Interview with Nora Ephron

Have you gone to see Julie & Julia yet? I saw it in a preview screening, but I'm eager to see it again, especially for all the Julia Child scenes and all the food. While I missed out on an exclusive interview opportunity with the stars of the film due to technical difficulties, I did get to squeeze in a couple of questions via email to the director and writer, Nora Ephron.

I heard you had the actors participate in a cooking class, what was the goal? How was the experience?

Both Amy and Meryl did a little knife work and we all learned to bone ducks, something I promise you none of us will ever do again, especially me.


The food in the film was so compelling and sensual. What are some of the challenges associated with directing/shooting scenes with food?

Of course it helps to like food, but it was especially great that my cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt understood how important food was as a character in the movie.  We wanted to food to look homey, but we also wanted it lit beautifully.


Do you read food blogs? Do you like them?

I love food blogs.  Love Ed Levine's Serious Eats, and Chowhound, and of course my sister Amy Ephron's One For the Table.


What appealed to you most about Julie Powell? And about Julie Child? What is their relevancy for today?

I loved the idea of combining their stories, in part because it was a way of writing about what books are and what cooking is ... a way to communicate through the ages.  

Tablespoon: Restaurant Review

Normally I only try to point my readers in the direction of worthwhile restaurants. But since I mentioned my desire to try Tablespoon as part of Dine About Town I thought I would share my experience.

First off, service was professional, attentive and friendly. The interior is much as it was in a previous incarnation as "Spoon", cozy and informal yet cool and refined. Unfortunately the consistency in the service and environment was lacking in the food. The Dine About Town menu had a wonderful starter, a smoky venison carpaccio that had a little garnish of greens and mandarins. My jerusalem artichoke soup was at best passable. It was woefully undersalted, and had an unpleasant oily taste. My entree which was described as "Braised Lamb Shank" was a lump of shredded overcooked flavorless lamb mixed with bits of mustard greens and sandwiched between two noodles. Not what I'd call a "lamb shank" and it was topped with chives and a grainy goat cheese that was just all wrong for the dish.

Lee's roasted pork tenderloin was much better, well-seasoned and served with some braised cabbage and carrots though it could have used some potatoes or polenta to round it out. The dessert included in the Dine About Town menu was a "Pumpkin cheesecake" but there was no crust. As a molded pumpkin pudding it was very soft and served with a nice huckleberry sauce. The accompanying whipped cream was badly overwhipped. In a neighborhood with tons of great choices, I was surprised at such sloppy executions in the kitchen. Sorry to say, I can't recommend Tablespoon.

Photo du Jour - Olonzac Market

Last Tuesday at the Olonzac market. Still enjoying warm, sunny days in the south of France!

Photo du Jour - Paris Mosaic

This old mosaic in the Marais reminded me of the boucheries chevalines that you see in France.

Eating horse meat is just something I can't and won't do.  
Yes, it's a cultural thing and no, I'm not opposed to it.  And no, I'm not a vegetarian either.  Far from it. 
It's just that the idea of it makes me uncomfortable.

What do you think?  Do you or would you eat horse meat?

Sustainable cooking

A World in a PAN tries to use local produce. When I go to the market, I try to buy as much as possible over at the "Maraichers d'Ile de France", that is the producers of the Paris area (you can visit their website, http://www.producteursild.com/ it's in French, English, and German).
It really makes a difference! First of all, flavor. Vegetables and fruit are harvested when ripe, and they come directly to your kitchen. Second, you add as little as possible oil/mile to what you eat, hence saving energy. Third, you support local economy.
I want to share with you all the treasures I find in my local market! Look at this broad variety of tomatoes!
I listen to "This I believe" on NPR, and a few weeks ago, it was all about Tomatoes (I do recommend this podcast), or how growing tomatoes became the center of Tim Stark's VERY successful life.

To listen to the post, visit www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12092885
I want to show you all the different types of tomatoes I find in my market. Read mu next post!

Itty Bitty Contest Winners

Congratulations to Brett who has won the Itty Bitty Kitchen Handbook. The other two correct guessers were Chubby and Anni. All the prize winners are also food bloggers. I think that's a first!

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FOOD

26, or almost

Dear supportive reader, I need not have feared.My near-disaster cake was roundly applauded and went smashingly with Keaton’s Bonny Doon Framboise dessert wine.Saturday evening’s early-birthday festivities began lazily around the table with dollops of Jessica’s garlicky Greek lima bean puree and whole wheat pita, which some of us washed down with Fischer Amber. Next up was Keaton’s autumn-like