My Gastronomic Magnum Opus

Before I fell in love with Paris's romance with food, wine, and laying on bright green lawns in the middle of a sunny day, I have to say I was predisposed by thier stereotypes - cigarettes, fake dimples, accordians, and berets. And there are many more to say the least. Thankfully, with the exception of the cigarettes, they were mostly incorrect.

One stereotype however, was so spot on, that it was hilarious! I cannot count the times I have seen Parisians in films racing around the city with groceries on one arm and a bitten baguette on the other. The French love their bread...and they should! Without eliminating the Italians, the French have some of the finest breads in the world. Fine boulangeries are to France what Starbucks are to America. They are everywhere!

If you think about it, a warm crusty baguette is the perfect accompaniment to any meal at any time of the day. It goes with butter and confiture or jam for breakfast, jambon fromage sandwich for lunch, and on a cheeseboard or on the side of a glass of wine for dinner. But it wasn't till I collided with this masterpiece, that I was completely taken away...and taken away forever-at that. Imagine a grilled slice of baguette about 1/2 thick cut on a bias, lightly buttered and salted. As soon as the edges start to brown, it comes off the grill. Immediately, French Goat Cheese is spread onto the sizzling hot grilled bread, and here it comes.......topped with Balsamic braised Onions. Slightly sweet, tangy, and savory all at the same time. Then, the lusciousness of the goat cheese makes every single bite, oppulent and almost too much for your mouth to handle. Two seconds after you swallow your first bite, it is a MUST to pair this gastronomic magnum opus, with a good red wine - my favorite right now is O'Brien Seduction. This powerhouse couple is a match made in heaven. Trust me when I say you haven't lived 'till you've tasted this. Even if you aren't into red wine, this will make you become infatuated with the nectar of the gods.

Ever since I tried this mouth-watering work of art, I have found myself eating it 5 or 6 times a week, for meals, and inbetween meals. I day dream about it. But one thing is for certain, when I am fortunate enough to enjoy it, sitting down sipping on that glorious glass, I am transported to a plaid blanket picnic setup on that bright green lawn in the middle of a sunny day in Paris and I get it....I get why the Parisians race around the city with groceries on one arm and a bitten baguette on the other.

The Drink that made America Smile

Everyone likes a freshly made, chilled lemonade so cold it makes the glass sweat like crazy on a hot afternoon. But where and how did this timeless, iconic drink originate? Few drinks carry such history and represent American culture at its best. If you think about it, Lemonade represents many things. Some more obvious like steamy summers, car washes, lemonade stands, fairs, and childhood. Some more obscure like the memory of a welcoming home party for a vietnam soldier, the winning of a highschool baseball game, or perhaps a Memorial Day bbq on the lawn and mom coming out through the doors with a tray full of solo cups. Whatever the case may be, we can't deny that lemonade has been aiding our thirst through the decades but has also served up quite a bit of nostalgia.

As far as history goes, lemons were discovered in Egypt and according to scriptures the first documented lemonade was there. Then, as the lemon migrated, there were different types of lemonade all over the world. In western Europe, there is "clear" lemonade (limonade) which is lemon applied to unsweetened water. In America, we have "cloudy" lemonade which is lemon applied to sweetened water (water, sugar, lemon). In France and Italy, there is "fizzy" lemonade which is lemon applied to sweetened carbonated water - my personal favorite.

Lemonade didn't serve just as a thirst quencher, during the Great Depression it helped get meals on the table for families. It was during that time that the first lemonade stand came about. Children set out in their neighborhoods with plywood and cardboard to sell lemonade for 10 cents a cup during the summer. In Europe, children would saddle a tank of lemonade to their backs and sell cups to their commadres on the streets.

Whether you look at lemonade as a sweet and sour thirst quencher or the drink that made children businessmen during the summers, one thing we all agree on is that lemonade is synonymous with main street, the good old days, the honest man, a southern drawl, two-star towns, beauty queens, and worn sports champions. It was the drink that was with us in prosperity and in poverty. When America was at it knees, and when its was at its brightest.

And now, you can find lemonade in many forms - powdered, pink, frozen, or freshly squeezed and the base for many cocktail drinks. In whichever form you consume it, lemonade will always be the drink that made America smile.