It’s no secret that I love food events.

But an event that revolves around French food, music and wine and that all the proceeds go to charity?  Add me to the guest list.

Growing up in France has had a huge influence on my love of food and the culture that surrounds it.  So when I heard about Springtime in France being held at GardenWorks, I was excited tot take part.

John and I arrived early and picked up our complimentary glasses of wine, a nice red from the Cotes de Rhone, and checked out the garden centre.

We filled small plates with a mix of crackers, cheese, cured meats, chutneys and jams and perched ourselves happily on a patio set before the cooking demonstration began.

Later, when we joined the big crowd huddled around the cooking demonstration, small chocolate crocodiles were passed around.  This was a nice touch, since Michel Jacob from Vancouver’s Le Crocodile was the one on stage showing off his skills.

We took off early, but it was a tasteful evening and the perfect way to welcome in spring with a little French flair.

Sampling some hors d’oeuvres

Trying some great basil grapeseed oil with garlic balsamic

As the airplane touched down on the Vancouver runway I felt a sense of relief.

Home.  At last.

I sat beside a former flight attendant who was coming home from a cruise.  I told her my story.  I told her how excited I was to see my boyfriend because I had to tell somebody.

When the plane landed she motioned for me to move ahead of her and her husband, “You have important things to do,” she said, “go ahead.”

He was waiting for me with a big grin and I fell into his arms with ease.  I wrapped myself in his familiar warmth and smell and knew that I was finally home.

Being back in Vancouver feels right.  The Pacific Ocean and the great mountains remind me of natural beauty, while this slow moving city is picking up its pace with the Olympics coming any day now.

I was going to spend my first few days here doing nothing at all, but I am my mother’s daughter and I like to keep busy.  I’ve been cooking, baking, organizing, joining a gym, and yesterday I visited my brother and had my first job interview.

I’m determined not to spend the rest of my life as a waitress and am applying for TV jobs so that I can pursue my dreams.  I want to be proud of what I do, to use my brain, my people skills and my creative talent on a daily basis.

Right now, anything feels possible.  I have a place to call my own. My suitcase unpacked.  A wonderful man that loves me so much he surprised me with fancy new baking equipment and a gift certificate for my favourite organic grocery store (he knows me too well).

Tonight we’re heading further up into the mountains to see Whistler before the Olympics take over.

I’m excited to watch this city transform and will be capturing a lot of the action through my blog.

It might not be Paris, but it’s home, at last.

Welcome home gift. And yes, that is French butter.

Staples at our place

Kale, black bean and corn salad with fresh salsa and bean dip

Vancouver getting proud

As soon as the plane took off I felt my worries lift.

I did it.  I survived six months in Paris with a dream, a small budget, a long distance relationship and a big open heart.

The end was the hardest.  The only way I could describe how I felt was broken.  My heart hurt, my body ached from the cold and my self confidence was holding on by a string.  Before my mom came to visit, I had two euros left in my pocket and everything to lose.

But the clouds outside wrapped their arms around me as the plane took off from Paris.

I am so lucky I can do this, I thought.

I arrived in my first destination, Toronto, to my smiling aunt.  I spent an evening with my cousin and the next day we all went out and had our hair done together.  It’s amazing what a little hair dye can do for your self esteem.

Then I jumped on the subway to the city to see Mary, the angel I lived with during my last semester of school last year.  We hugged, talked, I made dinner and we shared some wonderful locally bottled wine.

Mary spent years living out of a suitcase, travelling everywhere from Mexico to Turkey, doing everything from selling posters to working on an avocado farm.  She exudes warmth and love and makes me feel like everything will be okay as long as I keep my heart open.

After dinner she dropped me at the train station and I hopped on the late train to my grandparents.  Even though it was 11:30 p.m. when I arrived, my grandfather was waiting at the station with a grin, and my grandmother was sitting at home waiting with a fresh batch of Irish bread for me to try.  When I embraced her at the door tears welled up in her eyes.

I spent yesterday baking granola bars, homemade Almond Joy chocolates and making a dinner of Cajun tilapia with an orange salsa, broccoli, and a salad with blackcurrant vinaigrette.  We even hit up the local Walmart and antique fair for a little outing.

Now it’s six in the morning and I sit in my grandmother’s kitchen with a few slices or her Irish bread on the plate beside me.  I feel so at peace.  My heart, that was falling apart, is carefully being put back together.  I feel like I hit a low but now I’m climbing back up with extra strength.

Tomorrow night I will reach my ultimate high as the airplane flies over the mountains and descends into Vancouver.  Home.

My love and the next stage in my life await me.

My grandma and her favourite toy

Homemade Almond Joy and peanut butter granola bars

Cajun tilapia

Poppie ready for dinner

My grandmother’s ultimate baking cupboard

A good sense of humour

Once again my suitcase is packed.

When people ask if it’s hard to leave I say no.  I’ve done it many times before and I know that I’ll be back.

But I will miss the loving family who embraced me and took care of me when I needed it the most.

Last night my mom and I sat in the Turkish restaurant with the family and ate a feast of roasted fish and vegetables made by Leyla, the mother.

I bought wine for those who wanted to drink, a friend stopped by, and I danced and sang home in the street with Yeliz, our mothers laughing behind us.

I am relieved to be going home.  My heart aches from being away from my boyfriend, my body aches from lugging suitcases and my mind aches from the stress of constantly moving.

But I’ll miss these people.  They are more impressive than the Eiffel Tower, sweeter than the best macarons and warmer than a freshly baked croissant.

I won’t miss French food as much as I’ll miss the hot falafel, smooth hummus and rice wrapped in vine leaves from their restaurant.

The past few days we’ve been sharing an oven baked shredded Turkish pastry with pistachio filling in thick syrup.  It is pure comfort food, even with my Irish roots, and one slice is never enough.

My mom stayed with me in the apartment the last couple of nights.  It was nice to have her there, staying up late and talking with the family in the living room.

Last night we shared a bed and I wrapped my arms around her warmth, knowing I’ll miss her too when I’m in Canada and she’s here in France.

I took her to the train station early this morning and held my breath as I watched her blonde head dissapear into the crowds.  I’ll see her in a month, but I always feel her absence when we’re apart.

It’s a sad but sweet goodbye to Paris.  I am ready to go home more than anything, and take comfort in knowing there will always be a home for me here when I visit.

Leyla and my mother enjoying dessert and tea

Drinking Turkish tea at the restaurant with Leyla

Digging into some of my favourite food!

At home with Yeliz

Last night I lay on the sofa across from my Turkish mother.

My Turkish mother, for those of you who don’t know, is the mother of Yeliz and the family who owns a restaurant in Montmartre and have housed me, fed me and loved me during my stay in Paris.

We lie on sofas across from each other and she tells me to put my legs up “Good for your health,” she says.

She asks me when I’ll be back and I tell her I don’t know.  I don’t want to promise anything since my life is an open question mark right now.

I tell her I’d like to make enough money to travel and give back a little.  She smiles and says “Just come back here, you can have a bed, we can eat avocados, two for a dollar, we’ll be happy.  We don’t need money to be happy.”

She’s right.  I bought avocados from the market that day, two for a dollar, and my Turkish mother, who is always happy to find a deal, was glad I didn’t spend too much money.  She is always trying to buy everything and I often try to add groceries to the kitchen when she’s not home so she doesn’t yell at me for trying to pay for something.

I am lucky to have a warm bed, to eat food from their family’s restaurant and to come home to people that love me every night.  It comes without a cost and it’s all I need.

I hate that every day I have anxiety attacks over money.  I’d like to be more extravagant, more generous, to buy nice things for people, bring beautiful gifts home and go to the hairdresser’s when I need to.

At the same time, I have everything I need, my heart is full, my body is strong, and in a week I get to fly home to a man that loves me.  Even without money, I think I may be the luckiest girl alive.

And every day I get to explore Paris.  Yesterday I met up with a new friend, Courtney, at a market and then spent the day showing her around Paris.

Courtney shined a light on my day, reminding me how exciting this city can be when you first arrive.  I took her to the Bon Marche, Poilane, Pierre Herme and down some of my favorite streets.  She smiled, swooned, and we rejoiced in a shared passion for food and beautiful things.

I was happy to show her the best brand of yoghurt, chocolate and butter to buy.  She is here until May and I am so excited for her to begin her own love affair with Paris as mine comes to an end.

At then end of the day my brother took me out for dinner at our favorite comfort food spot, H.A.N.D, and I headed up to my Turkish family’s apartment.

When I spoke to my boyfriend over the phone about money worries he said “You won’t look back and remember your Visa bill, how much money was in your wallet or the things you couldn’t afford, you’ll look back on all the great times you had and the people you met.”

He’s right.  I may not have money, but damn I’ve got a lot.

Chartier, a famous French restaurant that was a former soup kitchen and has been open for over two centuries




Douieb, a Jewish pastry shop open since 1956

Karamell, a Swedish candy shop in Montmartre


(No) Smoking, custom made clothes for women

Mamie Vintage



Hotel Banke, a Spanish luxury hotel in a restored bank

Cojean, healthy fast food at its finest

Courtney, The Hungry Yogini, takes Paris!

Yesterday Diane, from Girl Cook in Paris, made a dream of mine come true.

Yes ladies and gentleman, she taught me how to make croissants from scratch!  It is a very long procedure that takes around four hours, so this video is just a glimpse into some of the techniques involved.

After we made a batch of mini croissants, we headed out in the streets and down to a market to share our freshly baked goods with the crowds.  I hope you enjoy their reactions!

Croissant Recipe

For 20 - 25 croissants:

In Paris there’s a land filled with fur coats and diamond rings, 30 euro cocktails and pretty things.

Yesterday I left my nook of sex shops, charming little streets and eclectic drinking holes in Montmartre to explore the grand rue Saint-Honoré.

Because I have little money to spare, I have taken to seeing the stores in Paris as galleries.

I look, touch and feed my senses without needing to buy a thing.  I console myself by knowing one day I’ll return with enough euros in my pocket to splurge on lingerie at Chantal Thomas and a drink at the Ritz.

For now it is enough to watch the women in fur coats smoking cigarettes as they rush down the streets, enter the boudoir of a lingerie store Fifi Chachnil just to admire the fifties style undergarments and stare into Jimmy Choo with big eyes in my winter worn boots.

It is a feast for the eyes, and for dessert I choose to walk over to the Jardin des Tuileries, where the sun is setting, the air is crisp, the men are playing boules and the light is just right.

“My taste buds are simple,” says my friend, perfectly content with her croque monsieur she just finished for lunch.

While I love anything bitter, spicy and exotic, my friend Morgan is more of a French woman, and is happy if butter, cream and cheese are involved.

But, like  a French woman, her tastes are not simple.  She likes the good stuff.

I have taken her to my favorite food stores, stationary stores, cafés and restaurants, and I love that she never hesitates to buy exactly what she wants and order the dessert that appeals to her most.

She has great taste, and is already wearing her new Longchamp purse in deep purple with her dark brown wool jacket and heeled leather boots.

If you had told me five years ago when we first met as room mates at university, that she would one day visit me in Paris wearing heels, I might not have believed you.

She has always been elegant and loved good things, but back when we took journalism together she would laugh at my determination to wear heels to class every day.  She would shake her head when I put on make-up and a light jacket to face the snowstorm going on outside.  She is from Alberta, and understands the true power of a good jacket, long underwear and proper footwear.

Back then we bonded over a love for steak, whiskey and country music.  We liked to share meals, avoid most university parties, and read the newspaper in our common room.  We talked about our problems, laughed about our differences and celebrated our similarities. From the day I met her I was happy she came into my life.

It is a pleasure to share her company again.  We’ve stayed in touch over the years and now she’s here in Paris.  She is as beautiful as ever.  And because some things never change, we’re both still not big on parties and are enjoying cozy nights in the apartment after days of walking around the city.

Today she bought some beautiful copper pans from a great cooking store, E.Dehillerin, to take home with her.  I hope some day she’ll show me how to make her decadent chocolate mousse and desserts in her well equipped kitchen in Alberta.

Tonight I’m making granola bars, writing Christmas cards and catching up on some work while she watches the Russian ballet at Opera Garnier, because, as she says “You only live once.”

While she says she has simple taste buds, I think she simply has good taste.

E.Dehillerin
18, Rue Coquillière
Established in 1820, Dehillerin is Paris’s most famous cookware shop. It is lined floor to ceiling with every kitchen and pastry utensil you could ever dream of. The basement is filled with beautiful copper pots small enough to cook sugar in and big enough to boil pasta for all of Paris.

One of my best friends from home is visiting me in Paris for a week.

She has never been and I’m determined to show her as much of the city as possible before she goes.

While I’m never one to over plan, I’ve put together a rough itinerary for her stay to make sure we don’t waste any time.

As I was planning her visit, I decided to put together a perfect week in Paris for anyone that’s visiting.

That way you’ll get a good head start on the city before my book comes out!

DAY ONE

You’ll want to start your first day in Paris with a pastry.  Allow the warm smell of bread to draw you into Miss Manon - 87, Rue St Antoine.  This bakery is the perfect place to enjoy a croissant, or a Viennoise au chocolat, with an espresso at a small table.  From here spend your day exploring the small streets of the Marais.  Enjoy lunch at The Marche des Enfants Rouges - 39, Rue de Bretagne, one of the oldest covered markets in Paris.  Do some shopping in the whimsical department store of Merci - 11 boulevard Beaumarchais and browse through vintage duds at Fripes Star - 1, Rue de la Verrerie.  Finish the day at Chez Camille-24 rue des Francs Bourgeois for simple bistro fare and a pitcher of house wine.

In Paris as a young girl

DAY TWO

Make your way to the magical hilly streets at Montmartre and grab your first cafe from the Cafe des Deux Moulins - 15 Rue Lepic, where Amélie worked her magic in the famous film.  From here explore the winding streets, and grab some madeleines and a flakey croissant from Le Grenier a Pain - 38, Rue des Abbesses, one of the most tempting pastry shops in the area.  After checking out the many galleries and exploring the view from the Sacre Coeur, break for lunch at L’Ete en Pente Douce - 23, Rue Muller and enjoy one of their bountiful salads or comforting French dishes.  Once you’re well fueled make your way down to the Boulevard Haussman to do some shopping at the glorious department store Galeries Lafayette - 40 Boulevard Haussmann.  Not only is the building itself beautiful, but there is a vast selection of French designers and a gourmet grocery store great for buying gifts.  At the end of the day head over to Chartier - 7, Rue du Faubourg for some unbelievably well priced French food served by waiters in black waistcoats in a historic building.

Sacre Coeur

DAY THREE

Begin your day on the boisterous market street of Rue Mouffetard. Enjoy an escargot au chocolat, a rolled flakey pastry stuffed with chocolate chips from Boulangerie Monge - 123 Rue Mouffetard at one of the brasseries with a warm coffee or chocolat chaud and people watch.  Take advantage of the great cheese shops, butchers and fruit stands and build a picnic to enjoy in the Luxembourg Gardens.  Spend the afternoon grazing through second hand books at Shakespeare and Company - 37, Rue de la Bûcherie and exploring the small islands in the Seine.  Enjoy a leisurely dinner at Le Procope- 13, Rue de l’Ancienne Comédie, a spot frequented by George Sand, Victor Hugo, and Oscar Wilde.  The seafood is excellent, and the restaurant itself is athree-story town house and a historic monument.

My mom outside of Shakespeare & Co

DAY FOUR

Beat the line-ups and start the day early at the Musée d’Orsay - 62 Rue de Lille, for the wonderful selection of paintings and to admire the building itself, housed in a former railway station.  For lunch head down to Rue Cler to check out the markets and shops, and stop in Café du Marché - 38, Rue Cler for a cheap and cheerful lunch.  Afterwards go to  L’Embellie Depot-Vente - 45, av de la Bourdonnais to rifle through some great second hand Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Hermes.  When the sky starts to go dark, make your way up the Eiffel Tower and admire the city all lit up.  Afterwards cross the Seine to Trocadero for a completely different view, then head over to Palais de Tokyo - 13, Avenue du Président Wilson, a fun modern art museum with a particularly good restaurant inside.

The view from Trocadero

DAY FIVE

If you wake up craving decadence, go to Le Meurice Hotel - 228 rue de Rivoli for chocolate themed breakfast (36 euros).  If your budget resembles mine, grab a croissant from one of the many patisseries instead, and get to the Louvre museum as early as possible to beat the line-ups.  Make a plan of what you want to see, otherwise you’ll end up sleeping among the statues trying to make your way through everything.  For lunch grab a baguette sandwich and find a bench in the Jardin des Tuileries. Then, in your best Parisian strut, head down Rue Faubourg Saint Honoré to stop into the coolest store in Paris, Colette - 213, Rue Saint Honore , and to drool over the windows of Chanel and Hermes. Continue your haute-couture experience with a stroll down the Champs-Élysées.  When it comes to dinner time, sneak off past the Arc de Triomphe and the tourist filled restaurants to enjoy simple French fare at a good price at La Verre Bouteille - 85, Avenue des Ternes.  This charming little brasserie serves dinner late into the night at exceptional prices and the owner is very amiable. The salad with warm goat cheese is excellent.

Strolling the Champs-Élysées

DAY SIX

If it’s the weekend make sure to check out the Porte de Vanves flea market for an exquisite selection of vintage Dior and feathered hats.  Also be sure to walk around the effortlessly chic Sevres-Babylone for some gourmet food and clothing shopping.  Explore the shops along Rue du Four and get yourself a perfect pair of ballerinas from Repetto. They are worth the small gasp you’ll have over your Visa bill later.  Stop in Poilane - 8 Rue du Cherche Midi to sample one of their perfect butter cookies and take a beautifully packaged box home with you.  Then feed all of your senses at the Bon Marche and it’s extraordinary food shop, before getting your best bite out of Paris at Pierre Herme - 72, Rue Bonaparte.  Pierre Herme is the Picasso of pastries, so make sure to buy a selection of macarons and anything else that grabs your appetite.  Continue the day’s feast at Polidor - 41, Rue Monsieur le Prince, and buy a pitcher of house wine to enjoy with simple French fare at one of the long wooden tables filled with hungry diners.

Pierre Herme macarons

DAY SEVEN

It’s your last day so spend it doing exactly as you please.  Walk around the city with no rules and no destination.  If it’s Sunday go for a leisurely brunch, a browse through the St.Ouen flea market and a stroll through the hilly Buttes Chaumont park.  Drink an espresso in a random cafe, buy a crepe off the street, choose a restaurant based upon the feeling you get from it, talk to strangers, and remember Paris will always be here if you want to come back.

A glass of wine in the afternoon