Salade de Chevre Chaud (Warm Goat Cheese Salad)

Makes 1 Serving

I found this recipe in The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz.  It was the perfect light meal to a long day.  I did modify it slightly.  

Goat Cheese Toasts

2 slices of hearty bread.  I used an artisan multi-grain.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3 ounce round goat cheese

Salad

1/2 tsp red wine or sherry vinegar

2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1/8 tsp Dijon mustard

Sea Salt

2 cups Arugula or your preferred greens (stay away from Iceberg lettuce)

Fresh ground black pepper

1/4 cup grape tomatoes sliced in half

Walnut halves, toasted (optional)

1. Preheat the broiler and set oven rack 4" below heating element.
2. Brush bread with just enough olive oil to moisten it.  Place goat cheese on bread slice.  Broil on baking sheet in the oven until cheese is soft and a little brown on top.  Approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
3. While toasts are baking make a vinaigrette in a bowl.  With a fork, stir the vinegar, olive oil, mustard and a pinch of salt.  
4. Toss greens,  tomato and walnuts in vinaigrette and pile on a plate.  Grind fresh pepper over the top.

Enjoy with a glass of wine.  I chose a Sauvignon Blanc. 

David Arrives in Paris

"It was an opportunity to flip over the Etch A Sketch of my life, 

give it a good shake, and start again" 

~ David Lebovitz 

The Sweet Life in Paris is an easy and enjoyable read.   I love quotes so when I saw the quote above I knew I am going to love this book.  

David has arrived in Paris with his suitcases "jam-packed with Sharpies, crunchy peanut butter and measuring cups" to an apartment that he was hoping would be his dream based on the photos online.  It wasn't quite the dream; it needed some work. "I ordered a salade [sic] and the first of many glasses of wine, which I quickly surmised would become a good coping strategy for any problems that were to come."  

In comes the French painter. From the trivia contest I entered that won me this book, I have a feeling the painter will be around for awhile.


Levovitz's writing style reminds me of another favorite author of mine, Bill Bryson.  I find myself laughing out loud as I read and, David's style of writing makes me feel like I am with him there sharing the experience.

The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz

A few weeks ago I entered a contest on a blog site www.sergetheconcierge.com which I came across via Twitter.  Serge is from New Jersey and he shares great information on food, wine, travel, books and all sorts of thing that he comes across in life. He posed the following trivia question:  

What is the easiest thing to take care of in Paris out of these 3:

-Get rid of roaches?

-Have the house painter complete his job and leave?

-Open a bank account?

The winners received a copy of David Lebovitz's book "The Sweet Life in Paris"; I was one of those winners.  (Yay Me!!).

My book arrived about a week ago and today I started reading it.  As I read I will continue to blog about it.  I must say the first impression is wonderful; how many books have a picture of a tasty croissant and coffee on the front and just after the title page a two-page picture (though black and white) of Eiffel Tower shaped Fromage de Chevre (Goat Cheese). At that moment I thought "Hmm...maybe I should be drinking wine while reading this book." Because I am reading it on my breaks at work the wine won't work, but maybe later when I am reading at home. 

A quick thumb through the book I see recipes that I will definitely try with notes on my blog to follow.  Most of them are not Small Servings, however may be good for entertaining.

I have also looked through David's website (www.davidlebovitz.com) and ....well, let's just say every recipes I looked at looked positively wonderful! I am stuck on the ice cream and sorbet page.  Watch for more on my experimentations with his recipes.