December 2019
memory
| ˈmem(ə)rē |
noun
1. the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information
Memories of food and travel are probably what inspire Shaun and I the most. That perfectly balanced cold margarita and warm chips with fresh guacamole in Playa Del Carmen. Holding a freshly baked loaf of bread in January in Paris. Warm sushi rice rolled in a generous portion of shaved white truffles and sprinkled with lime salt at Masa in New York City. A huge slice of hula pie at Duke’s in Hawai’i. Delicious oysters with fresh herb mignonette at the Ferry Plaza building in San Francisco. Shaun once took me to eat gyros with sauce blanche and harissa on the steps of Sacré-Cœur, because that’s what he used to do on his lunch break while living in Paris. These memories serve as a catalyst for so many things at Copine.
One of my favorites is the smell of poulet rôti on the rotisseries in Montmartre. There are several outposts right around Rue Lepic that offer these roasted birds with potatoes that have been bathed in the drippings. Chicken is affordable and pretty universal, so even if you are a novice with the language (like me) you can still order with a smile and a simple gesture towards your selection. Whenever Shaun and I are in Paris we usually stop and pick one up along with some good bread and some kind of bitter greens on the day we arrive. This comforting meal comes in really handy as we recover from jet lag. We have spent many nights eating leftover cold chicken with a glass of pinot noir at 3 a.m.
The inspiration for our Sunday Suppers at Copine is based around these memories; we feel like a chicken is the definition of Sunday dinner. Whether we offer roasted, applewood smoked, buttermilk fried or something like a coq au vin we make sure it’s an easy prep and reheat for the home cook. Ours comes with two accompaniments (usually a starch and something green) as well as our house made thyme dinner rolls topped with sea salt and served with salted butter. It’s been a great way to reach out to our neighborhood and provide something just a little different than what we offer in the restaurant. (And any leftovers make a flavorful soup…or 3 a.m. snack.)
When you own your own business, you often sacrifice things like time off and vacations for a variety of different reasons. While our travels are fewer and farther between now, we hold on to these amazing memories together and call on them for inspiration all the time. Travel is restorative and the memories you make along the way are invaluable.