French Cake & Julia

 Gateau a l'orange

...no one is born a great cook, one learns by doing."

~ Julia Child, My Life in France

I am remembering Julia Child on her birth date today.  Julia was my first cooking teacher.  As a very young girl, I loved watching The French Chef at my grandmother's house.  

One of my baking goals is to replicate the delicious gateau a l'orange that we enjoyed on our last trip to Paris at Mamie Gateaux.  And, thanks to Julia, I believe I can!

 Mamie Gateaux

66 rue du Cherche-Midi

Paris, France  75006

We came for the quiche and stayed for the cake!

I adored this adorable tea room and patisserie shop just a few blocks away from the Le Bon Marche and La Grande Epicerie de Paris on nearby rue de Serves.

 Maison Patisseries Menu

(The house pastries)

We arrived too late for the quiche so we enjoyed patisseries for a tea break lunch. 

That cake!

I loved the gateau a l'orange at Mamie Gateaux!

From my taste memory, I believe it is a simple orange sponge cake.  I found a recipe for Gateau A L'Orange in Julia's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1 on page 671.  I think this recipe will help me replicate the gateau (French cake) and I will add an orange glaze to it, like the one at Mamie Gateaux.  

And you can bet that on our next trip to Paris, we'll be having the quiche at Mamie Gateaux's and that oh so delicious, gateau a l'orange!  

Cherry Blossom Tea

 Sakura Tea Party

It's Cherry Blossom Festival time!

This year 2012, 

is a special year for the National Cherry Blossom Festival,

as it marks the 100-year anniversary 

of Japan's gift of 3,000 cherry trees to

Washington D.C..

Here in California, 

this weekend and next weekend is the 

45th Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival 

in San Francisco, CA.

Our festival is said to be the second largest festival

outside of Washington D.C. to celebrate the blooming of cherry blossoms,

a traditional custom in Japan known

as Hanami. 

 Sakuramochi

To celebrate Hanami,

I'm having a Sakura  (cherry blossom) Tea Party 

with Fleur de Geisha tea, that I purchased last year in Paris, 

along with Sakuramochi treats.

Sakuramochi is a sweet pink mochi (rice cake)

filled with a red bean paste center,
covered with a pickled sakura (cherry) leaf.  

In Japan,

they are a variety of wagashi,

which is traditional Japanese confectionery

which is often served with tea.

I did a bit of research and found out that

Sakuramochi is traditionally served on 

Hinamatsuri (Girl's Day in Japan) 

on March 3rd. 

 Fleur de Geisha

Fleur de Geisha
is one of my favorite green teas to drink in the spring.

It's a blend of Japanese green tea, 

delicately flavored with cherry blossom.  

This lovley blend by Les Palais Des The`s was

inspired by the Japanese Hanami tradition 

of cherry blossom viewing. 

I've purchased this tea

before in Paris

and couldn't wait to buy it again.  

Last year in Paris,

I purchased the boxed Fleur de Geisha tea,

 that comes in a pretty keepsake caddy.

I love that the tin caddy is covered with Washi paper,

decorated with the Sakura motif

traditionally found on the geishas kimonos.

 Le Palais Des The's

I love to shop at Le Palais Des The's 

 in the Le Marais at 

64 rue Vieille du Temple

Paris, France  75003

(In the photos:  Japanese blossom plate by Mino and vintage Spode Chelsea Wicker tea cup.)

Just What the Doctor Ordered!

Fauchon French Treats!

My hand surgery went very well

 but I will be recovering for awhile.

To speed up my recovery

I'm enjoying Fauchon "French treats"!  

I think they are just what the doctor ordered!

     An Afternoon in Paris

Every afternoon, 

I'm enjoying my favorite Fauchon tea 

"An Afternoon in Paris"

that I picked up at the Fauchon store in Paris last year.

Fauchon
 Paris

I'm also enjoying a few extra treats 

that were an unexpected find here in the States.

I was so excited about this Fauchon find...

I just had to share it with you!

Home Goods 

currently has some Fauchon products in their food section.

(You rarely find Fauchon products in the US.)

At my local Home Goods, I spotted Biscuits, 

Chocolates, Chocolate Orange sauce 

and Cafe Choc gourmet coffee.

I believe these products are all overstock

 from the 2011 Christmas season

with expiration dates for later in the year.  

.

So now I begin my day with a gourmet latte' 

made with Fauchon's 

Cafe Choc ground coffee.   

The label on the bottom reads:

Cafe de Noel moulu saveur chocolat.

This special-blend Christmas coffee

is flavored with cocoa nibs.

I love the back and white Fauchon tin that the coffee is packaged in.

The coffee labels peel off, 

so I will be re-cycling this tin as a tea caddy,

I'm sure!

I'm also enjoying 

"les biscuits"

from Fauchon...

delicious little French cookies

stamped with Fauchon's signature letter F. 

If you have a Home Goods near you...

rush down soon

 so you can enjoy some Fauchon 

French treats,too! 

Go Red for Women!

Collection Amelie 

Tomorrow is 

National Wear Red Day ...

will you be a lady in red tomorrow?

I love this cause Go Red for Women 

for the fight against women's heart disease.

I've been racking my brain

what I can wear tomorrow to show my support.

Then, it dawned on me...

I have a "tres chic" accessory set 

that I picked up in Paris in 2003,

my Lancel Amelie purse and scarf set.  

Lancel
127 Avenue Des Champs-Elysees 
Paris

I fell in love with the Amelie Paris map print collection in a French magazine

one night at our hotel in Rue Cler.

The next morning,

I asked the nice desk clerk where I could find the collection.

So that morning,
before leaving Paris,
 we made a mad dash to the Champs Elysees

and the Lancel boutique.

At the  Lancel boutique

I couldn't speak French and the Lancel sales clerk didn't speak English.

Somehow we managed and I came home with the

limited-edition Amelie handbag and scarf...
and we made it to the airport on time!

I think tomorrow is a perfect day

to bring them out of my closet.

Red is Lancel's trademark color, afterall!

(The photo of the Lancel boutique on the Champs Elysees
is a recent photograph from our May 2011 trip...
I just love the Brigitte Bardot billboard.)

Bonne Annee

Champagne Cocktails

 La Closerie des Lilas

Paris, France

Bonne Annee!

(Happy New Year)

A toast to the New Year!

Patisseries at Carette

Paris, France

I hope the New Year

brings you much happiness and joy,

sweet surprises

and, of course...
a few French treats!

Mes Confitures

  Christine's Confitures

She's French.

She's the daughter of fourth-generation bakers and pastry makers

and she knows a thing or two about jams and jellies.

She is...

jam maker extraordinaire Christine Ferber

and her book Mes Confitures
has inspired me to make jam at home again.

 La Grande Epicerie Paris

On my visit to Paris in May,

 I was on the look out for Christine's jams and jellies.

If you're a foodie...

there is nothing like stepping into

La Grande Epicerie Paris.

I am like a kid in a candy store every time I visit and

Christine's jams in their pretty red packaging were easy to spot.

I wanted to bring home some of Christine's jams but didn't chance it

due to the TSA 3oz guideline for carry on liquids.

 More Jam, S'il Vous Plaît

The next time I go to Paris though,

I am going to buy Christine's jams when I first arrive and savor them

on croissants from Boulangerie Malineau.

In the meantime,

I am inspired by her book and her unique flavor combinations. 

 Her book is divided by the seasons.  I like that.

Since it's fall, I'm experimenting with her recipe called

Andree`s Orchard Quince Jam.

Instructions are a bit brief in the book, so I do recommend

reading up on jam making, if you need to. 

Christine even advises in the book,

"With time and practice, you will refine your own technique."

 Orange Sanguines

Christine also says,

"A batch of jam is always an act of creation!"

I can't wait to create more of her recipes like:

Orange with Earl Grey Tea,

Pear with Pinot Noir and Cinnamon

and

Vineyard Peach and Pear with Grand Marnier.

Dehillerin

18-20 rue Coquilliere, Paris

And of course,

if you buy her book,

you'll probably want to buy "the pan"...

a French copper confiture pan

like Christine always uses.

I did.

Teeli Click

Time for The` Glace

(French Iced Tea)

It's the heat of summer...

so I'm drinking a lot of iced tea!

As a California girl, I grew up on Lipton (instant) iced tea.  

There was always a huge cooler of good 'ole Lipton in our ski boat

on every trip out on the water. 

Today, I prefer to make my iced tea with premium loose teas. 

 I enjoy Yorkshire Tea iced and I love to experiment with French teas

 for The` Glaces (French Iced Teas).

Teeli Click!

On my latest trip to Paris,

I discovered the neatest little tea gadget for making tea. 

It's called  Teeli Click. 

Teeli Clicks are the perfect accompaniment to tea filter bags.  The Teeli Click is a little clip that "snaps" like a barrette.  You just "click-it" on your tea filter bag to close it and "voila"...no more messy tea leaves. 

I love using my Teeli Click with large tea filters for making a pitcher of iced tea.  It comes on a little chain with a hook so you can hook it on your glass tea pot while steeping your tea.  

I found my Teeli Clicks at Le Palais de The`s in Paris. 
It's another one of my favorite tea shops in le Marais...
just a few blocks away from Mariage Freres. 

The French Art of Tea

French The`

It's Bastille Day this Thursday so ,oui,

I'm drinking French the` (tea) all week! 

It's no secret...

Mariage Freres is my favorite French tea purveyor. 

Mariage Freres was founded in 1854 in Paris and they are the oldest tea importer in France. 

L` Art Francais Du The`

(The French Art of Tea)

Today, Mariage Freres offers over 500 teas. 

With over 500 tea varieties, shopping for tea at Mariages Freres can be overwhelming.  That's why I rely on their book The French Art of Tea.

The French Art of Tea is a knowledgeable guide that navigates you through the world of Mariage Freres teas.  It's pages are filled with history and invaluable information for French tea aficionados.  My favorite part of the book are the teas themselves with their descriptions and blend names.

I  always use this book for making my "tea shopping list" whenever I visit Paris!

Mariage Freres
30 Rue du Bourg-Tibourg

My favorite place to shop for Mariage Freres tea is their original location

in the le Marias district of Paris. 

Here in the States, you can find a few of their blends

(in their famous brown caddies)

at Williams Sonoma stores. 

Since I live in Northern California, I normally replenish my stock at:

Market Hall Foods in Oakland , CA 

 The Pasta Shop in Berkeley, CA

Dean and Deluca in St. Helena, CA

All three California stores where I shop, have the best selection of Mariage Freres

that I've seen outside of Paris.  I must tell you though...

nothing beats the experience of shopping at Mariage Freres in Paris!

Vive' la France

and

Mariage Freres!

Happy Summer!

L'ete Summer Tea

Happy first day of summer!

Wouldn't it be nice to begin celebrating summer
with some French summer tea?  And oui, of course, I have the perfect suggestion for you...

Fauchon's  L'ete Summer.

Fachuon's summer tea is an Oolong tea (also known as blue tea)
with flowery notes,

scented with grenadine and citrus fruit flavors. 

Tarte au Citron 

According to Fauchon...
" L'ete Summer tea is ideal in the afternoon with desserts". 

I think it would pair beautifully with a tarte au citron! 

Fauchon Paris

24-26 place de la Madeleine

L'ete Summer Tea is available at Fauchon in Paris.  I love to shop at the original Fauchon location
behind the Madeleine church which opened in 1886. 

If you live in the US, you can find some Fauchon tea blends online at a
 Taste of Paris. 

Happy summer!

I hope your summer includes

French tea

and

sweet treats! 

Fleur de Geisha

 Fleur de Geisha

Hanami (flower viewing) is the Japanese custom of enjoying the beauty of  flowers. 

Every spring from the end of March to early May the Sakura (cherry blossoms) bloom all over Japan.  The Japanese people enjoy the tradition of hanami today by celebrating in parks and festivals with outdoor parties under the Sakura trees.

 Geisha Girls

Hanami is also celebrated in the United States. 

On March 27, 1912, Japan gave 3,000 Japanese cherry trees as a gift to the United States.  These trees were planted in Washington DC.  In 1965 another 3,800 gifted trees were planted there.  Japans' gift of the cherry blossom trees celebrates the enduring friendship between the people of Japan and the United States. 

Washington D.C. has had a Cherry Blossom Festival since 1935 to celebrate spring and the gift of the cherry blossom trees.  Today the festival has grown into a 2 week spring celebration known as the National Cherry Blossom Festival. 

 Le Palais des The`s

A wonderful way for to celebrate the arrival of spring and hanami is to drink

Fleur de Geisha tea by Le Palais des The`s.

Le Palais des The`s is tucked away in the le Marais in Paris. I discovered this wonderful tea purveyor while meandering the Marais on my last trip to Paris. 

My favorite tea discovery in their shop was Fleur de Geisha .  This tea is actually inspired by the Japanese tradition of Hanami viewing cherry trees in blossom.  Fleur de Geisha is a Sencha (green tea) delicately scented with cherry blossom. 

Fleur de Geisha

Fleur de Geisha is the perfect tea to celebrate the cherry blossom trees.

This special tea blend can be ordered online from Les Palais des The`s but I've decided to wait and pick mine up on my upcoming trip to Paris in May.

I hope you'll try this lovely taste of spring and take time for hanami. 

Special note:   I would like to express my heartfelt prayers to the people of Japan and their loved ones as they recover from their devastating earthquake and tsunami.  For ways to help the people of Japan, you can visit this website. 


(In the photos:  Large Washi tea canister available for purchase at The Tea Cupboard.)

An Afternoon in Paris!

 Un Apres Midi a` Paris

(An Afternoon in Paris)

 Spring has sprung...

and there's nothing better than An Afternoon in Paris
 in the springtime!

 Place des Vosges

A lovely place to visit on An Afternoon in Paris is the Place des Vosges. 

The Place des Vosges is the oldest square, and some say the most beautiful square in Paris.  I agree. 

The Place des Vosges is located in the trendy le Marais district. 

I'll be spending an afternoon in Paris (well, actually five)  next month when my husband and I holiday in England and Paris.  This will be our first time staying in the Marais arrondissment.  (We normally stay in the Rue Cler area near the Eiffel Tower.)  The Marais is home to trendy boutiques, famous patisseries, and my favorite French tea purveyors... Mariage Freres and Le Palais des The`s!

I can't wait for Paris in springtime!

An Afternoon in Paris

Speaking of spring,  An Afternoon in Paris is one of my favorite teas to drink in springtime.  It's floral and fruity notes certainly conjure up memories of Paris afternoons.

An Afternoon in Paris is one of Fauchon's top selling blends.  This lovely Chinese Black tea is flavored with sweet Orange oil, orange peel, vanilla, rose oil and rose petals.  I find its ideal steeping time is 4 minutes.  Of course, this tea is perfect in the afternoon with your favorite French desserts.  Very Parisian, indeed!

To enjoy this tea, I'm afraid you'll have to enjoy an afternoon in Paris and buy it there.  Fauchon products are being sold again online in the US but not all products are available on the US shopping site. 

 I can't wait for more afternoons in Paris!

(In the photos:  Vintage Shelley "Woodland" Tea Cup & Saucer. 

Available for purchase in The Tea Cupboard.)

Miss Dior Cherie

Take me to Paris!

Ooh, la, la..this ad makes me want to go to Paris!

Yesterday while at the hair salon I spotted this adorable ad for Miss Dior Cherie in Vogue magazine. Any view of Paris... always catches my eye!

The ad's rooftop view is similar to the view my husband and I once shared on at the rooftop cafe at the Parisian department store La Samaritaine. We had our very first Croque-Monsieurs enjoying this same spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower. Sadly this landmark department store and restaurant have been closed for years now for security reasons.

So Chic! So French!

Then last night I saw the Miss Dior Cherie television commercial. It is so French and adorable. The beautiful young woman is seen prancing around Paris to a catchie French tune Moi je joue sung by Brigitte Bardot. The commercial makes me want to go to Paris even more!

The ad campaign is clever, cute and catchie. No wonder. It is directed by Sofia Coppola!

As for Miss Dior Cherie, it is a new perfume by Dior. If you ask me, I think this darling new ad campaign is going to sell a lot more than just perfume. It is probably going to sell a few airline tickets to Paris, too!

Miss Dior Cherie

Available at Nordstrom, Macy's and Sephora.

Anastasia Kusmi Tea

Anastasia Kusmi Tea

Ahhh...the aroma and taste of French tea!

My latest tea find is Anastasia by Kusmi Tea. It's a French tea blend with a Russian past! It is inspired and named after the mysterious Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia.

Anastasia is a French Earl Grey blend with citron, et fleur d' oranger. English translation: a Russian blend of China and Ceylon teas with natural scents of bergamot (Earl Grey) lemon, lime and orange blossom. It is delicious as a French iced tea!

Kusmi Tea celebrated 140 years of tea business in 2007. It was founded by a Russian peasant in 1867 by a P.M. Kousmichoff (1840-1908). During the Russian Revolution his son moved the company's headquarters to Paris. Kousmichoff's Grandson eventually sold the business. Today Kusmi still operates with it's work shops in Paris.

I have often admired the baroque style Kusmi tea caddy tins in Paris. For years I thought it was a Russian Tea brand. After all, it's packaging and tea blend names are so Russian! I recently discovered that it is a French tea company, so voila, I had to try it.

Lucky for me I was at Dean and Deluca in the Napa Valley last week. D & D just happens to carry a small variety of Kusmi Teas amongst their import teas. I chose the Anastasia blend. I later discovered it is one of their top sellers, rivaling Prince Vladimir at the top spot. Oui, I will try Prince Vladimir next!

The next time I am in Paris, I hope to visit the Kusmi Tea store and restaurant.

Kusmi Tea and Restaurant

56, rue de Seine, Paris, 75017

If you get there before me...let me know how it is!

Celebrate Bastille Day!

Celebrate Bastille Day!

We Americans have the 4th of July. The French have Bastille Day. Bastille Day is the French national holiday that commemorates the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789.

The Bastille was the King's prison in Paris and a symbol to the French people of the absolute power of the King Louis 16th's rule (Marie Antoinette's husband). The storming of the prison by the peasant class was a symbol of liberty and the fight against oppression for all the French people. This day in history marks the beginning of the French Revolution, the birth of the Republic and a new government.

Place de la Bastille
(early 1900's vintage photograph)

The Place de la Bastille is a monument where the Bastille prison once stood. (The Bastille prison was demolished two days after the outraged Parisians stormed it in 1789.)

In the center is the column called the Colonne de Juillet (July column) honors the Parisians who died during the July 1830 Revolution. At the top of the column stands the cherub like figure of the Genie de la Liberte (The Spirit of Liberty).

Today in Paris there will be a grand military parade down the Champs Elysees. There will be festivals celebrating all over France. There will even be French celebrations in major cities across America.

You can celebrate, too! You could cook a French inspired meal...or dine out at your favorite French cafe. Easier yet....

pop open a great bottle of French wine or champagne

and toast "Vive la France"!

Le Palais Des The's

Le Palais Des The's, Paris

I used to be an English "tea snob". For years, I only drank English loose tea (OK a tea bag, now and then). Once my husband and I started travelling to the UK, I fell in love with the tradition of English tea and tea rooms. I loved finding new brands and new flavors of black teas whenever we travelled to England.

Well, my tea story changed after my second trip to Paris. On my first trip (my honeymoon) I stayed loyal to my English heritage and was not tempted by all the pretty tea caddies I saw in the Parisian department stores. After all, wasn't it the English that popularized tea? Well, their Duchess of Bedford may have invented their famous afternoon tea time but I discovered that in 1636, it was fashionable to drink tea in Paris, 22 years before tea even came to England.

I fell in love with French tea at a branch of Mariage Freres, in Paris. To this day, they are still my favorite tea purveyor in the entire world! They offer over 500 of the world's finest teas. (Oui, a future post.) On my last trip to Paris though, I decided to check out another famous French tea company, Le Palais Des The's, in the 3rd arrondisement of Paris.

If you are thinking you may have heard of Le Palais Des The's, you are probably right! Oprah Winfrey is a big fan of this tea company. Their tea sampler has made her "O" list. I am a big fan now, too!

Going into Le Palais Des The's was totally a different experience than stepping into an "old fashioned" Parisian Mariage Freres tea store. Le Palais Des The's store has a bright Chinese red exterior along with a very modern interior. There was a definite "hip" vibe with it's young Parisian staff.

I made Le Palais Des The's my destination for my the's vert (green tea) shopping list. I purchased Chinese Gunpowder Tea, Jasmin, Sencha Superieur and Fleur de Geisha from Japon (Japan). The tea clerk measured my tea and put them in modern, shiny silver packets with a vacuum seal. This wonderful packet keeps your tea fresh and safe from air and light.

I hope I have enticed you to try their wonderful teas. I know you won't be disappointed.

And, if you can't get to Paris you can shop online

(in your jammies with a cup of tea) at: Palais des Thes.

Chinese Gunpowder Tea

Chinese Gunpowder Tea

I had never heard of Chinese Gunpowder tea until I experienced Moroccan mint tea in London. After London we took the Euro Star over to Paris. I decided to buy my Chinese Gunpowder tea in Paris at Le Palais Des The's (the' is tea in French). They are famous for the finest teas imported from all over the world.

Chinese Gunpowder tea is a green tea from the Zhejiang Province in China. It's production dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). In Chinese it is called Zhu Cha. In English it is called Gunpowder because the green leaf is tightly rolled into a tiny pellet which explodes into a long leaf steeped in hot water.

It is popular world wide. It is a staple in North Africa for the traditional preparation of Moroccan mint tea.

Buying: A tip when buying Chinese Gunpowder tea is to look for shiny pellets. This indicates that the tea is fresh.

Brewing: Steep 4 minutes.

Try the wonderful teas at Le Palais Des The's and let me know what you think!

General Lafayette and Freedom

General Lafayette and George Washington Statue

Paris, France

The French love the Marquis de La Fayette (1757-1834).

He is best known to Americans as General Lafayette. He was a French military officer and aristocrat who served as a General and diplomat during the American Revolutionary War. Alongside George Washington he helped America win the American Revolution. The two became lifelong friends.

I am honored to say that my French ancestry has a link to Lafayette!

My Dad was told growing up that he was related to the Marquis de Lafayette. Fast forward to when I started going to Paris, my Father told me that I was related to Lafayette. I was fascinated with this connection. In checking my genealogy, I am not a direct descendant of Lafayette but from his Mother's Sister's line. That's good enough for me!

In 2005, at a Paris flea market, I was searching for old post cards of Lafayette. The French antique dealers spoke English and loved hearing of my Lafayette connection! They were very kind and told me where there were two statues of Lafayette in Paris. I couldn't wait to explore more of Paris and find them.

The Place des Etats Unis

The Place des Etats Unis is a street in the 16th Arrondissement in Paris. It is a wealthy residential neighborhood with stately homes. In its public park is the statue of Lafayette and Washington in the center of the park's square.

General Lafayette & George Washington Monument
The Place des Estats Unis

The statue of Lafayette and Washington (1873) is by French sculptor, Frederic-August Bartholdi (1834-1904). The same sculptor who did the Statue of Liberty for America! Interestingly, it was Lafayette's grandson, Edmond de La Fayette and a group of Frenchmen in 1865 Paris, that came up with the idea of the Statue of Liberty as a gift of friendship to America.

The Childrens Statue of Lafayette

Right Bank, Paris

The Americans love Lafayette, too. This statue of Lafayette was a gift to France in 1908 from American school children. It is by sculptor Paul Wayland Barlett. It is along the Seine on the Right bank in Paris between the Pont de l'Alma and Pont des Invalids. The inscription on the base reads:

Erected by the school children of the United States
in grateful memory of Lafayette

statesman, soldier, patriot.

Lafayette is buried in Paris, France. Since the 1890's an American flag has flown at his grave site. He loved America!

Farmers Markets & Summer Baies (Berries)

French Framboise (Raspberries)

There is nothing like fresh produce from the farm, to the farmers market, to your kitchen. The French love their fresh produce and so do we in California.

Here are a few photographs for you to see what Farmers Markets look like in Paris, France and in Northern CA (where I live).

French produce stand, Rue Cler, Paris, France

This is what a food market looks like in Paris, France. On the pedestrian only Rue Clear street there are permanent food stands open every day of the week. The French are famous for planning their meals based on what is fresh at the market that day.

California Strawberries (Fraise)

California is also know for it's abundant produce and love for food. Back in the early 1970's, famed Chef, Alice Waters started the culinary trend "California Cuisine". She introduced the French tradition of using fresh-in season ingredients, locally grown, at Chez Panise her Bay Area restaurant. She is a big advocate for Farmers Markets.

California Berry Farmer

This is what a small Farmers Market looks like in California on a Sunday morning. The berry farmer's strawberries were gorgeous today since it is peak season. They are grown organic with no pesticides.

No matter where you live in the United States, there is a good chance that you, too, are enjoying California strawberries. California supplies our nation with 83% of its strawberries!

Farmers markets are nothing new. I come from a long family line of farmers. Back in the 1800's my ancestors in Pontefract, England would sell at the town's market square. My Dad grew up on a 100 acre farm in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. As a young boy he remembers his Dad loading up the truck and going in to town to sell fresh produce.

I am a city girl but there are times when I wish I had a little farm. I guess it is in my genes. For now, I shall be content with my little herb garden on my tiny suburban lot and shopping at my local Farmers Markets.