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lesliepariseau's Profile

Website: http://www.readkitchen.blogspot.com

Location: Miami Beach

About: Semi-fictional. I think.

Favorite foods:

Last bite on earth: Baked macaroni and cheese with a glass of red zinfandel, followed by Julia Child brownie.

The Ten Most Recent Posts By lesliepariseau

From Talk

Heather Honey = Scottish Crack?

Posted by lesliepariseau, March 20, 2008 at 5:50 PM

I was recently in Ireland and picked up a jar of heather honey from a burnt out American hippie/beekeeper. He insisted that heather honey was the equivalent of edible gold and that he ate 2 pounds of the stuff a day when he first emigrated to Scotland. The hippie was absolutely right. It's like honey crack with a truly unique and utterly addictive suppleness.

Does anyone know a bit about the distinguishing qualities of this honey? Maybe a little history, experience or insight to heather honey harvesting?

Post a Comment | Tagged: honey

From Talk

Need Great Austin Eats!

Posted by lesliepariseau, February 29, 2008 at 4:59 PM

I'll be visiting Austin, Texas in April and have started to scout some spots for the 5 day jaunt. What are some great central city eats? I'm looking for low-key, funky places for dinner, as well as great breakfast joints. Maybe a couple of places that are good for groups too. And if anyone wants to throw in some bars with good music and beers, I'd love some tips. Thanks!

12 Comments | Tagged: Austin, recommendations, Texas

From Talk

Eating out in Dublin. Cheers!

Posted by lesliepariseau, February 14, 2008 at 1:27 PM

I'm headed over the Atlantic to spend time in Cork for a few days, where I've already scouted my food stakes, but I will be in Dublin for the end of the trip. Does anyone have suggestions on unique, funky places that are small/family owned and not too pricey? I'm staying with a family in Cork, and want to extend the local experience as much as possible-even in the big city. Thanks, and cheers!

3 Comments

The Ten Most Recent Comments By lesliepariseau

From Talk

Hot Weather Meals?

watermelon, feta and mint salads, cold peanut noodle dishes, grilled jerk chicken, spring rolls, pita and yogurt sauces, greek salads, goat cheese and grape salads, mojitos...

lesliepariseau at 12:14PM on 05/19/08

From Talk

Need Great Austin Eats!

Thanks to all for the suggestions! Here's a little write-up on what I found:

http://readkitchen.blogspot.com/2008/04/now-serving-austin.html

I especially loved Bouldin Creek Cafe and Lamberts. I wasn't able to write about Longhouse or Club de Ville, but they were fabulous bars hidden away from all of the hubub. Wish I'd had more time to explore the nooks and crannies a bit more, but perhaps next time!

lesliepariseau at 4:41PM on 04/14/08

From Required Eating

Forget Cupcakes: Whoopie Pies Are Gonna Be Big

Was so inspired by the whoopie pie hubub I made my own batch last weekend. Chocolate with chocolate chip cream cheese filling. Check the recipe out here:
http://readkitchen.blogspot.com/2008/04/makin-whoopie.html

lesliepariseau at 1:40PM on 04/03/08

From Talk

Need to use up my stash of vanilla beans

What great excess! Here's a great post from The Traveler's Lunchbox on making your own vanilla extract.

http://www.travelerslunchbox.com/journal/2007/10/9/project-vanilla.html

I add vanilla beans to anything I bake, as well as unexpected things like butternut squash soup or cream sauces. Scrape a couple into your sugar jar and then throw in the beans for added oomph. Try a vanilla caramel souffle, or vanilla maple ice cream. Have fun!

lesliepariseau at 4:46PM on 03/24/08

From Required Eating

Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?

Rising prices will be one of the major turning points into today's consumer economy. We cannot appreciate the wealth we have until it becomes unavailable, due either to a shortage or inaccessibility. It may be tough to swallow in the short term, but as potroast said above, we will (out of necessity) become more responsible, aware and resourceful.

lesliepariseau at 9:49AM on 03/24/08

From Talk

What is the Baking and Pastry Bible?

I love Dorie Greenspan in any form. Her recipes are extremely thorough and very insightful. Traditional as well as innovative. I constantly default to her 'Baking, From my Home to yours.' Julia Child is a go-to woman, obviously. If it's bread you're baking, I've heard wonderful things about 'Bread Alone' and 'The Bread Bible.'

lesliepariseau at 4:32PM on 03/21/08

From Talk

London/Paris

There are obviously great spots in both cities, though I'm more familiar with Paris having lived there for a bit last year. Don't miss the falafel in the Marais, which is historically the Jewish quarter of the city. These winding and pedestrianized streets are chock full of great places, including Chez H'anna which is my favorite, but l'As du Fallafel is not far behind.

You must make it to Rose Bakery on rue de Martyrs which is in the 9th arrondissement. It's a fabulous breakfast spot run by an English woman (Rose) who has a lovely little book put out by Phaidon press called 'Breakfast, Lunch, Tea.'

Montmartre is full of little places, but I recommend Virage Lepic (the bend of Lepic) which is on the winding road up to Montmartre, and is a great taste of traditional peasant cuisine in a rickety place full of locals and two hilarious waiters. It's on the same street as Moulin de la Galette and Van Gogh's old digs. Check out le Coquelicot on rue des Abbesses, which has the most magical baguette you'll ever taste and some pretty good pastries too.

Pierre Herme cannot be missed, and don't you dare think about leaving without traversing one of the amazing markets. The president Wilson market near Alma/Iena is just beautiful. Stop in the Place de Tokyo while you're there.

Le canal St. Martin near Republique is a great area for little spots including la Verre Vole, a popular wine bar. My god, I will go on and on, but each of these spots is great for walking as well as eating (affordably I might add!).

If you're near Etienne Marcel there's a great pedestrian street with bakeries galore and spots for a beer. Try Dix Bar, an underground sangria joint on rue de l'Odeon or le Piano Vache and a hidden street in the Latin quarter.

Okay, I'm done! I promise! Oh, and crepes...the crepes are just divine. Get them at any busy crepe stand and you'll end up having 3. Have a wonderful time and beautiful meals. Eat lots of macarons for me!

lesliepariseau at 4:17PM on 03/21/08

From Required Eating

Organic Brands and Who Owns What

It's definitely a great chart, but it requires an equally great analysis. What is the connection between these labels and the corporation? It's just so confusing! One must automatically assume that when a small organic brand is bought out, small business ethic and small company suppliers are swept to the wayside. Is this true? We don't know, but it's certainly telling of this industrial agriculture age. I wrote about my experience with Seeds of Change here:
http://readkitchen.blogspot.com/2008/03/duped-by-chocolate.html

lesliepariseau at 8:44PM on 03/15/08

From Required Eating

Cook the Book: 'My Last Supper'

Fresh goat cheese, figs, and prosciutto di Parma with a baguette from Le Coquelicot in Montmartre with a Sancerre.

A bowl of fresh pappardelle with morels, aged Parmesan and sugar peas. A chunk of Zingerman's grainy country bread dipped in spicy Tuscan olive oil with pepper with a Ridge Zinfandel.

Duck breast with cognac and maple syrup and an Oregon pinot noir.

A bowl of wild strawberries and blueberries with fresh whipped cream, a chunk of dark chocolate and a kabinett riesling.

lesliepariseau at 12:56PM on 03/14/08

From Talk

New Orleans restaurants

I was in New Orleans a few months ago, and tried Cochon (on Frank Bruni's top ten list of new restaurants for 2007), and it wasn't amazing. It may have been an off-day, so I won't judge, but I'd say skip lunch and go for dinner. The Feelings Cafe is a pretty local Marigny spot for a French-Cajun meal. You must go to Mimi's in the Marigny as well. It is super-hip two story bar/lounge with great tapas and some really great nawlins jazz. It's like having a stand-up bass and saxophone in your living room.

lesliepariseau at 10:59AM on 03/11/08

Responses to Comments by lesliepariseau

From Talk

Hot Weather Meals?

Pasta Salad - (cook the macaroni in am when it's cooler) - add garbanzo beans, onion/scallion, carrots, green pepper, radishes, etc. - keep it vegetarian, or add pieces of cooked chicken, tuna, cut-up deli ham or salami - whatever you like or have on hand. then add favorite dressing, e.g., lite balsamic vinaigrette, ceasar, or italian. if you make the whole pound (13.25 oz. now), you'll have enough for a couple of days.

pizzafreak47

pizzafreak47 at 2:04PM on 05/19/08

From Talk

Need Great Austin Eats!

Thanks to all for the suggestions! Here's a little write-up on what I found:

http://readkitchen.blogspot.com/2008/04/now-serving-austin.html

I especially loved Bouldin Creek Cafe and Lamberts. I wasn't able to write about Longhouse or Club de Ville, but they were fabulous bars hidden away from all of the hubub. Wish I'd had more time to explore the nooks and crannies a bit more, but perhaps next time!

lesliepariseau at 4:41PM on 04/14/08

From Required Eating

Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?

yes many chances. We eat less meat. Meals have become simpler eg grilled sandwiches smeared with pesto,cheese and turkey slices. buy a lot of frozen vegetables(store brand) to make a vegetable soup with every evening meal. Leftovers are brown bagged. Use coupons and buy one get one free deals. Buy bread on sale and freeze for later use. Make banana bread and corn bread 1X a week to have with all 3 meals.
Mix orange juice with 1/2 water. Live in city (condo living) so no room for hunting or garden. We eat out 1x a week at a local place and make sure we get there early to take advantage of the early bird special. Otherwise we still eat delicious meals.

kamrawenke at 6:05PM on 04/13/08

From Recipes

Gingerbread Baby Cakes: Because Winter Isn't Over

Just checking on the 2 cups of molasses. I made these and followed the recipe to a "T" but it seemed like 2 cups might be (dare I say?) too much? My friends told me they were too bitter. Has anyone else made this recipe? What did I do wrong??
mshue in A2

mshue at 2:14PM on 04/07/08

From Talk

Need to use up my stash of vanilla beans

Man! All I ever get are post cards and magnets! Oh wait, there was that time I got a broken mug.
Enjoy your vanilla.
The vodka is a no brainer--you must! Chocolate martinis with vanilla vodka are the best. And Espresso martinis with vanilla vodka are even better. I've never had a homemade vanilla vodka, but I don't see why it wouldn't be divine. You could host a cocktail party for all you friends who brought you vanilla instead of refridgerator magnets or broken mugs!

wookie at 2:34PM on 03/25/08

From Required Eating

Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?

Who buys food anymore? Seriously, This is a good year to be a hunter - I have my meat for the year set - and a gardener. The only things I typically buy at markets are flour, olive oil, sugar, honey, salt and dairy products. They are probably more expensive, but with a weekly shopping bill of around $25 I really don't notice much.

Yes, I know few people can or want to go to this length, but it can be done. And I think I eat pretty well...

HunterAnglerGardenerCook at 11:32AM on 03/25/08

From Talk

Need to use up my stash of vanilla beans

Thanks for all the ideas!

prettytastycakes at 10:18AM on 03/25/08

From Required Eating

Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?

I'm curious whether rising food prices (if they continue) will affect which sorts of cookbooks will sell - i.e. will the ones whose appeal comes from having eight different types of exotic-or-expensive ingredients be as popular or will the public's taste turn to those less complicated or less aspirational in nature . . .

Karen Resta at 7:13AM on 03/25/08

From Required Eating

Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?

This thread has been inspiring in so many ways. I have to say I'm coming to the same conclusion Michael Pollan came to in his latest book. We eat more plants and occasionally some meat, and it's really hard for me to say that given how much I love meat. And as so many of you pointed out, we can all do this even in the face of rising food prices. It takes a little bit of creativity and a little bit or forethought and preparation, but if you buy and eat smartly, our lives can be filled with delicious food no matter what's going on with food prices.

Ed Levine at 11:13PM on 03/24/08

From Talk

London/Paris

In London, find a Square Pie for a great meat pie... I think there are a few locations, including one in the main Selfridges. There's also great Indian food on Brick Lane in the East End, and it's kind of a cool, funky, less gentrified area.

In Paris, foodies MUST go to Le Bon Marche food dept for a look- it's like a museum for gourmands. Good gifts there too. It's in the 7th Arr. There is a gem of a restaurant in the 6th Arr that is Moroccan/French fusion, I believe it's just called Delices. And yes, definitely crepes. And a cafe au lait in a sidewalk cafe. It just tastes better!

Have fun! I'm jealous.

karenita at 9:55PM on 03/24/08