chez pim

10 reasons why I love being a foodie in San Francisco, Part I

I get occasional emails from confounded readers, asking where it is that I actually live. I guess that is at times unobvious from reading the blog. It seems I’ve been writing more about other places than I do about my own adopted hometown, San Francisco. I really should change that, you think?

You might also notice that I seem to be quite into lists lately. So I might as well do another one, no? How about, 10 reasons why I love –just love- being a foodie in San Francisco? These are the people, places, and things that help make my experience here a marvelously delectable one. They are distinctly Californian -and even more uniquely so Bay Area- and nowhere else in the world. As much as I love and admire great cities like Paris and London, there are things here that would be sorely miss should I ever move somewhere else. And here is the top ten list of them.

Chez Pim in the Boston Globe

Thanks to many of you, I woke up this morning to a mailbox full of pointers to the Boston Globe article about food blogs. Had this article come out two days ago I would have nominated it for "best newspaper article about blogs" on the Bloggies (ha ha). By the way, humor doesn't come through very well in soundbites, do they?

And one silly mistake I must admit to, I meant to say "Anthony in Australia or Graham in Vietnam", but somehow I shorthanded it to "Anthony in Vietnam". Sorry boys.

Also featured prominently on the story were Clotilde, Adam and Kate.

Reminder: WBW5 wacky-name wine

You haven't forgotten all about it, have you? You've been dutifully scouring your local wine shops, yes? Because come Wednesday January 26th, when the better part of the food/wine blogging world will be showing off the wackiest of their wacky-name wines, you wouldn't want to be left out then, would you?

Don't tell me I didn't warn you!

Hot chocolates in Paris: la saveur du péché

Few things bring such unadulterated pleasure as savoring a cup of sinfully intoxicating hot chocolate in Paris -not the milky, thin hot chocolate made from powder of dubious origin that is commonplace in America, but the dark, bitter, and thick, thick chocolat chaud, the kind you could stick a spoon in the middle and it will likely stay upright.

Alas, even in Paris, hot chocolates are not created equal. Luckily, Figaroscope has just published a definitive guide to savoring hot chocolates in Paris. Some on the list are my old favorites, like Jean-Paul Hévin (one of my favorite chocolateries in the world), Ladurée (don't order their Ispahan though), La Maison du Chocolat (who also carries one of the best dark chocolate macarons around), and Christian Constant (the pastry chef, not the chef). A couple of others, like L’Heure gourmande and Les Cakes de Bertrand, are places I've yet to try, and will definitely go on my list next time I'm in town.

If you read French, you could check out the Figaroscope article, otherwise, here is the complete list.

2004 Food Blog Awards and the new category on the Bloggies

Thanks to your votes and your support, Chez Pim has received the 2004 Food Blog Awards in the Restaurant Reviews category. I am so honored, particulary to be in the field of such distinguished finalists. Chez Pim has been a never-ending source of gratification and of much, much gratitude. I am very happy to continue on this road, and ever so obliged to everyone who has helped see me through this joyous journey. I am curious to see where it will lead.

A big thank you as well for Kate at the Accidental Hedonist for creating the awards, which perhaps are partially responsible for this year's Bloggies' newest category: Food Blog. How exciting! They are taking nominations now. Please go and nominate your favorite food blogs. (You must nominate at least 3 different blogs or you ballot will not be counted.) Food blogs are among the most vibrant of blog communities, so I am very happy to see that Bloggies have now taken notice of us. And one more thing, there is no reason why we need to limit ourselves to the Food Blog category, nominate away, at least this time you could be sure your votes count for something!

Best/Worst food moments of 2004

Continuing on the tradition I began last year, here's the Best/Worst food moments of 2004:

Best overall food experience: Food blogging on Chez Pim

Best food shopping moment: A mad race across Paris in imaginary matching-colored scooters with Lynn and Matt to buy more honey from Jean Paul Couto at the marché bio on Blvd.Raspail. (more on this later)

Most fun cooking: Another Thai feast for the London friends, this time chez V.

Best I didn't know it could taste like that dish: This is a tie, between the slow-cooked egg with white bean soup at Manresa, and the tranche de lard fermier au caviar pressé at Pierre Gagnaire.

A cause worth living for

I have had so many conversations these last few days -at dinners and new year parties and even on email- with friends who were all feeling glum and more than a little guilty to be having fun and celebrating in a time like this. I must admit I was torn about it as well. This tragedy, especially, has hit so close to home for me. I am doing what little I could to help, but it hardly feels that I am doing enough.

I am reminded that, just after the horrible event in 2001, a friend sent me a transcript of C.S. Lewis's address to college students during WWI. His words, though spoken so long ago, ring true again today. Here is the timeless Mr.Lewis: