Musee d'Orsay, Where Masterpieces are Lurking Around Every Corner.

My dear friend Randy is a hedonist. He is like a cat who always finds the most comfortable place in the room. Paris was no exception, we traveled in taxis, ate in wonderful restaurants, drank delicious wines and traveled first class when we did ride the train. The day we decided to head to the Musee d'Orsay was no exception. After breakfast and a short nap we found ourselves in a taxi barreling along Quai de la Tournelle headed to the museum,
Once we bought our tickets and entered the Old Train station we were amazed by the beauty and expanse of the place.It was large, and full of natural light, perfect for viewing all our favorite masterpieces. This clock was only the beginning of the many beauteous things we saw.
These sculptures caught my eye last time I visited with my daughter, so I had to see them again.
There is something about the romance of the desert and a nomadic life that captures my imagination. Am I alone?
And of course, this is one of my favorite paintings. Given the opportunity I would have climbed on the back of this man's horse.
I always love standing behind this clock and viewing Paris through it's glass face.
In one of the many alcoves leading off the main hall, we saw this artist copying this painting.
I could have watched her all day.
I fell in love with Van Gogh that day. I had always liked his paintings, but that day his work struck a chord in me.

As we turned corners we kept seeing the world's most famous masterpieces one after another. Randy and I couldn't get enough.

Randy kept saying "Snap this one, snap that one!".By accident, while wondering around we found the Chat Noir exhibit. We both loved it.All the characters, and back drops cut out of black paper must have made an exotic theater experience.All this art had certainly piqued our appetite. We found the restaurant and a seat.
After ordering we toasted our friendship.
I had ordered a leek quiche, served with a side of rocket salad, it was superb.
Randy ordered the Lasagna, which you can see in a distance. Obviously I wasn't too enamored of it. However, it was tasty.
We had coffee to follow and a tasty chocolate covered almond.
It's so nice that a small sweet always accompanies coffee in France.
Especially when it's served by a handsome waiter. The restaurant had another huge clock that threw it's light over the dining room. It was a perfect place for lunch after a wonderful day at Musee d'Orsay.
I swear I will add a leek quiche recipe this afternoon!
All text and photos are property of The Gypsy Chef.

Quails and Foie Gras, Can it get better than this?

The night the guests arrived, we sat outside drinking wine, getting to know one another watching the sun set.
When darkness fell there was a bit of a chill in the air so we moved into the dingroom. Lynn had prepared an amazing meal. Marlene van der Westhuizen, a chef, author and cooking teacher in Capetown and Charroux, described Lynn as a brilliant cook in her cookbook , Delectable. What she failed to mention is that Lynn is also a creative and gifted cook. She can pump out dinner for 12 in no time flat and it will be one of the best meals you have ever eaten.
Our first course was sauteed fois gras with Poilane Bread, garnished with Lynn's homemade Apple and Kiwi Chutney. The bread had been sauteed in the foie gras fat that had oozed out into the pan. Our wine was a Toussaint Doux from Cave Famille Laurent in Saulcet, Auvergne, sweet and clean it complimented the fois gras beautifully. I actually bought a bottle to have in New York, now I just have to find some fresh fois gras.
We then moved onto the braised quails filled with a frois gras stuffing and garnished with cous cous.
The cheese course came next, after all we were in France. A lovely blue, served up with Lynn's Rooibus Jelly. She tells me there is a sugar available in France that already has the pectin in it. You just stir it into your Jelly mixture and Voila! C'est Jelly! Why I left France without this I can't fathom.
Our dessert was a love affair. Lynn and Olivier worked together to present the Boudoir au Chocolate est Mascarpone, Lady Fingers with Chocolate Ganache and Mascarpone Cream.
The handsome and charming Olivier had us searching the kitchen for his favorite whisk. Once we procured it, he was able to whip up a lovely creme from Mascarpone and creme fraiche.
The dessert was plated in the kitchen and finished with a dusting of cocoa, it looked beautiful. Unfortunately, by that time I had far too much wine to remember to snap it at the table! C'est domage! To prepare the quail we started with these beautiful fresh birds, the heads were attached and tucked under their wings. This caused a bit of ruckus with the Americans!
When I held one in my hand, they felt very light and soft.
As you can see the sweet thing is rather small.Lynn quickly removed the heads, and prepared them for cooking.
This is a rather grisly photo. I just couldn't resist snapping it. Which of course got us all talking about Hitchcock's movie, "The Birds".Lynn made a stuffing of breadcrumbs, onion, carrot, celery, egg and fois gras. Each bird was stuffed and seasoned, ready for the pot.
To cook the quail, Lynn started with a little oil in a large casserole pot (I tried like hell to steal it but it was just too big to go unnoticed.) and sauteed some lardons, shallot and a bit of garlic.
She then added the quail, orange juice, veggie stock and braised them about one hour. See what I mean, it's a fabulous pot.
Right before serving, she popped them under the grill to brown. Cous cous was served alongside the quail with just a bit of sauce and a rosemary garnish.
It was a beautiful first evening in the Auvergne.

Recipes to follow. I promise!