And the Winner Is....

Moi!

This is what I wanted to save until today to share with you.

Last week, I entered the Valentines Day giveaway on another très fab blog, parisian party, and I won! All I had to do was post a comment saying why I love Paris. I am thankful it was a random drawing and not based on my way with words. Anyway, Kim Petyt (the super nice blogger) is mailing my prize, "Paris in Love" by photographer Alison Harris. Pretty exciting, huh? Kim also said the nicest thing on her blog, "I hope that winning this book is a good sign that Mary will soon get her wish and return to the city of her dreams."  This sentence gave me the sensation of fireworks inside, and I'm still sparkling.

And speaking of books, Kim's own book will be out March 1st, but you can pre-order it now on Amazon.com. It is highly unlikely that I will ever get married again, but I'm dying to see inside!

We had an interesting discussion in my french class about the do's and don'ts of getting married in France. While we're at it,  my friend, Marcia is a wedding/event planner here in Austin, and she posts the most fabulous "weddingy" things on her Facebook page, Le Fete Chic.

Okay, I think that's about it for this Valentine Eve. May you be covered in le chocolat and pétales de rose tomorrow. That really doesn't sound as good as it did in my head. You know what I mean.

Happy Valentine's Day tout le monde!

beaucoup bisous ~

In the Shadow of a Pancake

Boy, time sure flies when you're obsessed with all things française. Saint Valentin is but two days away! But before we get all mushy, let's backtrack.

Did you know that our Groundhog Day is France's La Chandeleur, or eat as many crepes as you can day? Well you do now. We harass hibernating groundhogs, the french eat crepes. I choose to eat crepes over disturbing poor groundhogs any day. My classmate Lisele and I took full advantage by celebrating after class at Le Cafe Crepe. It was très délicieux!

Le Cafe Crepe - Nutella with strawberries

My French Neighbor

Now we can move forward. I've been adding more and more Paris blogs, sites, etc. to my repertoire.  There is simply not enough time to read everything! I'm going to share one now, and I'll save some for later. One of my new favorites is My French Neighbor. Check out their site and "Like" their Facebook page while you're at it.




Okay, one more, Paris Zig Zag. For Valentine's Day, or any day for that matter, check out the ten  most romantic places in Paris.

Museum of Romantic Life

I have a couple more things to share, but I'm going to wait until Valentine's Day. I have des devoirs françaises to finish! 

We never did get mushy.

à bientôt ~

Is this the year?...

...that my dream of moving to Paris finally comes true? I really, really, and really hope so. Either one of these apartments would suit me, unrealistic as they may be. You never know, it could happen.

I told you about my new ami français in my last post. His name is Francis, and we finally skyped  on New Year's Day. It was so fun, and also made me realize that I have a long way to go before I can communicate in french somewhat coherently. My being so nervous didn't help either. Tomorrow we are skyping again, and I am determined to do better. I've been practicing the phrases that I find most difficile.

Tomorrow is the Epiphany, and of course the French celebrate with a luscious (and labor intensive) "cake". Francis relayed l'histoire to me, and even sent me a recipe for galette!  I shall now share both with you:
(remember that there is a translate button to your right)



"Vous allez sûrement manger une galette des Rois début janvier. Mais est-ce que vous vous souvenez d'où vient la tradition ?
Retour sur l'histoire de la Galette des Rois.

Aujourd'hui, la tradition de la galette des Rois est bien plus culinaire que religieuse. Comment a-t-elle évolué avant d'en arriver à placer le petit dernier de la famille sous la table ?

L'histoire de la galette des Rois :
L'histoire de la galette des Rois remonte à l'Antiquité romaine. Pendant la fête païenne des saturnales, un roi était désigné parmi les jeunes soldats. L'heureux élu pouvait alors commander à manger tout ce qui lui faisait envie. Cette tradition a évolué au cours des siècles, prenant place le jour de l'Epiphanie, soit le 6 janvier. L'Epiphanie est une fête chrétienne, le 6 janvier, on fête la présentation de Jésus aux Rois Mages.

Le principe de la galette des Rois aujourd'hui :
Qu'on aime ou pas la galette des Rois, on prend plaisir à se réunir en famille juste pour le rituel qui va avoir lieu. Le plus jeune enfant de la famille se cache sous la table pour attribuer les parts à tous les membres présents. Chacun déguste ensuite sa part du gâteau et celui qui trouve la fève est le roi ou la reine du jour. L'élu choisit un roi ou une reine et lui remet la couronne.

D'où vient la fève dans la galette des rois ?
Avant 1875, la fève symbolisait une pièce de monnaie. Depuis, elle a été remplacé par une fève en porcelaine. Petit, qui n'a pas commencé une collection de fèves ? Il faut reconnaître qu'elles sont de plus en plus jolies. Les pâtissiers s'amusent à être toujours plus originaux ! Et toujours pour notre plus grand plaisir !

Toute l'équipede Plurielles.fr vous souhaite une bonne galette des Rois ! Vive le roi et vive la reine !"

My professeur de français told us how much she liked galette, but she never mentioned the hidden bean, nor being crowned King or Queen for the day. Fun and yummy goodness all in one!

Recette de la galette des rois par olivier Berté by Coulisses-du-Chef

Don't laugh, but I am going to attempt to make une galette.

bonne année - à bientôt ~