It's all the rage, in French: Beer & Tarts (Tarte à la tomate et à la moutarde) A sure favorite so don't miss this!
Monday, July 23, 2018
Today's expression is inspired by a few choice words in the (clickable) flyer above. Thanks, Julie, Daniel and Arthur, of L'Ecole de la Bière in Nice, for a cool phrase to share in French.
faire fureur
: to be all the rage
Cela fait fureur. It's all the rage. Click the link below, to listen to this sentence
Faire fureur
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristi Espinasse
Mom arrives tomorrow. Demain! I need to tidy her room (she'll take Max's until we can move her into the wine cellar). I also need to figure out a meal plan and maybe bake a cake...or why not a tart? I just got the idea from Betty, who emailed me this:
Kristi,
I just made your La Tarte à la Tomate recipe for about the 20th time. Every time I remember the evening at the Shakespeare Bookstore. How wonderful that was. I’m going to try the gougeres recipe soon. I don’t do much cooking and I really appreciate the easy recipes. I hope everything is well with you. On ne s’ennuie jamais, c'est vrai.
--Betty Davis in Atlanta
Thank you, Betty! And for anyone reading, here's the link to this super easy tomato tart.
P.S. The last time I made it I was inspired by the Tarte Tatin method--in which you bake the pie à l'envers! This kept the crust nice and crispy. It also made a colossal mess in my kitchen... Next time, I will not change techniques midway through the process. (Imagine flipping a pancake--only you're flipping an entire pie. Aïe, aïe, aïe!
FRENCH VOCABULARY
demain = tomorrow
les gougères = cheese puffs
on ne s'ennuie jamais = never a dull moment
à l'envers = upside down
Aïe, aïe, aïe! = ouch, ouch, ouch!
Tomatoes from our garden, and Smokey Dokey--my happy gardening assistant.
Another picture of the beach I wrote about, in the floaters post. That's our son, Max, and his new harpon, or spear gun. He didn't catch anything, so it was rice and grilled veggies last night :-)
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For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety
"Thoughts" as your mother comes to LIVE with you. "Encouragement" to each one on the virtue of "Patience". I am 73, and "we" need it ! Life changes- we take in stride, but the view is different from father along. Enjoy Each of Yourselves, 'ensemble'-now 5 !
Posted by: sarah | Monday, July 23, 2018 at 08:16 PM
Thank you, Sarah. I will take this message to heart and do my best to recall it, as needed 🌞
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Monday, July 23, 2018 at 08:20 PM
Oooh- the tarte looks sooo good! If I use puff pastry, should I bake the puff pastry a little first? Thank you!
Blessings to you & your family &your mom !
Xoxo
Posted by: Bren | Monday, July 23, 2018 at 08:22 PM
Thank you for the wonderful recipe, which I will try to make later this week, Kristi! Yum!
Alyssa
Posted by: Alyssa Eppich | Monday, July 23, 2018 at 08:52 PM
Our dear Kristi,
Huge hugs and an open arms welcome to dear Jules!
(and,of course,without saying,huge hugs to you!)
I so agree with Sarah(same age,similar thoughts!):the view--and our attitude!-- does indeed change from further along.(in my case,in younger days,if I worried about tomorrow,I missed today!)
The One above reassured us that all is well.It IS!!!
Thank you for sharing both the Tomato Tarte and Gougere!We are floating off to cloud 9!
Please give extra kisses to sweet Smokey for us!Especially today as Rod and I honor 2 months for the loss of our precious four pawed girl;next week 2 years for her darling brother.
Love
Natalia XO
Posted by: Natalia | Monday, July 23, 2018 at 08:56 PM
Good question, Bren. The trick with this tart is getting things crispy...as the juicy tomatoes will be working against this goal! Sure, you could precook the tart, or try cooking it upside down :-)
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Monday, July 23, 2018 at 09:08 PM
Think of you and Rod, chère Natalia. 💕💕
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Monday, July 23, 2018 at 09:09 PM
Dear Kristi,
Perfect timing! The tomatoes are beginning to appear at our local farm stand. The tomatoes in my garden are green, but I envision many tarts will be enjoyed this summer. I delight in how the fresh ingredients of the season make the best and easiest meals. Thanks to Betty for the reminder - what a lovely email message and how I wish I'd been there that evening at Shakespeare Bookstore!
A big welcome to Jules and may love and humor make this transition an easy one. xoxo
Posted by: Stacy - Sweet Life Farm | Monday, July 23, 2018 at 10:12 PM
By this time next week, Jules will have charmed half (or more) of the Ciotatans with her radiant smile and personality! My very best wishes for everyone.
Posted by: Cynthia lewis | Monday, July 23, 2018 at 10:26 PM
I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. I hope my four children would be that loving in similar circumstances! God bless you and your home. 🙏
Posted by: Diane Heinecke | Monday, July 23, 2018 at 10:45 PM
Ever since you posted your tomato tart recipe, it has become a family favorite. So many wonderful recipes you have shared with your readers would make a great recipe book...from the heart of Provence. (The hearts of those they come from!) Still wishing Michèle-France’s tapenade recipe would somehow surface!
I hope that Jules will find safe harbor with your family. Change (yet another one) at this stage of life can be so much more stressful. We can only hope the new normal becomes comfortable and familiar. Bon courage to you all...
Posted by: Chris Allin | Monday, July 23, 2018 at 10:55 PM
Such lovely messages full of wisdom and encouragement from your thoughtful readers...yes, wise it seems to remain in the moment, centered. The connections and love that you all share will carry you through. ❤️
Posted by: Sandy | Monday, July 23, 2018 at 11:10 PM
You're a terrific person!
Posted by: Maryann | Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 12:42 AM
Dear Kristi, so much to do and so little time! This seems to be the nature of living. I just made the pastry for a tart and the gougere for appetisers here for an easy Sunday lunch with friends just this week - adapting the pastries to to the Thermomix. Do you have these amazing kitchen aids in France? I was so skeptical about such appliances until a friend introduced me to it. I am not so afraid of whipping up quick meals for friends these days. Enjoy reuniting with your dear maman.
Posted by: Cheryl Chenery | Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 01:33 AM
I too am thinking of you and Rod, and of the spirits of your precious four-pawed girl and her darling brother.
Posted by: Leslie in Oregon | Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 10:39 AM
Can't believe you have an ad for Gran Sasso, one of our FAVORITE trattorie in ROME on your blog!!! It's family run and so, so good. I'm happy for them.
If you squeeze out the tomatoes first, just a bit, the tarte will never be runny or wet the pastry.
Also if you brush the bottom pastry with egg white, that helps, too.
Posted by: Loulou | Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 04:48 PM
Hello Kristi,
I love the Tarte à la Tomate recipe, and I use it often. In fact, I had it for dinner Monday night. I'm on a salt-restricted diet so unfortunately I have to eliminate the cheese, but I add chopped onion and garlic under the tomatoes. Incidentally, I know Betty Davis from Atlanta; I lived there until I moved to France 17 years ago!
Susan Stone in Aix-en-Provence
Posted by: Susan Stone | Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 12:07 PM
We made the Tarte aux Tomates last night with tonnato sauce instead of mustard. Tuna, anchovies, capers and mayonnaise blended. Sorry, Susan Stone, it's pretty salty. I'm going to rinse the anchovies and capers next time.
Posted by: Mara | Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 12:57 AM
Your tarte à la tomate recipe is the best! We love it!
I will pass the beer info on to to my brewmaster son and check it out when I'm
back in Nice in September. Sending a virtual hug to Jules on her arrival. <3
Posted by: Patricia Sands | Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 04:27 PM
Let be all of your posts! I have been following for years
Posted by: Cathy AbouSakher | Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 02:36 PM