To Paris With Love Blog
Posted on January 15, 2016 by Jackie DeKnock No comments
GOURMET LOVE
“Spreading the love, one recipe at a time!”
The back-story that inspired the menu that inspired the recipes! Foodie and Love stories combining love, romance, and adventure (remember this is all fiction my friends)! Let me take my paintbrush, paint the scene and the mood to take you there…
Inspired quote to love by: “Love is the strongest force the world possesses and yet it is the humblest imaginable.” ~ Gandhi
Love Dateline: A Love Letter To Paris!
Where: From Canada to Paris
When: Late 2015
Mood: Somber and united
My Love Letter to Paris November 2015
Dear Paris, the city of love,
I haven’t stopped thinking of you since the recent events there. My heart breaks for you and all of the pain that you are feeling. I write this letter of love to you because you mean so much to me, you changed the course of my life and I never did thank you.
When I was 23 (seems like yesterday) you took me in when I was broadening my horizons and exploring the world. I left my small town and you welcomed with open arms and no questions. You brought so much to my life, here’s a small part of what I want to thank you for:
You opened my eyes to the big world
You shared your culture with me
You gave me such an appreciation of food, not just your cuisine, but cuisines from all over the world
You made me realize what multiculturalism and tolerance looks like
You taught me what being inclusive looks like
You taught me how to speak ‘proper’ Parisian French
You introduced me to really good chocolate (thanks for that)
You introduced me to amazing Parisians
You showed me joie de vivre that no one else has in the world
I worked as a nanny (Au Pair) for one of your national treasures. Thank you as well for that experience, one I’ll never forget.
You made such an impression on me, a young girl of 23. You exposed me to so much; you were a gateway for me to the rest of the world. You, as a city, bring back so many amazing memories to me.
Years later I returned back to you and you played a huge part in my life again, this time the backdrop to my engagement right on Pont Neuf (the most romantic place in all of Paris). Thank you.
You even set the course for my life and the journey that I am following. While I was with you, I explored your amazing food from all over the world, which whet my appetite and my love of international cuisines. To this day, I am still following this path with my passion, Gourmet Safari. You ignited that passion, thank you.
To share a taste of your cuisine, I have put together a ‘To Paris With Love’ Menu – the recipes are a simple, yet delicious taste of your fair city. I hope that people make the dishes and think of you as they share them. Loving their food as much as you – Parisians – can only do.
What happened in your city will not separate us, we are here for you. I’ll come back to see you as soon as I can – that’s a promise.
With love peace is possible.
XO
Check out the complete “To Paris With Love” menu
Love Dateline: Letter Of Hope To You!
Where: From Canada
When: Late 2015
Mood: Hopeful
Dear You,
I know I don’t know you (yet), but I had to share these thoughts with you.
The greatest human need is love, we are all driven by the force of love.
In a world sometimes filled with hatred & judgement of others, find love in your heart instead. How do we heal this world – one kindness at a time. In our own small way, we can be the change. Start by bringing the family & friends you love back to the kitchen table. Perhaps you’ll even consider making this ‘To Paris With Love’ Menu. Share your food and nourish your soul. What the world needs now is love sweet love. Bring it home…show your kitchen some love, spread the love to your loved ones and then pass it on. Take it to the streets with random acts of love and kindness – smile at a stranger, make eye contact, hold a door open, help someone across a busy street. Lift your head up and see the world. Just small, simple random acts of love and kindness make all the difference in the world. Pass it on, show the love. Give love, get love. Love is an action word.
Pass it on…
If you need inspiration, just watch these videos that will hopefully touch your heart as they did mine. It doesn’t take very much at all to display random acts of love and kindness to share with others. One act of kindness deserves another and another and another. Your act of love is passed on automatically…the gift that keeps on giving. The more love you give the more love you get in return.
Last but not least, show Paris some love. Travel there or if you want to share your love stories with Paris, send them over.
Love is the most powerful force on this earth. Love is more powerful than hate. Love will be the cure. Be love, not fear!
Peace.
XO