Five Things I Must Eat and Five Blogs I Must Read

I am still very new to food blogging, but I was pleased that Christine of Christine Cooks invited me to participate in a meme. She has a lovely blog with dazzling photos and good recipes and along with several other bloggers has been a source of inspiration and encouragement.

I am humbled to be asked to participate. And a bit embarrassed at my ignorance. I hope I am doing this correctly.

The question is: What five things must you eat before you die?

Clotted Cream in Devon: One of my favorite mystery novels is Dorothy McArdle’s “The Uninvited,” which was made into a movie with Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey. In the book, they eat clotted cream. I want some, too.

Ratatouille in Provence: I want to eat my favorite comfort food prepared in a French kitchen in France. I did make some ratatouille on a recent visit to the Lot Valley, but I want someone else to make it for me, preferably somewhere along the coast.

A meal served with Scaggs’ Wine, somewhere in the Napa Valley: I am a huge fan of Boz Scaggs and his music and I have heard he is currently perfecting his own wine. If the wine is as good as the music and as charismatic as the man, the meal won’t matter.

Bread from Poilane, purchased on Rue du Cherche Midi in Paris: I inherited the French bread-eating gene, and cannot go a day without eating bread, preferably at breakfast. My choices are limited at home, but on my next trip to Paris, I will make a beeline for Poilane. Who can resist a bakery located on a street called “Seeking the Midday Sun?”

Lemons in Menton: This beautiful city on the Italian border is on my list of places to visit within the next two years. I love lemons anyway.

As Christine points out, such lists have a tendency to become travelogues, too. For many of us, I suspect food and travel are inextricably linked.

Blog Day 2006

I found out last night it was Blog Day 2006. In the interests of promoting blogging, showcasing the work of others, and sharing ideas and cultures, all bloggers are asked to spotlight five other blogs. Here is my list, in no particular order:

Frugal Cuisine is a no-nonsense blog out of Edmonton, Alberta. The blogger, known as Pepper, focuses on how to eat well for $2-3 a day. Among the recent features are peach and cantelope soup, chair and coconut-ginger macha ice cream and blueberry soup with polenta and chevre.

Another blog I read daily is Lucy’s Kitchen Notebook out of Lyon, France. The photographs are large and lovely. The writing is exquisite. I like that the blogger, Lucy, is an American living in France with her husband, seemingly following in the footsteps of M.F.K. Fisher and Julia Child. There are layers to this blog. Lucy has an eye and an ear and a nose for detail. It’s about food, to be sure, but it’s not just about food.

A blog that is not completely about food is Under a Blue Moon. It’s quirky and well written and the photography dazzles me and it’s just plain fun.

Food Prints is of recent vintage and features Asian food from an anonymous blogger based in Singapore. It’s just lovely to look at, and the writing and approach is sincere. I like that.

The other blog I read is Christine Cooks and I want to thank her for citing this blog on hers.

Also, thanks to Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen, who did the same. I like her emphasis on lower glycemic eating.