Croissants with Love

This were our creations for the croissant class at La Cuisine Paris. These yummy puff pastries are no simple task, from laying the butter and dough, to the long hours of proofing (min 6 hours). Further more, working with the butter is tricky, since we don't want the butter to melt before baking. 

Nonetheless, another successful project with La Cuisine, and these are my little anniversary treats for the Student. 

Christmas In Paris

Paris is now bathed in the Christmas spirit. There are Christmas markets at various locations, and open-aired  ice-skating rinks opening from next week. We went to Champs-Elysée to experience a Parisian Christmas, and it feels somewhat like Chinatown in Singapore during Chinese New Year, minus the hot weather. In fact, the weather was pretty chilly, such that our fingers were almost frozen while eating churros without our gloves.

White chalets lining both sides of the street from Champs-Elysée to Place de la Concorde

Play area for kiddos

The tallest Christmas Tree vs Eiffel Tower

We took the chance to snap some night scape of Paris...great time to do this in winter, since we can take ages for the night shots and still be in time for dinner!

This is also the season to go for Christmas light-ups at the châteaus nearby. We went to Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte (http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/ ) to soak up the Christmas spirit in a castle. The Christmas decorations in the castle are just so pretty...

Officially Winter

We woke up last Thursday anticipating a snow covered field. As we sat in front of our window having breakfast, we were constantly awed by the images that were slowly revealing with the rising sun. This is one rare occasion when I see cars travel at half their usual speed.

Little Blue was beyond recognition, and I dreaded shoving snow with short arms! But this is much better than  a frozen car door at least.

Even the sun is getting sluggish in winter...it's 8.30 in the morning, can you melt some snow away?

Virgin Baguette & Fougasse

I had my virgin experience making baguettes and fougasses without a machine...And it was a SUCCESS! But of course credit goes to La Cuisine Paris, my master Justin...La Cuisine is one of the few culinary schools in Paris that offers classes in English. It was a good option for me, as I only wanted to learn baking on a leisure basis and do not want to spend a 5 figure sum on professional culinary schools here. Classes in La Cuisine are flexible and not expensive, easy to book and easy to get to! What's more, I get to learn about things that I'll never get from cookbooks.

http://lacuisineparis.com/

Actually, I can't call this a baguette, since the size is not the legalised dimensions (L: 65cm, W: 5-6cm, H: 3-4cm, Wt: 250g). One topped with poppy seeds, another with sesame seeds, and 2 plain ones.

Fougasse are made from the same dough as a baguette, but with additional olive oil. The toppings are also usually savoury,  so it serves well for lunch or a light snack. I've got some chopped rosemary in there that gives a great flavour.

France's National Sport - STRIKES

I've always refrained myself from writing on such sensitive subjects on a public portal, for fear that I'll get slammed by on-line extremists. But the recent labour strike by the bus drivers in Singapore did ramble my patriotism. Although not a Singaporean by blood, I have every Singaporean cell in me since 7 years old. After coming to France, I realised that living in Singapore is a luxury. True, we have our little quirks, but I really appreciate the order and system that we have in place.

Public transport strikes are so rampant here in France, that the French could call this their national sport. My French teacher told us that at least twice a year during her school days, she'll have to walk 1 hr from home to school for several days a week because it is the season of RER strikes. Just February this year, Air France had a strike to protest against the new policy to inform authorities 2 days ahead of intended strikes. Thanks to this new policy, commuters can now know in advance that they have to take alternative routes to their destinations should there be a strike on essential services.

I'm very glad that Singapore needs 14 days advance notice for such strikes, and I'm proud that the government did not waver from this threat, and stood by our rules. It is common sense that you abide by the house rules when you stay in somebody else's house. If they have exhausted all avenues through the company, there are other ways for the bus drivers to voice their grievances rather than to stage a strike, let alone an illegal one. Ask any Singaporean on the streets, and they'll find the common avenues that work magic, of course if their claims are justified. So really, did the human rights activists get their facts right before protesting for the release of the drivers?