Verdun Sugar Coated Almonds

GERMAN GARZON

Fri, 23 Oct 2015 22:58:05 GMT

Interesante el lujo e historia de esta empresa solo que nosotros apenas comenzamos y esperaremos permanecer en el tiempo con buenos productos Soy de Colombia y quisiera saber en cual pais producen almendras que podamos importar a un precio economico ya que nuestros productos los ubicamos en mercados populares
gracias por su articulo y por cu colaboracion.

Howard

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 19:34:07 GMT

I lived quite near this factory when I was a child back in the early 1960"s. Whenever I stopped by the workers would let me have a look around and then fill my smock pockets with coated almonds. Of course the factory was not quite as clean back then.
I also remember the chocolate Bomb shells being sold in the local sweet shops. The biggest one came with a screen you set around it for safety. I always wanted one for my birthday but we could never afford any of them.
Thanks for the memory nudge.

fx

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:21:39 GMT

Catherine, I am not one to cast the first stone, but my feeble capacity does not grasp how slavery was "acceptable" 300 years ago but not any more today. "Accepted", sure, but "acceptable" implies a constant moral standard that, given past circumstances, made it OK. The original poster commented on Dubai being a city built on slave labor, and she"s from the US, so I think it"s fair to point to her that she does not need to go as far as Dubai to point a finger at a city "built by slaves". Obviously I am not the one pointing the finger. But let"s leave it at that and return to being slaves only of our passion for food.

Catherine

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:46:38 GMT

FX, although I am as taken aback by Kat"s vehemence as anyone, there may be something to be said for the concept of evolving social mores, and while slavery was acceptable 300 years ago, times have changed. Nor is it hypocritical of us to realize the wrongdoing going on there now--I don"t hold modern Germans responsible for the Holocaust, so I don"t believe I should be held responsible for my ancestors" views on slavery.

I don"t know why she saw fit to sour your article because of a fleeting reference to Dubai though, that was just rude.

fx

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:10:35 GMT

Dear Chris, I am very sorry if you felt slightly offended at my mention of a low-quality Chinese goods. I do not mean to say, at all, that Chinese people do not produce high-quality goods, and myself I drink every day Chinese tea, that"s the only tea I would ever drink. I do not know much about China but it is clear to me at least that in the matter of tea nothing beats the refinement of China. And I"m sure many other things are of the same level, however you must agree that in the last 10 years China has become the huge economic power that it is by exporting mass products at the most competitive price possible. Inevitably, most of those products are not in the upper end of the market in terms of quality. But I do not mean to say that the Chinese cannot produce high quality products - I know it for a fact that they do some of the most refined teas and teapots in the world, and that can only be the tip of the iceberg I can see from my corner of the world! So, once again I apologize if this has offended readers of Chinese descent.

chris

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 04:30:45 GMT

Hello fx
lovely post. except for the bomb. I have one small gripe. under one of the photos you write
would it be too much to ask that you re-phrase it to read �
Ithink i understand what you were expressing. But I doubt you mean to say that every single person of Chinese heritage in the world works to a low standard. I certainly do not.
is that what you meant?

a slightly wounded, proudly Chinese, pretty regular visitor to this site. Chris

fx

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:29:30 GMT

Patrick, thanks for the tip, unfortunately my trusted English editors are on vacation and more than the occasional typo escaped me. Do not hesitate to let me know if you find more!

fx

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:26:01 GMT

Eleanor, thanks for linking to FXcuisine, much appreciated! I myself hope to visit Dubai once, seems a thrilling place. But for now, scorched crane seems to be the specialty, I"ll wait for the building boom to subside...

Eleanor

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:55:33 GMT

I just loved your "almond" story! Thanks for all the photos. I must post your site on mine..I just need the time..oh heck, I"ll do it when I finish this. This is a new website, gave you my old one, but this one is advertised in my ol" home town"s newspaper, so I"ll make a new webpage: "Wonderful Websites", and I"ll put your"s at the top.

Re: Dubai

Friends of ours live & work in Dubai. Yes, it is fancy, fancy there! It is also very, very hot. We have not visited there; our visits are strickly to Florida and the Caymans, with no desire to visit Dubai. Loads of tourist there, and they all have the big bucks to spend, so gold almonds would peak their palette.

Take care. Your efforts are appreciated!

Patrick

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:28:05 GMT

Hi,
I think you have made a small semantic error. Nothing major, just a slip of the brain!

you have written "Almonds that DERIVE from the established standards of physical beauty are mercilessly sent to be crushed and caramelized into nougatine."

I believe you intended to write "Almonds that DEVIATE from the established standards..."

Please don"t include this as a comment.

Love the recipes and photographs!

fx

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:32:57 GMT

Cynthia, thanks for visiting and on Friday I"ll post the red currant deseeded with quills article, I just took a few more pictures of the jam, really delicious!

Cynthia

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:10:47 GMT

Thoroughly entralled by the series, Francois.

Kiriel

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:19:25 GMT

Thank you for sharing this! I am keen to try making my own medieval comfits, which are done with the same technique as sugared almonds, but with tiny spices instead, so seeing the factory photos is very inspirational.

Kiriel

Betsi

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:29:19 GMT

Dear FX,

Isn"t Dubai a hot tourist spot?,I believe the reason why these Verdun"s Almonds are being exported there is because of the higly demand of luxury and fancy items from around the world by TOURISTS, this is my opinion, nothing to do if Dubai natives or residents are eating gold instead of having it.
How unfortunate some people use your blog to spit anger.

fx

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 04:59:10 GMT

Shari thanks for visiting and I hope to see you back!

Shari

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:00:47 GMT

This is a great photo essay of your visit!

fx

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 02:17:25 GMT

"Kat" from Miami uses my blog to flush the anger and bitterness she"s got inside, insulting the people of Dubai. Well, I am not a psychiatrist so I"ll limit myself to answering the arguments she used in the self-cleaning.
1) Is Dubai built on "slave labor"? Well if we applied the same strict moral criterias as she seems to use to other cities, what would people think of Shanghai? Or Washington, they certainly had real slaves there? I am not sure how people in Dubai would say, but down here we might say "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother"s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?".
2) About the gilded almonds being "stupid" and a sign of "shameless conspicuous consumer idiots", I might point out that the expression was coined by Thorstein Veblen in a book which I warmly recommend but which spoke mainly about America if my memory serves me right. There are far more people in Paris eating gilded chocolates than those in Dubai who eat imported French gilded almonds. What does it matter to you in they eat gold rather than having it, like you, on the connectors of your cellular phone"s computer chips?

fx

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:59:16 GMT

Deborah thanks for your visit and glad to hear you found the visit and behind-the-scenes interesting!

Deborah Stratmann

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:27:27 GMT

I did like this article ... and the wonderful photos. We are great fans of the almond drag�es. I try always to keep some on hand for the young boy who lives downstairs. I think he will be interested to see how they are made.

Thank you,
dws

Kat

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:10:41 GMT

Only the shameless conspicuous consumer idiots in a place like Dubai that is literally built on slave labor and indentured servitude would buy something as stupid as gilded almonds in jewelry boxes. No man should be forced to spend his money any certain way but he is still open for criticism and these people are should have it heaped on them.

fx

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:22:41 GMT

Dave, you can also get the chocolate ones at Auer in Geneva and in other places, probably in Paris too and maybe mail order. Definitely an elegant Valentine present!

fx

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:20:51 GMT

Trish, one last gluttonous look at my blog and off to work!

fx

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:20:21 GMT

Mary, thanks for visiting my site, I"m glad my articles gave you mouthwater ideas for future travels!

fx

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:18:25 GMT

Sarah, ah but in California they will eventually ban everything. Foie gras, bottled water, now silver drag�es. And I"m sure you get 3 to 5 in the state penitentiary if you eat them across state lines. You deserve better politicians!

fx

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:17:11 GMT

Nate, I"m glad that this sweet, then bitter article pleased you!

fx

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:16:36 GMT

Jason, indeed this ossuary is awesome, and what"s more, circumstances have made that Germans and French are buried in it, I believe, because they could not always distinguish the bones. President Kohl and Mitterand chose this very spot in 1984 to hold hands for their common memorial day honoring the people who gave their life for that delirious war.

fx

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:14:10 GMT

Susan, but you should throw rices grains at weddings and *eat* the sugar-coated almonds. The Romans believed these increased fertility - lots of kids who will have their own wedding one day!

fx

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:13:10 GMT

Laura, where did come from the best sugar-coated almond you ever tasted (but hated)? I fear there are many classes of these candies out there, but as Oscar Wilde, I have very simple tastes: the best always satisfies me.

fx

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:11:50 GMT

Laura, these almonds have a very delicate taste, first you suck it for a moment, then you give in and crunch them and your mouth is filled with delicate almond flavor. Or you get one with toasted-and-caramelized almond bits and the taste is that much more intense. Or one with chocolate and you have to close your eyes by fear of crying with delight. We also make the chocolate ones in Switzerland, actually you can make them at home, I"ll try to post an article some day.

fx

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:10:05 GMT

Ivan, thanks for visiting! Ah yes, war, well during WWI the young men did not last very long, in some battles tens of thousands died within hours of starting their tour of duty, and chopped down to pieces by 50 caliber machine guns. Nothing like the wars we see today, as horrible as these are too. Make candies, not war, that"s my motto.

fx

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:08:17 GMT

Stephen, I can send you the links if you want. The chocolate shells are what English speakers call, I think, "party poppers", they do explode and throw a shower of cheap gadgets and expensive drag�es all over the table. I wanted to try and photograph one exploding, but at �80 a pop and 5 tries to get one right, that"s more gadgets than I need!

Stephen

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:43:36 GMT

Bravo! Wonderful article!

Two quick questions:

1. Any links to video of your appearance on French TV?

2. Do the chocolate artillery shells actually explode? Are they classified as a novelty firework or something similar? What happens to the contents?

wabgalant

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:17:45 GMT

Thats wonderful.

Ivan Seligman

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:40:40 GMT

I love your thoughtful posts, and clean photographs. Who else could link candies and war. Glad the latter was not glamorized. It saddens me every day I read about our young men maimed and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq. Make candy, not war?

Thank you for showing me a part of the world, both cooler and less hurricane prone than semitropical Florida!
Ivan

Laura C

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:31:39 GMT

What an amazing article. I"ve had those almonds in the US, they were called "jordan almonds", and not very good. These look like they taste amazing, as well as the cocoa coated ones. (which intrigue me more).

Laura

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:31:30 GMT

I always hated sugar-coated almonds. Is it possible that I just never had a good one, like those from drag�es Braquier?

Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:15:33 GMT

What a fascinating article! Great photos too! We, Italians give these as favors for many special events, especially weddings. I still have my little bunch of almonds from my wedding over 20 years ago. The funny thing is, I don"t ever remember anyone actually eating them. ;)

Jason

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:23:30 GMT

The Douaumont ossuary is incredible. The French have honored their dead very well. Thanks for such an enlightening post!

Nate

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:58:33 GMT

First you hit me with the beautiful candies. Then you ever so gently hit me again with the graves of the soldiers. Two powerful emotions in one post! I am floored.

Sarah

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:55:22 GMT

Did you know? Silver and gold drag�es are illegal in California! I guess the metals they use have tiny, insignificant trace amounts of heavy metals in them that wouldn"t harm a baby, but it"s enough for our government to say we can"t have them. So it"s yet another thing I have to be naughty and have a friend send to me if I ever want to use them.

Mary Sanavia

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:12:04 GMT

Hi! All your articles are so interesting and have such beautiful pictures!. Thank you for taking the time and effort to share this wonderful places with all of us. The last one (kebabs) had some beautiful,mouthwatering pictures, I hope I can go there someday and I will know where and what to eat! I love Baklavas,so I loved that picture the most. (unreal green pistachios!).I"ll be waiting for your next post.

trish

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:09:22 GMT

Another fabulous article. I really look forward to your posts - (and now I"m late for work - again :))

Trish

Dave Dragon

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:44:21 GMT

What amazing decadence!
How cool would it be to give your wife a box of these for valentines day?
Ride it like you stole it

fx

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:29:00 GMT

Ariun, the next Hattonch�tel installment will be the redcurrant jam, then on with the medieval banquet!

fx

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:27:57 GMT

Jason, I"ve been eating drag�es for a solid 2 weeks now and still not bored!

fx

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:27:24 GMT

Johanna, thanks for your comment, I didn"t know that such almonds were used for funeral services! Do they place one in the deceased"s mouth so that he can pay his fare on Charon"s ferry, like back in the days? I would very much like to visit Greece - what do you think could be made into an article on FXcuisine in Athens? Would it be possible for me to see the kitchens of one of these monasteries on a hill?

fx

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:24:49 GMT

Feyoh, thanks for your kind words! I"m glad that you could see this with my eyes, this is the paradox in Verdun, sweet candies manufactured in a place known for some of the most abject and useless butchery. But lovely people and great confectionery!

fx

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:23:37 GMT

Diane, thanks for dropping by! A visit to Verdun will reset everybody"s clock as far as war is concerned. I"m glad there is something for our generations to see of that abysmal war, now that all those who saw it have gone!

Diane

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:22:07 GMT

I love sugared almonds so much - thank you for such an interest ing post. My son is studying the war in history at the moment so I will share you post with him too. Thank for you adding the extra photos.

Feyoh

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:15:44 GMT

Francois, what a way to show opposite poles of reality... The sweetness and pleasure of life, as depicted by the candies, and the bitterness of war and death in the Verdun countryside.

Looking forward to new posts about your culinary experiences.They complete the day for me.