Dim Sum in Paris: Chine Massena

A few weekends ago before the demands of my program got ridiculously intense I managed to get to Paris for a quick day trip, have an exotic Dim Sum lunch, feel the dizzying after effects of MSG while scurrying around the most crowded Paris shopping mall during les soldes (Gallerie Lafayette + Prime temps, etc.). I know that Paris is the capital of the World in terms of shopping and it would make sense that 50% off sales in Paris would draw a crowd but I couldn't believe these crowds!! The safety sensor machine was going off every 2 mins as people exited stores and I literally felt a little like a lost little pigeon flying around chaos trying to find an open window to escape. Can't really believe I just compared myself to a pigeon but I felt like one... After dealing with parking disasters + the pouring rain with two handsome french men (one of which wasn't wearing a waterproof jacket and was thus soaked after 10 mins) we finally came to a cute pub off the St. Germaine (Cafe de Marche) in the 6th and were served a cold glass of Chardonay from a waiter in overalls :) (Ahhh almost like I was back in the US).

Chine Massena is a Dim Sum restuarant in Paris which can somehow serve up to 800 people (kind of the usual for Dim Sum). It's relatively traditional Dim Sum with a few carts going around and a menu you can easily order off of. I was lucky enough to be with a Cantonese speaking Parisian so we didn't have to ponder over the menu or look hopeless as we tried to pronounce dishes. The menu actually had noodle dishes and soups as well as Dim Sum and it was honestly hard to pass these up because there is nothing I love more than an Asian soup.. Yet, we settled on (Pork Buns- Brioche au porc, gao or shrimp dumplings wrapped in translucent rice flour, cheong fun and a few others).

The restaurant is located in a little Asian shopping mall and it was actually pretty fun walking around, trying a few random dishes, inspecting all the ingredients and frozen fish etc, watching groups of men gathered around a tv betting on horses and eventually buying a few lottery tickets to join in on the action.

Chine Massena was good but not great and didn't compare to San Francisco Dim Sum. It left me ridiculously thirsty and left Reza ridiculously hungry after an hour. Maybe Dim Sum is not so good for you after all.

I included some Wikipedia facts about MSG below b/c it kind of freaks me out a little....

http://lachinemassena.free.fr/topic/index.html

Chine Massena
13, Place de Vénétie
(at the level of 18, Avenue de Choisy)
75013 Paris
tel: 01.45.83.98.88
Metro: Porte de Choisy

7/7
M-Th: 8.45am-11pm
F-Sat: 8.45am-1.30am
Sun: 8.45am-1am

History of MSG:

Asian cooks have been taking advantage of glutamate’s flavor enhancing properties for centuries. It is unclear whether the Chinese or Japanese first discovered that a broth made from a certain type of seaweed enhanced the natural flavor of food. But it wasn't until 1908 that Professor Ikeda of the University of Tokyo first isolated glutamate from broth made with dried Konbu kelp. (He went on to create and patent Monosodium glutamate, or MSG).

How is MSG Made Today?:

Today, the MSG we find on store shelves is usually made from fermented sugar beet or sugar cane molasses, in a process quite similar to the way soy sauce is made.

Why is MSG So Popular?:

It all comes down to our taste buds. It has long been known that there are four basic tastes - sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. It is now thought that there is a fifth taste, called "umami." Umami is the savory taste that occurs naturally in foods such as tomatoes and ripe cheese. Just as eating chocolate stimulates the sweet taste receptors on our tongue, eating food seasoned with MSG stimulates the glutamate or "umami" receptors on our tongue, enhancing the savory flavor of these foods.

MSG Use in Cooking:

MSG is used extensively in Japanese cooking, where it is sold under the brand name Ajinomoto, and in Chinese restaurant food. MSG use, however, is not confined to Asian cuisine. Ajinomoto is a very popular seasoning in North America, where it is sold under the brand name Accent. Throughout the food industry, MSG is becoming an increasingly popular way to add flavor to packaged foods such as soups, sauces, seasonings, and instant snacks.

What are the Health Concerns?:

Many experts blame MSG for "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" - the headaches, dizziness, and chest pains some people experience after dining at a Chinese restaurant. There is a debate among the scientific community over whether MSG is the culprit. While the U.S. FDA states thatMSG is generally safe, it acknowledges the seasoning may pose problems for certain individuals. Specifically, asthmatics and people who can tolerate small, but not large, amounts of MSG may be at risk.

Should You Use MSG?:

Even if you don't experience negative side effects, is there any need for you to use MSG when preparing Chinese dishes? Again, the experts disagree. Some cooks argue that a well cooked meal using fresh vegetables doesn't need enhancing. Others do use it occasionally. However, I think I'll leave the last word on the subject to two experts. First, Irene Kuo, author of The Key to Chinese Cooking, considered by many to be the definitive guide to cooking Chinese food:

"While "taste-essence" is of Chinese heritage, it was never accepted by the elite society of gastronomy where cooking skill and lavish use of natural ingredients are the essence. Today's version is a chemical compound known as monosodium glutamate or MSG and to me it does nothing to enhance flavor. Rather it gives food a peculiar sweetened taste that I find absolutely distasteful, and for some people it has unpleasant side effects.”

Ken Hom, popular television chef and author of numerous Chinese cookbooks, has a slightly different view: "Scientists still are not sure how this chemical works, but it does seem to bring out the natural salt flavor of foods and can help revive or enliven the taste of bland food and old vegetables...The very best chefs, cooks, and restaurants, however, avoid MSG and rely instead, as they should, on the freshest and finest ingredients that need no enhancing." (From The Taste of China).

Longhi's (on the Island of Maui) inspired salad-Romaine, Sweet Onion, Tomato, Canelli Bean

Deep in the cold of a winter in France & filled with stress from hours spent laboring over Corporate Finance in an intensive MBA program, I can't help but day dream about Maui, Longhi's restaurant and this salad which I love :) Its very simple, bright, healthy and quick to make. Romaine gives you the perfect amount of crunch and the canelli beans add in a hint of softness complimented by the acidity of the Dijon + vinegar and the sweetness of the onion.

Longhi's (a chic, old school Italian institution oddly placed in the land of pineapples and tuna poke) is one of my favorite restaurants on the island of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands. Actually it might be my favorite Italian restaurant in general. Longhi's has a traditional concept of a speaking menu (which I know might leave some of you feeling quite anxious because you essentially have nothing to mull over or flip through) but I personally adore the concept as it not only leaves you trusting your waiters opinion and truly listening to each descriptive + mouthwatering culinary word out of his month but also leaves you feeling quite relaxed, like you're eating in your own cozy Hawaiian home. I think it's a unique concept to sit down at a restaurant, quickly ponder over what type of food you feel like, then listen as the server goes over the different possible, mouthwatering & delectable preparations. Don't you think it would be nice to go back to this traditional ordering concept? I think it could be a good idea and coincide perfectly with the new renewable.. sustainable food trend or reality (only buy local, reduce your carbon footprint etc) by reducing some paper consumption through eliminating daily menu printing :)What do you think? Feel free to comment




Longhi's Inspired Salad

Serves 4

1/2 to a whole cup canelli beans
1 or 2 heads Romaine lettuce
1 cup green beans
6 grape tomatoes
1/2 a sweet Maui onion (if you can find it or a red onion)

Dressing

2 Tbls Red wine vinegar
a few oil packed anchovies (optional)
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/2 shallot
a handfull of gorgonzola cheese
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper

Wash and dry the lettuce with paper towels and place it in the fridge. I think is a secret yet important step because a truly great salad is quite cold. Next rinse the beans in water and get rid of all that yucky starchy + salty fluid they reside in. Next wash and chop the tomatoes and thinly slice the onion. Quickly steam the green beans, removing them after a few minutes so they are still a little crunchy, throw them into an ice bath to quickly stop their cooking + reserve.

Dressing

Next whip up the dressing . Thinly slice + chop the shallot, add the tsp of mustard and vinegar and lastly mash the anchovies up with a fork into the mixture . Slowly whisk in the oil, throw in a little gorgonzola and salt and pepper. Next chop up the lettuce into bite size pieces, add the green beans, cannelli beans, handful more of gorgonzola and mix with the dressing. Voilà!




Longhi's
http://www.longhis.com/
888 Front Street, Lahaina - (808) 667-2288

Butternut Squash, Roasted Red Bell Pepper, Pesto and Parmesan Terrain

I love this simple, healthy, vegetarian terrine. It has the perfect balance between acidicity of the roasted bell peppers, mild sweetness of the squash, nutty pesto and the light soft richness of a souffle. I think it's perfect for a cold winter day or also a great light vegetarian option after you've spent your week ingesting a lot of greasy meat.

Butternut Squash, Red Bell Pepper, Pesto Terrine
Serves 6

2 1/2 pounds butternut squash
1 large red bell pepper
2 eggs
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
1 Tbls nutmeg
Fresh pesto
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan (about 2 ounces)

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Cut the squash lengthwise into 2 pieces. Scoop out the seeds. Melt some butter and brush the butter all over the squash and sprinkle with salt, pepper and a little nutmeg. Place squash cut side down in the pan and cook for about 40 mins. At the same time scorch the peppers with an open flame over the stove until each side is black. Immediately place the peppers in a small paper bag and close tightly. The peppers will steam and cook further inside the bag and the skin should be easy to peel off after about 10 mins. Cut the peppers into a few inch long strips. Scoop out the insides of the squash and reserve in a large boil.

In that large bowl stir together the squash, a little olive oil, garlic, black pepper, and salt. Transfer mixture to a 2 inch quart gratin dish or a different shallow baking dish and sprinkle all over with Parmesan.

Increase the oven temp to 400 and bake casserole in middle of oven until squash is tender and top is golden, about 1 hour.

Take squash out and using a round rather large cookie cutter (Or an empty soup can for shape) cut squash into small round pieces. Arrange squash, then a layer of horizontal roasted peppers, then pesto and a sprinkles of parmesean. Repeat one more time and garnish with parsley a touch more of parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil. Enjoy!

Cute Vintage

I know that sometimes you wander into a vintage clothing store and find yourself loving a few pieces but leaving empty handed because you are innately turned off by the fact that the cute sweater you were about to buy smells like your 87 year old grandpa. I indeed have the same problem. Yet, I know that I need to get over it because I am slowly developing a euphemism for old elegant clothes from decades earlier that have timeless design.

I heart this vintage clothing company, Nadinoo. It's from British designer, Nadia Izruna and celebrates women of the past decades. Her clothing mixes the perfect combination of femininity, style, trend and chicness. I love the colors, materials and frills. If you feel like you are in a clothing slump you could definitely add some uniqueness to your wardrobe + life with a few of these mignon little pieces.

http://www.nadinoo.com/lookbook-ss09

Sushi the French way- Avec Foie Gras?!

When in France, I insist that in order to have a true French culinary experience you must stop into Sushi Shop and have a few pieces of a maki roll with foie gras!

Sooo it officially is cold in Reims. The kind of cold where I want a snuggly blanket wrapped around me and gloves pretty much 24/7 despite if I look awkward or not. It's the wet.. nasty kind of cold.

Ahhh.. So tonight I had a funny experience. Don't you just love when the bus schedule says that your bus will arrive at 18:00 and feeling proud that you've actually done some advance planning and checked the schedule, you envision the perfect scenario; you run out of the library, exhausted from class dragging your huge briefcase and you arrive just in time to not have to suffer the cold. Ahh.. you breathe a deep, long sigh of relief as you catch a glimpse out of the corner of your eye of the bus turning around the corner. You quickly scurry along and gleefully jump onto it. You smirk because you're so happy that just as scheduled it pulled into the stop on time! Well, as I am a dreamer, this is how I imagined my night going. But of course I was wrong.

So here is what happen: The library kicked me out a few minutes before 6 (by the way what kind of Univ. library closes at 6? Aren't they suppose to encourage us to study until 12? I'm confused?). Anyways, I checked the bus schedule and I was quite proud that I was finally doing some advanced planning. I realized, via the schedule, it was a perfect time to leave the building giving myself minimal time waiting outside in the cold. I was ready to venture out into the brisk night and run out to the catch the bus. Of course luck was not on my side and the bus was 25 mins late. So, despite my vigilant planning, I stood at the dreaded bus stop with about 15 others shaking in the cold. The girl next to me was actually shaking so violently she was moving the bus shelter. Amazing... Ok, so maybe it's only 39 or 4 degrees celcius but it feels like -5! God I have to get used to this...

Ok, so despite my bus experience and canceled dinner plans I decided to push my luck and go on a solo adventure to sushi tonight. As Hanna says "France is your boyfriend and you must experience something new every single day". So, I was off to do so. Of course once jumping off the bus I was lost b/c I had no idea where the restaurant was. The images of salmon nigiri and avocado and tuna (http://www.bigredfishing.net/images/redBlowFish.jpg)

http://scienceblogs.com/zooillogix/giant%20chinook%20salmon%20battlecreek.jpg were swirrling in my mind and my determination pushed me to walk around lost for about 10 mins. Was I really doing this? It was freezing, I wasn't too close from home and I had no idea where I was going. I called a friend Maria who I hadn't seen in a while and she agreed to meet me there in 15. I turned around, spoke my somewhat embarrassing American-french and got out a few sentences ending with a well pronounced "Sushi Shop" along with a desperate wide eyed lost look and luckily the lady I asked was walking there b/c she worked there. What were the chances?

Anyways, back to talking about food. Only in France would you get to experience the luxury of "foie graset douceur de figues" or sushi with foie gras, figs and nuts? Sounds weird I know, I know but oh my, oh my it was glorious. The perfect odd textural complex of sticky rice, rich, soft, delicate and savory foie gras, sweet fig and crunchy nut. It was like a little French-Japanese explosion in my mouth. I'm not sure if I ever would have been couragious enough to order it on my own but I'm glad that I ran into Mr. Louis De Maillard, that he decided to join us, that he lent me his camera to take pictures and that I got to experience this gout de pur bonheur!

The rest of the sushi experience was incredible as well (ok, ok it might not be real traditional sushi but it was good). Hot green tea that I desperately needed to warm my body, tasty miso soup, a salmon roll with no rice or seaweed but wrapped in velvety, perfectly ripe avocado and a well constructed and perfectly seasoned seaweed salad with a hint of sesame oil and pepper. Oh France... you never cease to surprise me. Here is Sushi Shop's address in case you come to France and want to try this little delight. There are a few in Paris and all around France. It's the middle roll in the pictures where you can see the speckles of fig :)

http://www.sushishop.lu/fr/accueil

PS... I know the fish pictures are beautifully random but the guys face with the big nasty fish was awesome and so is the blowfish...who would ever dream about eating either of those 2 fish? Thrillist puts links similar to those into their site and I love their dry humor :) A little healthy imitation never hurt in strategic blogging...

http://www.thrillist.com/san-francisco/streets-sf

Les Crayerès-Gastronomy in Reims

Ahh... who wouldn't want to stroll into this palace and discover "the art and science of good eating" through savoring a meal here? I think that I could eat here everyday but I worry if my little American stomach could get used to the richness of foie gras. I have eaten so much of it the last few weeks (on honey toast, on baguette, surrounded by apples, etc.) that I think surprisingly my stomach has slowly developed a tolerance for this indulgence :) I had an amazing meal here, at the Brasserie of Les Crayeres, (not far from the Pommery Champagne house) a few Sundays ago and wanted to post some pictures. A 2 course meal for 28 euro at the very nice Brassierie of a 2 Michelin Star restaurant is not bad at all in my book.

The architectural design of the interior of the restaurant was nice with a huge open kitchen and intricate metal rustic lighting. The waiters synchronized both the placement and timing of each dish as they whimsically placed them down before us (which I have to admit does have a certain degree of lure to it). Lastly the food and artistry of the plate was superb. Each dish was engineered with creative precision: first an artistic brush of sauce surrounding the edge of the plate infiltrated with small delicately placed pieces of parsley and rock salt- then in the center a square block of foie gras on top of a bed of warm lentils served along side a tiny pitcher of gravy which the waiter poured after placing the dish on the table before us. Ahh delicious. This was followed by a breast of duck over a bed of fig compote and warm jus and accompanied by a small glass terrine of creamy mashed potatoes. With a few glasses of Champagne expect to be left satisfied and having paid around 5o Euro. I will return... Next week maybe I can convince my MBA business plan French teammates, Thibault and Christophe, to meet there? We shall see... but either way I would like to make Les Crayeres a monthly tradition.

Château Les Crayères

www.lescrayeres.com

Boulevard Henry Vasnier

51100 Reims, France

+33 3 26 24 90 00

Ohhh the Adventures of Moving to the Land of Champagne

Ahhhh Reims.... oh my, where oh where to begin. I am going to deviate from my usual food blogs to focus on this little French city and my move for now. Reims is a quant somewhat charming city with a stunning, massive, ancient cathedral in the center which I have a little view of from my bar and 3 giants sky lights. Starts out good enough, right?... Yet, this little gem is pretty quant and doesn't have a lot going on. There also is construction EVERYWHERE b/c they are building a tram. Arriving here I went through the frustrating process of finding a furnished apartment and I then struggled with solving problems such as a half pit bull/rottweiler/lab dog in my building who met me at the door, fangs out, ready to pounce each day I came home (the first time with 7 bags of groceries in hand), no hot water, leaking shower, no internet, no tv, and no heat all in a language I studied for only 3 months. I also just might have wrote a letter to my landlord in french about the leaking pipes and not have known that the word "pipe" in french (despite the fact that my french dictionary says otherwise) means blowjob. Yes, I wrote an entire lengthy email about the frustration I was having with pipes... Wow. Amazing... Maybe I'll post that one later. I'm pretty sure that after this experience I could make it through a war or maybe live in a little bunker somewhere... Well no, let's be honest, I would never do well living in a bunker. Regardless, despite the fact that I might have shed enough tears to fill a little petite pond and developed a new fear of dogs with fangs, I'm glad I somehow pushed through the last few frustrating weeks and came out alive, breathing, and well enough to practice my french with my landlord and her 6 year old daughter each day (and be greeted by the 6 year old with a kiss every morning and night) and well enough to buy a baguette and little cube of amazing french cheese everyday :)

Due to the fact that I did not have internet at home for the first month or so I wrote this entry while at my home away from home, McDonald's. God, I never thought I would say that. So, essentially with each stroke my finger made on this keyboard I was constantly enhalling the entoxicating smell of french fries. Ahh...It was a real test of my self control. I mean 8 am and the smell of French fries is just kind of wrong. Somehow, who knows how, I resisted walking downstairs and buying a little box of fries. I could write a entire food blog on the differences between the US Mcdonald's and the French Mcdonalds but I don't think I can bring myself to stand in line, analyze the menu and take pictures of the food.

I'm not going to lie though it actually does look more appetizing than in the US . It's amazing to me that it is basically a little undercover computer lab on the 2nd floor up here. Nope, no Mcnuggets, burgers or malts on the 2nd floor of McDonalds in Reims just computers, earphones and a bunch of people scanning the room every so often hoping they don't get caught for not buying a single Mcdonalds product and just simply using it as a Skype haven! Pretty funny. I wish you could see it. Maybe I can sneak a picture of all of them..

Anyway, the city of Reims is in the Champagne Region of France and there are 11 houses in the center and hundreds in the km around the city. Veuve Clicqot, Don Perinon, Pommery, Launois Pere and Fils, Gonet Sulcova are all very close. It's fall here and all the leaves are changing and the champagne vineyards are all red. It's breathtaking.. I'm pretty sure that I could go on a drive along the Champagne road and stop into little cute Champagne house after champagne house and then stumble home tipsy with a few bottles in hand every single weekend. And so far, other than my 2 weekends I've spent in Paris, that is exactly what I have done! Ahhh I'm developing a drinking problem. Will I go into Champagne detox if I don't drink it for a day? I have yet to see.

Reims is 45 mins from Paris so it's not too far from big city life...Historically it's the place where the Kings of France were crowned and the Cathedral served the same purpose as Westminster Abbey in England. That's all for now. Hope you found some comedy in my life the last month and cross your fingers that my luck improves here with my apartment!!