Black Paris Divas Cookin' It Up Again in Paris

Black Paris Divas enjoyed yet another fun-filled day of cooking and walking earlier this month. First, the group met for a lunchtime cooking class, where participants prepared pan-seared, roasted salmon with bearnaise sauce,

Cutting Salmon
© Discover Paris!

Searing the Salmon
© Discover Paris!

Ingredients for Bearnaise Sauce
© Discover Paris!

Whisking the Bearnaise Sauce
© Discover Paris!
roasted veggies,

Preparing Veggies for Roasting
© Discover Paris!

"Massaging" the Vegetables
© Discover Paris!

and chocolate soufflé.

Soufflé Batter and Separated Eggs
© Discover Paris!

Buttering Soufflé Molds
© Discover Paris!

Soufflés Fresh from the Oven
© Discover Paris!

The group then sat down to eat, with Chef Eric and group member Hawk serving.

Chef Serves the Salmon
© Discover Paris!

Hawk Pours the Wine
© Discover Paris!

Enjoying the Meal
© Discover Paris!

After breaking bread together, we left the cooking school for a gourmet walk that featured the concept of terroir, which means everything that goes into the environment from which food items emerge - soil, sun, wind, altitude... The flavor of everything that we eat and drink - wine, olives, butter, and even chocolate - is affected by terroir.

Talking about Coffee and Terroir
© Discover Paris!

Participant Almetta Vaughn, who purchased three Food for the Soul (soul food) cookbooks and signed up to join the Entrée to Black Paris community after the class, had the following to say:

"Monique knows Black Paris!! Her tour taught me about ... the culture which includes the food, wines, and lifestyle. I will proudly recommend her to anyone who goes to Paris to feel the black experience."

Almetta Peels a Shallot
© Discover Paris!
If you'd like to titillate your taste buds while learning French cooking techniques, enjoy consuming the fruits of your labor, and have the opportunity to shop for gourmet souvenirs while stretching your legs after a bountiful lunch, contact us at info@discoverparis.net! We'll be happy to organize a gastronomic experience that you'll never forget!

Black Paris Divas group and Guide Monique
© Discover Paris!

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Cooking and Walking with Black Paris Divas

For the second time this year, Black Paris Divas enjoyed a gourmet experience with Discover Paris! during their visit to the City of Light. Group organizer Kat St. Thomas had the following to say about the day:

Last April, those that participated in the Gourmet Food Walk on the island of St Louis here in Paris were slightly disappointed because they assumed they would be sampling tasty treats along the way so therefore basically went hungry. So to avoid that issue, this time, Monique Wells of Discover Paris! decided to offer a cooking class where group members could eat what they prepared and then begin the walk; stopping outside the gourmet shops (cheese, chocolate, pastry, ice cream, foie gras, wine) that she selected for the tour. Monique planned to meet us at the school – La Cuisine Paris – and take pictures of our group as we worked.

Invitation to come into La Cuisine Paris

© Discover Paris!

Just before noon, we donned our coats, hats, gloves, scarves and we on our way by metro. In less than 25 minutes we were at our destination. We waited a short while in the lobby chatting with the receptionist until handsome 6'2", Chef Eric greeted us and escorted us to his kitchen. At each place there was a chopping board, knife, all 3 recipes and an apron. After washing our hands and introductions were completed, we were ready to begin.

Chef Eric
© Discover Paris!

Recipes and chopping board
© Discover Paris!

A few months ago I took the liberty of selecting the lunch menu: duck with an orange reduction sauce, roasted vegetables (parsnips, orange & purple carrots, squash – all julienned – and diced potatoes), wine with the main course, and for dessert – Tarte Tatin (which is an upside down apple pie).

Root veggies and pie fixins
© Discover Paris!

In our short time, we all learned so much and got so many helpful hints. We prepped the vegetables for roasting, prepared and rolled out the dough for the pie.

Chopping veggies and making the Tarte Tatin

© Discover Paris!

We were shown how to prepare the duck breast by first cutting away the fat and then cooking it in a heated skillet.

Preparing the duck breast

© Discover Paris!

We started after 12 pm and by 1:20 pm we were all enjoying a fabulous lunch with Chef Eric and Monique.

Lunch is served!

© Discover Paris!

Chef Eric is not only a handsome, knowledgeable chef but a natural comedian as well. The group had such a good time that I have specifically requested him for the group when we return in March 2013!

Chef Eric and the group

© Discover Paris!

After the class, I led members of the group on the gourmet tour. Because it was their last day in town, only two people from the cooking class – Lucia Watson and Lynda Session – opted for the second part of the gourmet experience. Contrary to the saying “the more, the merrier,” in this case, “less was more” because we were able to enter boutiques since our numbers were small.

Lucia, Lynda, and Monique!

© Discover Paris!

Olive oil was the star attraction of the day, as Lucia and Lynda tasted several varieties in two shops and took away tasty souvenirs of their visit.

Tasting olive oils

© Discover Paris!

Black Paris Divas and Discover Paris! are forging a gourmet tradition! To be continued in March 2013…

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