Cravings: Roasted Muscat Grapes with Thyme for Friends

(Did you catch that terrible pun?)

Sometimes a craving hits. An oh-my-i-must-taste-this-now! that sends me off on a quest to satisfy it. And that's exactly how, in pulling a neglected bag of sweet muscat grapes from the back of the fridge, roasted grapes with thyme landed on my table.

Muscat grapes are sweet and perfumed. They taste exactly of the wine that they produce but their color is deep and rich. When coated in olive oil, a pinch of salt, and sprigs of fresh thyme, they produce a bright raspberry-colored syrup that is heaven even just by itself. And the whole served on toasts smeared with fresh goat cheese and more olive oil is the essence of the season.

Luckily, I had some dear people to share it with. A friend from Boston was in town to visit Paris for a week with a sweet friend of hers. They set aside a day for exploring Paris together so I met them for lunch before heading off on adventures.

We feasted at a restaurant and wine shop along the Canal St. Martin but we were so busy talking about everything and anything that only the refreshing sea bream ceviche with grapefruit was documented. I even forgot to note the establishment's name!

When we couldn't manage to take another bite, the girls took me to their most amazing find in Paris: The Museum of Hunting and Nature.

Started by a couple who collected items on the theme, the museum is not at all what you would expect. Every corner has a detail (including the hidden little mouse in a baseboard) and the guards love telling you all about them. The museum is really a celebration and exploration of our relationship to nature as both hunter and hunted, in myth and in tradition, in science and in art.

There's really no other way to describe it and perhaps I shouldn't even try: the girls decided not to tell me anything about the experience before bringing me there and it made the discovery even more magical. Go with an open mind.

Full of inspiration and hungry from wandering, we all came back to the apartment and shared a wonderful meal that started with those juicy roasted grapes and chevre.

Could there by a better way to pass a Friday?

 

Comments

[Cristina, from Buenos Aires to Paris]

First thyme I hear about that museum ! Good job!!

[Abigail]

(hee hee you got my joke!) Thank you, Cristina. You should visit the museum - I'd love to hear what you think :)

[geek+nerd]

Sounds pretty delightful to me!