My name is Evan. I'm a 20 year old girl going to school in Manhattan, majoring in Communications, but my true loves are very specific: the written word and food. I've finally decided to take the plunge and create a blog after a four year love affair with food blogs of all shapes and sizes. Seriously, I read EVERYTHING. From Peabody to the girl who ate everything, I'm obsessed and smitten with the narrative and artistry of food bloggers. Even healthy lifestyle bloggers, such as Kath Eats, and vegan bloggers, such as Sweet Eats intrigue me. If it's good eats, how can you go wrong?

Basically, I'm all about all types of food and cooking, as long as it's made from real ingredients that are fresh and pure. Yes, that means lard, triple crème cheeses, steaming bowls of pork ramen, long Parisian baguettes with lustrous, crunchy crusts and all types of chocolate (even milk and white!) But it also means fresh produce, whole grains, yogurts and cheeses and nuts/seeds/oils too. I believe that decadence fits into every day life and it should be that way. Food, like life, is to enjoy.

While I'm not nearly as experienced as many food bloggers out there, as I'm a young, busy, poor student who is in the midst of the crash test phase of life, I've really got a passion for cooking and writing--and all that the two fields have to offer a young person who pursues them.

Oh, and did I mention that I'm the editorial intern at Fine Cooking Magazine? Talk about crash test experiences. It's almost over, but I've learned a lot this summer from attending recipe testings, photo shoots and staff meetings; taking notes; posting and publishing website blog entries and temporarily editing the Letters, Menus and Sources departments. I feel like a whole new cook/student/writer/girl and will be using the things I've learned to better document my life as I experience it.

Before I get too fixated on "the future of this blog," though, I'll start with one of my favorite simple meals.

Salade Niçoise. Except, it's not traditional. I'm sorry; I just prefer seared tuna rather than canned. Actually, I'm not sorry. It's delicious either way--so try both! This is a recipe from Fine Cooking, but only because it was a bit of a "celebration" meal (not all of my posts will be recipes from FC), because issue 94 marked the first time that my name appeared on the masthead, so I decided to make this recipe for my family in honor of the happy occasion.

Niçoise Salad with Grilled Tuna and Potatoes

(by Susie Middleton, FC #94)

Ingredients:

18 small (baby) red potatoes (about 1-1/4 lb.)
Kosher salt
12 oz. haricots verts (thin green beans), trimmed
3 Tbs. mayonnaise
2 tsp. honey
1-1/2 lb. 1-inch-thick fresh tuna steaks
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
4 oz. small inner leaves of red leaf lettuce, washed, dried, and torn into bite-size pieces (4-1/2 lightly packed cups)
3 oz. baby arugula, washed and spun dry (3-3/4 lightly packed cups)
16 large basil leaves, torn into small pieces
1 recipe Basil Vinaigrette
1-1/4 lb. small ripe red, yellow, and orange tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 cup Nicoise olives (or other black olives)
3 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and quartered

Directions

Put the potatoes and a few teaspoons of salt in a saucepan and add enough water to cover them by 1 inch. Bring to a boil and simmer the potatoes until tender, about 15 minutes. Remove with a Chinese strainer and set aside. Add haricots verts and and cook until crisp tender, about 3 minutes, no more. 

Heat the gas grill to high. Combine 1 Tbs. of the mayonnaise and the honey in a small bowl. Season the tuna steaks with salt and pepper and coat both sides with the mayonnaise mixture. Grill the steaks over very high heat for about 1 to 2 minutes per side for medium rare. Transfer them to a cutting board and let them rest before cutting.

Cut the potatoes in half and toss them in a mixing bowl with the remaining 2 Tbs. mayonnaise, the mustard and salt. Reduce the grill heat to medium high and grill the potatoes without disturbing except to flip, until brown grill marks form on both sides, 1 to 2 minutes per side.

Toss the mixed greens with the dressing, slice the tomatoes and arrange ingredients over the lettuces. I added anchovies and cornichons to the mix as well. Slice the tuna and add the potatoes and haricot verts to the salad. Voila!

My first entry! That wasn't so bad. So, anyway, this is my blog! Welcome, it's nice to meet you!

Upon their successful first album, The Dø has just released their second music video 'At last'. Watch out for oranges, because you get many of them in this video. The story revolve around people in the dance floor with unwhole oranges trying to find the remainding half/ perfect match. The smart thing is that the video points out the 'perfect match' dose not necessarily be who you want it to be. You see people fighting just to try to squeeze their oranges to make it fit. Of course, the perfect match may also be of the same sex or a totally different age group, because there are no rules.

DEPARTMENT:  GRANTS & CONTRACTS

DATE: JULY 2008

Population Services International (PSI) is the world's leading non-profit social marketing organization, operating in more than 60 developing countries.  PSI creates demand for essential health products and services by using private sector marketing techniques and innovative communications campaigns to motivate positive changes in health behavior. On the supply side, PSI works with the commercial sector to increase the availability of these products and services at prices which are affordable to at-risk populations. With a bottom-line orientation that is rare among non-profits, PSI social markets products and services for family planning, maternal and child health, and the prevention of AIDS, malaria and other diseases.  For more information, please visit: www.psi.org.

PSI seeks a Contracts /Ethics Board Assistant to provide administrative support to Contracts Analysts and the Director and Deputy Director in the Contracts Department.  This position reports to the Deputy Director and works closely with the Director and Research Department.  This is an entry level position.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Ethics Board

·         Assist in the establishment of PSI Ethics Board;

·         Assist with PSI Ethics Board training and dissemination of training material;

• Maintain PSI Ethics Board Database, Protocol Files and Recordkeeping;
• Document and track PSI Ethics Board submissions for initial and continuing approval and study modifications;
• Administrative preview of PSI Ethics Board submissions for full review or expedited review;
• Convene and coordinate Ethics Board meetings including generating meeting agenda, preparing Meeting materials packet and disseminate information regarding Ethics Board deadlines, meeting dates, etc.;
• Provide logistical and administrative support during the PSI Ethics Board Meetings;
• Answers questions from researchers regarding protocol submission procedures;
• Responds to general inquiries from program staff; and
• Facilitates inquiries regarding the rights of research subjects.

Contracts

·         Provide administrative support in word processing, proofreading and file management;

·         Assist in maintaining contract database information;

• Projects setup and process modifications in the database;
• Disseminate critical contracts information to PSI staff worldwide;
• Proof proposal budgets;
• Conduct internet research;
• Assist with conducting inter-departmental training;
• Maintain contracts department filing system;
• Photocopying and faxing; and
• Other duties and special projects as required and requested.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience;
• Some experience in related work environment helpful;
• Proficiency in word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet software;
• Strong writing, analytical, interpersonal, organizational, and cross-cultural skills;
• Willingness and ability to perform and prioritize a variety of tasks on short notice within designated deadlines; and
• French and/or Spanish language skills.

APPLY ONLINE at http://www.psi.org.  No calls or emails, please.

PSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.

original title: Une vieille maîtresse
also known as: An Old Mistress

Rating: 7/10

I am often apprehensive about watching period costume dramas. The world, and the themes presented in these types of films are often lost on me. With The Last Mistress however, I found myself not only thoroughly enjoying a costume drama, I was also very convincingly carried away into it's world of high society and sexual politics. Film-maker/Novelist Catherine Breillat, known for her controversial films (Romance, A Real Young Girl) strikes gold in the two lead actors - Asia Argento and Fu'ad Ait Aattou. Argento's highly charged and brave performance as the obsessive mistress Vellini dominates this subtly mounted film.

Set in 19th century Paris, The Last Mistress tells the story of two aristrocrats - Ryno de Marigny (Aatou) and Hermangarde (Roxanne Mesquida), about to be married after careful deliberation and calculation by Hermangarde's grandmother La marquise de Flers (Claude Sarraute). Before the wedding, Ryno visits his mistress Vellini to say goodbye. Though madly in love with his fiance, Ryno yields to his old desires and makes love to Vellini, promising himself that this would be the last time. On being questioned by La marquise de Flers, he narrates the stormy relationship he has had with his mistress for ten years.

Told as a flashback, the story of the young Ryno and the newly wed Vellini is a torrent of sexual encounters and obsessive desire. The two fall in and out of love, all the while being at the centre of Parisian gossip. He seduces her by taking a bullet, she licks blood off his wounds and falls in love. She seduces him with her openness to sexuality, and the pleasure that only she can give him. Circumstances lead them to fall out of love. By narrating his past to his future wife's powerful and influential grandmother, Ryno gains her trust. He marries Hermangarde and the two move to a castle by the sea; away from Paris according to the wishes of Le marquise who knows "how fragile the heart of a man is." But Vellini follows him there and the two spiral into their self-destructive relationship again.

My biggest problem with the film is the lack of any real resolution to the characters' arc. There are no transformations or catharses brought about by the sweeping plot. But the performances by the cast is what makes this film good. Asia Argento loses herself in the role of the wanton Vellini. She plays a character you will love and hate. It's a very finely crafted balancing act - her raspy voice, her assured and swaying walk, the lust in her eyes and the rebellious undertone to every action. Fu'ad Ait Aattou's Ryno is a boyish flamboyant debaucher who falls madly in love with his mistress. He has an air of innocence and craftiness about him. Claude Sarraute as Hermangarde's grandmother is a delight to watch, lying back on her chair listening to Ryno's stories with an almost childlike wonder.

Though Catherine Breillat tries to infuse scenes with explosive sexuality, the real joy of the film is in it's meditative and constantly moving camera capturing actors who totally inhabit their characters. The Last Mistress more than anything else, a vehicle for Asia Argento's fearless performance as the unforgettable Vellini.

[Link to IMDB profile]

“It would be much better if the people of the world voted on the American president.”

Seriously?  The French.  WTF?

She says the prisoners in Gitmo have been denied their constitutional rights.

I say they are enemy combatants; they have rights under international treaties, but not American constitutional rights.

But they have “global rights,” she insists.

What are “global rights”? I ask.

There’s no precise definition, but as far as I could tell, “global rights” appear to be American constitutional rights applied to the entire planet. It’s an astounding notion, given that American constitutional rights definitely do not apply across the entire planet — not even in places like, well, France.

Do you have “global rights,” I ask. What if you make some public statement offensive to Muslims? Here in France, you might be prosecuted. Do you have a “global right” to freedom of speech or not?

Is there a “global” First Amendment?

[...]

And then things went downhill a little farther when the talk turned to the subject of Obama and race. She told me that in France there isn’t the racial segregation one finds in the United States.

I had to wonder about that. I saw almost no black faces around us in Montparnasse, but the day before, in a part of Montmartre, I saw almost all black faces.

And what about those almost entirely minority suburbs on the outskirts of Paris? Could it be that there are residential divisions of racial, ethnic, and religious groups — nothing dictated by law, just residential patterns — in France, too? Is it segregation in the U.S. but something else here?

Yeah.  Everything is better in France.

Now, 20 years later, the percentage of homeopathic prescriptions written in the UK have been reduced to half the number from 20 years ago.  (note: Don't feel bad...I didn't know what a homeopathic medicine was either.  Essentially, it's a belief among alternative medicine practicioners that involves serial diution.  It's actually very interesting and you can read all about it here).

So basically, Benveniste suggests that water has a memory.  Of course, the scientific community scoffed at the idea despite the fact that the test was performed hundreds of times afterwards, many of the tests providing the same outcome.  And honestly, given his other insights into these water studies, I can understand the speculation.  Benveniste went on to claim that not only does water have a memory, but that the memory can be digitized, transmitted via email and reintroduced into another sample of water.

The whole concept is actually conceivable but also sounds like the ramblings of a madman.  Decide for yourself after reading the whole story.

Those of you who know me would know that I have a big bias against the French.  Well, actually, more so just the language.  Well, actually, more so just the fact that even after taking social studies in high school, I still don't understand why I am forced to have to read and hear French in Canada.

And so, we'll see if Paris will really impress me so much that I'd unclench my fists.

I do have one regret before I leave for this trip though......the fact that I'm gonna miss Conor Oberst's gig here in town!!

Oh well.

See ya all soon.

Une vision industrielle et glaciale de la musique qui nous fait prendre un recul intéressant sur sa présence dans notre quotidien et son utilisation.

« La musique du capitalisme industriel ou post-industriel, comme on voudra, présente un trait qui la caractérise, par delà toutes les différences de genres et de style : son omniprésence. Qu’elle soit discrète ou agressive, planante ou rythmée, ancienne ou moderne, savante ou populaire, la musique constitue la “bande son” de la vie quotidienne des sociétés contemporaines, à laquelle il est pratiquement impossible d’échapper. Certains “espaces piétonniers” des centres-villes comportent des haut-parleurs placés à intervalles réguliers, faisant de la rue un centre commercial à ciel ouvert ; quand il n’y a pas de haut-parleurs fixés aux façades des maisons, les boutiques et les cafés en tiennent lieu. Cette “immense accumulation de marchandises” qu’est la société du spectacle implique un accompagnement musical continu, transformant l’existence tout entière en une suite ininterrompue de spots publicitaires. Ceux qui ne veulent pas subir la musique imposée n’ont guère d’autre recours que d’en produire eux-mêmes une plus bruyante et de la transporter avec eux, dans leur auto-radio ou leur baladeur. (…)

C’est bien à ne pas entendre le bruit de fond de notre civilisation que sert toute cette musique constamment diffusée pour ne pas être écoutée. Un bruit si insoutenable dans sa brutalité que nous préférons le dissimuler sous un flot permanent de musique, beaucoup plus rassurant malgré la souffrance de nos oreilles et la confusion mentale qui en résulte, parce qu’il donne l’illusion d’un sens, comme si le chaos pouvait magiquement engendrer un ordre harmonieux. »

Pour quelques informations supplémentaires sur les modifications du comportement humain à l'écoute de la musique, je vous conseille cet article "La symphonie neuronale" en provenance du CNRS qui éclairera votre lanterne. En tout les cas, elle a éclairé la mienne...

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Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine
Et nos amours
Faut-il qu'il m'en souvienne
La joie venait toujours après la peine

Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure
Les jours s'en vont je demeure

Les mains dans les mains restons face à face
Tandis que sous
Le pont de nos bras passe
Des éternels regards l'onde si lasse

Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure
Les jours s'en vont je demeure

L'amour s'en va comme cette eau courante
L'amour s'en va
Comme la vie est lente
Et comme l'Espérance est violente

Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure
Les jours s'en vont je demeure

Passent les jours et passent les semaines
Ni temps passé
Ni les amours reviennent
Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine

Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure
Les jours s'en vont je demeure

Carine Roitfeld: A woman, an editor, a fashion icon...

In a world where fashion magazines have become extremely commercial and celebrity obsessed, Carine Roitfeld focuses on bringing a monthly fantasy that respects the essence of fashion, and fashionistas all over the world are loving her for it. 

Not afraid of explaining the difference between the "French way" and the "American way," Roitfeld separates herself from overseas counterpart Anna Wintour when it comes to fashion editing and personal style. Roitfeld is a woman who doesn't wear jeans or lipstick and rarely wears bags or flats. She's has a femme fatal aura and an attitude that screams 'I am Parisian'. But, what is Roitfeld's true importance?

We all know the story here; she started as a model, then a stylist and a muse and then what she is today, a fashion editor. But her contribution lies in stimulating fashion culture and influencing it. She's one of the few editors who still depicts fashion as an art, as a way of expression. Browsing a copy of French Vogue can give you true fashion satisfaction because of Roitfeld's delivery of a philosophy that inspires and educates readers on fashion as the creation of one's unique look. 

Roitfeld photographed at 18 years old

Named one of Time Magazine's most influential people, Carine Roitfeld has become a fashion icon and a woman who ages gracefully thanks to her never ending sense of style.

Some of my favorite French Vogue covers

In just a few more weeks, I'll be glued to the TV humming, "It's a Small World After All."  The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympics has arranged for 5,000 translators, mostly Beijing-based university students, to provide 55 language services.  55 languages!  Two of those 55 are official languages of the Olympic Games:  English and French.

Why French?  Well, besides being an influential language spoken worldwide, we have the French to thank for the modern Olympic Games.  Sure, the original games were a Greek invention.  But they had disappeared for over 1000 years until a teacher from France named Baron Pierre de Coubertin had the idea to bring them back.  The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896.  The first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France, in 1924.

In honor of the French contribution to the Olympic Games, see if you can guess the names of some Olympic events en français.  The answers are at the bottom.  Bonne chance! 

1. Athlétisme
2. Base-ball
3. Basket-ball
4. Boxe
5. Canoë-kayak
6. Cyclisme
7. Escrime
8. Football
9. Gymnastique
10. Lutte
11. Natation
12. Sports équestres
13. Tennis de Table
14. Tir à l'arc
15. Volley-ball de plage

1-Track/Athletics, 2-Baseball, 3-Basketball, 4-Boxing, 5-Canoe/Kayak, 6-Cycling, 7-Fencing, 8-Soccer, 9-Gymnastics, 10-Wrestling, 11-Swimming, 12-Equestrian, 13-Table Tennis, 14-Archery, 15-Beach Volleyball

Photo Credit:  Public Domain from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Olympic_rings.svg

The picture says it all. It is finally here. THe epic battle V.S the spanish and the french has begun. A few tips for privateering, the better the ship the better off you are, make sure you have a crew and be prepared for an epic sea battle.

The real Question from here is this. Who will you side with. The spanish of the french.

Comment below to share what side you have chosen to fight for.

Today is so freaking humid and hot. I am drenched in sweat all the frigging time. (I am also wearing jeans and a black t-shirt, so that might be the reason....). Today is already Thursday - the week's almost over!!!!!! Holy merde! Tonight there is another Cafe Theatre, but with students instead of staff. I'm pumped.

Tomorrow is Halloween! Trick 'r' Treating!!! I'm very excited, seeing as I haven't gone trick r treating in 7 or 8 years (Merde I am old).

I don't know if the Sleepover will be tomorrow or samedi soir. I will check with mes amis.

Notice all the French thrown in there??? I'm starting to think in French!

People back home, prepared to be confused.

Write me letters :-) or emails at least

Love Laurie