I’m such a lucky bitch. Yup. Sure am. My parents rock. So I work hard as hell right now to hit the jackpot and take care of them (and pay them back!).
They sacrifice all things extraordinary to provide an exceptional life for me and my siblings, even as adults.
Two years ago this month, I was atop the Eiffel Tower celebrating my b-day with my parents. Just the three of us. They took me to France to party like a rock star! All expense paid 3 week trip! Had a $1,000 dinner the night of mi cumpleano in Paris. Then rented a Benz and drove to Monaco for a 6 day stay! Went to the French Riviera, Nice, Cannes (where I bought my first Louis–bad investment) and what’s that bougie place.. uhm.. you know where Diddy goes every year and has an all white yacht party. It’ll come to me.
A few days before my b-day, our host, Miguel (a Cuban expat living the life in Paris and my dad’s best-friend), took us to Lye (Le Val de Loire region), 2 hours South Central of Paris. There, he has a bad ass little mansion of sorts. He calls it “Chateau Marianao” (the neighborhood where I was born in Havana). The place is a.m.a.z.i.n.g.!
For 3 days we went castle hopping, visited a cow farm and had fresh fromages de chevre, roasted chestnuts at the neighbors house, walked a mile to buy baguettes from the only bakery in the town and played dominoes while sipping on Cuban espresso and armangac!
Of course we ate, too. A combination of me and mom cooking while the fellas sparked the fire to offer us sexy warmth. Pan Cubano, guayaba con queso and baguettes with olive oil and tomato. Love it. That was at the chataeu.
Eating out was beautiful in that it was very simple. Nothing like the anticipated $1,000 dinner a few days ahead back in Paris. Very laid back and unassuming. You might think that translates into burger and fries type of food.
Oh so not the case. As I’m trippin’ about losing an earring at the chateau (I paid all of $1 for it at Urban Outfitters), the fam is debating where to sit. So I order and walk back to the mansion to harass the tour guide.
(mami, me, Miguel, his son Alejandro and papi)
And they say I’m OCD. They didn’t find it so I hastily went back to the food post to find the most gorgeous tomato on my plate. Sweet Jesus You are awesome! The natural things You give us to harvest, I’m so thankful for!
Look at this lamb dish with REAL potato au gratin with roasted tomato! Need I say more! I think mom, dad AND Miguel ordered the same thing! Alejandro, being 15 & lacking a discriminating palate, ordered bistec ave pomme frites.
I will forgo main entree’s for dessert. Case in point: the warm fruit bed cooked in wine! What?
Someone KISS ME RIGHT NOW!
And someone did, 18 months ago. My soulmate paid me an unexpected visit, to which cooking a romantic dinner was all but required. There were other things to take care of, you know! But I broke out the heels an cooked anyway, as a labor of love for him. I made sushi and had plantains on the side. Then it occurred to me that I’d WOW him. He’d had my food years back, but never a dessert like this.
The warm fruit relish pictured here came to mind. I made it for him, topped with homemade whip cream and it was officially ON!
The one I had in Lye, France was incredible (pictured). The pictures really don’t do it justice. Do they ever?! Let’s see, served with a succulent cake, the fruit was drenched in wine and sugar–can’t remember for certain–with cinnamon and maybe cardamon. Who knows and who cares! The stuff was great!
Orgasmic kind of great!
That trip was fabulous. I found my earring after all! And then I even considered moving there and finding myself a Frenchman. He’ll take me shopping and I’ll cook for him. Maybe even a trip the Alps. Nothing like it has topped that trip. I want to share more of that adventure with you guys. So maybe sometime in the next month I’ll post pictures and more stories on eating in France. I’m sure you want to know why we paid $8 for a shot of espresso. Ridiculous.
In the meantime, enjoy the recipe of the warm fruit dessert. I swear its to die for. And even better, it’s super fast and easy. I was working off memory, so I modified it and added some of my fave liquor, different fruit and used honey instead of sugar. Oh and I’m certain they didn’t have cloves in theirs either–something I love!
Bon Appetit!
Oh the place we also visited was Saint Tropez! How could I forget! Talk about exclusivity and tres chic! Yes, that’s where we paid $8 for a single shot of espresso! Good LAWD!
MY DRUNKEN WARM FRUIT RELISH IN WINE & HONEY
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced in half
- 1 cup green apple, chopped
- 1 cup green grapes, peeled
- 1 cup peaches, chopped
- 4 cups GOOD dry white wine, (not Reisling)
- 3 splashes Grand Marnier
- 1/2 cup honey
- powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp. nutmeg
- 1 tbsp. cinnamon or cardamon
- 3 whole cloves
- pinch of salt
- a few mint leaves
Add wine to large saucepan and simmer for about 5 minutes. Add fruit, all spices and cloves. Turn heat to medium and reduce for about 10 minutes or until fruit is almost tender. Add honey, Grand Marnier and pinch of salt and stir. Cover, lower heat and cook for 5 minutes. Serve immediately in bowl and top with whip cream or confectioners sugar! Garnish with mint leaves. Serve with bread pudding or pound cake or anything you like. Serves 6.
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Hi, I’m a Cuban girl named Bren! My friends call me B. And Chelsea is my alter-ego. I cook, sing, and freelance travel write, professionally. I’m a single gal living in Atlanta for the time being. I’m a soulful chick. I have a passion for all things food. I like to say I’m good ass cook, especially with the pressure cooker! I was raised in a very traditional Latin home, which meant everything happened(s) in the kitchen, literally! story-telling, crying, partying, fighting…oh yeah and cooking!
November 21st, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Bren, those fruits sounds realllyyyyy good
And yes, you are right… your are so lucky but you truly deserve it 
Enjoy your weekend, Margot
November 21st, 2008 at 9:49 pm
That trip to France sounded like great fun! The fruit sounds really good as well.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Loved the post. The lamb and potatoes looked so good. The fruits would be good on my cream cheese poundcake. Your parents are so cute.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:05 am
Will your parents adopt me?? I can put out a nice Italian dish for them!
That trip was amazing, more pictures please!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Incredible trip, you’re one lucky girl (I think that’s the word you were looking for at the top). And I could see that fruit being quite tantalizing…
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Ahhhh. I miss France. Some of my best years were spent there studying. They really know how to use ingrediants.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Lost mu comment. I miss France so. My best years were spent there studying. Love how they use ingrediants.
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:08 am
These are the memories that will always follow you Bren and shape your foodie ventures. Spending 3 weeks in France is what dreams are made of:D
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:30 pm
OK, this commenting feature and I are fighting… *LOL* but as I tried to say twice before, Bren, you have outdone yourself. I’m sooo adding this recipe to my “arsenal”.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
OMG!! Memories!! See that plate of food and dessert brought me back two years ago when wifey and I were there! It was memorable in itself as I proposed to her in front of the eiffel tower. Now between that and seeing this orgasmic plate of delicious looking food/dessert..I could back today and do it all over again!! Ahhhhhh and A big Hmmmmmmm-delicioous!!!!
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Margot: I hope you try it. It really is amazing. I’m soo soo blessed, I don’t even deserve it…
Kevin: IT was all that and a bag of chips.
Alicia: Fabulosity is all I have to say… mami and papi are the best.
Marie: hee hee. I’ll ask them!
Nick: Thanks for the word I was looking for. Sometimes I have brain farts.
Courtney: If I could move there, I totally would. Love that place. Everything about it.
Bellini Valli: They sure will. I’m so thankful for them. Like Margo said, I’m so lucky but I swear I don’t deserve it all.
Lys: LOL! sorry chica. Make it, I swear u’ll pull a man in…
Reggie: Yes Lord, that place is super sexy, super lovey and super expensive! I didn’t know u proposed there. Look at you! Tres romantique!
November 23rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
oh god, that looks realllly good and if it’s warm, that just doubles the intensity of my happiness if i had that before me right now in this dastard cold English winter. also, what’s that gorgeous last picture?? it looks like cake with melted ice cream..mmmm.
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Clearly, I need to stopping heading to Vegas so that I can one day afford a luxurious trip like yours! What a great celebration with yes, sexy food! Having the time to walk a mile to buy fresh baguettes sounds dreamy. Great trip!
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
The recipe sounds delicious, maybe I’ll try it thisThanksgiving weekend. I’m a little stuck in the wine type? Besitos!!
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Oh my! I can’t wait to try the warm fruit. Mmm, it looks like a guilt-free dessert. Your receipes always rock!
November 24th, 2008 at 1:12 am
B - Way too much going on in this post to comment completely. You look fabulous in front of the chateau. Did you have La Tour Eiffel painted purple?
When do I got to test one of your cookbook recipes?
November 24th, 2008 at 1:30 am
You are so fortunate to have such a lovely family, and have the opportunity to try such fabulous fare. Ooh, that Chateau is breathtaking!
November 24th, 2008 at 9:27 am
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
November 24th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
You are hilarious! You write just like you are talking to someone on the phone, love it!
France! Niiiiiiiiiice. (praying: “dear God in Heaven pls help me not to envy Bren for that trip!”) LOL! And i had no idea you can make sushi…tell me why it’s one of my faves?!! okay like i am TOTALLY sushi obsessed. i gotta get some pointers from you to make it. i’ve been telling my friends i want to learn to make it since i love to eat it! i’m sure this man you cooked for was very grateful for the yummies.
Can’t wait to see ya again and interview you mama…such talent!
November 24th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Yo creo que necesito la vida de tu! Tu tienes una vida buenisima!
Like…for real!
-DTW http://www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com
November 24th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Yes you are one lucky gal! What wonderful parents you have and what a great trip.
November 25th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Que suerte tienes! How funny that we would both blog about our birthdays in Paris! Not to mention paid for by our parents. Entonces, los dos tenemos la suerte, no es cierto?
November 25th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Fabulous trip, fabulous food - lucky you! And you found your earring - how about that for luck?
November 25th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Diva: the 2nd pic was in fact some cake alongside the warm fruit. it was incredible.
Sharon: lol.. you clearly love Vegas, so keep enjoying it! tho i don’t remember seeing much sexy food out there! LOL!
Simone: mija, tienes que hacer esto pa’ ti y tu marido!
Bridget: okay so we’ll have this on a night we’re vegging out and watching lipstick jungle.
Chefectomy: oh geesh, thanks for the compliment! i edited the pic! and i’ll email you some cookbook recipes; thanks for asking.
Taj: me too!! LOL!
Miesha: i’m so glad u know me as a scorpio and how we do. I do like to write as if i really talking to you so you can experience the moment with me. And yes, I taught myself how to make sushi ONLY for that man, since he’s the one that put me on to it like 7 years ago. He’s special so he gets got that kind of labor. maybe i’ll do a Latin sushi class! hmm.
Darius: me’ncanta que me’scribiste en Espanol!
SimplyGlutenFree: Yes, I’m so thankful. It’s really a great thing to have the best parents and siblings.
Prudy: I know right!! LOL! Y claro que si, tenemos mucha suerto y soy muy agradecida.
Cakelaw: yes can u believe i found my earring!! amazing.
November 29th, 2008 at 11:38 am
very cute post!! i love france so much, your pictures were nice. i love that you took your parents. i would love to be able to have that type of site-seeing trip w/ my parents again. thank god you found that earring! your trip would’ve been totally f-ed after that if it wasn’t found! that fruit dish is so simple and tasty - the perfect french dessert.
speaking of france… we still haven’t made anything from the awesome book we won from you but we have dog-eared about 8 things!
December 8th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Yes, we French eat so good. I’m from Quebec but our origins are French, you would love to visit the ‘Belle Province’, to taste all the great food.
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