My Musings
A trip down memory lane travel, food and a French go to dish will instantly transport us back to Paris
There wasn't a dining car on the night train from Chamonix to Paris which we realized after leaving the train station. Sadly, after depositing coins for a bag of chips, we received nothing. No chips! The only snack vending machine on the train was broken. Besides being hungry, we didn't sleep soundly in our train seats; but we did manage a few naps. Really, you would have thought traveling by train that falling asleep would come quickly. Wrong! It was a long, long night. Tired and hungry! Of course, we arrived exhausted and starved.
At the Paris train station, Gare d'Austerlitz, we stowed our luggage and showered. Yes! It was my first time to shower in a paid shower facility, of all places, at a train station, and it all happened on our second trip to France.
After showering and changing into clean clothes, we were ravenous. Quickly, we ordered chocolate croissants and orange juice. Remembering when we ordered, it was during our first trip to Paris that we discovered our favorite French pastry, the chocolate croissants. Simply delicious, the late morning French breakfast was definitely energizing and satisfying. Oh yes! Food memories and traveling go hand in hand.
Recalling our first trip to Paris, when this American girl met French cuisine and leisurely dining. While we ate at cafes, bistros and restaurants, I observed and witnessed the slower unhurried pace when eating out. It was so noticeable. Noticing the more relaxed atmosphere and dining experience compared to eating out in the states, there weren't constant interruptions. "How's everything?"' "What do you want for dessert?" "Are you ready for the check? In Paris, there wasn't the hovering and pressure to eat quickly and leave as soon as possible.
Immediately, I fell in love with the French dining experience. As foodies know. the French cuisine is absolutely amazing. We savored the chocolate croissants, the fruit tarts, the chocolate mousse, gelato, salads with goat cheese and walnuts along with steaks and chicken cooked as I've never had before; however, there was one dish ratatouille which we ate late one evening in a cozy restaurant that has become our French go-to dish upon our return to Texas, but more about ratatouille later.
Once back in the states, we would purchase croissants at Costco filling them with Nutella with a quick zap in the microwave. Sadly, it just wasn't the same as in Paris. We even bought a chocolate mousse mix at Central Market where foodies shop. The chocolate mousse was okay; but sadly, it wasn't the same. While shopping at Central Market, we picked up a recipe card for the French ratatouille. We have been making our French ratatouille ever since. In fact, every time I place a deep purple eggplant into the shopping cart, "I'm asked if we are going to make ratatouille?" But, I will come into how ratatouille is made, shortly.
Two short years later, we had a Thanksgiving Holiday in Rome, Italy. Upon arriving at our hotel, I discovered that I had the wrong credit card in my wallet. No worries! Thankfully, I had American Express Travelers Checks in my purse. By this time, we were tired from traveling and extremely hungry too. Of course, our first dining experience in Rome turned out to be an extremely memorable one. At the small restaurant closest to our accommodations, we were served absolutely the best Neapolitan pizza. It was truly amazing! At the close of our meal, the owner (we were under the impression he was) of the restaurant offered us a complimentary Limoncello. Honestly, it was my first introduction to the Italian lemon liqueur.
Understandably, we ate several meals at the restaurant and we always ordered the Limoncello for our after-dinner drink. Once back in Texas, we tried to make our own Limoncello. Sadly, it wasn't the same. However, we purchased the beautiful bottles of Limoncello from Italy, and it became our go to adult beverage after pizza for the longest time until my dietary changes that were made three years ago.
Before our date night that would be my first opera experience and that was presented at the first Anglican Church in Rome, we had an exquisite Italian cuisine dinner at an enchanting restaurant with the best tiramisu for dessert. After our delightful and wonderful full-course meal, we walked to the opera venue. Leaving the Anglican Church, after the opera, we walked back to our hotel. We stayed up late that evening. Naturally, the next morning, we awakened rather late, which wasn't according to our original plan.
Quickly, we dressed and went down to breakfast. The hotel's breakfast spread was astonishing. In reality and if we could, we would have spent hours eating the breakfast feast. Truly, the hotel's breakfast buffet was positively fabulous and unforgettable.
Besides the food, on this particular morning, which was the last Sunday in November, a beautifully decorated Christmas tree stood in the buffet room standing from floor to ceiling. The sight was breathtaking while crying joyful tears. Cheerfully, we were greeted with a welcoming, " Buon Natale!"
In the fall of the following year, we explored London, England. Months in advance of our trip, I planned out each day's trip itinerary. The itinerary included having afternoon tea at the National Portrait Gallery and having an expensive dinner at the Tate Modern Restaurant Level 9. In fact, we had these and many other memorable dining experiences in London. Fondly recalling the restaurant on the River Thames, where we ate fish & chips. Once home, we tried to replicate the fish & chips. Sadly, it wasn't the same. Maybe, it's not what you eat but where you eat it that makes the memory so special.
However, the French cuisine dish ratatouille is the exception to our travel food memories. Amazingly, this French dish came out just as we remembered it.
Typically, it starts by purchasing fresh vegetables at Central Market. The red onion, eggplant, ripe tomatoes, zucchini, and yellow squash look beautiful in the shopping cart. Be it Summer, Fall, or Winter, we can't wait to arrive home and start cooking.
Now! It's time for ratatouille!
INGREDIENTS
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 large red onion, 1/2 inch slice
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
1 medium eggplant
2 large ripe tomatoes
2 small zucchini
2 small yellow squash
1/2 cup chicken stock or broth
1 Tbsp. chopped oregano leaves
DIRECTIONS
Clean vegetables and chop all the vegetables into bite-size pieces (3/4 inch). Turn on the stove and heat a sauté pan over medium heat. Once heated, add the olive oil. Then, you add the onion, garlic, and pine nuts and sauté for 3 minutes. You are ready to add the stock and eggplant pieces and cook stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until the eggplant is tender. Now, you are ready to add tomatoes, zucchini, and yellow squash pieces and cook for approximately 10 minutes or until the squash is tender but still firm. Now, stir in the minced oregano leaves about a minute before cooking is finished. Ah, te voilà! (Ah, there you are!) Serve with homemade flatbread crackers, wheat bread, or cornbread, and enjoy.
For us, ratatouille is the perfect comfort food, and we especially enjoy it in the Summer, Fall, and Winter months. Following the above recipe, ratatouille is a simple and easy dish that you can prepare for yourself and your family. From what I've read, the dish originated in Nice, France. However! Since April 2002, when we first ate ratatouille in Paris, France, and because of our thoughts and imaginations, we can transport ourselves back into time and we are again at that cozy restaurant in Paris which was magical and unforgettable.
Writer's notes: Thank you for reminiscing with me! Hope you enjoyed the read. If you did, please heart. As always, thankful and grateful!
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About the Creator
Babs Iverson
Barbara J Iversen, also known as Babs Iverson, lives in Texas and loves her grandkids to the moon and back. After writing one story, she found that writing has many benefits especially during a pandemic and a Texas-size Arctic Blast.
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Comments (1)
Thank you for the ratatouille recipe! I'll try it soon!