Fraggle

gogoboots99---

I, too, have a passion for french onion soup with gruyere. Slurped down a bowl at Blue Ribbon Bakery a few weeks back... so much gooey gruyere. A true winter treat!

Where do you recommend I go for my next bowl?

DAX

Thanks Lucie! I got it and I sent you a thank you reply yesterday.

THERESA10

Hello Everyone;

Now that I caught the flu from my Granddaughter It's put a kaputz on my trek to Ann Arbor to try the Deli there. My DH took us to the Doctor today, She's getting over it, I'm in full throttle. I won't give you the lovely details of last night. This is about food after all.

But like a knight in shining armor coming to my emotional rescue, my DH stopped by a fresh market store and got Me a french bagguette, cheese and mineral water. The bagguette was pretty good even though I just felt like tearing off a little piece and try to keep it down. And it worked so I have eaten half already.

Yeah, it wasn't Paris, but it's the thought that counts. Right before I felt Like I was dying last night I did manage to order some cheese @ igourmet, I'll let you all know how it is. BTW has anyone tried the crossiants from Williams and Sonoma? A customer pointed out they have crossiants you bake yourself, They looked awesome online, but then again, I'm getting hard up.

Years ago My Husband and I stopped by a bakery in Romeo,Mi the name of the place was Jean Paul (so very french) and picked up some almond paste crossiant of some kind and they were still warm. I ate 4 my DH had 2. They also had these cookies that were flat with slivered almonds, kinda like the french version of peanut brittle, just really flat, it was fantastic. Being in the food Biz I struck up a converstion with Jean about his great bakery and I would love to come everyday and get some goodies. He told me how tough business was. Little did I know how bad. We went by 2 weeks later and it was Closed Down. I was depressed for the Man. I wish I knew what happened to Him and His beautiful American wife. And oh how we miss those lovely creations he'd make.

DAX

Sorry to hear you're miserable, hope you'll feel better soon Theresa. Your croissant bakery story gives us a clear picture how unique Detroit is. Gourmet anything wouldn't have much chance if almond croissant dies in Detroit. The population probably prefers bearclaws from the supermarket.

THERESA10

DAX

Detroit ain't all bearclaws. There are some great bakeries and hardworking people in the industry. I worked at a bakery for 2 years. Getting there at 3 am truly sucked, and it took along time before I'd eat another donut/sweet roll. Years, seriously!

The French bakery was in the wrong area for it to be appreicated. I thought the people in that area wouldn't pay $2.75 for such a wonderful treat. Had the bakery opened in a area not far from there (Rochester/Troy area) it would have been a hit. But the rent in those area's are outragous. I just hope the guy went somewhere else and started another place, He truly was genuine and talented. I miss his almond crossiants like mad, Me and My honey talk about them all the time. I think I'll google his name.

I can't take anykind of smack regarding Detroit. I'd have to fight you at the bird bath for any putdowns to Her.
Where's the bird bath? Ask any pigeon. Just playin' we use that line at my Place. Good Food, Bad Attitude.

bookchick

Word, T, I grew up in Detroit, now live in Plymouth, and work in Ann Arbor.

BC

cigalechanta

Food always taste better when grown in the area where you are. My oysters in Brittany, my calvados in Normandy, My pastis always tastes better in Provence. I'm lucky that in my area I can buy anything from wild boar to tapenade. My cheese guy has his own cellar for affinage and with the computer, you can find anything on line

DAX

Theresa, I didn't putting Detroit down, I was just empathizing with your concerns (OK whining..). It's good that you are so proud of your city, I'm certainly not proud of the San Francisco Bay Area probably because I've lived in too many places. The other parts are the horrendous traffic and the extreme political image. It's the international blend of people and the weather that keep me here.

Cigalchanta: Where do you live now that you have such luxuries? We only get venison & wild boar when our friends return from their hunting trips, otherwise we eat pork and pretend it's game.

bookchick

DAX, Cigale lives in a 'burb of Boston. We Detroiters are proud of our resilient nature. I was walking around Washington DC alone once and was being followed by a large man. I turned around, looked him in the eye and said "You don't scare me, I'm from Detroit." With that he turned and walked away. 'Nuff said.

BC

lawchick

Put your hands up for detroit

cigalechanta

I live in Cambridge across the river from Boston, my old home(WAAAAaaaaa!)
Yes, I eat my friend's wild boar but we have a market here in Boston where you can buy duck confit, wild boar, lion, and other not the usual items. and it's not a large place. I often met Julia Childs shopping there(in their original spot that burned down in Cambridge)

THERESA10

bookchick, word to your brother I'm a bad mother.

Many, many people ask Me if I'm scared going all over alone and on these missionary trips. My statement to them is this. 1) God has Me where I'm supposed to be at all times.
2) I'm from Detroit, born and raised I will kick the livin sh*t out of anyone who tries to mess with Me. That attitude has gotten me through many things.

And I envy anyone that can afford and shop at many little French and Italian gourmet places. We do have a few Fantastic Italian stores here in the Metro Detroit Area. My Fav is Ventimiglia's, hands down the best I've been too. OK this is the French Forum.

cigalechanta

THERESA10, the William Sonoma croissants are good but very expensive.
I would rather buy a geat fresh bread and Normandy butter for the price.

Brazilnut

Teresa,
I miss the onion soup the most! Can't get it like you get it in Paris here in Salvador, Bahia (though the food here is delicious!!!!)

DAX

I have to confess I've never been to Detroit so I'm completely clueless, but thanks for the warning, I won't mess with any ----chick from Detroit.

Cigalechanta: OK you have to stop the bragging now, we're all turning green, & can't take it anymore. Boston is a great city, I prefer it over any other cities on the East Coast. We almost moved to Boston but backed out after spending a very stormy week in March. Californians are just not tough enough to weather that kind of storm. I'm sure that's a good thing otherwise we will all be moving there. I think it's official that we have worse traffic than Boston now.

bookchick

DAX, on the traffic situation, trust me "The Big Dig" in Boston is like the 10th circle of Hell. I visited Cigalechanta in October and was darned glad I wasn't driving!

BC, from greater Metro Detroit, where we also have bad traffic, and no public transport to speak of

ira

Hi USNR,

Also try adding an egg or two before baking.

You get a sort of potato souffle.

THERESA10

Well there Ain't no French Cooking going on here tonight at Old House, oops, we are serving French onion soup. My customers LOVE it, but most have never had it in Paris I don't think. It's been fish fish and more fish today. Our Menu for dinner is short but sweet tonight. The best part, as soon as Good Friday rolls around I'll be done with Friday Night Fintastic Fish Fry's. I can't wait. Back to closing at 3pm like the other 6 days. I did make some kick butt Lemon Jello Cake for Dessert tonight. One bad thing about fish fry, every cat in the neighborhood wants to be your friend

Bought some almond paste this morning(4am shopping for the restaurant)and I'm going to attempt the almond crossiants, wish Me luck.

Were having girls night out/in at my restaurnt Saturday night. It's all hens and the cocks can come up later in the evening. I already got my igourmet catalog in the mail, and I'm going to pass it around and get the hens to order some french cheese's and whatnot. I got all my waitstaff dying to go to Paris, I'm hoping to sway them alittle harder Saturday night. I got most of them to apply for a passport, keep your fingers crossed If I get them addicted I won't be such a slave to Fodors. Yeah I would still be a slave to Fodors.

Everyone have a great night, and if your ever in Detroit, Look Me up. I promise we won't beat you up, well only unless you want us too!

pdx

LucieV - I'm on my 3rd loaf of bread from the recipe. It's true, you can't screw it up. This last loaf is a thing of beauty. Thanks for introducing us to the recipe! Now that I've looked it up I see it's all over the internet and has been blogged to death. I've been in the kitchen absolutely all weekend. The kitchen is destroyed. Truly. I'm making a bolognese sauce as well. What a mess! What fun!

LucieV

pdx, I'm so glad to hear you're having fun with that recipe.

I first made it the day after it was published in NYT, and have been singing its praises ever since. I'm also amazed how good it tastes even a couple days after being baked.