A sign of a good French host is the beauty of their table, the linens, the stemware, and sometimes the table itself.

And when it comes to breakfast this would include the quality of the bread, the fresh croissants, the local fruit, the coffee, and my personal favorite the homemade jams.

As you can see, our host Monique sets high French standards for her table.

Her communal table was a beauty… and breakfast was so delicious it was followed by a thorough review of the number of rolls and croissants we each ate and with which jam.

We even spoke to our neighbors, every morning!  A strange experience, because our table neighbors were French.

I’m certain it was Monique’s table, why move from a table this perfect?

Enjoy!

Leslie

Everyone likes gifts…

Large or small, a gift says I care and I’m thinking of you.

I was given an incredible gift this Fall, out of the blue, for no reason at all.  It wasn’t the gift but the caring and generosity that touched me.

In January I offered a friend a gift that normally would not have been accepted.  But I told her she had to because it’s rare and wonderful to offer and accept a gift for no reason other than you can and want to.

These sweet gifts are from the Papabubble candy store in New York City.  They are beautiful, yummy, customizable, and made right here in New York City.

And maybe the perfect gift to give for no reason at all…

Enjoy!

Leslie

Papabubble - 380A Broome Street, New York, NY 10013  Tel: (212) 966-2599

I have been thinking about my birthday post last year.

I had a series of photos from Butter Lane, one of my favorite cupcake shops in the city, and a few wishes for the year ahead.

This year – I wasn’t sure to post again about my birthday but I did want to challenge myself with some new cupcake shots but couldn’t find the time.

I didn’t have my Canon but I did get my wish of taking pictures of Coconut Vanilla, Banana Peanut Butter, Maple Pecan and Hazel Nut Chocolate Butter Lane cupcakes thanks to my friends Fran and Helen – Thanks girls!

My friend Maria would say this is a sign for the year ahead and I agree.  I don’t have a list of wishes to share this year but I do want to share a big THANK YOU to everyone I saw today and for the reminder that sometimes the things we want come in the most unexpected packages.

Thanks for all the Birthday Wishes!!!!

xoxo

Les

My favorite Murray Hill breakfast-lunch-brunch cafe DELECTICA is now featuring eleven of my travel and food photos.

Located on the edge of Murray Hill at 564 3rd Avenue between 37th and 38th Street, Delectica is a small cafe with a devoted neighborhood and business clientele.

Open seven days a week, I love Delectica for their freshly prepared entrée salads with a sophisticated selection of baked salmon, Moroccan couscous, baked cauliflower, roasted vegetables and more.  The outside seating, sandwiches as the Oven Baked Salmon (avocado, tomato, arugula and spicy mayo) and their Isreali Breakfast (two eggs or omelette served with a chopped Isreali salad, avocado, an assortment of sliced cheeses, whipped cream cheese and bread, with butter and jam, and choice of a small coffee or freshly squeezed orange juice) keep customers coming back for more.

If my description and photos haven’t motivated you yet to go here is another reason.

With a copy of this post and the purchase of any sandwich or entree salad receive a complimentary soda, lemonade or ice tea with your purchase.*

*One offer per customer.  Offer expires May 31, 2010.  Printed post must be provided.

See you at Delectica!

Enjoy!

Leslie

Delectica – 564 Third Avenue (@ 38th St)  T: 212.986.1616

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Open 7 days a week. M-F: 7am-6pm Sat-Sun: 8am-5pm

Each time I visit Paris something is different and every visit I make a mental note of the changes I see.

This visit I noticed more Velib bicycle stations – Yeah!

I also noted fantastic improvements in the public transportation system.  Changes included renovated, cleaner metro stations, with improved signage, and new digital panels displaying the current time and estimated time of arrival for your bus or train.

I also noticed American cookies everywhere.  They have become a staple next to the brownies in many boulangeries.  With all the sophisticated pastries and chocolate wonders in France who would have thought a basic chocolate chip cookie could be so popular.

However, there are things in France that never change and in January that is les galettes des rois (the king’s cakes).  The galette des rois are the traditional pastry of Epiphany celebrated on January 6th, but the French seem to celebrate it all month – perhaps an excuse to eat more galette des rois.

If you visit France in January you can’t miss les galettes des rois as they are displayed, front and center, in the window of every boulangerie in France.

This round flaky puff pastry is filled with almond paste or frangipan (a combination of almond cream and pastry cream).  They come in an array of sizes and are purchased by the number of people you will be serving.

If you are lucky enough to celebrate Ephiphany with a French family or friends you’ll know the novelty of the galette des rois is not just the quality of the pastry but the fève (little figurine) that is hidden inside the pastry. The youngest at the table, will hide under the table and call out who gets each slice.

Whoever finds the fève (which can be plastic, porcelain or even a fancy jewel) gets to be crowned king or queen for day.  Paper crowns (alla Burger King) are typically included with your galette des rois.

If you have never tasted a galette des rois, they are worth a try.  Make a note in your January 2011 calendar to reserve a galette des rois from your local French baker to share with friends or family (with or without the crowns).

A trip to France next January would definitely ensure you taste a galette des rois.  If not you can always enjoy the experience right here without the calories or risk of cracking a tooth on a fève.

Enjoy!

Leslie