robe et le Palais, 13 rue des Lavandières Sainte-Opportune
Favorite simple meal in Paris - L'as du felafel eaten walking on rue des Rosiers
Favorite new ingredient - orange flower water
Thank you Clotilde for an culinary inspiring 2006!
Cara
Hello Clothilde,
Tout d'abord je veux vous dire combien j'adore votre blog et je l'envoie à tous mes amis. En lisant hier soir Travelling Gourmande sur NYC, j'ai pensé que vous seriez intéressée par la sortie d'un livre écrit par une française vivant à NYC depuis dix ans. Très original et vécu "live" sa vision est passionnante. Son livre est déjà paru en français et paraitra ds deux mois en anglais sur lulu.com. Je ne sais pas comment mais ce serait sympa si vous pouviez dire quelques phrases sur son livre à condition bien entendu de l'apprécier. Je peux vous en envoyer un si vous le désirez.
Posted by noaille on January 5, 2007 9:54 AMJ'ai coutume de cuisiner végétarien avec une amie qui cuisine Thaïe, Indien, Tunisien et aussi tout simplement végétarien classique. j'apprécie vraiment vos trouvailles, vos photos imprévisibles et votre humour.
What a wonderful list. I am far too lazy to come up with a list for 2006, but I do have some ideas brewing for 2007. Fave art experience? Seeing Ferran Adria take part in Documenta! Fave tool that I really can't afford but want to buy in 2007? A Thermomix of course. Fave cookbook? Well, yours... duh. And Fave meal? I've already begun planning my father's 70th birthday dinner in November. Hopefully, that will be awesome. Have a great 2007!
Posted by Chubby Hubby on January 5, 2007 10:00 AMHi Clotilde,
Again here I am. Please apologize if my english is funky bad. I wondered how you could give a hit to Virginie. And i found the link.
Twice Action against Hunger has chosen her sculpture to offer to Nelson Mandela in oct 2004 in NYC and then Desmond Tutu in oct 2005. A lovely spoon ..you could see it on her web site if you click on Awards.
www.virginiesommet.com
You could ask me why I am so pushy concerning Virginie. She had received my daughter in NYC with such kindness and I admire her courage, creativity and openness to life.
So if I could rewind and give to her a bit of help i will do.
Many thanks for your understanding. And please feel free to say no...
I am very "groupie" of people creating their one way and you belong too to these people.
it's time to wish you a wonderful 007 year !!!
Dou Noaille
Posted by Noaille on January 5, 2007 10:52 AMThanks for all the tips!
Posted by Dree on January 6, 2007 3:54 AMDo visit my blog (click 'food & thought' on top of the page when you get there) and find, amongst other stuff, a bookshelf link with my favorite vegan and vegetarian food writers!
Happy New Year!
It's already 6 janvier...only 359 more days in 2007 to make resolutions, live them and write stories about them. Better get to it!
Meilleurs voeux!
Posted by blueVicar on January 6, 2007 7:03 AMHappy New Year everyone! Here's my go at the list...
Posted by Tamami on January 6, 2007 4:07 PM.
FAVOURITE COOKING BOOK PURCHASED 2006:
Mes Tartes: The Sweet and Savory Tarts of Christine Ferber. Her tarts are beautiful & there are great original ideas in it
.
FAVOURITE FOOD PACKAGING:
Dolfin Chocolate bars with tobacco wallet-like pouch. Perfect for carrying it around in your handbag
.
FAVOURITE KITCHEN GADGET 2006:
Tin opener from Manufactum. Expensive at £20, but it's worth it for its smoothest operation
Recettes C&Z 2006 favorites (parmi celles testées) : soupe de chou fleur aux noisettes et au curcuma ; cuisson des pâtes par absorption.
Posted by Céline75 on January 6, 2007 10:01 PMRecette C&Z testée, approuvée, refaite, re-refaite etc. toujours avec le même bonheur : tarte au fromage frais, aux écorces d'orange confites et au miel (miam !).
Livre préféré : Mes Desserts préférés (Pierre Hermé).
Resto : Aux Lyonnais, la quenelle est à tomber !
Livre le plus attendu pour 2007 : C&Z !
Hi Clotilde!
I've enjoyed your blog and your yummy take on food! I just read the article on you and your new cookbook in Food and Wine (Jan 2007). Very snazzy!
Favorite Main Course Recipe: Chicken Adobo with pozole and mushrooms
Favorite Simple Meal: Tome Yum soup and white rice.
Favorite Fancy Meal in Vegas: Dinner at Bouchon at The Venetian
Favorite Fancy Meal in San Francisco: Birthday party at the Julius Castle.
Posted by queenkv on January 7, 2007 5:24 PMbon annee clotilde!
bisous, sam x
Posted by sam on January 8, 2007 1:58 AMBonne Année Clotilde! Bon Courage with your cookbook and new endeavers for 2007! You are an inspiration to us all!
Posted by Anne on January 8, 2007 11:54 AMClotilde, I made the Poulet de Muriel last night and it was wonderful! (and easy.) Thanks so much for this great addition to my recipe collection.
Posted by amy on January 8, 2007 3:25 PMWhat a nice idea. I'm afraid I'm just another copy cat and made a 'Best of' list my own. (My husband and I have been enjoying dried pears since you posted about them.)
Bonne Année!
Posted by Kitchen Chick on January 8, 2007 5:40 PMBonne année Clotilde. Glad to hear that you also enjoyed Cordeillan Bages. It was one of my husband's and my favourite meals to date.
Posted by aer on January 9, 2007 2:36 AMJust made your beet soup recipe. Yum. I have a question, though. Is it wrong to skip the soup and just eat the walnut/anchovy paste with a spoon?
Posted by Tammy on January 18, 2007 7:03 PM