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Le Cordon Bleu Paris Week 4
Four weeks down and Iām already feeling pretty Parisian. I take the right metro without hesitating, picnic every weekend, and have surprisingly increased my walking pace! Making a beurre pommade (fancy term for softened butter, yes I amĀ showing off) is now an everyday thing, and I feel more comfortable in my LCB uniform than regular clothes. Week 4 was a short week, we actually had two days offā¦
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Le Cordon Bleu Paris Week 3
Bon jour! I hope youāre keeping up with my wannabe-French lifestyle on my Instagram but if youāre not, hereās the rundown for my third week as a pastry student in the Intensive program at Le Cordon Bleu. Week 3 was pretty challenging, the recipes escalated very quickly. All of a sudden we went from cookies and tartes to dacquoise and viennoiseries! We started the week with Paris-Brest, probablyā¦
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BONJOUR! I write you from my teeny-tiny studio in Paris which after two weeks of nesting now feels like home. I am doing the Intensive Basic Pastry Certificate at le Cordon Bleu Paris this summer, and while itās definitelyĀ veryĀ intensive, Iām loving every minute of it. Thatās why I want to share with you my weekly creations and experiences.
Orientation was last Wednesday, it was amazing to meet people from all over the world that have travelled just like me to follow our dreams (cheesy as it sounds). We got a tour of the school, got our uniforms and tools, and had our first class that was mostly about school rules, hygiene, etc.
The next day things officially gotĀ intense. I had class from 8 am to 10 pm Thursday and Friday, and from 8 am to 3 pm on Saturday. It got to the point that I, the girl with the sweetest sweet tooth of them all, couldnāt bare to see anything sweet after everything I had cooked in those few intense days. But still, it was exactly what we needed to jump start our life as pĆ¢tissiers, by Saturday we were all rolling and mixing doughs with the exact techniques they taught us like a second nature.
The first days we learned simple cooking techniques and terms. How to cut/slice properly, softening butter, giving volume to different types of doughs, etc. We also learned how to do a properĀ fonƧageĀ (lining a tart in a ring) and the secret to doing a perfectĀ crĆØme pĆ¢tissiĆØre.
Tarte aux Pommes
Fruit Cake and Madeleines
Basque Cake
Basque Cake
The following days things got a little more challenging as we started learning the art of puff pastry. I was a little traumatized by the amount of butter this has and the work it requires to get the perfect puff pastry. And obviously there just happened to be a hell-like heat wave going through Paris so making puff pastry was twice as hard as our dough melted apart as we tried to roll it and turn it. Still we managed to successfully make puff pastry, which we used to make palmiers, apple turnovers, and pithiviers.
Apple Turnovers and Palmiers
Pithiviers
Pithiviers
Finally on Thursday we made eclairs. Iāve been trying really hard not to overeat and just try a little of everything but the eclairs made this very hardā¦ they were perfect. The fact that I mixed that choux pastry until I could barely feel my arms probably also contributed to the appreciation I had for them (yes, everything and I meanĀ everything is done by hand in basic pastry, no stand mixers or food processors allowed).
Eclairs
We had Friday off and I actually kinda missed going to Le Cordon Bleu, I love everything about it. The experienced chefs, the classes, my classmates, the Cafe with freshly made pastries, everything. Ā The classes are intense, chefs are demanding, the practical classes require lots of time management skills and you definitely need to take good notes during the demonstration classes, but everything is worth it.
Iām sure this next four weeks are going to fly by, so I hope you join me and have as much fun reading as Iām having cooking. Wish me luck this week!
Bon AppƩtit,
Oriana.
P.S. Donāt forget to follow me on Instagram on @ilpiattone to keep in touch with everything I do daily!
Le Cordon Bleu Patisserie de Base WeekĀ 1 BONJOUR! I write you from my teeny-tiny studio in Paris which after two weeks of nesting now feels like home.
The Ultimate Foodie Central Park PicnicĀ
As Iām getting ready to leave NYC to begin my gastroadventures in Europe I wanted to leave you with a post of one of my favorite things to do in The City around this time of the year:Ā picnicking. But being the insightful foodie I am, Iām not here to talk about basic sandwiches-and-pasta salad picnics, Iām going to show you how to enjoy the ultimateĀ Central Park picnic, no baskets involved. Myā¦
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Cosme NYC
Last week we decided to try out one of the latest additions to the Worldās 50 Best Restaurants List, Cosme.Ā With a classy and cool yet laidback vibe, Cosme offers Mexican food with a twist that still tastes surprisingly authentic. On top of everything, the cocktail menu is amazing so this place could very much work as a dinning out experience or a night out in town.Ā My favorite part is that theā¦
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When youāre a college student with a thirst for fine wine and upscale eats you face major enemyā¦ budget constraints. Still, my friends and I managed to squeeze in a spectacular week in California for Spring Break and scratch this trip off our bucket lists with careful planning, research, and dedication.
This post is dedicated to all my fellow foodies and travelers that wantĀ to travel to the Bay Area and Wine Country and enjoy every single luxury without worrying about overstepping yourĀ budget. Iāve narrowed my top recommendations, favorite places, and insider tips.
San Francisco
Where to Stay
As a group of five college girls on a budget, hotel rooms were definitely out of the question. We did a ton of research and found great options in Airbnb, the best areas for affordable apartments in cool placesĀ for going out and getting to knowĀ San Francisco are SoMA, Chinatown, and the Financial District. We found a gorgeous apartment in the Financial District that had all the amenities you could ever dream of (lobby, gym, pool, jacuzzi, rooftop, barbecues, yoga room, etc.) and it was walking distance to Union Square, Embarcadero, and Chinatown. I definitely recommend traveling in groups of 3 or more, places are not huge, we had to share a one bedroom, one bathroom apartment Ā but considering the location and the apartment this wasnāt a problem at all.
What to Do
We spent four amazing days in SF and I believe we did all the āmustsā, so hereās our specific itinerary for our time in the city:
Day 1:Ā getting to know the area and grocery shopping.Ā (Rule #1 for traveling on a budget). WeĀ went out that night, in San Francisco I would definitely recommend the bars and the laid-back places rather than the nightclub scene.
Day 2: We walked around Chinatown and Union Square,Ā we tried to go to Mr. Holmes Bakehouse to try their so-very-famous cruffinsĀ and doughnuts but they were all sold out by the time we got there. Instead,Ā we took an Uber to Tartine Bakery for a coffee break, and ended our day with the gorgeous view from the Twin Peaks.
Day 3: After a delicious brunch, we went to the Golden Gate Park, where we were supposedĀ to rent bikes and ride all the way up to Sausalito, sadly the weather didnāt allow us to do this, so we ended up taking an Uber to Sausalito, with a pit stop for pictures with the Golden Gate. We spent our afternoon at Sausalito, had amazing seafood, and headed back around 7 pm.
Day 4: On our last day in SF we went toĀ the Embarcadero Waterfront,Ā Pier 39, and Lombard Street. We then headed for lunch near Hyde Park, did a little shopping around the boutiques inĀ the area, and ended our day with a goodbye barbecue at our SF home.
Where to Eat
Now hereās the part you were all waiting for, and believe me itās my favorite part too. We all know my definition of tourism is eating and trying local food, so hereās the rundown for my favorite eats in the Bay Area.
Chambers: if you want good food, greatĀ ambiance, and even better drinks, this is the place to go. My friends and I fell in love with their Crispy Pork Belly with fig chutney that basically melts in your mouth, and the Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare is also a must.
Tartine Bakery: no questions asked, this is definitely the best bakery in San Francisco. Yes we had to wait in line about 30 min to try this place, but the quiche, the croque-monsieur, the tres leches cake, and the morning bun make it all worth it.
Zazie: open 7 days a week for brunch, Zazie was our life saver when we wanted a boozy brunch on a Monday. This petite French bistro serves Eggs Benedict in every single way possible and has the best mimosas in town.
Scomaās Sausalito: when in Sausalito, seafood is definitely a must. We originally wanted to try Fish, a local favorite, but it wasnāt as close to downtown as we thought. Nevertheless, Scomaās did not disappoint at all, their Lobster Risotto was to die for, and the fish was so fresh you could almost tasteĀ the ocean.
Souvla: Iām seriously considering contacting the owner of this place and begging her to open a location in the East Coast. The gyros and salads in this place are some of the best Iāve ever had, and like thatās not enough they have frozen greek yogurt with Baklava crumbles for dessert and wine by the glass. This place is veryĀ affordable and a necessary stop if you love Greek food and are ever in the area.
Chambers
Zazie
Souvla
Tartine
Scomaās
Napa Valley
Where to Stay
Airbnb was our go to option here as well. In the Wine Country area, Napa Ā is definitely the last place you should stay in if youāre watching your budget, instead look for places in Fairfield or Sonoma that are only 15 min away from Napa Downtown, or Calistoga that is a little farther up but very close to the best vineyards. We stayed in a gorgeous loft in Fairfield that accommodated us perfectly and was very affordable.
What to Do and Where to Eat
Well obviously thereās only one thing to do in Napa: wine, wine, and more wine. Of course you can also rent bikes and ride through the vineyards, and walk around Napa Downtown, but at the end everything revolves around wine.
Day 1: we decided to try one of the local wineries in Fairfield, since we heard great things about them and the prices were much more reasonable than the ones in Yountville and St. Helena wineries. Our experience in GV Cellars was incredible, the wines were top notch and we fell in love with every single one of them in the tasting, the staff was extremely kind, and the view was amazing. We obviously ended our day devouring burgers in In-N-Out, because we couldnāt leave the West Coast without trying them.
Day 2: By 11 am we were ready to start our tasting at V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena, we tasted 5 of their amazing wines that are sold there exclusively, weĀ also got to taste some of their dessert wines like the AngelicaĀ that is a fortified wine that is like nothing we had ever tasted before. The staff was extremely knowledgeable and friendly and made the experience a whole lot better. We then headedĀ to their Artisan Deli that offers gourmet paninis, pastas, and more than 200 types of cheese. After picking ourĀ favorite bottle, and something to eat we sat down in the gorgeous picnic area to enjoy a nice day out with good wine and even better food.
After relaxing in the picnic we headed to our Cocktails 101 class at Domaine ChandonĀ in Yountville. Here we were taughtĀ how to make 3 different types of sparkling cocktails, while we learned about the history of Sparkling Wine.
Day 3: in our last day we had lunch at the Oxbow Market, every single thingĀ looked and amazing and it was impossible to settle for only one option. We then strolled around Napa Downtown where we mostly admired the menus of all the delicious restaurants and theĀ sculptures of the Napa Art Walk.Ā For our last dinner before heading home we went to Caā Momi, an authentic Italian Osteria that didnāt disappoint us at all. MyĀ favorite plates were the beef tartare,Ā Ā the gnocchi with ricotta and fresh black truffle, and the seafood ravioli. TheĀ AngiolettiĀ which are basically fried pizza dough āchurrosā with organic chocolate-hazelnut cream (Californian for Nutella) were the favorite dessert on the table.
Beef Tartare
Gnocchi
Ravioli
Angioletti
Ā In my opinion, this trip is a must for anyone over 21. Youāre probably not that used to see me writing about something besides food, but I hope you find my SF and Napa guide useful for future trips. Donāt forget to check out my Instagram (@ilpiattone) for more food pics of the trip.
Buon Appetito,
Oriana.
San Francisco and Napa on aĀ Budget When you're a college student with a thirst for fine wine and upscale eats you face major enemy...
Dominique Ansel Bakery SoHo
Dominique Ansel BakeryĀ SoHo
We have all seen the ridiculous lines that form for Dominique Anselās Bakeries, and asked ourselves the same questionā¦ Is it really worth it? Is a simple pastry worth waiting, enduring terrible weather, and so on? Well after being one of those spectators myself this past week I have the answer for you, it is 100% undoubtfully worth it. I have to admit we were lucky enough to not find a 3-blockā¦
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Tappo NYC
It was the eve of the NYC Marathon and we were out supporting my cousin, who was running, with the carboloading adventure. Eataly, as always, had the āabout an hourā wait time which is actually around 3 hours and we had an absurd craving for an authentic pizza. In a moment of desperation we walked out and literally just around the block there it was: Tappo, famous for their thin crust pizzas. Nowā¦
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Going back home is always a bittersweet experience for all Venezuelans. While thereās definitely no place like home, Venezuela has changed so much over the past years that sometimes you miss Venezuela the most when youāre actually there. You miss going out with the friends that have little by little left the country in search of better (and safer) opportunities, you miss the family events that donāt happen anymore because everyone left as well, and you miss the nights you would stay out until late that are now just impossible due to safety reasons.
Yet, once in a while, you find that feeling of home, the feeling that nothing has changed, and that the country has still plenty to offer. As silly as it may sound, I usually find that feeling while eating out. Gastronomy in Caracas is something that goes beyond political parties, inflation, and even lack of basic resources, and thereās definitely flavors that you can only find at home.
La Esquina was the highlight to my stay in Caracas. Everything from the restaurantās decor, the drinks, the tartare bar, and the staff, made it an exceptional experience which I couldnāt leave out of Il Piattone.
Ā Mimosa de Verano. Summer Mimosa
For our appetizers we had the 4 cheese arancini, which were perfectly complemented by a tomato sauce with a touch of truffle oil, the miniatureĀ Mexican tostadas that were made with perfectly cooked lamb beef, and a touch of sour cream; and the truffled steak tartare, which is hands down the best Iāve ever had.
Truffled Steak Tartare
4 Cheese Arancini
Lamb Tostadas
As an entrĆ©e I decided to goĀ for an octopus that was served as Iāve never seen it before. It was calledĀ āoctopus āchicharronāā, chicharron is basically a dish that consists of fried pork or fried pork rinds. It was called this way because of the way it was cooked, fried and accompanied by tiny cut potatoes and topped with an onion soffritto,Ā this dish went above and beyond my expectations.
Ā Octopus āChicharronā
Finally for dessert we had the Strawberry Mille-feuille which was nothing but perfect. The pĆ¢te brisĆ©e was buttery and flaky, and it was filledĀ withĀ a sweet creamy filling, topped with freshly cut strawberries.
Ā If youāre ever in Caracas I encourage you to try this place. This and many more, since eating out in Caracas is always a great experience, but if I were to write out all my favorite places, from the arepa stand that I love to other more lavish dine-out experiences I would probably have to write a book.
Buen Provecho,
Oriana.
P.S.: I actually finished my half marathon alive!!! Iāll keep you posted with my future activities as runner/carbo-loader.
La Esquina Going back home is always a bittersweet experience for all Venezuelans. While there's definitely no place like home, Venezuela has changed so much over the past years that sometimes you miss Venezuela the most when you're actually there.
PrimavistaĀ
Hellooo my hungry readers. Sorry it has taken me so long to write this post but to say that this summer has been messier than expected would be an understatement. But Iām not here to get all personal about my life, Iām here to talk about my ālast supperā in Cincy.Ā My boss clearly knew she had a foodie for an intern when she decided to take me to Primavista for our goodbye dinner. And not justā¦
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Pistacia Vera
In an impromptu trip to Columbus, OH we ran into one of those adorable cafĆ©s that give you the feeling that you could just sit there all day long sipping on a latte, and trying every single one of their pastries.Ā Not only does Pistacia VeraĀ offer an exquisite variety of pastries and coffee, it also serves an exceptional brunch. And if you know me, then you know that thereās nothing that I loveā¦
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Senate
Making junk food āgourmetā is definitely one of my favorite movements out there. Truffle in fries, foie gras in burgersā¦ What more could you ask for?Ā This is why it was love at first bite the second I digged into my gourmet hot dog at Senate in OTR.Ā We started off with one of my favorite thins to eat in a pub: poutine! But this was no ordinary poutine, this bad boy is topped with exquisiteā¦
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ZulaĀ
Hello hello. Iām going to start this post giving all of you an update on my personal life; I am now halfway through my summer internship, panicking a little for two reasons: 1. As the end approaches my final presentation is becoming a reality, meaning tons of work. 2. I still have so much of Cincinnati to try (foodwise obvs) and so little time. In other news, Iām running a half marathon (runningā¦
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Sotto
So Iāve been a little absent in the blog writing world, and I know I promised that #IlPiattoneACincy would be better than ever! But itās just because Iāve been mentally preparing myself to write about my favorite night out in Cincy so far (and if you follow me on my Instagram @ilpiattone you would see that Iām keeping the eeeeeats coming but restraining myself to captions rather than blogposts).ā¦
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A TavolaĀ
If you love pizza as much as I do A Tavola is a necessary stop if youāre ever in Cincy.Ā Located in OTR (one of my favorite spots in Cincy), A Tavola is a laid back Italian Bar and Trattoria that makes exceptionally great Neapolitan style pizzas, among other things.Ā For our antipasto we shared the bacon tapenade bruschette with goat cheese that were simply life-changing, Iām usually up forā¦
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Wine Bar and Coffee Lab
Well when you get your first paycheck ever it should deserve some kind of celebration right? Thatās why we went to a place that combines two of my favorites to celebrate: 1215 Wine Bar and Coffee Lab.Ā Needless to say Iām already obsessed with the place and itās not only because of its exquisite selection of wines and good coffee, but because they sure know how to pair their drinks with deliciousā¦
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Taste of Cincy
As I promised on my last post, summer will be filled with more food than ever, and #IlPiattoneACincy has officially begun.Ā As an intern on weekdays and a foodie on weekends, I plan on having weekly posts since I have two months to make sure to get the best out of Cincinnati (foodwise obviously); and what better way to begin my food journals than with the longest running food festival inā¦
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