January
Hello 2013! The year started with counting down and feasting in London, followed by a Ferrandi end-of-the program trip filled with oysters, Grand Manier, and other good stuff.
February
Ended the pastry program at Ferrandi, took a trip to Barcelona, and started the 5-month internship at Un Dimanche a Paris.
March
Had a heart-attack when Jacques Genin stopped selling his pastries, but also discovered Jean’s amazing cookies and Carin’s enchanting photography in the same month.
April
Warm weather means picnics, starting with pelouse en été hosted by Lauren. Then there was my birthday champagne dinner prepared by the roommate, a Seine-side picnic hosted by these very, very lovely girls, and surprise birthday cake and new chef jacket from colleagues at UDAP. I still feel the love :)
May
Time for flowers, more picnics, a new favorite pastry (jardin d’été from UDAP), and a belated birthday celebration with good wine, home-cooked dishes, and a Tim Walker photography book.
June
Last days as an intern at UDAP (I still miss that place so!), and a trip to London/Cambridge.
July
A full month of traveling starting from Austria, driving down to Slovenia, Croatia, and eventually ended up in Italy (Venice, Florence, Siena, Rome, Amalfi Coast). Travel photos yet to be uploaded…
August
A month of doing nothing in particular, just soaking up the last bit of Paris in preparation for returning to Asia. Prosecco by the river, drawing in the park, amazing home-cooking by American Cook in Paris, strawberry-picking in the farm…
September
Decided last minute to stay in Paris instead of going back to Asia, literally on the day of my flight out. After two (extremely stressful) weeks, successfully extended visa for another year and landed a job as a pâtissier at Fauchon. Before starting work, a trip to Bordeaux for some wine and dine.
October & November
These two months zipped past with work, work, and work. Some fun interludes: a visit to the pastry kitchen of Georges V and Le Bristol, joint-interview with Lindsay, Pierre Herme’s Fetish Ispahan, and an Evgeny Kissin concert.
December
Crazy pre-Christmas time in the pastry kitchen making thousands of bûche de noël. Then on Christmas day, treated to a lovely home-cooked meal and decided to make a broccoli Christmas tree. The year ended with a trip to Strasbourg, Colmar, Dijon, and Beaune.
