For the bread .. Pour le pain

FRESH BAGUETTE AND FRENCH CHEESE ON KAUAI

Today I went to Living Foods Market to purchase fresh baguette and a wedge of Henri Hutin triple crème Belletoile to smear liberally over the bread.  I couldn't get back to our office fast enough to enjoy the treat, even forgetting to grab a plastic knife in my haste.   As "good cheese fortune" would have it, the Belletoile was soft enough to "slather" with a spoon. 

 Let the  French Feast on Kauai begin.    

First bite ..

yielding crust followed by wondrous texture ..

Someone knows how to "craft" a baguette .. right here on Kauai !

Then the cheese .. soft, elegant, flavorful ..

rich beyond imagination.

Nothing can compare .. in my mind this is the perfect marriage of creativity borne by need .. basic sustenance taken to the highest level of refined simplicity.  And, as always, a poignant reminder of France .. half a world away.

Look Out !

Here they come again ..

 visions and memories of  French life  ..

stimulated by the taste, the feel, the experience of a well crafted baguette ..

the elegance of a superlative Belletoile.

With that first bite, I was reminded of an enjoyable meal preparation at the apartment in France last September and my mind began wallowing in that self pitying place of  "wish I was there"..

Until

I looked outside our office window and  watched happy visitors from around the globe as they inhaled and feasted on the beauty of this magnificent island. 

Flowers, ocean ..  

 swaying palms & backdrop of emerald green .. 

  enhanced by temperatures inviting shorts and sandals only ..

January 31st ..

Winter.

____


For the record 

 I hereby file a formal complaint:

 Living Foods Market in Kukuiula Village Shopping Center - Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii ..

How dare you hire a Master who studied under an Austrian bread maker in Australia !

What audacity .. such nerve .. complete and total disregard for those of us who believe

Incredible Loaves can only be attained elsewhere.

To allow such a wonderful product being placed before us ..

To display no shame or remorse whatsoever for creating melancholy amongst us ..

Blatant plagiarism .. re-creation of ancient art ..

Causing us to revive wondrous thoughts of places where

Bread

Continues to be a revered entity.

Have you no heart?

Who is this Maestro?

How dare he cause me to think I may be in Paris !

But ..

 I may have need of another loaf ..

just to be certain my critique is well founded ...

____

My wonderful Daughter-in-Law responded to a statement I made this week ..

I stated:

"So many places ... So little time"

Her response:

"But the best place is the one where we are ..

and I'm living it to the fullest ..


 enjoying every bit!"



With the wisdom of that reminder ..

I will continue to recall a special afternoon of meal preparation south of Versailles last September,  but with a newfound base of enjoyment for that as a memory and rejuvenated thankfulness for the present.

However

Living Foods Market in Kukuiula Village Shopping Center - Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii ..

I put you on notice!

Should you ever even remotely consider letting loose

that young Master who studied under an Austrian bread maker in Australia ..

you shall suffer a strong verbal admonishment from this camp.

Please understand ...

I may want to dream of France again tomorrow ..

with fresh baguette and a wedge of Henri Hutin triple crème Belletoile ..

making it the best day ..

right where I am ..

from Kauai to Paris .. and all places between
____

Merci and Mahalo to Bread Makers Everywhere!

Bill

IN THE KITCHEN .. LAST SEPTEMBER .. SOUTH OF VERSAILLES