APRIL IN PARIS - Really

We've just returned from a springtime visit to London and Paris where the weather was hot, the skies were sunny, and the prices were insane. Which means that we ate well, but not luxuriously, and since Lanny doesn't drink, I ordered wine by the glass or half carafe which means that I didn't drink dreadfully well, but well enough. Or not enough. Either way, my resolution to not drink except on weekends(fattening, blah, blah, blah) went right out that proverbial window. So much for resolutions. I'd like to be able to tell you that this was a fact-finding business-expense mission for Berkshire Preserves, but I didn't so much as touch marmalade.

I did, however, touch lots and lots of macaroons. Touch, as in eat. And, since no one makes macaroons like the French, and they are available in every conceivable color and filling, I had several of each. And I ate gorgeous salads, and lentils with bacon, and veal blanquette, and steak tartare by the kilo. And fresh vegetables and Moroccan chickpeas. And omelettes aux fines herbes and pommes frittes, and fresh o.j.

We walked all over Paris, miles and miles every day. I took  500 photos of the markets alone, and shop fronts. I fell back in love with Rodin's sculptures and marvel at his ability to sculpt the human hand. I reaffirmed that I like his male forms better than his female forms  - but that holds true for me in life as in art. 


So now, we're home in the changeable Berkshires. This morning was warm and sunny so I put on sandals, opened the doors, raised the windows and drove into town. Then the sky turned black and the air now has a definite chill to it so I quickly turned around to rush home and close the doors and windows. And put on a sweater and sneakers and socks. Living here is great for the wardrobe; everything gets worn in ample time.


I made our first delivery of Berkshire Preserves early in April to the  Garden Shop of The New York Botanical Garden. I created three marmalades exclusively for them; Lemon Mint, Grapefruit Pomegranate, and Valencia Orange with Rosewater. They also have our top three sellers, Pink Grapefruit, Blood Orange and Seville Orange marmalade. It's a wonderful new venue for us and I couldn't be more delighted. All of you New Yorkers need to get up to the Bronx after May 21 to see their show "The Gardens of the Alhambra", stop into the gift shop, and pick up a jar or two of these extraordinary new flavors.


For those of you coming coming this way and looking to purchase our jam and marmalade, they're available at the following stores in and around Great Barrington:

 

Guido's

Bizalion's Fine Foods

Taft Farm

The Red Lion Inn

Locke, Stock and Barrell

They're also on the menus and tables of The Old Mill in Egremont, The Red Lion Inn Restaurants in Stockbridge, Nudel Restaurant in Lenox

Check out the "Products" page to see what's available and remember, we ship and deliver.

Barbara