what I loved in march
but can we please slow down
The thaw is here, the flowers are blooming and there’s a clear shift in energy. There’s a hum where before there was silence, people wearing more vibrant colors and congregating outdoors to soak in rays of sun.
I don’t remember March being so busy, but I am surely being run through the mill right now. This had better be a one-off… But I don’t want to think about work while I’m writing to take a break from work.
Contrary to people’s assumptions—and a surprising number have asked—I am a child of spring. I would have loved to be at home on my birthday, but I still had over a week to spend there before it to soak in the happy.
Where I am now, the cherry blossoms were spectacular, reaching this fluffy grandeur just as I aged a year. I’m not really one to place importance on my birthday, but the timing of the bloom felt serendipitous somewhere inside. I took a leisurely morning walk to admire them, and shared this beauty with family remotely.
I was also reminded of how wonderful friendship is, spending my birthday afternoon with some of my favorite people, talking, enjoying the weather—completely clear skies—browsing the local bookshop, and sharing cake that the cafe happened to have, which was actually very good! Blackberry verbena jam and vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream on olive oil sponge. I treasure these moments.
I’ve done away with categories for this month’s favorites because so many things didn’t just fit under one.
Time at home
Though fresh from Paris, I was yet unfulfilled in my need for a good eclair au café. I also had regrets of the St. Honores I couldn’t try, and Artelice was here when I needed it. Eclair solid, as always, and the St. Honore was actually much better than the one I had at Stohrer(more on that later)—the vanilla was so fragrant, and you could actually distinguish between the the crème patissière and the chantilly.
I also of course got canelés, my eternal favorites. Artelice has some of the best I think I’ll ever have. (Truly, they can make such good patisserie, it’s a marvel how bad their macarons are, with their strange colorings and translucent fillings.)
It’s always the most wonderful time being home, early, slow mornings with tea and coffee and of course, treats.
We all knew this, but L.A. really is so beautiful. There were clear skies for the first time when I landed at LAX, the first in the last year I’ve been going back and forth.
spring produce
The first peeks of spring at the Farmers Market.
I tried a vendor’s kefir labneh for the first time, and it was worth the steep price. So. Creamy.
a lovely birthday
Had brunch at SQIRL with my favorite people. It was also serendipitous that SQIRL announced a weekend special of French onion soup—this was delicious, but I usually don’t crave savory food until noon, so I focused on other good things.
Matcha lattes, of course, and the Yoghee pancake—a new menu item. Pancakes sound very heavy for a meal, but this was not that at all. Fluffy, the perfect portion to share, with fragrant lemon zest to keep it light and crispy edges to nibble at.
The salmon rillette toast was not my order, but I did have a bite and it was good, just again, not before 12. I ordered a yogurt bowl later and it was delishhh. The fruit was all very ripe, granola fluffy and crunchy, the blood orange vanilla jamalade perfectly fragrant. I love a good yogurt bowl.
I realized I had eaten many a SQIRL pain au chocolat, but never a croissant, though I prefer them to PaCs.
I am thrilled to say it is very good—my second favorite, tied with Jyan Isaac’s. Petitgrain is still the best, but I would definitely get it again. Good gluten development—nice chew, crisp, shattery lamination.
I didn’t feel particularly inclined to get cake, so this was a perfect candle holder. Lamination supreme.
matcha lattes
I made many many many because of the new steamer. Such fun. I used Edensoy, but it’s been tasting a bit too soy-flavored to complement the matcha, so I’m looking for a different one.
yogurt bowls
My current favorite thing to eat.
I also made a maple-vanilla granola to use up miscellaneous nuts lying around. Yes, I used some quick cook oats as filler because they didn’t have regular rolled at WF bulk.
I was intimidated by the amount I had made. Embarrassed to say I finished half within the week.
first attempt at madeleines
Not bad for a first attempt, without cross-checking any recipes, which is unlike me. These were a spur-of-the-moment idea to christen my new madeleine tray. They were delicious, though I know they didn’t dome because I under-whipped the egg—I was a fool who started with cold egg so it was already taking forever. Crisp and fluffy.
S&P
Made some vanilla sugar with the beans I brought back from Epices Roellinger and G. Detou.
vegan caesar
I dislike iceberg and begrudgingly tolerate romaine. Kale Caesars are superior, it’s a much better-equipped vehicle for the robust dressing. I don’t love the creaminess of regular Caesar, but the vegan one with tempeh and chickpeas? I crave it 24/7.
bought
So much I brought back from Paris—Sabre(I lost 3 knives at the airport security checkpoint because I was an idiot. I fell to my knees and let out a wail. The man only shook his head in pity. Next time, I will just pay the overweight baggage fee.), canelé molds, baking trays/molds, torchons galore, leather gloves, PLAQ chocolate(dear gods) and so many jams.
Writing this served both to refresh my happy memories and to realize they are that, memories. I will likely survive to April, but in what condition, I do not know.
Dramatics aside, I hope everyone has a lovely start to spring, and that you have time to look around and admire the flowers. My condolences for those with pollen allergies.
I am slowly but surely making progress through all my Paris notes. They’ll hopefully all be out by May—there are more adventures to be had!
Good-bye,
Rena