This Dorista eats quiche.
This week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe is Quiche Maraîchère. What an appropriate choice for my last FFWD posting from Cambria. A loose translation of the french word, maraîchère, is truck farming. “When you see the word,” Dorie says, “you know market-fresh produce is in the mix.”
My quiche is ready for the 400-degree oven. Bake for 20 minutes before adding grated cheese.
Cambria’s Friday afternoon farmer’s market has been a constant delight. ( In Aspen our market begins in late-June.) This quiche, filled with celery, leeks, carrots, and red pepper, was a nourishing market bonanza for me. In the spirit of full disclosure, I purchased my tart shell. The flavorful filling, however, of fresh-grown veggies mixed with heavy cream and eggs masked the humiliation of store-bought. The grated cheese on top provided a needed punch.
I added extra cheese to give the quiche an added level of flavor.
I head back to Snow Country this weekend. You’ve already read about my central coast explorations and wine shenanigans. Now let me stroll down Cambria’s lane to show what’s made this winter so special. To my thinking every long-term living situation needs structure, routine and a support system. (Well, mine does.) This sleepy, generous community has provided that to me.
Although I had visited here before, I arrived in January knowing only Heidi and Janet Huff, the mother/daughter duo who owns Cambria Vacation Rentals and rented me my house. I’d often climb the 50-some steps to their office just for free red licorice and chit-chat, Cambria-style. Juanita Poff and Suzie Hiatt, who own Cambria Business Center, took care of my mail and business needs. A daily and friendly stop.
Janet Huff, who with her daughter, Heidi, owns Cambria Vacation Rentals.
It was also Suzie who helped me find my Gym. I wanted to continue Zumba this winter so she suggested the Dance Fitness class at Gym One. Why I thought Dance Fitness translated into Zumba, I will never know. I showed up for my first class with my Zumba shoes on! There were about 20 very fit women in the gym, ranging from annoyingly-young to 75 years old. They were barefoot. The instructor, Calico, who was also barefoot, explained that this was a sensory-based movement class called Nia and since the first class was free, why didn’t I just try it. I agreed to try it but I kept my shoes on.
Suzie Hiatt (l) and Juanita Poff (r) own Cambria Business Center
Calico is my Nia Instructor.
I may have walked into this class as a hotsy-totsy Zumba student from Aspen but I crawled out humbled. And, sweating. And, my knee hurt. But I decided I had 14 weeks, 3 lessons a week, to look like Calico so I joined up. Nia is not easy, my friends. There are 16 different hour-long routines, your hands are supposed to coordinate with your feet and you make guttural sounds. I never was very good but by class #3, I was barefoot. The best part – my fellow Nia-ers. I will miss them.
I tip my toque to the women in the Gym One Nia Class.
For the 6 years I previously visited Cambria, the town was always fund-raising for a new library. Every year I’d return to stop by the same cramped and small library. This year, Holy Andrew Carnegie, they’d raised the money, had just moved in and were soon to host a grand opening. I picked up my library card and planned to join the celebration, a 5pm-7pm Open House a week later. When I arrived the entire town was already jammed into the library for the reception. I’ve never seen a community so pleased and proud of an accomplishment.
The grand opening celebration at the new Cambria Library.
Although I usually prepared my own meals, when I’d run out to lunch, my favorite spots were the uniquely appealing Ruddell’s Smokehouse in nearby Cayugos or Boni’s Tacos, Cambria’s only food wagon, where their authentic tacos are $2. My scandalous snack of choice this winter has been the Caramel Glazed Kettle Corn. Every Friday I would buy a $6 sack at our farmer’s market and throughout the week, eat the whole thing. Yep, I did.
My souvenir t-shirt should read: I SPENT THE WINTER IN CAMBRIA AND SURVIVED THE DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS. It’s been a new experience to share my shower with a big black bucket but we’ve bonded and become friends.
French Fridays with Dorie is an international cooking group working its way through Dorie Greenspan’s Around my French Table, more than 300 recipes from my home to yours. The recipe for Quiche Maraîchère is here. To see if real Doristas eat quiche, check out our FFWD site. Next week I’ll be home, posting from Aspen, Colorado — where, since it is still snowing, I will not be going barefoot.
I’ve never heard of the term “truck farmer” before – there you go, you learn something new every day! In any case, I loved my market veggie quiche. I’ll be making it again soon!
I think “truck farmer” is a term I pulled up from my Iowa childhood. In Colorado, however, we still have many small farmers who sell their produce out of the back of their pickups. Glad I could add a midwestern word to your vocabulary!
Loving the yellow colour of your quiche from the extra cheese – yum!
Loved reading your farewell to Cambria…after this winter, heading to California for a few months to escape the cold sounds like an ideal solution. Bill and I still discuss when we’ll get to Aspen next…fall is his choice, though I’d come anytime. We just need to fit it in one of these years. Enjoy your time back in one of my favorite towns.
I’m “in residence” for the rest of the year, Liz. Fall with the quaking Aspens/color change is a perfect season to visit although any time is Aspen isn’t bad.
Mary, I know how wonderful your experience in Cambria was – thank you for sharing it with us!
Hope you’re safely back home now.
We loved the quiche, too.
Nia, Zumba… you are so good. I only lift a few weight and use the treadmill. I’m out of the gym in 30 minutes. Though I do enjoy dog walking by David Letterman’s house. (NDing)
LOL
You must realize by now that I am a good eater (as in eats a lot each day) so I need to exercise!
I know this sounds weird but I’m going to miss you now that you aren’t in Cambria. I will drown my sorrow in the extra cheese of your quiche. Extra cheese makes everything just a bit better I think.
Yeah, it’s kinda been like we are neighbors, hasn’t it?
Thanks for sharing your time in Cambria. I enjoyed that town when I visited a long time ago. I should go back. Look forward to your food posts from Aspen.
Your quiche looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures of your adventures in California:) Love your new Blog design.
What fun stories! Thanks for sharing- I hope you can make it to Palm Springs for a weekend next year or we can meet in the middle. NIA sounds so much fun. The quiche looks fantastic, and well, I didn’t make my pastry either – just didn’t have the spare time this week. Travel safely!
Your stories are always fun and interesting to read, Mary! I have to say the bucket in the shower is quite funny/sad/scary! I hope the drought ends soon. Love all the photos of your winter diversion! The quiche looks terrific! Thanks for sharing “Mary’s excellent adventure”! Safe travels!
Sounds like you had a lovely summer. I’ve never even heard of Nia before, must not have made it over to Germany yet. Either that or I need to get to the gym more often and find out what’s going on in the world of fitness. Best wishes for a smooth trip back to Aspen.
Thanks, Rose.
I am so happy you enjoyed your stay in Cambria. It sounds like you had a wonderful time, though I am sure you will be happy to get home to Aspen.
Your quiche turned out perfect. Lovely!
Your quiche sounds like a great send off dish. It was really good, wasn’t it?
Thanks for sharing the recap of your winter adventures in Cambria. You definitely know how to make fun whatever you’re doing — my kind of person! Safe travels, my friend.
Ah Mary it is always sad to leave a place and the people you bonded with. But it is not for long you will be back soon and now a new adventure starts in Aspen again. I am sure the summer is going to wonderful for you there! As for the quiche, it was a pleasant and very welcomed surprise. All the veggies tasted great together! To tell you the truth I am drooling over this extra cheesy topping of yours…Maybe if I find an NIA class in Athens I could skip my never ending diet for a while….and enjoy Dorie’s recipes as they are supposed to be…
Have a great week!
Maria, I volunteer to come over to Athens and help you find a Nia class of your own. I’ve only spent two days in your beautiful, historical city but I can visualize some dramatic Nia movements going on while standing near the Porch of the Caryatids of the Erechtheion temple. Wow, that would be amazing.
Your quiche looks lovely, Mary and looks like you had a wonderful stay in Cambria.
Have a safe trip back !
Cambria sounded so wonderful through your blog. I’m going to miss it Mary but then you make everyplace charming so back to Aspen we go. Its hard to complain about Aspen, isn’t it? Unless its the middle of winter and your tired of digging out your car. I want to go someplace so badly I can hardly stand it! Thank you for trying to send me the flatbread recipe! Try [email protected] that one should work! Your quiche looks delicious Mary. I know Cambria will miss you but Aspen is glad to have you back!!!
Dear Mary, I certainly hope that you have arrived safe and sound in Aspen by now – my husband showed my the route you have to take on google maps, that is a long drive but maybe that is just a European way of looking at distance?! Your post is wonderful – love all your good-byes and it is nice to read about something else than quiche this week. Your´s however, looks delightful and delicious and it makes me smile because I was thinking that I never made a quiche for one person only – I know that this wonderful quiche sustained you for a couple of days but food never lasts that long in our household!
Safe travels (if you are still on the road) and a good start in Aspen!
You are a brave, brave woman, Miss Mary. Anything that involves hand and foot coordination scares the living daylights out of me – I know it can’t end well.
Safe travels, my friend. I am sure a snowbank or two will be waiting for you. (Although, our last snowpile is quickly whittling away with the unseasonably warm temperatures we’ve had over the past couple of days. I am so not complaining…) XO
Firstly, that quiche looks fabulous! Enjoyed your post.
And we do have truck farmers visiting housing estates in Malaysia selling everything a house bound home maker will need, from fresh vegetables to fish and prawns, chicken and meat, freshly grated coconut, condiments etc. They are practically a supermarket on wheels coming to one’s street.
Sounds like a great place to be.
Quiche looks delicious.
Lovely retrospective of your time in Cambria. And never be ashamed of buying a tart shell now and again – it gives you more time to explore culinary challenges you haven’t mastered yet.