As strange as this may sound, I’ve been so busy testing recipes for the cookbook that most nights, I look up, it’s after 7 p.m., and I’ve not even thought about dinner. Plus, I don’t even want to think about dinner. Or cooking anything at all.
Sound familiar?
Luckily, we have a boulangerie about 10 yards from our front door, and across the street from that, a little fromagerie, which, besides a very nice selection of cheeses, farm eggs and yogurt, also sells some very lovely San Daniele ham.
This little sandwich, a still-warm baguette*, split in two, smeared with a little fleur de sel butter, and with a few layers of this perfectly sweet, thinly sliced ham, was my dinner the other night – and I expect will be again for many nights to come over the next couple of months, as I near the finish line on the deadline for the manuscript.
Of course you don’t need to be on a deadline to make this sandwich. It is as simple as it gets. It is actually perfect.
*Parisians are famous for eating the ends off of their daily baguettes as they walk home (it’s as close as they get to eating on the go), and I’ve picked up this habit, too — although next time, I’m tearing off the end instead of chewing it off. Bitten the wrong way, that crispy baguette crust can cause an impressive lip bleed.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Ah yes, the painful baguette bite. I know it well! Looks yummy! Though I hate to say that I see more and more people eating on the go in the streets – sandwiches, those dreadful pasta boxes they sell in the supermarkets….the NYC speed is coming!
I didn’t know a baguette end could be dangerous..
I’m not sure that would stop me.
Maybe a grainy pain de seigle (sp) is not so trecherous?
Lovely looking sandwich.
Fleur-de-sel butter? Just kill me now. How am I supposed to find that in Atlanta?
Ann, you’re not. You just need to come to Paris. I’ll make you a sandwich. xo
I’ve never had a baguette wound but I’ll take your advice and rip off the end next time I’m in Paris. There is nothing better than a good sandwich when you’re hungry. I think I’ll have one now but it won’t be on bread as good as yours.
I’m coming to Paris in mid-August. And oh, by the way, I live in TX close to Denton!
Sometimes, the simplest meals are the best. My version is some prosciutto and San Pietro cheese on some Italian bread or a piece of naan. Toss that in the toaster oven just long enough to make the cheese and fat melt a bit and…. Voila! A perfect dinner.
Ellise,
My mother read your article recently in the FW Star-Telegram and told me about you. Great work here!
My friend Ben, used to work at Fat Tire in Paris and just opened a wonderful South Texas Ranch-inspired gastropub in E. Austin, TX called Contigo (http://contigoaustin.com). Well worth a checking out. Happy Trails!
Michael
Brooklyn, NY
Thanks, Michael – I’ll definitely check out Congtigo next time I’m in Austin!
Those baguettes ARE dangerous! I actually chipped a tooth once on a sandwich just like this. Hasn’t stopped me from eating ‘em though!