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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Happy Birthday, dear Gus, from California and a healthy and serene
New Year
Happy Birthday Gus! Hoping this year is the happiest and healthiest you ever have!
Gus your 88 years young, God Bless you on this birthday and may you have many more! From Pam in San Miguel, California.
Happy Birthday, Gus, with all best wishes. As you can tell, you and your family have touched each of us in a special way. From Salsibury on the Eastern Shore of Maryland…
Oh dear, Oh dear! Is it too late in the day to wish you Happy Birthday? Best Wishes for the coming year ~~ may it be peaceful and happy.
Gloria in Southern California…..
Happy Birthday, Gus, from Santa Barbara, California!
Bon Anniversaire Gus! Meilleurs voeux!
Sincerèment,
Dana, from San Antonio, Texas.
A very Happy Birthday to you, Gus, from Cate in Redlands, California.
Bon Anniversaire, Gus! And may you see many more!!!
from Andrea in Redondo Beach, California
Not sure I can wish you any better than you already have, with such a caring daughter, but happy birthday, Gus, from the mountains in western North Carolina!
Wishing you a very happy birthday Gus!
Tish from Powhatan, Virginia
Now Gus, you just needed to have your birthday on the 29th or before a bit, so you could have gotten my Birthday Wishes from Rome! Kristin mentioned it would be great for you to get the Joyeux Anniversaire messages from around the world… 🙂 but, alas, we are now back from our wonderful Christmas holiday in Rome, and my wishes to you come from California! No matter where they are coming from, they are sincere. As someone else mentioned, I wish I could meet you – you just LOOK like such an inviting person! I’m glad you won the key! Happy Birthday! Judi, from Lake Balboa, CA
Bon Anniversaire, Gus – and many more!
Dear Gus,
I am a day late, but I hope you have a very Happy Birthday and a healthy and joyful year to come! These warm wishes are coming from Durham, New Hampshire.
Diane
Aloha et Joyeux Anniversaire, Gus, from Honolulu Hawaii. Enjoy your birthday !
Jan
Happy, happy birthday, Gus! ! ! From southern California! May the coming year be filled with love and happiness! ! !
Bonne Anniversaire, Gus! Wishing you and Paulette a fabulous year filled with joy!
Elaine Moulden ~ Anaheim, Ca (I sent you and Paulette Easter candy last year:):)
Happy Birthday Gus! It’s still Jan.2 here in frozen northern Utah.
Enjoy!
Hey, I almost missed the party. A very happy one to you Gus! Southwest US
Joyeux anniversaire, Gus! Tous mes voeux de bonheur et de bonne santé! Amicalement, Joanne, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA.
Happy Birthday Gus!! I wish you all the happiness your heart can hold on your very special day. Please post a picture of yourself blowing out all those candles.
Ginny from Tucson, AZ
Happy Birthday 88th Gus, I wish you health, laughter and love always! from Junie Navarro, Philippines
Bon Anniversaire Gus , Ici dans L’etat du Texas , A Austin (le capitale) ton anniversaire etait le jour le plus froid de l’annee – so far, anyway. Happy Birthday gus!
Hi Gus,
Happy 88 years young from London, England!
You look 88 years happy :0)
May life continue to bring you the joy it looks you
give to others.
Kathleen and Phil
HAPPY HAPPY GUSDAY AND MAY THEY ALL BE THOSE!!!
Suzanne Dunaway in Collioure, France
Dear Gus,
Hugs and best wishes for a happy birthday!
You are blesssed with a loving family.
from Carolyn, Salt Lake City Utah
A Belated Happy Birthday to you Gus, from a very chilly Pemaquid, Maine… where I’m dreaming of my vacation home in Montlaur, Aude, Languedoc, France!!
Nancy
Bon Anniversaire, Gus!
De Gigi a Boulder, Colorado
(Gigi=G.G.=Gus’ Grannie, mon petit fils)
Happy Birthday, Gus!
Gentleman Gus: Joyeux Anniversaire from this native New Yorker and her Haut Savoyard who are currently in le bel Annecy. We wish you all the happiness and insight you’ve afforded us, Kristi’s dedicated FWAD readers! We love the posting by Hank Sweet, as well- and as always- the wonderful poetry of HERM in Arizona. Gros bisous a vous, Paulette et votre fille, Mary!
Bonne Anniversaire Gus from Walnut Creek, CA and a Japanese American whose family has preserved the Japanese value of double number birthdays as being very special! Happy 88th – it’s two beautiful numbers – have a wonderful year! Kathy Yuasa Nelson
Best wishes from Rockville, Md!
Happy Belated Birthday Gus!
From Eileen in Charlottesville, VA
Gus, I hope this year brings you love, joy and enlightenment. Happy Birthday from Michigan.
I’m reading this a day late, but I remember the story of Gus, Paulette, and the antique key, and I’d like to join in the good wishes for this remarkable man. Gus, here’s a belated Happy 88th Birthday from St. Louis, MO. I wish you good luck, good health and good living.
Many happy Birthday wishes Gus from Auckland, New Zealand.
Rae
Belated happy birthday wishes Gus. Therese in Australia.
Selamat Hari Natal Gus, from an Aussie currently in Indonesia!
Happy 88th Birthday, Gus.
God bless you!
Et des baisers,
from St Simons Island, GA
Joyeux Anniversaire, Gus. Enjoy each day. Happy wanderings. from Huntley, IL
Gus
Joyeux anniversaire et bonne santé, et bonne année.
Ronni in Chapel Hill NC
Wishing you a wonderful birthday full of peace, joy and lots of laughter! from Mary, Vancouver, British Columbia
Thanks for making the world a better place, Gus!
Happy Birthday from Halifax, Nova Scotia!
Edie
Happy Birthday Gus from St. Louis, MO
You are an inspiration on how to live life to the fullest! Happy Birthday Gus from Langley, British Columbia!
Happy Birthday Gus from Eagle, WI -USA
Sarah, good question. Because I have a doubt about pronunciation, here is a cool link that will allow you to type in the French word… and hear it spoken!
http://www.acapela-group.com/text-to-speech-interactive-demo.html
enjoy
Estas son las Mananitas tra la la
Happy Birthday Gus from Rancho Bernardo California
Bon anniversaire, Gus. You give us all hope.
judy Mearian
dear Gus, Have a very special year.
You are not getting older-you’re getting better
mimi taylor aka cigalechanta