...Merry Christmas Everyone...

A gift from the sea.

...Kousmichoff knows about the top-shelf...

Today I stopped by Kusmi Tea to do some christmas shopping. The Kousmichoff story: In 1867 they set up shoppe in St. Petersburg (where they supplied the czars of Russia with tea) and later moved here in 1917 – reckon the bolsheviks had something to do with that. Since then, they've nestled in the back of a small courtyard off a busy avenue in the 17th. A simple foyer with shelves holding over 20 different varieties of tea and a room with a cash register make this place remarkably low-key...considering the legacy.

You can find Kusmi teas in Montréal at “Folie en Vrac” on Mont-Royal, or at “La Vielle Europe” on St. Laurent. However, “La Vielle Europe” has samples to smell, and seeing as a tin of 125 g does cost the small fortune of $15 (luckily you only need about one teaspoon per pot) better to go there. "Anastasia" and "Troïka" blends are delightful.

Watercress: The poor man's bread.

I found this beautiful bunch of watercress in a little grocery store yesterday, and did a little research when I got home.

A remarkable source of vitamin C (as well as other vitamins and minerals), watercress is thought to be (amongst other things) a cure for baldness, an aphrodisiac and an excellent remedy for hangovers. Back in 19th century England watercress was commonly eaten for breakfast between two slices of bread or alone as the "poor man's bread". For more insightful tidbits about watercress...

The Aligre Market, Paris.

Back in France for the holidays visiting mom, pops and company. This morning we all hoped on the metro and made our way to the Marché Aligre near the Gare de Lyon (open 7 days a week) to seek out oysters. While we were there I took a photo of some mâche (lamb's lettcue) thinking I would blog about its many virtues. But then, well, I caught sight of some pretty irresistible looking carrots basking in the warm winter sun – some beautiful lychees from madagascar; prosciutto di parma; olive oil from algeria, italy and france; dorade rose and coquilles st. jacques from normandy; boar legs; etc, etc, etc – and started clicking away. As for the oysters, well, leave it to the camera to run out of juice. Hundreds of people, vendors shouting out prices and telling clients that vitamins will bring them beautiful children. Enough said.