Let's Get Through This (winter) Together

Note: Feb. 1, 2012 and it is 61 degrees.  The Kitchen door is open and it is like spring--so what winter have I been writing about?
January has flown by and really there is just February to contend with and then off- and- on March madness  with occasional good days to let you know spring is coming.  This has been a really easy winter so far, but look out...who knows what's ahead.  Today it is a pretty snow shower and a good time to catch up on the three weeks of newspapers that Matt so carefully saved for us. I started with Wednesday because that is the Cook's Corner day and sure enough shrimp burgers caught my eye.  I have a big bag of frozen shrimp in the freezer, so I am going to try this recipe with the burgers placed on those delectable rolls from Anderson's.

Shrimp Burgers
 Finely chopped the shrimp and chilling the patties for 2 hours before cooking helps them hold together.
1 pound medium-sized cooked shrimp
3 tablespoons chopped celery
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 cup soft bread crumbs
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 large egg, beaten to blend
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon hot sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

The Cincinnati Lechlers and I have started to plan the May 28th graduation party here on Cooke for Brooks, a friend of his, and Daniel Isfort.  We decided since it is an all male celebration to make the menu macho.  I always hire 'three Smiths' to help with a large group and this year we will add grilling to their work load. So far Glenda will make dozens and dozens of her famous deviled eggs; Pam will make a large vat of fresh fruit salad; Kathy will bring  canapes; Mary Alice, hopefully, will bring her pea salad and also cookies for a crowd; Mary Susan has not gotten an assignment as yet, nor Sally and Jim.  I am sure they will come up with something really good--Jim makes a great fruit salad too and Sally's trifles are not to be trifled with. I am making four of the Hawaiian cakes which are very refreshing after a heavy table. I'll do several cheese balls, a cheese and fresh fruit tray, and then there are the salads....fresh tossed, pasta, potato--well, you get the picture.  There will be plenty of food for the guests from around the world.  We will enlist Beth, mother of Brooks, to bring in the Cajun element.  She is good with red beans and rice, jambalaya and gumbos.

On another note, some of you may be making a trip to Paris to shop.  I have a great list of cooking supply places, many of which I have haunted for years.  Even if you are not going now, copy the list and file it away for the future. David Libovitz who lives in Paris and writes related food books put this list together. It is a good accurate list of shops and directions.  Visit David's blog  listed next to my entries (blog).


Paris Cookware and Specialty Shops
Atelier du Cuivre et de l’Argent
113, avenue Daumesnil (12th)
Tél: 01 43 40 20 20
Ultra-modern cutlery share space in this shop that specializes in copper cookware made in their atelier, outside of Paris. Located just under the viaduct, by the Gare de Lyon, they also re-tin copper as well.
Au Petit Bonheur la Chance‎
13, rue Saint-Paul (4th)
Tél: 01 42 74 36 38‎
Filled with old French charm, this shop was recently squeezed into tinier quarters. Lots of linens, café au lait bowls, and kitchen knick-knacks. Nearby is Virtuoses de la Réclame (5, rue Saint-Paul) for old café pitchers and memorabilia, and in the Village Saint-Paul (25, rue Saint-Paul, in the courtyard), Folle du Logis is worth a stop for rifling though their stacks of French plates, serving pieces, glassware, and other curiosities.
Bachelier Antiquités
Marché Paul Bert
18, rue Paul Bert (St Ouen)
Tél: 01 40 11 89 98
In the Clignancourt flea market, Bachelier sells vintage copper, linens, and cooking utensils. Open only on limited days, so be sure to call or check the website before venturing up there.
Bouquiniste Gastronomie
On the quai Conti, this bookstall has an amazing collection of used and rare cookbooks. Not inexpensive, but quite impressive. I’ve been told you can bargain him down.
Cuisinophile
28, rue due Bourg Tibourg (4th)
Tél: 01 40 29 07 32
This tiny slip of a shop is tucked next to the Mariage Frères tea salon and boutique. Not a big selection, but worth a look if you’re in the Marais.
Culinarion
A French chain of upscale cookware shops, with various addresses across Paris.
Eurotra
119, boulevard Richard Lenoir (11th)
Tél: 01 43 38 48 48
Large selection of cookware, and items geared toward professionals. A local favorite, Chinese and Asian items are a specialty, although you’ll find French goods, most notably for restaurants, here as well.
Kitchen Bazaar
With shops scattered about Paris, Kitchen Bazaar has the latest in ultra-trendy bakeware and appliances, plus cooking tools that are hard to find in, or out, of France. Certain times throughout the year the store has 30% off sales which makes shopping particularly fruitful.
La Carpe
14, rue Tronchet (8th)
Tél: 01 47 42 73 25
Just off the swank Place de la Madeleine, La Carpe is packed with cookware of all types. Good selection and you’ll likely find things not available elsewhere.
La Cocotte
5, rue Paul Bert
Tél: 09 54 73 17 77
A friendly neighborhood shop with a carefully chosen selection of professional cookbooks as well as those for everyday cooks. Be sure to pick up a jar of the scrumptious dulce de leche.
La Vaissellerie
One of my favorite places to shop in Paris, and the cheapest, these shops scattered across the city are packed with inexpensive porcelain baking dishes, glassware, café au lait bowls, shopping bags, and French novelties, like glasses for verrines.
Le Marché aux Puces de Vanves
Less-famous than the other Clignancourt market, the Porte de Vanves flea market in the 14th is less-expensive and more of a real flea market than a collection of antique stores. The market is both Saturday and Sunday morning.
Marché d’Aligré
Primarily a food market nowadays, the origins of this terrific market was a place where used items where sold and traded. Today, in the center of the marketplace is a daily flea market. Quite lively on weekends, the market is open daily, except Monday. Bargain hard here.
Marché Saint Pierre
2, rue Charles Nodier (18th)
Tél: 01 46 06 92 25
This giant fabric store sits under Sacré Coeur, and not only can you find cotton tablecloths, bistro napkins and lovely torchons (kitchen towels), but they sell étamine, French muslin cloth, which is a good replacement for cheesecloth. It’s sold by the meter and is very inexpensive.
Pylones
Pylones creates fun, yet functional, housewares, like cheesegraters in the shape of the Eiffel Tower and knives with colorful handles. Not really for serious cooks, but great for poking around and finding gifts. Stores across Paris.
Restomat
147, rue de Bagnolet (20th)
Tel: 01 40 30 00 70
Perhaps too professional for most people, but they do carry equipment for hotel and restaurants and is interesting to poke around in if you’re in the neighborhood.
Saint Kioko
46, rue des Petits Champs (2nd)
Tel: 01 42 61 33 65
This shop specializes in Japanese foods, but up on the first floor are tools for preparing Asian foods. The nearby Ace Mart (63, rue Saint-Anne) also has some Asian cookware and in the quartier Chinois you’ll find Tang Frères and other large Asian markets.
Toquades
70, boulevard Malsherbes (8th)
Tél: 01 45 61 03 13
Interesting and unusual cookware, a bit off the beaten path.
Zwilling JA Henkels
12, boulevard de la Madeleine (9th)
Tel: 01 42 68 88 00
This boutique of the famed German cutlery company not only carries a complete selection of their knives, but also cookware, manicure implements, and modern housewares.
Cookware and Specialty Shops in Les Halles
All of these shops are clustered around the same area, accessible from the Les Halles métro. Many are professionally oriented but cater to all. Generally speaking, to get service, you’ll need to take your own initiative.
In these shops, when you buy something, a clerk writes your purchases up on a receipt, which you take to the cashier and pay for, then return to pick up your purchases. Some stores will ship, although the cost may be rather high.
A. Simon
48 + 52 rue Montmartre (1st)
Tél: 01 42 33 71 65
An especially good selection of glassware and heavy-duty, professional quality white French porcelain. The shop is under new ownership and the stock is ever-changing.
E Dehillerin
18-20 rue Coquillière (1st)
Tél: 01 42 36 53 13
Brace yourself and step inside. Two stories of cramped aisles packed with cookware and specialty gear. Famous for their gorgeous copper, in the basement, the staff can be overtly eager to help you to buy something, or disinterested. The staff is well-informed, but don’t let them talk you into something expensive just because they recommend it. The plastic pastry scrapers with their logo on them make inexpensive, and excellent, gifts for baker and cooks back home.
G. Detou
58, rue Tiquetonne (2nd)
Tél: 01 42 36 54 67
One of my favorite shops in Paris for specialty foods, including chocolate, mustard, honey, and olive oils. During December, prepare for a crush of Parisians stocking up on holiday goods.
La Bovida
36 rue Montmartre (1st)
Tél: 01 42 36 09 99
Lots of cookware, but my favorite part of the store is the top story, which has food wrappers and other French cad bakery-style emballages.
La Verrierie
15, rue du Louvre (1st)
Tél: 01 42 36 80 60
Hidden in a courtyard, push open the gate and visit this dark shop. Mostly glassware and earthenware, you’re expected to go in the back and comb the aisles for yourself.
Librarie Gourmande
92-96, rue Montmarte (2nd)
Tél: 01 43 54 37 27
This two-story bookstore has an extensive collection of cookbooks. There are some used books amongst the stacks, but on the upper floor is an impressive collection of oversized books by European chefs which are hard-to-get outside of Europe.
MORA
13, rue de Montmarte (1st)
Tél: 01 45 08 19 24
Pastry chefs come from all over the world to visit MORA, which has a great selection of tart and cake molds, whisks and spatulas, and just about everything else. Plus the best selection of chocolate molds in Paris.