Plane Snack: Nougat (Do You Love It Or Hate It?)

Joanna Goddard — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:10:48 +0000

Nougat–like anchovies and licorice–is one of those foods that people either love or hate. (What is nougat? Think of the chewy part of a Snickers that makes you thirsty.) So, when my friend recommended Vadeboncoeur, an artisanal French nougat handmade by a handsome young Frenchman in Vermont, I figured it was time to give it a try…

I bought two bars in Brooklyn and stowed them in my bag for our final flight home, from Los Angeles to New York. To make nougat, you mix and cook egg whites, honey, roasted almonds, pistachios and sugar in copper cauldrons (sounds like a fairy tale!) and form them in wooden molds. The result is a chewy, sweet and nutty French confection. As I munched the bar during the flight, I discovered that I fall squarely into the “love it” category. (So did my two seatmates.)

(Photo by Joanna Goddard)

The Brooklyn Flea

Joanna Goddard — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:44:35 +0000

I’ve always been bad at flea markets; I can never seem to find those damn hidden gems! But, two years ago, my mom and I spent an afternoon at Paris’s Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, the world’s biggest flea market, and I realized that it’s not about what you find; it’s about the experience of meandering through antique stands, flipping through 1950’s postcards, and eating a Nutella crepe at the end.

So, as a nod to that legendary market, I decided to spend the afternoon at the Brooklyn Flea, a two-year-old flea market here in Fort Greene…

I liked this cozy coat.
Think how many little kids must have hugged these stuffed animals.
Stacks of wooden frames.
A pretty little corner.
Jewelry made from vintage typewriter keys.
The requisite creepy dolls.
A booth with Brooklyn-made stationery, totes and prints.
I stopped for a snack from Salvatore Bklyn: crusty French bread with homemade ricotta, arugula, sea salt and olive oil. (Then I went back for seconds.)
And as I was heading out, I lingered a few extra minutes to hear these two street musicians. Thank you for a lovely PARISIENNE afternoon, Brooklyn Flea!

(Photos by Joanna Goddard)

Experience PARISIENNE » brooklyn

Plane Snack: Nougat (Do You Love It Or Hate It?)

The Brooklyn Flea