When many of us think of French cuisine we tend to automatically link it to haute cuisine. It is the foundation of French cuisine evolving from the royals and aristocrats around Versailles and Paris. The 17th century chef and author Francois Pierre La Varenne is known as the godfather of modern French cuisine whose work has been an inspiration over the centuries and very much responsible for the creation of haute cuisine as we know it today.
When one has spent a little time in Thuringia it is easy to understand why the Thurigians are so attached to their roots and are patriotic to this region. It is beautiful fertile country covered with rolling hills, thick lush forests and it boasts of rich cultural history. The story of the Leuchtenburg castle probably ideally depicts this devotion and dedication often found in people here. The Leuchtenburg is one of the most beautiful castles erected on a mountain in Germany. Unfortunately, during the GDR it was neglected and after several misused purposes the castle was supposed to be auctioned off in 2007.
I’m spoiling you with tomatoes again. You see, I’ve had a good crop and the harvest has been plentiful. After eating them mostly naked and then preserving them in various sauces, it was time to tart them up a little. Don’t tire of my tomato mania – not just yet. This tart deserves all your attention – it is so shamelessly good that anything less than your undivided attention will not do justice to it.
She was always very meticulous and precise in the kitchen, never a hint of chaos or hectic surrounding her. The perfect hostess at the several dinner parties held at the apartment overlooking the bay. Depending on the time of the day the sea shimmered all shades of blue and green. I would often watch her looking out of the large windows far into the horizon. In the kitchen she always looked so peaceful and in her element.
The icy grip of winter holds us firmly. Just as I was thinking we were going to get the mildest winter in years, things took a turn and we are now facing the coldest winter in decades. It totally amazes me how we are at the mercy of Mother Nature.
It seems Autumn has finally come to Weimar. September was filled with non-stop sunny days, bright blue skies and summery high temperatures. It spoilt me. Basking in the warmth of an extended summer I got used to walking out of the house in flip flops and shorts, leaving the warmer jackets behind, hanging on the cloak rack. It felt unusual to enjoy the pleasures of summer right through into September.
I do not visit the huge hypermarket at our shopping mall very often. Most of the produce comes either from my organic store or my CSS box, while cheese, meat and other items on my grocery list are picked up at a smaller grocery store. However, recently I have been making regular trips to the hypermarket to get my hands on a very fine delicacy I first discovered on my travels to Norway last summer.