Bakers of Paris

Grand Slam

Pride, Independence and Victory describe ChezHelvetica on this auspicious occasion. Jubilant Pride Parades and the 4th of July inspired the table setting and menu for this family welcome, with Food & Wine Magazine providing the recipe for a delicious Grilled Squash and Corn Salad with Pumpkin Seed Vinaigrette. Using home-grown greens already on hand instead of Kale, and removing Corn Kernels by inserting the cob into a Bundt pan (so that the kernels fall into the pan and not all over the floor) facilitated the creation. Trader Joe’s Moroccan Harissa spiced the piquant dressing. Turkey Soup made from an Empire Turkey Breast, Onion, Garlic, Celery and Carrots accompanied the salad, along with Bakers of Paris Pain Rustique topped by Primo Taglio Soft Goat’s Cheese. Sweet TJ’s Medjool Dates concluded this meal but attending the Oakland A’s/Minnesota Twins baseball game and witnessing Marcus Semien’s Grand Slam homer crowned the day!

88!!!

ChezHelvetica hosted an astonishing 88th Birthday Celebration for our incredible Mother (Beverly). Sister Abby, traveling through Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Thailand and Indonesia with family, flew in from Bali to surprise our Mom. Was it a mirage?! She was speechless, overjoyed! Ina Garten‘s luscious recipe for Roasted Vegetable Lasagne layered with Eggplant, Zucchini, four different Cheeses, Rao’s Marinara Sauce, Barilla Lasagna Noodles, Garlic and fresh Oregano simply delighted the party. A delicious Spinach, Avocado, Strawberry, Walnut (with added Pineapple) Salad and Poppy Seed Dressing accompanied, along with Baker’s of Paris Baguette and Olymp Greek Kalamata Olives. Our joy was further elevated by fruity, spicy Frei Brothers Sonoma Reserve Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley. Dessert plans included Mom’s favorite Hot Fudge Sundae (Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla Ice Cream and Hershey’s Hot Fudge Sauce standing by) and house favorite Neiman Marcus Lemon Squares. So stuffed at that point, only the Lemon Squares made it to the table. Overwhelming happiness filled the room!!!

Bastille Day

Bastille Day seemed like a fun occasion to celebrate with French-related cuisine, wine and national colors. Our Bakers of Paris baguette was topped with a walnut-parsley pesto, a great side for the farfalle pasta with summer squash and mushrooms. No specific recipe was used in the creation of this dish, but knowing my ingredients were the finest from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, as well as Barilla Multi-Grain pasta, I forged ahead. While the wine wasn’t French, the name is: Folie a’ Deux. This wonderful Zinfandel is from a Napa Valley vintner with grapes from Amador County. Dreyer’s French Vanilla ice cream, accompanied by sweet red cherries, concluded our tribute to France and the storming of the Bastille!