For 99% of the people who know me, what I'm about to say will come as no surprise:
I'm obsessed with The Food Network.
More specifically, I'm obsessed with Ina Garten. Sort of like a modern day Julia Child, her name is synonymous with everything beautiful about the love and art of cooking. Barefoot Contessa, Garten's claim to fame, single-handedly sparked my "appetite" for cuisine.
Her style of cooking, which I'd classify as simple and elegant, while still being comfortable and approachable, is exactly what makes my tastebuds sing. Although never classically trained, Garten's recipes exude all the appeal of a gourmet with the love of a self-taught cook.
And her style of living? Let's just say it's all that I could (and do) dream for, plus a little more. Garten spends the majority of her time in the Hamptons where she and her adorable husband, Jeffrey, share a breathtaking home. It's essentially a food lover's paradise; Garten built a barn in her backyard equipped with a drool-worthy kitchen. Her backyard also boasts an impressive garden of herbs and vegetables, proving that until you've grown your own produce, you have no idea what you're missing. Her show, Barefoot Contessa allows us to follow Garten as she buys fresh ingredients from local shops that specialize in everything from flowers to cheese and wine.
As if it couldn't get any better, she and Jeffrey split their time between their home in the Hamptons and PARIS. They renovated a beautiful apartment in the 6th arrondissement, right around the corner from where I had class! The neighborhood is filled with shops, cafes, and patisseries, among which Ina finds some of her favorites (for example Poilane Bakery, Cafe Varenne, and the Raspail Organic Market).
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| #1 Ina Superfan |
I think it's safe to say, I want her life.
My absolute dream would be to one day move to France, attend culinary school in Paris, then land a job on The Food Network hosting my own cooking show.
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| Making pumpkin macarons at La Cuisine Paris |
But if things don't exactly go as planned, I recently discovered my back-up plan. After my cooking class yesterday at La Cuisine Paris, where I learned how to make the famous french Macarons, I realized what a perfect fit it would be to teach cooking classes in both French and English right in the center of Paris! I know, I know-- I'm getting a little ahead of myself now, but a girl can dream!
OK, back to reality...
When I first started this blog, my intention was simply to chronicle my semester in France. But what I'd really love to be is the author of a food blog. In case you've been living under a rock, food blogging is one of the biggest crazes to hit the blog world. Seriously, if you're not already addicted to Food Gawker, you will be now... You're welcome.
