A Francophile might like this book cover, and a foodie or kid-at-heart might enjoy the content. Read the reviews for Fanny at Chez Panisse here. Meantime, learn about another panisse in today's column, a tribute to Gus Elison!
Bonnes résolutions du Nouvel An
: new year's resolutions
Audio File: our son, Max, just woke up and I talked him into helping me record today's sound file (after my own attempt to pronounce the French words might have misled a language learner! Listen to 17-year-old Max: Download MP3 or Wave file
(Did you want to hear my version? You did didn't you?: Download MP3 or Download Wav)
Quelles sont vos bonnes résolutions du Nouvel An?
What are your new year's resolutions?
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse
I did not plan on making a list of new year's resolutions until, tout naturellement, a list began to form….
More Deep Belly Laughter
It was while stumbling onto a video that made my sides split with laughter that I realized DAILY LAUGHTER was a perfect goal. To fully appreciate the video, you'd have to be someone who, like me, got a little freaked out about GMOs last year, had a health scare/surgical snafu and decided to learn more about raw foods, followed a few too many juice guru videos… and ended up able to laugh about it all (…and still make le jus vert for Jean-Marc and myself each morning!)
Goal Number 2 Trust Your inner cuistot!
Then, yesterday, New Year's Day, I set out to make the chickpea flour-based "winter farinata" (La Cucina di Terresa's) when a change of plans led to an innovative, au pif moment… and I began to accidentally make a southern French savory side dish: les panisses! I'll be frying those up for Max and me at lunchtime (tant pis for Jean-Marc and Jackie, who are away!), and may share the recipe (or a video?). I've got some leftover salmon that I'll spread on top, and some miam miam good confiture d'oignon that a lovely teacher, Youlia, from the Ukraine, offered me on New Year's eve (she had spread her homemade onion jam on top of foie gras, for a sweet/savory combination).
Goal Three: Bring Joy into another's Life
The most recent new year's goal came after receiving this touching letter, from a reader's daughter:
Dear Kristin,
We both admire a special man. His name is Gus Elison, he is my Dad. On January 2, 1925 he became the oldest of three children. Because of the economy and being so close to Christmas, Dad never had a real Birthday Party. That is until 2013. Kristin, you have meant the world to my Dad, will you help me with a request to have Birthday Wishes from around the world?
Dad means the world to me, and he is that rare breed of man that has made this world a better place.
Thank you for bringing joy into his life,
Mary Gotz
***
Thank you, Mary, for letting us know about Gus's 88th birthday today. Bon anniversaire, Gus!
To anyone reading, please join me now in sending greetings and birthday wishes to this venerable member of our French Word-A-Day family: Gus Elison.
Click here to write your birthday wishes to Gus in the comments box.
More about Gus:
=> We first learned about Gus after my mom selected him among nearly 2000 entrants for the antique key giveaway. Do not miss both Mom's and Gus's (original comment) here
=> Next, we met his lovely French wife, Paulette, and saw these photos.
=> What a surprise when Gus and Paulette came to visit me in France, and introduced us to the beautiful Jeanne.
=> Another member of our French Word-A-Day family, Herm, wrote a special poem for Gus. Herm, if you are reading, could you please post that poem in the comments box?
Thanks again for leaving Gus Elison a birthday wish. Click here to share your message.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
tout naturellement = very naturally
le jus vert = green juice
le cuistot = a cook
au pif = to cook by guesswork (pif = slang for "nose"), to eyeball it (when measuring), to play it by ear
tant pis = too bad, tough luck!
miam miam = yum yum
la confiture d'oignon = onion jam
bon anniversaire, or "bon anniv" for short 🙂 = happy birthday
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The sun in shining in Seattle on your birthday, Gus, as your radiance has shone on so many of Kristi’s readers. Blessings to you and many, many more glorious birthday celebrations to you! Annie from Seattle
Wishing you a joyous 88th Birthday and many more to come! From, Judi in Tallahassee, Florida
Happy Birthday Gus..
From an American in Burgundy
Happy Birthday from Key West, FL, as far south as you can go and still be in the U.S!
Happy b’day Gus from Carmel, CA.
Je te souhaite de journees chaude et des nuits etoiles de la nouvelle annee.
(Wishing you warm days and starry nights in the new year.) And to you also Kristi.
Bon anniversaire, Gus! From sunny (for the moment, at least!) Oregon
A million birthday blessings to you , Gus, from New Zealand – hoping you will read this on your birthday as it’s now Jan 3rd here. You’ll have to come to New Zealand one year for a summer birthday!! May it be a day surrounded by family & friends, love & laughter.
Bon Anniversaire, Gus. Felicitations au commencement d’une autre Nouvelle Année. All the best from Mercer Island, WA.
Happy Birthday Gus, with wintery Alaskan kisses! From Anchorage,AK
Just sending a very special “HaPPy BiRThDaY” to Gus (now famous all over the world ;-)!!) from sunny Warriewood Beach, NSW
Wishing you a Tres Happy Birthday Gus…
May lovely flowers always grow in your garden of life and sunshine follow you wherever you are.:) I have also reached an age where you realise that every day/month /year counts and one must appreciate them as a gift. Eat as much cake as you can stand and relish the company of family and friends (incl all of us in “Kristis virtual family”.)
Warmest wishes (24 hot degrees) from Annein New Zealand, where its our summer.
Happy Birthday Gus from warm and sunny Christchurch in New Zealand!
Bon Anniversaire,Gus!
May God bless you with every joy!
Happiest of birthdays Gus! You have made the world a better place. Keep up the great work.
Hugs,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GUS, THE MAN WHO LIVES LIFE IN UPPERCASE, FROM CHILLY COLORADO! And wishes to Herm for a speedy recovery.
Happy Birthday Gus from Scottsdale, Arizona!
My dad’s birthday was also on Jan. 2nd. He would have been 94 today. I miss him terribly. He was just great. I know you are
too!
Sherry
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUS AND PAULETTE AND HAVE A WONDERFUL 2013!
FROM ABBOTSFORD, B.C. CANADA, FROM ANOTHER
JANUARY PERSON – THE 12TH. IT’S COLD HERE
RIGHT NOW BUT WE HAVE SUN, AFTER MUCH RAIN AND DARK DAYS. I TOO APPRECIATE FRENCH WORD A DAY.
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Gus
Happy Birthday to you
Wishing you a wonderful day from Phoenix, AZ
Bon anniversaire, Gus!
It is fun to read notes from you posted here, and to see the photos of you and your lovely wife.
I only know realize you are just a few months older than my father-in-law. So I know you have seen much life and know how to keep living it well.
Bonne anniversaire, Gus! from sunny northern California. Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2013.
Question to Kristin:
How to say le cuistot and miam miam, two useful words ?
kwees toh or kwees tot ?
mee ahm or mee am (with the son nasal)
I tried google’s translate feature, which will say words, but not always so trustworthy as you are on the correct pronunciation.
Bonne année !
Joyeux Anniversaire and Happy Birthday, Gus, from Portland, Oregon! Hope your day is wonderful!!
Happy Birthday, Gus. I think it’s wonderful that Kristin has readers that span all ages, backgrounds and world locations! We are all one! I am very happy to join in the collective world-wide birthday wish to you today.
Kathy from the SF Bay Area, CA
Bonne anniversaire, Gus, you lucky francophile! From another Floridian.
Bonne Anniversaire !! Best wishes, from Fuquay-Varina North Carolina.
Happy Birthday, Gus, from Sudbury, MA!
Gus….”bon anniv” from The San Francisco Bay Area!! Warm wishes for a wonderful birthday.
Happy Birthday Gus, from Worcester, MA. May you enjoy many more
Bon anni de Chicago! Gus, 8 is my favorite number and now here you are at 88! Quelle beaute!
Happy Birthday Gus, from Anne in Tucson, Arizona
Greetings from Cincinnati OH…
Gus, what a handsome man you are – you don’t look a day over 70!
Bisous,
Mary
Happy birthday Gus, greetings from Chris in sunny Sydney.
Warm Birthday wishes to you-Gus.
May this year be filled with Love and Joy!
Happy, Happy Birthday, Gus and Happy New Year.
Bon Birthday . ‘ appy Anniversairre to a wonderful sounding gentleman for a star lit Central London.
Happy Birthday Gus from Sandpoint, Idaho. Make it wonderful, you’re only 88 once!!
Happy Birthday, Gus, from Portland, Oregon (where the sun has been shining for four days in your honor!). Best wishes for a joyous celebration and a wonderful 2013! Amitiés, Leslie, with Scott, Henry and Bob.
Bonne Anniversaire Gus from Vince in London, England!
Buenos Cumpleaños, Gus, from San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico!
Hey Gus
Wishing you a very happy birthday and a grand party!! from sunny Sydney,Australia.
Bon anniversaire, Gus. I’m sending this greeting from New York City where I”m currently staying while my daughter is away, with my 82 year old friend. We met at a french school (in Villefranche sur mer) two years ago. He lives in Vancouver, BC, I live in Oakville, outside Toronto. So – greetings from all those places – and many happy returns.
Bonne Annee, bon anniversaire et ‘G’day Mate!’ from Dianne in Brisbane, Australia
A very happy birthday to you, Gus. May there be many more! From chilly Hampton Roads, Virginia
Gus: A very Happy Birthday to an obviously “young” man! It’s all in the attitude and peut-etre also in the genes, eh?
You are a good role model for me, (only 82!)
Many happy returns, Betsy
Happy Birthday Gus!
From Gus in Downeast Maine (I am a younger Gus – my birthday is in January too. I will be 12.)
Happy birthday Gus! All the best to you in your new year of life.
Happy Birthday Gus. Cheers from Chicago
Bonne Anniversaire, Gus, from Dubai, UAE!
I hope this is the first of many wonderful birthday celebrations!
Happy Birthday, Gus!
You are one of my heroes for your elegance, your ability to live and love well, and for your humility. My father was also born in 1925–a superb year, I guess! His birthday was also near Christmas. It’s heavy competition, but I’m sure you take it in stride!
Happy New Year to Kristin, Jean-Marc, Max, Jackie, Gus, Paulette, and everyone else!
Dear Gus
Congratulations and Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday – I write to you this evening from Chantilly Virginia, USA. Worked today in Washington DC just three blocks from the Capitol.
You deserve a kiss for every year of your wonderful life.
may you have many more birthdays
Hope to visit Paris in May
Laugh, smile and be happy
Patricia