Let’s be honest. Paris may be a foodie mecca, but all that amazing food isn’t a breeze to find. You have to research, ask the locals and scout out those hidden gems (far away from all the tourists). I did a lot of those aforementioned tasks and have produced my first “Paris Foods You Must Eat” list. Expect many more parts to come, but give me some time. I’ve got about two thousand photos to sort through, and many more neighborhoods to explore before I sleep, err, leave!

Growing up in along the East Coast, I thought I had had the best seafood in the world. Um, that was until I tasted the scallops and oysters in Paris. Both are far sweeter here, with a lot more character and taste. The above scallops were caramelized and served on a beautiful plate with spring asparagus, carrots, beets and mache at one of my favorite restaurants in Montmartre called Le Miroir (94, rue des Martyrs, 18ème. Tel: 01 46 06 50 73. Metro: Abbesses or Pigalle.) If they are serving scallops the day you dine there, order them.

Perhaps it’s cliche but a visit to Paris would not be complete without tasting Berthillion’s famous ice cream (31 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Ile, 4ème. Tel: 01 43 54 31 61. Metro: Pont Marie). It’s delicious and so very pretty. A huge thank you to my very accommodating hand model who was accosted on the street by little old, wacky me.

I have indeed eaten my fair share of falafel while in Paris. Really, I’ve had no better falafel anywhere in the States. Personally, I think it’s the layering of flavors that makes each bite totally scrumptious – veggies, sauces, falafel, veggies, sauces, falafel. My favorite is directly across the street from L’As du Falafel (34, rue des Rosiers, 4ème, Metro: St. Paul), but this famous spot is delicious too.

Contrary to what I had heard and read, I have actually found a good espresso here and there across Paris. My favorite shots are accompanied with a little cookie, like here at Cafe des Musee (49 Rue de Turenne, 3ème, Metro: Chemin Vert, Tel: 01 42 72 96 17) or better yet, with a little square of dark chocolate like at Glou (101, rue Vieille du Temple, 18ème. Tel: 01 42 74 44 32. Metro: Saint Sebastien-Froissart or Arts et Metiers). Glou is also one of my favorite spots for lunch. It’s a tad over-priced, but I always have a great meal. I had the most amazing Belon oysters there, I swore I’d return before I fly back home. I better do that soon…

Okay, I didn’t eat this eclair myself but I had to slip this shot in from Le Miroir. It was served at lunch and one of my dining partners gladly ate the entire beautiful dessert that was loaded with pineapple and caramel. It’s crusty and caramelized on top – just the way I like it.

One Sunday morning while searching St. Germain for croissants, I stumbled upon La Patisserie des Rêves (93 Rue du Bac, 6eme, Metro: Rue du Bac, Tel: 01 42 84 00 82). It’s expensive (how else do they pay for all those beautiful spotlights on each dessert?) but these little vanilla buns were delicious, dense and not too sweet. Dunk them in coffee and be very pleased with yourself.

Or, you can opt to go low-fi and do the traditional baguette with butter and jam. I probably did this way too often. But it really is just sooo good. This one is from La Terrasse des Archives (51, Rue des Archives, 3eme, Metro: 3eme, Tel : 01 42 72 17 57) in the Marais.

Cafe des Musees is good for more than just a nice little coffee. The fries were thick, salty and a little crunchy. David Lebovitz loves these frites, which compelled me to try them, and they truly are delicious. They were rivaled this past weekend by frites at Bistro Paul Bert, but I don’t have a photo of those, so these will have to do.

One of my favorite foods was happened upon at a colleague’s home. The lemon tart made by her boyfriend was so delicious, and I had to snap this quick photo of all of us grabbing final bites. All this restaurant and shop food is very special, but there’s nothing quite as special as homemade dessert, especially when it’s loaded with lemon juice.

I’m a big fan of New Year’s Eve. I’m a fan of the little push it provides to review the last 12 months and plan all the new things to do in the next year. I’ve been super lucky in 2009 – I made new friends, visited some great spots, cooked new, fun dishes and managed to do all three at once occasionally!

One of the best parts of 2009 for me was the launch of Food52.com, a site that lets home cooks share recipes and build bonds over food, and compete a bit for a place in the Food52.com cookbook all the while. I’m in love with most everything I’ve made from that site and am so grateful for the chance to get to know amazing food fans. To show a little love to the Food52.com community, I’m cooking a New Year’s Eve meal almost entirely-inspired by winning recipes from the site. I’ll be sure to share how it all goes. Here’s what I’m trying tonight:

NYE Cocktail: Ginger Grapefruit Bubbly

This drink is entirely concocted from a Twitter conversation with @MrsWheelbarrow, a great lady I met via Food52.com. I plan to rim old-style champagne glasses with grapefruit zest & sugar, and make ginger simple syrup that I’ll mix with some homemade grapefruit-elderflower marmalade. I’ll put a tablespoon or two in each glass and top it off with sparkling wine.

Small Plates:
Smoky Fried Chickpeas
Citrus-Herb Feta & Olives
Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Walnut Pesto on Toasts

Main Course:
Cowboy-Rubbed Rib Eye with Chocolate Stout Pan Sauce
Sweet Potato Gratins with Creme Fraiche, Onions & Bacon
Grilled Brussels Sprouts

Dessert:
Mascarpone Crema with Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies

I hope you have a great time tonight. I wish you an amazing 2010!

My girlfriend Lise snapped this photo of the hubby, the dog and me last weekend. Every time I peek at it, I remember that walk along Singing Beach in Manchester, MA. Remnants of a hurricane had created rocky seas and the mist in the air was otherworldly and peaceful. Really. The hubby grabbed my hand to pull me from the tide, and Lise snapped the photo.

I’ve looked at this photo each day when I want a bit of peace, a moment away from the madness. The photo reminds me of that brief beach walk and I rally my energy to plow through the day, rally my energy to brave the upcoming holiday madness. I live for the holidays; it truly is the best time of year for me. But the chaos of dinners and gifts and baking and parties and family can be a bit much. This photo will remind me of the peace in the madness.

Speaking of madness, I always share my holiday menu and this year is no different. Well, there is something slightly different. This year, I declared Thanksgiving at Chez Maggie a potluck. In other words, I’m letting go to encourage the family to bring their favorite dishes. We’re smoking the turkeys and making a few other dishes, while the rest of the family brings some nostalgic, traditional and a few up-in-the-air dishes. Our menu ain’t perfect nor perfectly in tune from dish to dish. But it’s our menu and I love it. I can’t wait.

Thanksgiving 2009 Menu

Appetizers

• Pepperoni bread – like a calzone, but rolled, made with love every year, by my aunt
• Stuffed vinegar peppers & mushrooms – my Mom’s specialty
• Chili-smoked nuts – based on a Union Square Cafe recipe
• Jim Lahey’s bread – 4 loaves, made by me this weekend
• Thanksgiving cocktail: BB&B (Bourbon, Belle de Brillet & Bubbly) – my own creation, I think, and it’s perfect!

Dinner

• Two smoked turkeys – I do the brine, the hubby smokes them for 6-8 hours
• Pineapple, clove-studded ham – a love letter to the men around the table, from my aunt
• Corn pudding – another aunt specialty!
• Butternut squash casserole – by my cousin Jessica (and sometimes writer for this site)
• Brussels sprout – pasta salad – think caramelized sprouts & sweet potato ravioli & hazelnuts, oh my!
• Cranberry orange cornbread stuffing – my sis is making the cornbread from scratch first
• Cranberry orange ginger relish – made by me this weekend
• A surprise veggie dish – by my Queens-based cousin Melissa (and this is ME letting go…)
• Homemade turkey gravy – made from scratch by cousin Jessica

Dessert

• Maine Blueberry Pie – from frozen summer berries, made by me
• Chocolate Cake with Fruit Compote – by Melissa
• Pumpkin Chiffon Pie – a specialty of Jessica’s
• Molasses cookies – I make piles of dough, my Mom bakes up the tiny balls coated in sugar

Thanksgiving is next week and I’m frantic finalizing my menu, shopping lists and plan of attack. Twenty people will converge on Chez Maggie, with many staying over night, so there’s no time for silliness; each night this week has a set purpose and task.

As for my dinner table, it will be piled high with big beautiful green, gold and orange gourds, white plates and white fabric will cover the table, a few random stubby white candles will pepper in between all the gorgeous produce. Instead of fancy dinner napkins, I’m using white and green striped dish towels at each place setting to ensure everyone can adequately clean themselves up between bites.

As for my menu, well, it’s a little bit of everything and changes daily depending on guest tastes and what I find at the farm and market. Here’s the latest draft of my menu. Have you tried any of this? What are you planning for the big meal?

Of course, in the midst of the madness, I’m trying to take moments to reflect on things I’m thankful for, so have included some great images from the recent past, oddball photos from here and there. Funnily enough, they all involve light or fire. I suppose I’m thankful for the lights I have in my life, and the fire within to be better, do more, help more.

Let me know your thoughts on the menu, and whatever you’re reflecting on at this time.

STARTER

• Spiced Nuts
• Pecan & Goat Cheese Marbles (from Gourmet magazine)
• Three Big Hunks of Good Cheese
• Piles o’ Fresh Grapes
• Angelina’s Pepperoni Bread (a tradition from my early days in Jersey)

DINNER

• Two Vermont Brined & Smoked Turkey
• Apple Leek Cranberry Sourdough Bread Stuffing (a combo from a few different recipes)
• Wild Mushroom Bundles (from Gourmet magazine)
• Fresh Green Beans with Leeks, Hazelnuts, Mint & Parsley
• Carrot Soufflé (from our friend Drew)
• Celery Root & Apple Puree (The Barefoot Contessa recipe)
• Angelina’s Corn Pudding (another tradition from those early days in Jersey)
• Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar & Pecans (Jessica)
• Mixed Greens with Pears, Walnuts & Cider/Thyme Vinegar
• Cranberry-Pomegranate Sauce (from Food & Wine magazine)
  
• Fresh Apple Sauce (already made, vacuum-sealed and frozen in October)

DESSERT

• Apple Pie
• Sweet Potato Pie
• Molasses Cookies (a secret recipe from my days at Oleana)
• French Chocolate Bark (The Barefoot Contessa recipe)

[A fire pit in Big Sur, CA - my husband and I spend one glorious night drinking a full bottle of wine and reflecting on everything around this fire pit]

[A beautiful light fixture at our hotel in Manhattan Beach, CA - I wanted to bring this fixture and our warm weather experience home]

[Hand-made lanterns in Jamaica Plain, MA - lanterns made by our friends for their kids to lug around during the Halloween lantern festival; of course, the adults ending up holding the lanterns, the entire time, feeling like kids themselves]

Christmas Eve

• Champagne
• Ice Cold Black Cherry Vodka
• Oysters on the Half-Shell with Mignonette
• Brandy-Poached Shrimp with Green Goddess Dressing or Spicy Cocktail Sauce
• The Union Square Cafe Bar Nuts
• Seafood Gratin, a variation on the Barefoot Contessa recipe
• Green Green Vegetables with Shallots and Butter
• Pumpkin Vanilla Cheesecake
• Holiday Cookies

Christmas Day

• Champagne (always!)
• New York Organic Ham with Brown Sugar & Cognac Glaze
• Hazelnut and Swiss Chard Ravioli, a variation on Heidi Swanson’s recipe
• Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan and Parsley
• Sweet Corn Pudding
• Roasted Potatoes
• Pandoro with Mascarpone Cream
• Holiday Cookies