The French Flunch

During the past year & a half that I have been living in Paris, I've naturally eaten at several French restaurants. The French love food & are (rightfully so) very proud of the food here.It often seems that there is a restaurant on every street. There are places with names such as: Taillevent, Le Dôme, L'Epi Dupin, La Charcuterie & La Tour d'Argent.All of those fancy-sounding French names are typical…but what wasn't so typical & the name that came as the biggest surprise to me was: Flunch.Fucking FLUNCH?How does this sound at all appetizing? Obviously, whomever the mental giant was that came up with this one needs to be punched in the brain. It seems quite apparent to me that there are much more suitable uses for a word such as "flunch"."Damn…I just stepped in flunch." "Stop flunching my leg." "Some sick bastard just flunched all over the bathroom floor."I've decided to work this word into my vernacular. While words such as...
Read More
Bon Anniversaire: Kentucky Fried Matrix at the Copa

Bon Anniversaire: Kentucky Fried Matrix at the Copa

So, last week I turned 34. I think that turning 34 is for the most part one of those really anti-climactic birthdays. I mean, it doesn't feel any different than being 33.Since Olivier is, as my 12 year-old sister describes him, "awesome", 34 was anti-climactic, but did not suck by any means.I awoke in the morning & had breakfast in bed brought to me by a crazy Frenchman singing "Copa Cabana". You really can't beat that. You can't...just try...you can't do it.He surprised me by informing me that he had taken the day off from work & then gave me a "pierrade". No, that isn't something dirty. "Pierre" is simply the French word for stone. A "pierrade" happens to be a groovy little stone that you can slap raw meat on - it cooks it, then you eat it with sauce. It's a similar concept to fondue...um, but without the fondue pot...or...
Read More

Brutish Behavior at Bouillon Chartier

Olivier & I went to see the new Fantastic 4 movie this weekend. Well, only because the Silver Surfer was in it. Had it not been for him, the movie would not have been worth seeing.We left the theater & decided to have dinner before heading home for a sedentary evening. We walked a few blocks & ended up at a place called Bouillon Chartier.It sure does look quaint & French & all that, doesn't it? Well, sure it does.We get inside & the hostess leads us to our table. There are four chairs, so naturally, I pull out the chair next to me & proceed to throw my purse & sweater on it.This was not a good move.Seconds later, a tall man with white hair who resembled an angry walrus was there. He thrust my belongings at me & pushed the chair back in, mumbling something incoherently...likely cursing me & my family for...
Read More

Jalapeno Horror

All I wanted to do was make a pot of chili.  I had done this countless times before without incident.Little had I realized in the past what a dangerous project this could be.  Little did I realize what a powerful enemy lie in that harmless looking jalapeno.I chopped onions & peppers carelessly without any sort of protection.  Now I know better – in the future I will be donning the appropriate attire: a full body HAZMAT suit.A pile of chopped jalapenos, peppers and onions sat on the cutting board as I began to open cans of stewed tomatoes and beans.  That was when the horror began.  The skin underneath my right ring finger began to burn.  Without any thought at all, I rinsed it under some cold water & reached for the can opener.What?  No can opener.  A P-38.  Just fucking wonderful.  I began wrestling with the primitive device that appeared to be useless other than mangling the tin.  Suddenly,...
Read More