Clotilde's Adventures in Canada

Yesterday, November 12, I had the pleasure of meeting Clotilde Dusoulier, creator of the Chocolate & Zucchini blog, while she was here in Toronto.

Usually Paris-based, Clotilde has just wrapped up two weeks here in Canada as the Gastronomic Writer in Residence at the Stratford Chef's School about 2 hours outside Toronto. Clotilde started Chocolate & Zucchini in 2003 and the lucky girl signed a book deal in '07. C&Z, along with the odious Sartorialist, were the first two blogs I followed when I finally entered the blogging universe.

The Cookbook Store at Yonge Street and Yorkville Avenue is where the book signing was held. Clotilde was there, promoting a book she has edited entitled  The Art of French Baking originally written in the 1930s by Ginette Mathiot. I also took my copy of Clotilde's Edible Adventures in Paris for her to sign. I poured over that book before I went to Paris in 2010. I actually didn't follow too much of her advice, but with cross-referencing I got to know the Arrondissements a little better.

When I got to The Cookbook Store at the appointed time there was just the staff plus about five fans. I thought I was in for a very intimate meeting. I wish it had been so. Clotilde was delayed because of highway issues. After a 20-minute wait there were about 30 gathered in the tiny shop.

Clotilde is lovely,  fresh and sounds just what I thought she would. At  just 30 years old she has an amazing life ahead. Living in Montmartre, writing a blog about food, having that content put into book form, traveling the world. - I'm deeply envious. Here are some pictures I took.