Saturday, February 2, 2013

La Chandeleur - jour des crêpes



La Chandeleur
Fête des chandelles
(Candlemas - English)


Today is Candlemas, 2 February, and it is celebrated in France with crêpes.
Today I will be making crêpes, holding a coin in my left hand, and flipping the crêpe pan in my right.  If I can catch the crêpe, it means my family will be prosperous for the rest of the year, such is the legend.  Also, one does not eat crêpes until after 8:00pm.


This chef at Crêperie Plougastel on Rue du Montparnasse, cheerfully allowed me to take some photos of him as he deftly prepared all the crêpes for the lunch crowd.  I have been here three or four times, introduced by French friend Isabelle.  They have both savory and sweet crêpes with quick service and good prices.  On a street full of crêperies, this one is always well attended.



Crêperie Plougastel
47, rue du Montparnasse
75014, Paris



23 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Oh, yummmmmm! I love crepes!! He looks as though he enjoys whet he does! Great shot as always, Genie! Next time you're there, have one for me!! Enjoy your weekend!
Hugs
Sylvia

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

Well Genie, I hope you're successful!
Duncan In Kuantan

Walter said...

Genie, love this photo with the bananas and blurred hand and colors flickering off the back ground!

Rob Siemann said...

I wont try the flip myself, usually ends on the floor, but yes: crepes tonight, with maple syrup, Nutella, cinnamon.... The good stuff.

Alain said...

Certains mettent la pièce dans la poêle puis versent la pâte par dessus. Quand la crêpe est cuite, on la lance sur le dessus de l'armoire. Elle doit y rester un an !

Nicola said...

Great photo! We went out for crêpes last night. Always my girls' favourite meal.

Malyss said...

A lot of work for all french mums today! :o)

Revrunner said...

Thanks for the reminder, Genie, although I dare say I'll see precious few crêpes today. :-)

M said...

Savory or Sweet ... Hmmmm ... One of each s'il vous plaît? After all, must have both dinner and dessert! Love the reddish reflection and the blurred hand in motion!

Alexa said...

Love the way you captured the action in this wonderful shot, Genie. That's a bit of pressure on you for this evening, isn't it? But I'm sure you'll do just fine!

Starman said...

I've never heard about not eating crêpes until after 20h00.

Connie said...

Good luck with your flip :)
Thanks for sharing this little French tradition. I love it:)
Your blogging sister, Connie :)

Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse said...

Can you really toss them? I always make an awful mess... And, yes, I'm from Brittany, I'm ashamed of myself. I'm very good at teating them, though!

Vancouver Street Blog said...

A great shot!

Randy said...

Not my favorite thing to eat but your shot is fantastic.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Alain, c'est vrai??

The pressure was definitely on as I flipped the crêpe and held the coin. There was too much butter on the pan for my first attempt, but the second one went perfectly as I held tightly to my French coin in the other hand.

The youngest helper wondered if the "prosperity" would cover his parents, too. Bien sûr! And his other grandparents a few states away? Of course, this prosperity for the family should cover the whole crowd I assured him.

Oh, and they were delicious!

Bises,
Genie

Rob-bear said...

If I had known that, I would have had crepes for supper. Oh well; the picture is wonderful.

Paulita said...

Is it only on Candlemas that you eat crepes only after 8 p.m.?

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Mmmmm! Nutella crepes...mustn't think about it!!

Vreni said...

I didn´t know that the French are celebrating Candlemas by eating crêpes. Monsier resembles Omar Sy, non?

Anne said...

I would love to have fresh crepes for breakfast tomorrow! When I was a girl we lived in France and in the evening would walk by the harbor and eat crepes from a street vendor. A great memory!

beatrice De said...

Avec vous, je revise mon anglais et fais des progrès.

Fabrizio Zanelli said...

Hah ! Lucky you :-) I love French crêpes !!!