May 11th, 2009

Christine Ferber jams

www.cocoandme.com - Christine Ferber jams - Coco&Me

I bought 6 types of jams last weekend. They are made by the French Jam Queen – Christine Ferber. I’ve been a fan of hers for ages. My two books on her I treasure to bits. And oh boy, the jams…, it’s so heavenly I tell you, the jar we had last time was finished in no time – despite me fending off family members – getting seriously upset if they were to dip in their dirty butter knives, which could spoil it. (There is nothing more disheartening to see old toast crumbs & a smears of butter in your jam jar!)
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At 7€50 (around £6.70) for a 220g jar, it certainly is at the highest end of the market. But, its oh-so-loose texture that you’ve never ever encountered before & its bursting fresher-than-fresh fruitiness should convince you that it is one of those purchases that justifies itself, if you weigh out the price tag to the numerous happiness you will get out of it.

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The flavours I got this time are:

  • Gelée de cassis et groseilles d’Alsace (Jelly of blackcurrant & Alsatian red currents)
  • Framboises d’Alsace et kirsch (Alsatian Raspberry with kirsch liquor)
  • Rhubarbe d’Alsace, fraises d’Alsace et fleurs de sureau (Alsatian rhubarb with Alsatian strawberries & elder flowers)
  • Rhubarbe d’Alsace, ananas, mangues et fruits de la passion (Alsatian rhubarb, pineapple, mango & passion fruit)
  • Cassis d’Alsace (Alsatian blackcurrant)
  • Gelée de pommes d’Alsace à la cannelle (Jelly of Alsatian apples with cinnammon)

I was battling with the little French I know to take a wild guess at the flavours written on the jars in the shop – so it’s kind of news to me now that I’ve translated them! ^^ Now I know what they are!! Oooohh, which one shall be my first victim??
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www.cocoandme.com - Christine Ferber jams - Coco&Me

(She is also famous for her tarts!)

www.cocoandme.com - Christine Ferber jams - Coco&Me

(The cute packaging kills me.)

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During our Paris trip, we also went to a cafe/ tea room called Mamie Gâteaux (66 rue du Cherche-Midi 75006 PARIS). I have their Japanese recipe book & I always wanted to go there, so I was so happy to finally go! It was really nice. Loved the decor, the food, the atmosphere, everything. The hot chocolate came in a Café au Lait bowl with mini madeleine! Ahh, Le Paris!
www.cocoandme.com - Mamie Gateaux tea room/ cafe - Coco&Me

Posted in Delicious purchases

37 Comments »

  1. Ah yes I also brought home the raspberry with kirsch. Kirsch is great. If you ever want a jam recipe, let me know as I have her jam book.

    Comment by Esme - May 12, 2009 3:18 am

  2. How nice! the jams look delicious :)

    Comment by snooky doodle - May 12, 2009 4:00 am

  3. Delicious pictures..makes me want to rush off to Paris right now.

    Comment by Swati - May 12, 2009 8:50 am

  4. Hi Esme! cheers, I also have her jam book! I tried making some a while ago – thinking I could start selling them – but fruit is quite expensive don’t you think? The margin was so small I gave up on the idea.
    .
    Cheers Snooky doodle & Swati! I’m gonna take my time eating them…!!

    Comment by tamami - May 12, 2009 10:44 am

  5. that is one pleased-looking young man! :) so glad you & yours enjoyed yourself…

    Comment by petoskystone - May 12, 2009 11:37 am

  6. Hi,

    Just came across your site and realised how near your stall is to me! I live at Whitechapel and your pastries look absolutely fantastic and different! Will definitely pop by and get some and yes……its funny how we can’t get great pastries like PH here in London eh?

    Great blog and will defo return soon!

    Comment by Nick - May 12, 2009 12:13 pm

  7. Thanks petoskystone!! Yes, we had a great time! ^^
    .
    And also thank you to Nick – look forward to you popping by.

    Comment by tamami - May 12, 2009 8:32 pm

  8. I got the raspberry one and Ispahan flavour made for PH – all gone. This one – Rhubarbe d’Alsace, fraises d’Alsace et fleurs de sureau (Alsatian rhubarb with Alsatian strawberries & elder flowers) – sounds really great. I hope you had a wonderful time in Paris… I was there Wed – Fri. Wanted to go to Mamie Gateaux too but didn’t make it there…

    Comment by tommy - May 12, 2009 9:01 pm

  9. Hi Tommy.
    Oh wow, I didn’t know about the PH Ispahan version! And the rhubarb one you mention, I can confirm – yes, it is delicious…!! It was the first one I opened. You get chunks of fruit & bits elderflower petals ever so delicately swimming in the jam. – Sounds like you had a very busy schedule in Paris!!

    Comment by tamami - May 12, 2009 9:59 pm

  10. Thanks for the recommendations – I’m off to Paris in 26 days (not that I’m counting, oh no…). I think if it were me deciding which jar to open first, I’d go for blackcurrant – but that’s because I’m so starved for anything black- or redcurrant (not very common flavours in the US).

    Glad to hear you had a good time! xx

    Comment by Rachel - May 13, 2009 4:34 am

  11. Hmmm wonderful purchase and you are right to guard them. If they were in my house I bet we’d have little jammy hand prints all the doors!! Hope the same does not happen chez vous.

    Comment by gillian - May 13, 2009 1:01 pm

  12. Tamami-san – glad you had a lovely time.

    I paid a visit to Mamie Gateaux on my last trip to Paris, I enjoyed shopping at their brocante but didn’t have a chance to taste anything at the cafe. Must make sure to do so next time!

    Take care and I’ll email you on my London schedule soon, really looking forward to seeing you. kxxx

    Comment by keiko - May 13, 2009 3:11 pm

  13. Your trip sounds wonderful. Last time I was there I was staying right near Mamie Gateaux at 44 Rue du Cherche Midi, so I walked by it multiple times a day. Your post brings back such lovely memories!

    Comment by Meghan (Radishes&Butter) - May 13, 2009 4:50 pm

  14. Rachel! Oooooh you’re going to Paris too? Well, yes, I’ll definitely recommend Mamie Gateaux! It’s news to me about the black/red currents being not so hot in US! Hm, it’s interesting how there’s a country divide in flavour preferences…
    .
    Hi Gillian, so far no one but me have had a taste. I know that once I give ’em a taster they’ll all want more & that would be the end of it, just like last time…!!
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    Konbanwa Keiko san! 良かったですよ〜。cafe　絶対にお勧めです。brocanteの方はドアが閉まっていたので御主人様にわざわざ開けてもらって中を見せてもらいました♪。
    是非メールして下さいネ！母業サボってお茶したいです。ロンドンでお茶するんだったらドコがいいかな。考えときますね。xxx
    .
    Hi Meghan! The area around there looked so much fun – I wish I was able to spend more time there…!

    Comment by tamami - May 13, 2009 8:59 pm

  15. Hi! I really love your blog…

    Comment by LOUISE - May 18, 2009 10:50 am

  16. Are there anywhere else you recommend in Paris?

    Comment by Astha - May 19, 2009 7:51 am

  17. Thank you Louise!
    .
    And hello Astha. There are cookware shops in Les Halles that I have been to before – which was good – but found the staff quite rude, so I won’t give it my recommendation stamp to that one… Other than that, I won’t know… I really found the Paris Map Guide that Clotilde of Chocolate & zucchini made really useful! It’s worth a proper look. Her blog post Twelve hours in Paris is also worth a good read!

    Comment by tamami - May 19, 2009 11:00 am

  18. 　Tamamiさん　はじめまして。こんにちは。
    Keikoさんのブログからお邪魔しました。
    　私もマミーガトーのレシピ本を持っているのでパリで行ってきました。かわいいお店ですよね。
    　Broadway Marketは、行ったことがないのでお天気がよかったら土曜日に行きたいなー、と思っています。楽しみです。　また遊びにきます！

    Comment by mappet - May 21, 2009 7:13 pm

  19. Mappetさん
    初コメントありがとう＆お返事が遅れてすみません。。。今やっと仕事が終わりましたっ！今週はbank-holiday weekendでしかもお天気が良いいので、みんなbbqをするかもって思って沢山作っちゃいました！ギャンブルです。。。！
    　是非マーケットに遊びに来て下さいね！会えるのを楽しみにしています！！

    Comment by Tamami - May 23, 2009 12:02 am

  20. hello… fantastic blog! thank you. i also love preserves and these sound wonderful. we love black currant, but it is harder to come by in the US (it’s not necessarily that it’s not liked, but not grown? definitely harder to get). i just read a recent post on ‘england preserves’ out of london – sounds great too. http://www.gastroanthropology.com/gastroanthropology/2009/05/england-preserves.html have you tried these? cheers, bsh

    Comment by bsh - May 30, 2009 1:11 am

  21. Hi, Tamami-san. Hajimemashite!

    Glad to hear you had a lovely time in Paris.

    I’ve been visiting broadway market since I moved in Hackney in 2006 and I knew your stall, BUT, damn, I’ve just known its run by such a amazing Japanese lady NOW!!! Shame on me!!!

    I definitely come to your stall when I visit the market next time.
    Can’t wait to have your cake!
    See you then.

    Comment by ihori - May 30, 2009 12:44 pm

  22. Hello Bsh, I never knew that blackcurrant is hard to come by in US til recently. Thank you for the tip for the interesting blog about preserves! (I’ve never tried them but next time I see one I’m sure to buy it!) I’m gonna get a cuppa & read it now! xx
    .
    Hello Ihori san, I’ll look forward to meeting you then!! xx

    Comment by tamami - May 31, 2009 10:13 pm

  23. Ohh I know how you feel about jam and crumbs, talk about a ‘lunch bag let down’.

    ps;
    My french teacher actually told me about your blog, and I’m so happy she did [even though it was home work related- we were doing the food unit..] . I love it~

    Comment by cece - June 8, 2009 2:10 am

  24. Hi there,
    I moved a year ago from London to Geneva (previously spent 7 years in Japan)
    and only yesterday actually tried Christine Ferber’s raspberry and violet jam. It is a heaven in a jar. We bought it in a small shop in Annecy in France. Actually it was full of Japanese tourists. Here is the link to this very special epicerie: http://www.regalissime.com/boutique_fr_7.html
    The owner sends the goodies to Europe.

    Comment by Maria - June 8, 2009 8:11 am

  25. Hi Cece, oh my…! your french teacher told you to check on this blog for homework??! Thats just ace!! Can you please tell me more about this? xx

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    Hi Maria! You move around a fair bit then! Thank you for the link – it’s difficult to find the jams here in the UK, & I’m in the process of persuading the French delica at the market to start stocking these because I know it’ll be a huge hit!

    Comment by tamami - June 8, 2009 9:56 am

  26. hope you’re feeling better, tamami!!

    Comment by petoskystone - June 9, 2009 12:11 pm

  27. Oh wow! Thank you Petoskystone! I didn’t think many people would notice. I’ve been a bit bed-ridden yesterday & today but shouldn’t be too bad from tomorrow…

    Comment by Tamami - June 9, 2009 1:56 pm

  28. Hiya Tamami!!

    Long time no speak!

    I’m sorry to hear you’re not well, I hope you feel better soon.

    I’m planning to visit you one of these weekends in the summer so be prepared for me! My face has grown EVEN rounder over the year hahaha! =D

    Take care and get well soon!!! x x

    Comment by Jan - June 11, 2009 8:10 pm

  29. Wow, hello Jan!! good to hear from you!!^^ I’m getting better actually, but I’ve done my back in a bit from being in bed long… But I’m determined to go back to the market next Sat. – Hope to see you there one day! xx

    Comment by tamami - June 11, 2009 11:33 pm

  30. Sorry to hear you were feeling under the weather. :( I hope you’re completely recovered now!

    I’m back from Paris now – sadly didn’t make it to Mamie Gateaux, but there’s always next time. But I did discover an amazing patisserie called Aurore-Capucine (3 rue Rochechouart, 9th) which you should certainly try on your next trip! xx

    Comment by Rachel - June 17, 2009 4:57 pm

  31. Hi Rachel! Ooh! thanks for the tip! I just googled it & it looks good! ^^

    Comment by tamami - June 18, 2009 7:39 am

  32. 昨日はお目にかかれてうれしかったです。
    梨のタルト、相棒と2人で楽しみました。半分以上取られました。おいしかった!!!
    またうかがいますね。

    Comment by ihori - June 21, 2009 7:27 am

  33. Ihori-san,
    梨のタルト気に入って下さってうれしいですっ！有り難うございます。是非また遊びに来て下さいね。そして夜勤ご苦労様でしたっ！！夜勤帰りなのにfresh-faceなのでさすがです！
    たまみ

    Comment by Tamami - June 21, 2009 11:20 am

  34. Hi, I am an artisan jam maker, and if were to buy jam (not my own) I would buy Christine Ferber. Her jams are fruit packed. I had to smile at your comment about butter and toast in the jam…. it’s one of my pet peeves lol
    beautiful photos

    Comment by Bluebell - February 15, 2013 11:20 pm

  35. Hello Bluebell!!!!!
    Sorry for late reply…! Ah, yes, that still is my pet peeve too – I can totally see that it must be for you especially since you are an artisan jam maker!!!!! Lol. A friend gave me another Ferber jam recently – a Herme collaboration one with his signature flavouring of litchee, rose and raspberry. I haven’t opened it yet tho… It seems too special!

    Comment by tamami - February 17, 2013 10:12 am

  36. Hello. Love your blog! I will be in London soon and was wondering if you know whether these jams are available to buy in London? And where?? Any help is greatly appreciated.
    Thanks,
    Martina

    Comment by martina - February 28, 2013 3:44 pm

  37. Hello Martina! Thank you very much for liking this blog! The jam…, I have no idea where you can buy them in London. I suppose big foodhalls in department stores like Harrods & Selfridges might stock them?? Might be worth you sending them an email to ask? Sorry I’m not much of a help! Enjoy London!! T xx

    Comment by Tamami - February 28, 2013 7:08 pm

 

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