Errands in Paris

Is this a walkable city? It feels like it

It feels difficult to follow up yesterday's blog, which had me thinking about the red wine stain on our society for the whole day. Yes, my writing is impactful - at least on myself. Does that say something about my Ego? I did have trouble getting through the door, but that could be as much to do with my head as it is about not having been for a run for almost 2 months combined with the sheer amount of bread and butter I’ve been eating. Digression! I’ve also been thinking about how I can manage the days where I am not thinking much at all. Where I sit down and it takes time to come up with something - filler! I’ve committed this year new year new me style to reading every night before I go to sleep, which I’m happy to report I have done for 22 days so far. I’m almost through my second book and it makes me glad that the books I’ve collected over the past 3 years and put on a ‘read later’ pile to gather dust and mites and whatever else are finally to get their pages turned. Would anyone be interested in a short book review or recommendation every 3 or so weeks? Hard to say but please let me know if you are. You can comment or reply to an email depending your way of reading this.

We’ve been out this morning picking up a fleece from Uniqlo that I can run in (ready to strike one possible reason for my door troubles off the list) and running other errands like the pharmacy and tabac. I’m getting a town feel to living here as opposed to places I’ve lived in London before. I’m not sure if it’s just owed to living close to a mall or if it’s something else, but there’s pretty much nothing we cannot do within a 15 minute walk of us. When I was in Archway for example in North London, or Ladywell in the south, I would always have to travel if there was something in particular I needed to pick up from a store, grocery or otherwise, either on my bike or the underground. Here in Paris, in 2ème, everything is at our fingertips. This creates some trouble when you have limited funds and are constantly walking past beautiful ingredients or coats or dungarees or shoes or trainers or scarves or skincare, but also means that when you need a new running jacket or moisturiser or nicotine pouches (to smoke less might I add, I will be running!) you can walk here and there and be home in an hour. I don’t have to breathe in the dust and dirt of the underground or risk death with mad Parisian drivers. Regular air pollution from standstill traffic is my kind of high.

We were back at Collet yesterday for our Daily Bread - this time I picked up a regular baguette and the Tradition. We are normally a seulement (only) Tradition household and in truth, that’s because I ask for two baguettes and this is what I’m given - I’ve also never corrected the vendor because that is the baguette that I wish for. Yesterday however, the lovely baker was getting two regular old baguettes when I had to stop and ask her to for a Tradition with the one regular, my French has not developed to the point to start the whole process again, plus the first one had already been bagged. The Tradition is made using only flour, water, salt and yeast, whereas with the Ordinare, additives can be included. Additives suck because that Ordinare is Ronseal. Does exactly what it says on the little label on the shelf or whatever. It’s boring and ordinary and pretty flavourless, it tastes just like something we’d pick up on our way home from work at Aldi. It will not be making another showing here or on our breakfast lunch or dinner table. I also picked up a Croissant which I had for breakfast with some plain yogurt and banana, and that I pictured because I thought it was nice that it matched our table cloth.

Moving on finally to dinner and to wrap up today’s account of yesterday’s proceedings meal wise - I stuck to my word, to my intentions. A person is only as good as their intentions or word or something like that. Idioms are not my strong tuxedo. Last night I made at a leek and mushroom risotto which was simple but delicious, and joyously barely included any waste. I sautéed the leek and mushrooms with 4 (four) cloves of garlic, keeping the tops of the leek for some garnish. I added the risotto rice (Arborio) and toasted briefly, before adding white wine to deglaze. Then comes the arduous task as you very slowly add stock, a ladle at a time, to the rice, constantly stirring until the liquid has been absorbed bit by bit. In total it was about 20-25 minutes of stirring (maybe it’s my gigantic forearm that prevents me getting in the door) but it was worth it. Once all the liquid was in, a little bit of butter and some parmesan to finish and then I set aside on a very low heat, whilst I fried off the top of the leek, the green part, with some olive oil and salt until slightly charred and crunchy. This is not something I would usually do but I’m intent on elevating my food and a nice garnish is a good way to do that.

It was great, seasoned well but maybe needed 1 or 2 more minutes on the hob to properly get to al dente, it was just a tiny, tiny bit grainy. The leek tops added a nice crunch to each bite, overall I was pleased and most importantly, meat free! Today will be a fridge/pantry meal so not quite sure what I will conjure up but you will find out tomorrow - but most likely meat is back on the menu.

à demain !