Time has flown and we've been here nearly six months. The weather has been wet and humid sometimes it feels like we're back in Singapore. But it would not be easy to find rhubarbs back home. We've been eating loads of this tart and gorgeously scented " pink celery" as some of my friends call it.
We'll be in London next week, where I'll be mugging for my French exams in between the mandatory foraging. In the meantime here's some pictures of an actual tofu shop in Paris. Yes, where they make tofu fresh. Not even Singapore can beat this.
The shopfront doesn't look promising, no? I've in fact passed by a few times and from a few yards away it always seems like it is closed. But we were in the neighbourhood one Sunday and I reasoned to myself that a tofu shop cannot be closed on the busiest day of the week, and so walked up the hill to have a better look. Sure enough, it was open, but not exactly screaming a big welcome. Sorry, I don't have the address, but it is along one of the sidestreets that branches off from the main drag of Rue Belleville in the 19th arrondissement.
Update 19 May 2007: It is located on Rue Rampal. Thanks nardac!
On the right side, as one enters, there are stacks of soy beans. On the left, more cartons stacked high enough to make the room appear dim. There was a short queue in front of a counter wherein were displayed the various forms of soy products- soft tofu for steamboats, fresh beansprouts, pressed and seasoned tofu skins, etc etc.
But almost everyone was there to buy one thing, i.e. fresh tofu, still warm from the production room next door.
Freshly fried tau-pok.
The tofu was amazing- mildly sweet and fresh tasting. We made mapo-toufu, steamed tofu, put them in soups, no matter how we cooked it, every bite was delicious. Nothing beats fresh tofu to make us feel completely satisfied and at peace with the world. And by the world, I mean that it includes Paris which I am forever whinging about. Bon Weekend!
