ECLAIT VOYAGER : October 2020

Annecy is more than just a picturesque town. It has been quaintly dubbed the "Venice of French Alps", with the Thiou river surrounding the old city and canals, protecting its Medieval charm from being disturbed. There are only about 50,000 inhabitants and yet this town attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.

Surrounded by Mount Semnoz, Veyrier and various lakes, the town has plenty to offer. From paragliding, hiking to sailing and skiing, there is a sport for everyone all year round.

Take a stroll down towards Jardin de Europe, where you will get a panorama view of the iridescent blue Lake Annecy. On a sunny day you will see people jogging and children playing soccer at this municipal park, feel free find a bench for people watching, reading or even just immersing in this remarkable view of mountain Veyrier.

I would also recommend grabbing brunch at La Bicyclette Rose and I highly recommend their avocado and salmon toast. Note this is place is always crowded so get there early.

As you walk pass Jardin de Europe, you will find yourself at Pont de Amours. The myth goes to say that a couple who kisses on the bridge will be together forever. There will be quite a lot of people passing by, but don't hesitate to linger for a bit to enjoy this romantic spot! There are also boat tours that departs every 20/ 40mins if you want to get a better view of the lake.

You will pass the Imperial Aviary if you continue your way to Plague de Imperial. The goose looked almost obnoxious when the peacock opened its feathers. During summer time, it's a good place to just relax on the beach or even take a quick swim in the river!

Cezanne once said, you must "treat nature by means of the cylinder, the sphere, the cone". He set foot in this town in 1896 for holiday with his family, and although he sneered at the view, promptly prompt an easel at the hotel terrance and started painting. The Lac d'Annecy (1896) is very much a juxtaposition of discipline vs. rebellion. In many ways, Cezanne has steered away from the tranquility and pristine nature of a classical pictorial arrangement. He treated each object almost as independent and yet integrated in its form and shape. His love for geometry very much inspired the cubism movement as well as the artist vibe at Annecy. Now you can find the art market available every Tuesday and Sunday.

Make your way back to the old town area, and you will be mesmerized by the quaint shops full of pizzazz. From colorful fancy hats to delicate art stores and patisseries, don't forget to drop by Glacier des Alpes for an ice cream!

If you love the nature, take the path from Basilica of the Visitation, to Parc Animalier de la Grande Jeanne and walk through Mount Semnoz to Sevrier for some zen-like meditation walk. There are many paths that are interconnected and you could take the hike towards Croix Du Crete and take a bus back from Sevrier, Marie bus stop on the main road. Don't forget to drop by Plague de Municiple for a gorgeous panoramic view of the lake.

Croix Du Crete

My advice for Annecy - Don't rush it and don't bother making an itinerary. Getting lost in this city will help you find yourself.

The farmers market is a great place to start your morning explorations, pick up some of the fresh produces and you could make yourself a simple lunch. Mushrooms and artichokes, fresh plums and arugula leaves.

My idea of bliss is striking a balance between comfort food vs. healthy gluten free and vegan options. I would opt for the perfect Belgium fries from La Frite du Pont Neuf for one afternoon, and then vegan plates from Kia Ora for another.

La Frite du Pont Neuf

Kia Ora

The one thing that I missed the most about a normal diet is having a bagel for breakfast. Whether it is slicing some avocado with a semi-cooked egg or with smoked salmon, bagels is my necessity. I'd always remember those college years where I would order a blueberry bagel with cream cheese to get through my afternoon studies at the library.

As a baker, I've come to the understanding that gluten-free recipes will never get as close to as a normal recipe. But being a scientist at heart and a chemist at soul, I've gone down the path of different permutation and combinations, iterative testings and finally, a recipe that I can feel proud to present.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do. A gluten free diet does not mean needing to give up on a good wholesome bagel!

Ingredient

420g Rice Flour (If you have tapioca flour, feel free to switch out 20g of it)
50g Quinoa Flour
20g Soy Flour
2 tablespoons (25 g) granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons (9 g) kosher salt
1 cup + 1 tablespoon (8 1/2 fluid ounces) warm water (about 95°F)
6 tablespoons (84 g) olive oil

Egg wash
2 teaspoons (6 g) instant yeast
Seeds, for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven at 180c (400F approximately) and start a water bath in a flat pan. If you don't have molasses, I've used brown sugar powder and it works just fine.

2. Mix yeast into the warm water, stir well and add in the sugar as well. Leave it out for 5-10mins so you start seeing some bubbling

3. Add in all the dry ingredients (all flour, salt) and add in the olive oil and yeast mixture into the mixer. Mix first at low speed to combine, and then at medium speed until the dough is soft and smooth (Approximately 5-10mins). If the mixer is having the hard time combining the mixture because it is too dry, knead with hand instead.

4. Divide the dough using a bench scraper into 8 equal parts or 12 if you prefer mini-bagel. The dough should weight about 63g for each portion for the mini-bagels.

5. Shape the dough into round balls and gently press it into a round disk. Using a chopstick or your finger to press through the center to create a hole.

6. When the water bath is heated, gently place the dough into the water bath and cook it for 40sec on each side. Drain the water and brush the top and bottom of the bagel with egg wash.