January 24, 2010
6th Annual Menu for Hope: Raffle Winners!
The winners of the Menu for Hope fundraiser/raffle have been announced. Thank you all for your generous participation!
Alice Boussicaut, Tamsin Ballard, Katarina Tierer and Leah Bevington, please get in touch with me to collect your prizes!...
"6th Annual Menu for Hope: Raffle Winners!" continues »
January 5, 2010
Best of 2009
In the wee hours of a fresh new year, it is a lovely feeling to sit down and reminisce about the one that just ended, trying to squeeze out its essence and single out a few of its most memorable moments.
Among them, and in no particular order, I would list the release of a French classic I helped edit, a Best Culinary Travel Guide award for my Paris book, a trip to San Francisco and our first-ever apartment swap, my thirtieth birthday, and a few...
December 14, 2009
6th Annual Menu for Hope
Today marks the beginning of the 6th edition of Menu for Hope, a fundraising campaign created by Pim and championed by food bloggers all around the world. The funds raised will benefit the United Nations' World Food Programme: it is the world’s largest food aid agency, working with more than a thousand other organizations in over seventy-five countries. In addition to providing food, the World Food Program helps hungry people become self-relian...
"6th Annual Menu for Hope" continues »
January 15, 2009
Menu for Hope V: Raffle Results
The 5th Annual Menu for Hope campaign has raised over $62,000 in support of the UN's World Food Program in Lesotho.
Thank you for your support and generosity, and head over to Pim's to check the raffle results and see if you've won.
And if you're the winner of one of my three prizes (EU09, EU10, or EU11), please get in touch to collect it!...
"Menu for Hope V: Raffle Results" continues »
December 31, 2008
Best of 2008
As I get things ready for the New Year's Eve party we're throwing tonight -- a very casual affair, mind you, it's the only kind we like (or know how) to host -- I'd like to take a moment to say goodbye to 2008, and remember the good things it has brought.
Besides the release of the French version of my cookbook and the US publication of my new Paris book, Clotilde's Edible Adventures in Paris; besides a memorable trip to Western Australia and an...
December 22, 2008
Holiday Recipes
I have recently learned to crochet for the sole purpose of making amigurumi -- Japanese-style crocheted or knit toys -- and you are looking at my very first project, which is supposed to be a cupcake, after Nimoe's lovely pattern.
This is my way of wishing you a joyful and delicious holiday season, and it should give you a hint as to what I plan to do with my free time in the coming days, in between last-minute errands and a little baking: I h...
December 15, 2008
5th Annual Menu for Hope
Today marks the beginning of the 5th edition of Menu for Hope, a fundraising campaign created by Pim and championed by food bloggers all around the world. The funds raised will benefit the United Nations' World Food Programme and more specifically, their school feeding program in Lesotho, which provides breakfast and lunch to primary school children; we have chosen to support the same program as we did last year, for which -- hang on to your bo...
"5th Annual Menu for Hope" continues »
September 30, 2008
C&Z;'s 5th Anniversary Party!
Chocolate & Zucchini turned five yesterday, and because every five-year-old in the world deserves a birthday party, I would like to invite you to a celebratory get-together in Paris.
It will be held on Wednesday, October 8th, from 7pm till 9pm, at Bocata, a cosy tapas bar in my neighborhood, located at 31 rue Milton, Paris 9ème.
Drinks and homemade nibbles will be served, and the cost will be 21€ per person*.
Space is limited, so it will ...
"C&Z;'s 5th Anniversary Party!" continues »
September 29, 2008
C&Z; turns 5!
Today marks the fifth anniversary of Chocolate & Zucchini -- and, I might add, the first anniversary of its French version. My first impulse was to comment on the fact that time flies, it seems like only yesterday, or something to that effect, but the truth is, I find it so extraordinarily difficult to remember what my life was like before I started C&Z;, it's almost embarrassing.
Creating this blog five years ago has undoubtedly been among the...
July 14, 2008
Bleu Blanc Rouge
[Blue, White, and Red]
Today is the French national holiday, known in the English-speaking world as Bastille Day, but simply referred to as le 14 juillet in France.
I wish I could offer some sort of culinary tradition tied to this holiday, but as I explained in this past post, there is none: the celebrations revolve mainly around fireworks, military parades (I had to interrupt the typing of this post to watch the planes cross the sky above us...
"Bleu Blanc Rouge" continues »
May 10, 2008
Edible Wallpapers
Inspired by the brush tutorials that Delphine has published on her ever delightful blog, I have whiled away a few air travel hours drawing three edible wallpapers* to be used as a background on your computer desktop**.
(Please note that these backgrounds are for personal use only and not for republishing. If you wish to use them on your website, myspace page, etc., please contact me for permission.)
After the jump, you'll find the cupcake wal...
"Edible Wallpapers" continues »
February 8, 2008
From Montmartre to Montreal
If you live in a place where you get the television channel Télé Québec, I'd like to draw your attention to tonight's edition of À la di Stasio, a cooking show hosted (in French) by the delightful Josée di Stasio: she came to Paris last fall, and we shot a segment together in my neighborhood.
">The show will air tonight (i.e. Friday) at 9pm, and will
">rerun once a day until Tuesday. (It should air in France eventually, when Cuisine TV ...
"From Montmartre to Montreal" continues »
December 31, 2007
Best of 2007
As 2007 gets ready to tiptoe out the back door, let me catch it by the sleeve and sit it down for a cup of tea and a chat, in remembrance of what the year has brought. It can then go back to packing its bags, and I to my New Year's Eve preparations. (I have fifteen people coming to dinner and no game plan. Wish me luck.)
2007 has left me no time to idle: my cookbook came out in the spring, I went on a US book tour and on television to promote ...
December 10, 2007
4th Annual Menu for Hope
For the fourth year in a row, food bloggers around the world are answering Pim's call to participate in a fundraising campaign that will benefit the United Nations' World Food Programme and more specifically, their school feeding program in Lesotho, which provides breakfast and lunch to 137,000 children across the country.
This fundraising works as a virtual raffle. Every US$10 you donate will buy you a raffle ticket to win one of the prizes c...
"4th Annual Menu for Hope" continues »
September 29, 2007
C&Z; turns 4!
I have to admit that the C&Z; anniversary takes me by surprise each fall: I was drifting off to dreamland a few nights ago when I was seized by the sudden worry that I had let the day slide by unnoticed. I jumped out of bed, checked the calendar -- all right, four more days to go -- and resumed my dozing activities.
It's not that the world would self-pulverize if I forgot, but it has become a tradition of mine to take this anniversary as an opp...
May 11, 2007
Here We Go!
I am sitting at my desk, still on a buzz from an excellent lunch at a friend's house. It is late on Saturday afternoon and I am leaving in the morning. I am looking at the one and only copy of my book I have seen so far, and thinking of the many more I'm going to handle over the next two weeks. I have bought a permanent marker but still have no idea what one is supposed to write when one signs a copy of one's book.
I am reading through the ho...
January 2, 2007
Best of 2006
Happy New Year! As we slowly ease into 2007, recover from the holiday season and draw up virtuous resolutions we'll promptly forget so we can unearth them in December and have a good laugh, let us take a moment to bid a fond farewell to 2006 (where do years go when they're over?) and reflect upon the good things it has brought. Here's my Best of list:
Most Inspiring Cookbook: Rose Bakery's Breakfast, Lunch, Tea. Contenders: Mes Recettes pour vot...
December 24, 2006
Warm and Fuzzy Holiday Wishes
May your celebrations be joyful, the company lovely, the food delectable, and the gifts few but thoughtful. Joyeuses Fêtes!
[The little guy above is an amigurumi by French-Japanese artist Ketty Sean. I bought it at the gallery/store L'Art de Rien and it now lives at my friend Laurence's apartment.]...
"Warm and Fuzzy Holiday Wishes" continues »
October 18, 2006
Edible Podcasts
However much I love the Paris métro -- it might surprise you to learn that actually like its smell, a special mix of metal, dust, and rubber -- walking remains my favorite means of transportation around the city. It gives me the opportunity to stretch my legs, traverse favorite or unfamiliar neighborhoods, indulge in a little people-watching, and get slightly lost from time to time, which often leads to interesting discoveries.
I usually like ...
October 11, 2006
C&Z; Birthday Party Reminder + My Mother's Sewing Blog
Post-Party Update: Many thanks to all of you who came! I had a splendid time and it was a pleasure to meet you or see you again. As always, we were a joyful, diverse bunch: old friends and new; next-door neighbors and visitors from the other side of the world; professional chefs, enthusiastic cooks, people who would rather just eat what someone else has made, and two little boys still too young to even walk into the kitchen on their own two fee...
"C&Z; Birthday Party Reminder + My Mother's Sewing Blog" continues »
September 28, 2006
C&Z; turns 3!
A little over three years ago, over a dinner of shabu-shabu, I mentioned to Maxence that I was considering starting a food blog. "I think you should go for it," he said. "But it's going to take up a lot of my time, and I worry that I might tire of it after the honeymoon phase," I replied. "I think you should go for it," he said. A few days later, after a few evenings spent playing around with blogging tools and html templates, Chocolate & Zucch...
September 22, 2006
Flemish Carbonades in Régal Magazine
Earlier this year, I was offered to contribute to Régal, the most recent addition to the French landscape of cooking magazines (it first came out two summers ago). My mission was to come up with three recipes, each one responding to a different theme: I was to create the recipes, test them, write them up, and take care of the food styling. To say that I was thrilled would be an understatement, given how much I enjoy the magazine. To say that I ...
"Flemish Carbonades in Régal Magazine" continues »
September 11, 2006
In Remembrance
Five years ago today, I boarded a flight from Paris to San Jose. I was returning to my apartment in California after spending some time with my family and friends in France.
Little did we passengers know what horrifying events were taking place as we were flying over the Atlantic. Mid-flight, we were told that there had been terrorist threats against the US -- a gross understatement to avoid panic attacks --, that all American airports were clo...
July 27, 2006
The Day I Turn 27
I am celebrating my 27th birthday today, and the weather is happy with frequent bursts of thankfulness. Twenty-seven has always been my lucky number so I am not all that surprised, but I have to say this has been an excellent vintage: my first year working for myself (I do recommend it to anyone who likes to work in his pajamas and dislikes being told what to do and when), my first cookbook completed, plenty of gratifying and challenging projec...
"The Day I Turn 27" continues »
July 5, 2006
San Francisco Get-Together: A Reminder
We are still on the road -- somewhere between Texas and California -- but I wanted to remind you about the C&Z; get-together in San Francisco this Monday. Here are the details, I hope you can join us!
When? Monday, July 10th.
Where? Place Pigalle in San Francisco, located at 520 Hayes Street (@ Octavia).
What time? We will be there from 7pm.
[Important note: The initial plan was to meet in Palo Alto, but the location has been changed to SF.]...
"San Francisco Get-Together: A Reminder" continues »
June 22, 2006
A Roadtrip and a Get-Together
Maxence and I are leaving for a vacation: we are flying from Paris to Miami, where we will rent a car, drive all the way across the US, and fly back home from San Francisco. Roadtrips are by far our favorite mode of travel, we've been wanting to take that one for years, and now is finally the time!
No itinerary has been defined, it will all be day-to-day decisions relying on the direction of the wind, recommendations gleaned along the way, our...
"A Roadtrip and a Get-Together" continues »
June 12, 2006
Flower Menu in ELLE
I heart the French edition of ELLE. It is my weekly Monday morning joy, my favorite reading material for solo lunches and bubbly baths, and I hate it when Mondays are a holiday, because it means no mail and hence no ELLE. I even found a way to subscribe when I lived in the US: each issue cost me the price of a small piece of jewelry and the delivery was more than sketchy -- I would go without for weeks at a time and then four issues would arriv...
"Flower Menu in ELLE" continues »
December 30, 2005
Best of 2005
As the year draws to a close (remember that they're adding an extra second for free! What are you going to do with it?), here are a few of my favorite food things from 2005.
Favorite recipe for a first course: Warm Leek Salad with Fresh Walnuts. Contender: Artichoke and Goat Cheese Mille-Feuille.
Favorite recipe for a main course: Asparagus and Strawberry Tart.
Favorite recipe for dessert: Blueberry Yogurt Cake. Contender: Peach and Apricot Co...
December 23, 2005
Pandolce and Holiday Wishes
Reason number two hundred and forty-seven to be friends with your next-door neighbors: they cook, and they share.
When Stéphan (one door to the right) prepares scampi in coconut milk, he will prepare a plate for you and hand it over through your respective kitchen windows, a.k.a. the service hatch. In return you will send two flutes of rosé champagne their way, because you just happened to be celebrating something.
And when Peter (one door to...
"Pandolce and Holiday Wishes" continues »
October 22, 2005
Out of Office Auto Reply
Maxence and I are leaving today on a much-deserved (I would say that, wouldn't I) vacation, during which we will drive around the South-West of France. No definite plans as of yet, we will just head whichever way the roadsigns sound interesting and the food looks good. We like a little improvisation in our roadtrips (read: we had no time whatsoever to sit down and make said plans).
I most likely won't have any internet access during that time ...
"Out of Office Auto Reply" continues »
September 29, 2005
C&Z; turns 2!
Two years ago today, I hit "publish" on my very first post for Chocolate & Zucchini. I had been toying with the idea for a few weeks, debating with myself whether or not to start my own blog. Of course I didn't have the faintest notion what this would all lead to, what adventures, discoveries, encounters and life changes awaited me.
Life changes? Yes, indeed: today seems like the perfect day to announce that I have just signed a book deal with...
August 31, 2005
Blog Day 2005: New Blogs to Discover!
Today is Blog Day 2005, an event that was created to help broaden our blog horizons. So many blogs get created every day that it's impossible to keep up with all, and most of us find ourselves visiting the same favorite blogs, the ones where we feel at home and comfortable, where we know who's writing and what it's about, the ones that have been around for long enough that we feel safe they're not just going to die on us once we're hooked -- isn'...
"Blog Day 2005: New Blogs to Discover!" continues »
July 30, 2005
NPR Interview
This morning on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday, they aired an interview of me by Scott Simon, recorded yesterday from the BBC studios in Paris, in which we talk about baguettes and a nectarine gratin!
And the segment is available online ......
July 27, 2005
The Day I Turn 26
Well, I am happy to announce that as of 5 o'clock this morning, I am officially 26 years old!
Proud and delighted, ever-so-grateful for this past year and the many wonders and joys it has brought me, I am hopeful that the year ahead will be just as fabulous, and excited to discover what it holds.
I intend to spend the day at a deliciously leasurely pace, doing exclusively what I feel like doing, wearing my favorite dress of the moment, paint...
"The Day I Turn 26" continues »
July 11, 2005
The Cook Next Door: a Meme
As my trusted friend the Webster tells us, a meme is "an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture". In the blogosphere, a meme can be a questionnaire about a particular theme -- your tastes in music or books, 100 things about you, etc. -- that you reply to on your blog and pass along. Nicky started such a meme just a few weeks ago called the cook next door, giving us all a chance to talk about the hows...
"The Cook Next Door: a Meme" continues »
May 27, 2005
Un Monde d'Azur
My father, who occasionally makes appearances on this blog, is a devoted reader of Jack Vance -- a prolific, stupendously talented, yet little known, science-fiction writer. He has acted on this passion in a variety of ways over the years, including volunteering (and working countless nights) as a senior editor for the Vance Integral Edition, a project whose mission was to reedit Vance's entire work, in its complete and correct version.
Recen...
May 1, 2005
1er Mai, Fête du Muguet
The first day of May in France is La Fête du Travail (Labor Day). It is a holiday, which is nice, except when it's a Sunday and then you feel slighted. Anyway.
May 1 is also La Fête du Muguet, and the tradition is to give the ones you love a little bouquet of lily-of-the-valley, for good luck and to celebrate the arrival of spring. Originally the idea was to take the kids into the forest and lose them pick your own muguet together. Of course, ...
"1er Mai, Fête du Muguet" continues »
April 19, 2005
Is My Paris Better Than Yours?
If you happen upon the May issue of Budget Travel magazine -- which should land on US newsstands today -- and leaf your way to page 120, you will find a piece that I wrote, called "My Paris Is Better Than Yours".
It is the second part of their "My [insert-city-name-here] Is Better Than Yours" series, which started last fall with a piece by Charlie Suisman about New York. The approach for this series is resolutely personal, giving voice to one ...
"Is My Paris Better Than Yours?" continues »
March 29, 2005
So: Do We, or Do We Not?
Those of you who keep track -- however off-handedly -- of the American book market, have surely heard of Mireille Guiliano's book French Women Don't Get Fat. This French woman, who is head of the Champagne company Veuve-Clicquot and lives between New York and Reims, explains how and why French women can get away with eating chocolate and cheese while sipping on a little wine, and still manage to look slender and fabulous.
With such a promising ...
"So: Do We, or Do We Not?" continues »
March 26, 2005
Happy Easter!
I am off for the week-end to Lourmarin, a village in the South of France. Till I return, Joyeuses Pâques, be well, enjoy the egg hunt and the chocolate!
PS: I may be moblogging from there, so stay tuned!...
March 22, 2005
Introducing... le moblog!
"Huh? A moblog? Is that edible?"
Well, no. Moblog is the contraction of "mobile blogging", itself a contraction of "web logging", making the term moblog a rare occurrence of double portmanteau -- quite handy when you have guests as I'm sure you'll agree. But I digress: moblogging is, quite simply, blogging from your phone.
I had long wanted a cell phone that took pictures, but had yet to find one that I liked and was reasonably priced. It t...
"Introducing... le moblog!" continues »
March 15, 2005
Daffodils! Bona fide this time!
Ha! I knew they were coming! These here ladies just needed a couple more days to doll up and get ready for their grand debut. They do not disappoint. (Same park, different lawn.)
No matter what the calendar says, today is really the first day of Spring: you should see the glorious weather we are having today, bright patches of blue sky between the cut-stone buildings, a breeze so warm you happily shed scarf and coat, but more importantly, the ...
"Daffodils! Bona fide this time!" continues »
March 12, 2005
Le printemps est là!
Spring is here! Spring is here! First daffodil sighting of the year, yesterday at the Parc Montsouris, which I cross on my way to work. I spotted them first after a client lunch, walking by with two of my coworkers ("Oh, des jonquilles!", exclaimed I loudly, but they have ceased to take notice of my strange bursts of enthusiasm), and again a few hours later as I was going home. I could swear they had already grown by an inch. Now I hope the wea...
"Le printemps est là!" continues »
March 9, 2005
Press: From Washington to Nashville to San Francisco
Two articles have just appeared in US papers, dealing with food blogs, and featuring C&Z; along with esteemed fellow food enthusiasts.
~ Today in the Washington Post: A Food Blog for Every Taste
~ Yesterday in the Tennessean: Word-wide Recipe Swap.
Update! As a few readers have pointed out (thank you!) and as the journalist has just informed me, there is also an article running in the San Francisco Chronicle today: Young Parisian Puts Her Hea...
"Press: From Washington to Nashville to San Francisco" continues »
February 23, 2005
Press: The National Post
There is an article about C&Z; in the National Post (a national Canadian newspaper) today: Fromage homage...
In other news, Paris is all snowed in today! By "snowed in" I mean oh, a good two inches of soft snow, but this is enough to wreak havoc in the city, all skidding cars and glissading pedestrians. It is quickly turning to milk chocolate slush, but in the Butte-aux-Cailles area where I work there is comparatively little traffic, so we stil...
"Press: The National Post" continues »
February 10, 2005
The Music I Cook By
All right, all right! Obviously, resistance is futile: I have been tapped -- twice! -- in the Music in My Kitchen game that's been going around our little world of food blogs. I usually try to keep things more or less focused on the edible around here, but since my kitchen is a "cuisine à l'américaine" that opens onto the living-room where the hi-fi gear is, musical ambiance is an important aspect of my cooking life. So here goes.
What is the ...
"The Music I Cook By" continues »
February 1, 2005
February Newsletter
The C&Z; monthly newsletter went out today, as it does on the first day of every month. If you haven't subscribed yet, you are more than welcome to do so here and be the first in line for the March edition!...
"February Newsletter" continues »
January 31, 2005
Press: TITLE Magazine (Japan)
If you happen to lay your hands on the latest issue of the Japanese magazine TITLE and leaf through it (remember to do so from right to left or expose yourself to the unrecoverable loss of all coolness and credibility) until page 96, you will find an article about C&Z; and yours truly, complete with a picture!
Of course, if you're like me you will have no idea what it says, but a trusted Japanese friend is on the case to help translate it.
I h...
"Press: TITLE Magazine (Japan)" continues »
January 21, 2005
Press: The Sacramento Bee
The Sacramento Bee ran an article yesterday about --three guesses-- food blogs!
Under the catchy title "Finger-clickin' good", it features a profile of our friend Elise (with a pic of her! and her parents! and her oven mitts! and an oxtail stew!) as well as a list of favorite sites in which C&Z; appears, along with the following review :
"Clotilde Dusoulier, a young Parisian with a grounding in the Silicon Valley high-tech trade and a passio...
"Press: The Sacramento Bee" continues »
January 12, 2005
Deliciously Obsessed? Who, us?
The Boston Globe ran an article on food blogs today: Food bloggers chronicle their delicious obsessions!
[For the record, I don't have a book deal with an American publisher. Yet. But it is in the works, and when the time comes I promise you'll be the first to know! Okay, maybe I'll call my mom first, but you know what I mean.]...
"Deliciously Obsessed? Who, us?" continues »
January 1, 2005
...et Bonne Année!
May 2005 bring you everything your heart desires, excellent health, glowing happiness, wonderful friends and fabulous food!
I would like to thank you who have visited and faithfully read Chocolate & Zucchini all through 2004. It's been a real pleasure sharing my kitchen adventures with you: your attention, your feedback, your support, your comments, have all been invaluable sources of inspiration and excitement for me. Thank you, and I hope 20...
"...et Bonne Année!" continues »
December 24, 2004
Joyeux Noël!
I am off with my parents and my sister to my aunt's, who is traditionally the fabulous host of our family's Christmas celebrations... Who knows what menu she'll have dreamed up this year?
Merry Christmas to you, I hope you'll have a wonderful time, eat luscious food and be showered with gifts!...
November 14, 2004
Off to Cannes!
I will be in Cannes for a few days to attend the Gourmet Voice conference, the first world festival of gourmet media, where I will be speaking about C&Z; and food blogs.
In my absence, don't eat all the chocolate, be good, and don't forget to brush your teeth!...
November 7, 2004
C&Z; in the NYT
Chocolate & Zucchini is mentioned in this month's edition of the New York Times Style Magazine!
Read the article (thanks for the pic, Josh!). It can also be viewed on the online edition (scroll down to the middle of the page)....
October 31, 2004
Mon Premier Moleskine
[My First Moleskine]
I carry a notebook with me at all times. And a blue pen, too.
You never know when inspiration will strike, when a good idea will suddenly pop, when a silly or profound thought will cross your mind, when you will witness a situation or overhear a conversation that just begs to be jotted down. It has become such an important item to have by my side that I feel like I'm missing a limb when I forget to take it.
So far I hav...
"Mon Premier Moleskine" continues »
October 19, 2004
Chocolate & Zucchini in ELLE!
This week's ELLE magazine (in the French edition) has an article on blogs (by Alix Girod de l'Ain no less, page 113) which mentions Chocolate & Zucchini! Being a long-time and devoted reader of the magazine (it is my favorite breakfast companion) and a big fan of that journalist, this was a fabulous surprise -- which came right on time to start yesterday's party on an even happier note... [Story coming up, of course.]
And congratulations to Pa...
"Chocolate & Zucchini in ELLE!" continues »
October 8, 2004
Party Reminder!
If you would like to attend the Chocolate & Zucchini party in Paris on the 18th of October, please let me know by the end of the day. The details? Here are the details!...
September 29, 2004
Happy Birthday Chocolate & Zucchini!
"- Bonjour madame la boulangère! I would like to buy a cake for my blog.
- What a lucky blog! Is this a special occasion?
- Why yes, it is my blog's first birthday!
- My my my, how time flies! I remember your blog from when it was just a wee little baby blog, with just a handful of posts -- and now it's one year-old already?
- Yes, I am very proud, and I think it would very much like to celebrate with a cake. Something small something chocolate...
"Happy Birthday Chocolate & Zucchini!" continues »
August 17, 2004
A C&Z; Newsletter and Two Articles
After receiving many requests and suggestions to do so, I have finally gotten around to creating a newsletter for Chocolate & Zucchini! Sign up to receive an update twice a month, with news, announcements and a digest of recent entries. (And since I have just set this up, please let me know if you experience any problem at all.)
I am also proud to announce the publication of my very first newspaper article, in the travel section of the Los Ang...
"A C&Z; Newsletter and Two Articles" continues »
July 28, 2004
Birthday Girl : The Day After
Just like my brand new iPod Mini, I am pink with joy! Thanks to my beloved darling, I am now the proud owner of the petit-four of mp3 players!
Many many thanks for all your birthday wishes, they made me smile and laugh, and they accompanied me throughout the day, making me feel special in an ever-so-pleasing way. So thank you, and here's a flutter of kisses and hugs for all of you : <flutter of hugs and kisses darting off in all directions...
"Birthday Girl : The Day After" continues »
July 27, 2004
Birthday Girl
I turn 25 today, and as much as everyone has tried to scare me with tales of quarter-century milestones, the slowing down of cellular renewal and the ensuing downward path to old age, I am utterly, utterly delighted!
I have always loved birthdays, with their procession of cakes, candles, presents and well wishes, and every year I spend my birthday in a glow of giggly happiness and inexplicable pride.
I am not yet sure what this day has in st...
July 14, 2004
Le 14 juillet
What is referred to as Bastille Day in the US is simply called le 14 juillet in France. What our national holiday celebrates, in case you don't know, is the day in 1789 when the French revolutionaries seized the Bastille prison, which was seen as a symbol of the royal oppression (it turned out to hold but a disappointing handful of half-forgotten and anonymous prisoners, but that's not what history chose to remember).
Le 14 juillet is a celebr...
June 28, 2004
Le Tryptic de Camille
I posted last week about a set of chromatic menus I created for the graduation project of my friend Camille, who majored in design. The project is called Tryptic, and is a portable and sharable lunch box for three (Dyptic for two and Quartic for four would be additions to the product range). Many of you expressed curiosity about the menus and the project, and so, by popular demand, I hereby present some pictures of Camille's project. If you hap...
"Le Tryptic de Camille" continues »
April 11, 2004
Joyeuses Pâques!
In my family, we don't celebrate Easter in a religious way. Unless, of course, you consider a strong taste for chocolate to be a religion of sorts. Which I do.
My sister and I have received chocolate gifts from our parents for Easter every year since we were little. The traditional gift in France is a hollow chocolate shell, shaped like an egg, hen, duck, rabbit or bell, and filled with other confections : small pieces of chocolate shaped lik...
"Joyeuses Pâques!" continues »
March 20, 2004
Happy Spring!
To celebrate the vernal equinox, I give you these wonderful crocus that Maxence has planted and coaxed into luxurious bloom on our bedroom window sill. It should be noted that the onions, along with some snowdrop onions, were kindly given by our friend Marion, who is also a balcony gardener in her own right.
Thank you Marion and Maxence, for jointly gracing me with such a happy sight!...
March 8, 2004
Is my Blog Burning? A Bouquet of Tartines
Yesterday was the Tartine Edition of Is My Blog Burning? day, which I had the honor of hosting this time around. In this, I was following in the steps of Alberto, who originally fathered this fun event. Many thanks to all who participated with such enthusiasm!
In setting the theme, I had hoped it provided enough structure to give an air of commonality between the contributions, but that it was also open enough for each of the participants to e...
"Is my Blog Burning? A Bouquet of Tartines" continues »
February 28, 2004
Archive Spotlight
In the five months since the birth of Chocolate & Zucchini, I have written approximately one hundred and fifty entries, among which roughly half are recipes. Not all of you have read all of them of course, and even I sometimes forget what I have written about, so I thought it would be nice to have a way to make use of these archives.
On the left navigation bar, a new section called "Archive Spotlight" now randomly selects a post from the Choco...
"Archive Spotlight" continues »
February 25, 2004
Is My Blog Burning? The Tartine Edition
Feeling very bad about not finding the time to make soup for the first Is My Blog Burning? event, I told Alberto that I would be more than happy to host the second edition, to be held on Sunday March 7th, 2004.
For those of you not yet familiar with the concept, IMBB? is a distributed food blogging event, brought to us by Alberto : a date and a theme are set, each participating blogger cooks something following that theme, and posts about his ...
"Is My Blog Burning? The Tartine Edition" continues »
February 13, 2004
Plat du Jour
Chocolate & Zucchini now has a Plat du Jour generator! Click away, and get hundreds of thousands of dish suggestions in the pure C&Z; spirit...
The idea for this came to me in the middle of the night, which is sort of worrying, but anyway. Hope you have as much fun with this as I do!
Note : I wrote this in English, the ever so modular language, because you wouldn't believe the nightmare of randomly combining and conjugating adjectives and nou...
February 3, 2004
Where Else to Find Me
To my great pleasure, I have been asked to contribute to another website, called Bonjour Paris. Bonjour Paris is a gateway for people who love France in general and Paris in particular, where you can find great articles on the culture and language and food of France, on the Parisian way of life, as well as great ressources to plan your trip, what to see and where to stay.
The Bonjour Paris team is great to work with, and I will happily write a...
"Where Else to Find Me" continues »
January 28, 2004
Yahoo Picks Chocolate & Zucchini !
Many thanks to Yahoo! for making Chocolate & Zucchini the Pick of the Day!...
"Yahoo Picks Chocolate & Zucchini !" continues »
January 20, 2004
2004 Weblog Awards
I am thrilled and honored to announce that Chocolate & Zucchini has been nominated for the 2004 Weblog Awards - also known as "the Bloggies" - and is one of the five finalists in the Best European Weblog category. This is a public vote-for-your-favorite type of award, so if you enjoy this blog and would like to express your support, it would sure be appreciated!
To vote, you can go to the Awards page. Scroll down about one third of the page to...
"2004 Weblog Awards" continues »
January 10, 2004
Picture Gallery
New feature on Chocolate & Zucchini! I have created a picture gallery to showcase the photos I take to illustrate the entries. It also serves as a visual archive index, as clicking on each picture will take you to the corresponding post. A link has been added in the "About" section on the left nav bar.
The digital camera I use for my pics, as I have been asked a few times, is a Nikon Coolpix 950. We bought it in 2000 and this model is not sold...
January 1, 2004
...et Bonne Année!
I wish you all the very best for 2004 : health, happiness, love, friendship, prosperity and above all, excellent chocolate.
We hosted a little "réveillon" party yesterday night, for which Stéphane and I cooked up a pocket-sized storm. Recipes and stories are on the way!
And to mark the new year, I have had my hair cut with a fringe! It wasn't planned at all, it just sort of happened. I looked at the girl getting her hair cut before me, she wa...
"...et Bonne Année!" continues »
December 24, 2003
Joyeux Noël!
Thanks for everyone's well wishes, and Happy Christmas to you all! Tonight and tomorrow will be spent at my parents', basking in the Christmas family glow and helping my mother with the cooking!
And I will be back with tales about the food, the gifts and the food gifts......
December 14, 2003
An Index Of C&Z; Recipes
I have worked on building an index of the recipes I share in this blog. It will allow you to browse through them in alphabetical order, sorted by date, or by category of dish.
It will of course be updated automagically as I add new recipes, and you will find a link to it in the "About" section on the left navigation bar......
"An Index Of C&Z; Recipes" continues »
December 3, 2003
Grilled Onions And Peppers
I did not write the food entry I had in mind yesterday night, and my excuse for that is as valid as it will ever get : I couldn't get back into my apartment until a late hour, for the seventh floor of our building was on fire.
Important forenote to reassure everyone : no worries, I'm fine, Maxence is fine, everybody's fine, and the apartment's fine!
Coming home from work, I went to the grocery store to run a few errands. When I got to the foot ...
"Grilled Onions And Peppers" continues »
October 28, 2003
Bloxicon
I have worked on creating a handy little lexicon of the French words and expressions I use in this blog. It can be found here, and will be added to, as new posts introduce new words! You can all thank me when you're fluent in French...
Note that a link has also been added on the left navigation bar, in the "Features" section....
October 3, 2003
Choc & Zucc Dinner
Tonight, two of my best friends are coming for a "girls only" dinner, as Maxence is on vacation in Tunisia (he leads quite the tough life, doesn't he). Marie-Laure Laurence and I go way back, we have in fact recently celebrated our ten-year friendship anniversary (yup, that's the kind of things we do!). We met in the first few days of junior high school, and have been very close friends ever since. It's a precious thing.
I had today off from w...
"Choc & Zucc Dinner" continues »
September 29, 2003
Subscribe to C&Z;
Here are two easy ways you can keep up to date with the latest from Chocolate & Zucchini:
~ Subscribe to the C&Z; newsletter.
The newsletter is sent at the beginning of each month and includes news and announcements, as well as a digest of recent entries.
Subscribing is free; you just have to fill out this form. Within seconds you will receive an email with a confirmation link; click and you're all set. Note that your email will never ever be...
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About Chocolate & Zucchini
Chocolate & Zucchini is a blog written by Clotilde Dusoulier, a 24 25 26 27 28 29 30-year-old Parisian woman who lives in Montmartre and shares her passion for all things food-related -- thoughts, recipes, musings, cookbook acquisitions, quirky ingredients, nifty tools, restaurant experiences, ideas, and inspirations.
The blog was created in September of 2003 as an outlet for someone who feared her friends might tire of hearing about what she ...
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