December 31, 2007
Best of 2007
As 2007 gets ready to tiptoe out the back door, let me catch it by the sleeve and sit it down for a cup of tea and a chat, in remembrance of what the year has brought. It can then go back to packing its bags, and I to my New Year's Eve preparations. (I have fifteen people coming to dinner and no game plan. Wish me luck.)
2007 has left me no time to idle: my cookbook came out in the spring, I went on a US book tour and on television to promote it, translated it into French, did more events in London and Paris, wrote another book on Paris restaurants and food shops, started a French version of Chocolate & Zucchini, created a silly side blog, and took on some freelance writing assignments.
It has been a good year indeed, but I look forward to 2008 even more: the French edition of my cookbook will be published by Marabout in February, my second book will come out in the US in April, I have a trip planned to Australia, and I've been nursing more projects and planting more seeds for the year to come -- we'll see what blooms!
And now, for the traditional list of personal awards:
Favorite newcomer in my recipe repertoire: the voluptuous muhammara.
Favorite DIY project: homemade tisane.
Favorite new toy: an ice cream maker.
Favorite new piece of cutlery: my folding Laguiole knife, which I whip out every chance I get.
Favorite new ingredient: agave syrup.
Favorite new cookbook: Moro East.
Favorite new twist on an ingredient: red quinoa.
Favorite new chance given to an old dish: petit salé aux lentilles.
Favorite technique: rubbing a seasoning paste on a roast.
Favorite new pairing: avocado + radish + smoked salt.
Favorite gastronomic meal: dinner at Olivier Roellinger's in Cancale.
Favorite brush with a star: meeting Sadaharu Aoki.
Favorite escapist experience: a day in Alain Passard's garden.
Favorite chocolate (and most expensive, too): Amedei's Porcelana bar, bought in Rome. Contender: Patrick Roger's 80% Equator bar.
Favorite pastry: as always, my mother's tarte aux fraises. Contender: Nopa's rhubarb crostada.
Favorite addition to the Parisian landscape: the Vélib bike rental service.
Thank you for visiting C&Z in 2007, thank you for your support and comments throughout the year, and please accept my best wishes for 2008 -- radiant health, glowing skin, rewarding interpersonal relationships, and successful kitchen adventures.
And if you care to share your own awards for 2007, I'm all ears!
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French version
| Posted by clotilde in
Interlude
Très joli best of, j'en aurai au moins un dans ma liste 2008, je vais bientôt chez Roellinger et j'ai hâte
Posted by Cathy on December 31, 2007 3:28 PMTous mes voeux à toi pour 2008
Favorite food blogger/author who inspired me to finally get off my bum and get to writing again: Clotilde Dusoulier
We met at Chez Henri in Boston. You were very sweet.
I finally launched my own personal food journal, EAT Boutique. Thank you, and best wishes in 2008, for all of us!
Posted by Maggie on December 31, 2007 3:37 PMThanks for the year, Clotilde!
Posted by gingerpale on December 31, 2007 4:46 PMOkay, my list...
Most inspiring cookbook: Chocolate & Zucchini; contender: The Cranks Bible
Favourite recipe in The Book (savoury): tomato tatin; contender: mushroom and chestnut soup
Favourite recipe in The Book (sweet): chocolate and raspberry cake; contender: pain d'epice
Favourite new vegetables: padron peppers and celeriac
Favourite new kitchen toy: silicone madeleine moulds
Favourite restaurant meal (Paris): Chez Michel; contender: Le Bistrot Paul Bert
Favourite restaurant meal (elsewhere): Andorra in Lisbon - a massive pot of arroz de marisco and free entertainment in the form of student serenades
Favourite pastry: pasteis de nata from Antiga Confeitaria de Belem, Belem, Portugal; contender: appeltaart at Lunchcafe Winkel, Amsterdam
Favourite culinary discovery in London: Broadway Market, especially Tamami's lovely cake and chocolate stall, Coco & Me
Favourite fear conquered: tarte tatin (making it, not eating it!)
Favourite brush with a star: a certain blog and cookbook author I had the pleasure of meeting at the Institut Francais in London ;)
Meilleurs voeux pour une belle et bonne annee 2008!
Posted by Rachel on December 31, 2007 8:04 PMHappy New Year to the 1st food blog and food blogger I ever read! (which opened up a whole new world). Hope it's another good one.
Posted by mary g on December 31, 2007 10:15 PMI'm returning all of those same wishes to you----thanks for a delicious 2007!
Posted by JEP on December 31, 2007 11:42 PMI love this!
Favorite kitchen gadget: Microplane grater/zester
Most used kitchen gadget: Immersion blender
Favorite coffee replacement: Yerba mate
Favorite food gift: Mariage Freres The des Samourais
Favorite time-saving recipe: Bon Apetit's blender chocolate mousse
Favorite new recipe: Bittman's 'no knead' bread
Favorite pairing: Roasted carrots and garam masala
Best/most inspiring food blog: C&Z
Bonne Annee!
Posted by Andrea-Michelle on January 1, 2008 12:00 AMSounds like 2008 will top 2007 for you. Enjoy every minute of it!
Posted by Susan from Food Blogga on January 1, 2008 1:37 AMCongrats on everything you've accomplished this year, Clothilde!
Here's an abbreviated version of my best-of list from site:
Best Street food discoveries:
Roujiamo, Beijing, China: Delicious pork pockets similar to schwarma.
Reindeer Kebabs, Stockholm, Sweden: A reindeer meat (tastes like lamb) topped with yogurt and lingonberry sauce
California taco truck tacos, Los Angeles, CA
Posted by AppetiteforChina on January 1, 2008 3:48 AMbonne annee!!
Posted by marie on January 1, 2008 4:41 AMAnd a very Happy New Year to you also, Clotilde. May 2008 be as exciting and fulfilling as the past year has been. Hope you make it to Adelaide when you're in Australia.
My very best wishes to you.
Posted by Judy on January 1, 2008 7:52 AMHave a great New Year Clotilde!... and then tell us what you did and what the ingredients were and how it was done!!
Thank you for a wonderful site and for all the financiers/fermiers you inspired me to try.
Meeting you (and Rachel) that evening in London for the book-signing was definitely a highlight. And for Jude Law too!
Posted by Griffin on January 1, 2008 10:00 AMMy best wishes for 2008, Clothilde, and Thanks for everything you do for the culinary community in 2007
Posted by gamelle on January 1, 2008 3:41 PMHappy New Year to you, too, Clotilde!
Posted by Angela on January 1, 2008 4:41 PMBonne et heureuse année 2008 ! :-)
Posted by Elvira on January 1, 2008 10:34 PMI love the agave, too. One of my doctor friends told me to use it, rather than sugar or honey. He claims that it's healthy, but it tastes like the nectar of the gods...perfect for oatmeal or tea.
Posted by cheeseandchoux on January 1, 2008 11:11 PMAurgh! I made the mistake of clicking on the link, and now I can't get that song out of my head! :-)
Posted by Heather on January 2, 2008 1:28 AMOne of my favorite things to do in the French-farm country is to make tisane-- I took this ">beautiful picture of drying fresh tea (but can't figure out the name for it, maybe you know?)
Congratulations on such a splendid 2007-- I hope 2008 is equally as wonderful!
Posted by lacey on January 2, 2008 3:21 AMBest wishes to you too! ;-) May 2008 bring you more sweet days!
Posted by Tamami on January 2, 2008 3:37 AMI, like many others, have found your journey this year to be very inspirational. Congratulations on a wonderful year and best wishes for a fantastic 2008!!!
Posted by Diane on January 2, 2008 5:16 AMThanks for always being an inspiration! I wish you all the best in 2008 and I look forward to reading, and once again being inspired, by all the new adventures this new year brings you :)
Posted by joey on January 2, 2008 2:54 PMDear Clotilde,
Happy new year to u too and thanks for all the great stuff you write about in such an entertaining way.
Posted by liz on January 2, 2008 9:22 PMPs. Was that you I saw at Arnaud Lahrer's Patisserie in the loong queue on Xmas Eve ? Was'nt sure but the person was wearing glasses and I was too shy to pipe up and ask. If it was you, hope you enjoyed whatever you bought we sure did !! Bises
Favourite new kitchen toy: silicone rose moulds use for minicheesecake.
Happy new year from Florence, Italy :-)
Patriza&Silvia
Posted by Silvia on January 2, 2008 10:36 PMHappy new year, and thank you for a wonderful book - my lovely husband gave it to me for Christmas, I finished reading it last night and am very much looking forward to hitting the kitchen (the chocolate & caramel tart looks especially tempting!)
I'm also planning on buying multiple copies for my gift drawer, I'm sure many of my friends & relations will enjoy it as much as me
Mel
Posted by Melanie on January 3, 2008 1:02 AMCongratulations to a fantastic year. I hope 2008 will be the same amazing journey and you will have a joyful ride.
Posted by Christina on January 3, 2008 2:17 AMTres bonne annee 2008 a toi. Et genial ce voyage en Australie, tu vas adorer!
Posted by bea on January 3, 2008 9:07 AMWow - what a year! I'm glad 2007 has fared so well for you and only wish for 2008 to be even better!
Posted by Hillary on January 3, 2008 10:34 PMHappy New Year, Clotilde! I see you are planning a trip to Australia. Could you please, please hop over to New Zealand for an appearance? We have lots of events happening in Auckland and elsewhere and we'd love to have you:-)
Posted by Shanti,shanti on January 4, 2008 4:58 AMHi Clotilde,
When you come to Portland, you should do your tour appearance at the Powell's Cooking/Crafting specialty store on SE Hawthorne. It's an obvious choice, as Powell's is the biggest independent bookstore in the area (and probably the world, honestly), and their Cooking store is fantastic.
Looking forward to it!
Posted by Eva on January 4, 2008 6:54 PMHello Clotilde,
I've only discovered your blog a couple of months ago, and I find it really inspirational! I also like a lot your writing style, your texts always put me in a good mood and make me laugh many many times ;).
As a French living abroad since 8 years, your writing about Paris shops and restaurants makes me sometimes really feel like coming back...
So here goes my best of 2007:
Favourite recipe of the moment: your lamb shoulder recipe with rosemary and lemon
Favourite kitchen instrument: the cast-iron cocotte of my great-grandmother that I received as a gift for Christmas! The queen of my kitchen!!
Favourite table "instrument": the breakfast/brunch ceramic and linen set I brought back from Morrocco (cream and chocolate colours)
Favourite restaurant experience: the "arroz caldoso" in the Botafumeiro, Barcelona (in my opinion, the best seafood restaurant in BCN)
Favourite new ingredient: dates medjool, so plump, so big and so sweet....
Favourite food blog: definitely C&Z!!!
Happy new year!
Posted by Olivia on January 4, 2008 9:36 PMOlivia
Edible Adventures in Paris Tour: I'm the owner of an arts studio for children in Park Slope (Brooklyn, NY) and would love to have your book event there. Not French and not for adults but I do make many of your recipes in our cooking class. I'd be honored so let us know please.
Thank you for your wonderful blog - I visited virtually every spot you visited in Rome and had a blast. Restaurant La Campana was the best meal we had there - brilliant! Grazie bella!
Posted by Carolina on January 5, 2008 1:34 AMHappy New Year and thank you for the inspirations this year. Your enthusiasm has sparked my love of cooking all over again. I love your cookbook and left it with my mom over the holiday, who was also enjoying it greatly.
Best to 2008!
Posted by Nikki on January 5, 2008 2:29 AMThat is great news about your Australian visit. I hope you get to see other cities here besides Perth (living in Sydney, I'm biased and hope you consider scribbling our city into your itinerary). It's lovely to see that your enthusiasm for food is jetting you around the world.
Posted by Lee Tran Lam on January 5, 2008 7:27 AMHi Clotilde,
I'm a long time reader/fan of Chocolate and Zucchini and I'm really happy to say that you have a pretty large fan base in Manila, Philippines. :) 2007 was a great year for you--here's hoping that 2008 is even more fun for you!
Posted by Marie on January 5, 2008 12:05 PMDear Clotilde,
Posted by Amanda on January 5, 2008 3:45 PMI absolutely love reading your blog and have learned so much from your food experiences. Your book is also wonderful and I have based most of my pot-luck meals this holiday from your collection. I am so happy to hear that you might be doing a book tour visit in Toronto. I really hope to meet you then. Cheers to a fabulous year, with food and love,
Amanda
All the best to you in 2008, Clotilde! I have enjoyed visiting and sharing your adventures so much! Yours was the first food blog I ever read. When I first stumbled upon it, I was immediately enchanted! It was the inspiration I needed to begin blogging myself. I can't wait for your new book. Enjoy your success.
Posted by StickyGooeyCreamyChewy on January 6, 2008 6:38 AMWhen you come to Canada, you should do a book signing at Nicholas Hoare bookshops - they are located in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal and are all lovely - here is a link to their site - http://www.nicholashoare.com/about.htm?PHPSESSID=f13bc1734324ddd76f49a646a1280847.
You should not only go to Toronto but should go to Montreal in particular and perhaps Quebec City - as they are both located in Quebec and are known for their good French cooking. It would also be nice if you came out west, to Calgary, Vancouver and Saskatoon rather than just visiting the east or central part of Canada.
Posted by Sharon on January 6, 2008 8:57 PMHappy new year, and best wishes to you and yours.
Just as a side note - I have been a long-time devoted reader, and bought your cookbook the minute Amazon would send it to me. But I come to the site much less often these days because it is disappointing to not have new posts. I know life is very busy for you these days, but we still want to know what you are cooking and eating and thinking!
Posted by Angel on January 6, 2008 10:06 PMWhat a 2007, Clotilde! I have enjoyed getting to know your blog in 2007 and look forward to what will come next in 2008!
Posted by Cakespy on January 6, 2008 11:41 PMHappy New Year Clotilde. You will be visiting Perth in the year I've decided not to go to Perth to visit my family! Such bad timing. Cesaria Evora, one of my favourite singers, is also visitng Australia in the same week and I already have plans for that week. Perhaps you'll come by the East Coast and Jude, Madame and I can get there.
Posted by barbara on January 7, 2008 5:26 AMI haven't visited in awhile and I am so happy to see what a wonderful year you have had! It is so inspiring to see a person find such success doing what they love! Congratulations. Can't wait to read your books!
Posted by Caroline on January 7, 2008 6:01 AMFirstly I wish you a superb 2008 :D may the cooking gods look upon you with a smile :)
Posted by Vida on January 7, 2008 4:15 PMSecondly I have to say that I have found this blog by chance while on my break and I have to admit, that it made my day a whole lot better and that I'm becoming a regular reader :) you are doing a wonderful and inspirational job, so really thank you for posting such execellent stuff. You go girl ;)!
Bonne Annee, Clotilde. What a year it's been for you and, it sounds, what a year ahead. Felicitations!
Posted by swirlingnotions on January 7, 2008 11:41 PMA suggested stop on your U.S. book tour in Greenwich, CT : Restaurant Jean-Louis. Chef/owner Jean-Louis Gerin won the James Beard Award for best chef in the Northeast last year and he's very personable and loves to host visitors and make special menus -- i'm sure he'd be very welcoming for a special lunch/signing or something.
Posted by Annika on January 14, 2008 11:39 PMhey clotilde
Posted by jules on January 21, 2008 2:56 AMglad to hear you're coming to Australia. If there's any chance that you're able to visit sydney let me know. am sure there are a few sydney food bloggers that would love to show you around.
cheers
jules
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