Two Tartines from La Croix Rouge: Tartine Norvegienne & Tartine Saint-Germain

Cafes are so much a part of the rhythm of Paris life. The cafe is where you do business, have lunch with friends... and spend time contemplating the existential meaning of life...

I have spent time pondering life in Parisan cafes. How could I not, I share a birthday, November 7th, with both Albert Camus, the author and philosopher who promoted the idea of absurdism: why we can't find meaning in life... and the song writer and singer Joni Mitchell who's song, Free Man in Paris, has always spoken to me personally.

Me outside a Paris cafe when I was 30.

I was a free man in Paris I felt unfettered and alive There was nobody calling me up for favors And no one's future to decide You know I'd go back there tomorrow... but I have to feed my family now, and it seems that Tartine Norvegienne:


An open face sandwich of buttered rye bread, smoked salmon with capers and fresh ground pepper is on the menu along with:
Tartine Saint-Germain:

Thinly sliced roast beef on rye with mayonnaise and topped with cornichons, salt and pepper.
Both of these sandwiches are served at La Croix Rouge a cafe close to where Dorie Greenspan lives in Paris. The cafe is located in the fashion district, and it is here where Dorie keeps abreast of what is vogue.

I find it ironic that Paris is one of the world's fashion capitals because I find French woman to be much less trendy than Americans. Europeans in general tend to invest in fewer, better quality, more classic items of clothing than Americans.
When I 30 and went to Paris with my oldest sister (oh, yes, it is another sister story) I think she was looking to indulge me a little, I was no longer a teenager she could convince to shlep luggage for her. I was finishing my master's degree in English and getting married.
I have always loved scarves and my sister believes that everyone should own at least one best of everything. That meant only one thing... I got to pick out a scarf at Hermes. The world renown creator of some of the most beautiful hand painted silk scarfs.

I picked this bird print because both my sister and I love birds; from the time I was little I always painted pictures of birds for my sister.
I treasure this scarf still, it is 19 years old. It hasn't aged a bit... the value of investing in quality. I wear it every Spring, and I aways get compliments on it.
So as I sit here in my Hermes scarf eating my tartines and thinking of Paris, I can't help but think that these sandwiches need to be kicked up a notch.
On the Tartine Norvegienne I replaced the butter with creme fraiche, my daughter used cream cheese; the tanginess of both of these spreads were more equally matched with the intense flavor of smoked salmon than butter.
On the Tarine Saint- Germain I replaced the mayonnaise with a thin smear of Inglehotter's Horseradish sauce. The pungentness of this sauce was a wonderful contrast to the sweetness of the cornichons... a lot more interesting.
I also think these sandwich fixing make great appetizers if you put them on the small square bread you can find in your deli section. I made delicious roast beef appetizers for a fundraiser:


So the meaning of life...
I think it may be an absurd mix of tartines, Hermes scarfs, and generous sisters.
What do you think?

Note: As a member of French Friday's with Dorie I am not allowed to print the recipe. I invite you to take a look at this wonderful cookbook "Around My French Table" if you are interested in this or any other recipe I review.

Click here to see how the other Dorista's did.

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From Dream to Reality @ DYI Dreamer
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Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage
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source : www.simplelivingeating.com , www.oursongfortoday.blogspot.com , www.jogjacamps.blogspot.com , www.missionspot.blogspot.com

Posted by PakDheTotok Ari on Thursday, 5 August 2021 - Rating: 4.5

Title : Two Tartines from La Croix Rouge: Tartine Norvegienne & Tartine Saint-Germain
Description : Cafes are so much a part of the rhythm of Paris life. The cafe is where you do business, have lunch with friends... and spend time contempla...