Mme Cora's letter

My last perm was 6 months ago and my curls are now limply dangling at the end of my long locks. So I rejoiced when, a few days ago, I put my name down on a waiting list at the hairdresser’s. In the meantime, I’ve taken drastic action. That’s right, just like in the good ol’ days, I’ve pinned up my hair in rollers, which are now tightly tugging at my noggin.   So, what else to do on this pleasant Sunday morning now that I’ve enjoyed a long walk, made coffee, watered the herbs, perused the weekend papers and tortured my head to spruce up my looks a little?   Though I still stay close to home, I’ve noticed that the main arteries of life are showing signs of activity. It’s great news! A green light signalling there’s reason to feel hope again in the future. Kids will head back to daycare, teens will return to the soccer fields, parents will be back at work and artists will resume creating. And us older folk can turn our thoughts to new adventures. So on this beautiful Sunday, I am quietly reflecting on what I would like to do, experience and try before leaving this world. It’s a wonderful way to bounce back from the pandemic, by imagining tomorrow right now. As an act of faith in times to come, I am going to compose a list of everything that I would like to do. I am a veteran list maker; I’ve been organizing my life through lists since forever. And I became an even more ardent list maker when I started my business. In the final week of each year, I create my list of goals, both personal and business, for the coming year. And it works. It’s like magic: If you write it down, it happens! Making a list of what you would like to do before you die is the same kind of exercise, but on a bigger scale. It’s a list of wishes, dreams, desires or challenges that you want to accomplish before leaving for good. A bucket list, to use a familiar term.  You can start by writing whatever comes to mind and then organize the list by order of priority afterwards. The goal is to identify experiences, from the simplest to the most outrageous, that you want to live before the end of your life. Putting them down in writing releases them into the universe of possibilities. So, here we go! Before my final heartbeat, I want to… - Revisit Paris and especially Place Saint-Germain-des-Près, dine at the café Les Deux Magots, once frequented by Verlaine and Rimbault, my most cherished poets. - Write a real love letter to someone and hear my heart beat to this mysterious purring that lovers speak of. - Tour the Gaspésie and Maritime provinces 3 or 4 times more before I get too old to drive my Mini. - Visit Sweden and especially the stores of the artist-designer Gudrun Sjödén. In another life, I’d like to be her neighbour and work in her ateliers. - Adopt a pet to experience the affection and bond between an animal and its master. Perhaps a dog who’d watch documentaries with me on TV. Or pull me along at the end of its leash when my feet object to going on a walk. - Attend the opera for the first time ever. Because I love the human voice and the intrigue and schemes between the story’s characters. And because I have never allowed myself the time to enjoy such musical pleasure. - Visit Iceland, the home country of my favourite writer, Audur Ava Olafsdottir (who penned Rosa candida and other delicious books) and gaze on raw, unspoilt nature. - Inspired by the film Murder on the Orient Express, travel across Europe aboard a luxury train, reading another adventure of Hercule Poirot, drinking cocktails and dressing to the nines for dinner in the dining wagon. - Find a haiku master, someone from my circle of acquaintances, and take a creative workshop with them, for the sheer creative pleasure and to improve my poetry writing (haikus are very short poems that originated in Japan).  - Publish one, two or even three new books, or at least write until I empty all the thoughts in my mind’s labyrinth onto the page.     - Visit the Isle of Crete, which I have heard so much about. And learn to make the authentic recipes from this classic Greek island. -Live as long as possible, even past 100 if I can. Life is so precious. And so on! You can add a new dream to your bucket list at any time, or rummage through it and discard those you have already done or that have lost their meaning for you. It’s best to balance your list between small and big items. The easiest ones will help motivate you to take on the more daunting ones. Be sure to read your list often, too. This will help you stick to your goals. Check off a wish once completed – it’s a cause for joy and celebration! Sharing the goals on your bucket list with a family member or friend is also a great gift: perhaps you will motivate them in turn to create their own list. I firmly believe that sharing our wishes with the universe is the best way to make them happen. ❤️ Cora

Unstoppable Mother Nature is hard at work decorating the world in springtime beauty throughout our hemisphere. Tell me, have you noticed the first small buds on tree branches? And the gloriously bold daffodils pushing up from the softened earth, barely free of winter’s grasp? Have you looked up into the sky to watch the parade of V-shaped flocks as they slice though the sky? Listened to their staccato exclamations beating out their rhythm through the vast blue space above? In spite of everything, the Universe’s Herculean power supports the celestial skies with one hand and nourishes even the smallest living creatures with the other.   My youthful days far in the past, dare I hope that the grim monster will not stop at my abode? Dare I believe that I might be spared despite the great many years I have enjoyed in this world?  Might I regret all those days when I didn’t take a moment to gaze intently upon a tree? All this twittering alights in my ears with no answer. The swaying of branches stretching forth in the sunshine? The energetic buzzing of bees? The smell of flowers, the friendship of animals? All these moments that I missed because I thought I had a better place to be. So many days, so many years seeing the snow melt, the grass returning to life, my skin marked deeper with time, my vivacity diminish…  And yet. And yet… "While there’s life, there’s hope,” said Theocritus (Greek poet born in 310 BC). It is precisely the blessed hope in which I want to immerse myself and be reborn better, more clear-eyed, more attentive and more appreciative of Serene Mother Nature who orchestrates the entire physical world of our planet. Not surprisingly, these past 10 weeks of confinement have sufficed to render me wholly conscious of the monumental importance of nature. Growing up along the river that flowed into the sea between the reddish cliffs of the Gaspésie, I never took notice of the fields from which Maman would collect wild strawberries to make jam. Then, needing to feed my own young ones in turn, I joined the marathon of life without even inquiring what the prize was for winning. I cooked, worked and toiled away until my Sun shone bright across the country. And hundreds of people have come after me. My final reward quietly germinated within me, during these long, quiet weeks. It might have been in March during a walk in the outdoors, when a celestial seed, tucked inside a snowflake, landed on my head, whispered in my ear and entered the fertile ground of my loving heart. Or then, it might have been April, while walking through a residential area, wishing to save the small buds from the jumble of branches, cut off and thrown out on the street. Each day, I would discreetly pick up a few branches and take them home to place in a vase of fresh water on my large table. I showered the beautiful bouquet of buds with kisses and words of love. And this morning, the bouquet looks like a tree, full of young leaves, all content to enjoy the warmth of my large kitchen. Like the branches, I am flourishing again, more understanding, happier and fully convinced that kindness, affection and love are the best vitamins for growth. To be alive is an immense privilege. Let’s not waste the opportunity given to us, and love more. ❤️ Cora PS: A shower of kisses to you as well!

I still rave about this incredibly flavourful sandwich that’s so easy to make with regular ingredients that can be found in anyone’s fridge. It’s been a popular fixture on our menu since 1989. It all started with the mother of one of the partners at our third Cora restaurant. Arriving unannounced on the bus from Rimouski, Mme Dolorès Bédard was so excited about surprising her daughter Martha that she entered our new Vimont restaurant singing and dancing. “Martha, Martha, my dearest” exclaimed the sexagenarian a little too unrestrainedly. Martha, who was arranging the fruit counter at that moment, dropped the basket of oranges when her mother’s voice came booming across the 100-seat restaurant. -Mom…Mom! What are you doing here? -I wanted to surprise you, my sweet Martha. I wanted to see your restaurant. Mme Dolorès then insisted on shaking my hand, and without batting an eye, asked me for a big favour. She wanted to have her name included somewhere in the jumble of cardboard words that made up our menu at that time. -What would you like for lunch, dear Dolorès? -Do you have egg sandwiches? They’re my absolute favourite. A sandwich filled with hard-cooked eggs mashed together with some green onion, finely chopped celery, a little parsley and lots of mayonnaise. All served between two golden slices of toast. When I returned from the kitchen with the plate containing Dolorès’ most favourite meal in the world, generously garnished with beautiful fresh fruit, the woman had burst into tears of joy. Her daughter had just announced that I had decided to name the dish MIDI DOLORÈS* in her honour.  That moment, I also wanted to cry joyfully: Once again, I had succeeded in bringing delight to someone with my food. And since that day, we sell thousands of MIDI DOLORÈS* plates each week in Quebec and across Canada. Years later, only after much reflection, recounting, and even occasionally, putting down on paper the story behind this or that new creation, I came to understand the recipe for my success. The moment the shimmer of an idea alighted in my mind, a restless energy would commandeer my arms and hands, filling them with creativity and my heart with so much love. Just like a mother, I suffered, waiting impatiently for the new breakfast dish to show its limbs and face. From the simplest to the most spectacular creations, each dish filled me with happiness. And all that work during those years, as tough as it was, seems today like a long journey of fabulous adventures. I am not really a cook, but my desire to delight others overpowers me. Even today, I am constantly playing with new combinations of ingredients and flavours. All my efforts have a constant goal: to see a customer’s eyes open wide or hear them loudly exclaim their joy when the dish is placed before them. In fact, I’ve never worried whether I had the skills required for the task. I love to believe that it’s the invisible arm of fate or that of a guardian angel that guided me along. Sometimes pulling me towards a wonderful new location, sometimes pushing me out of bed after the 25th day of working straight without a moment’s rest. Mme Dolorès, and a few years later, her daughter Martha, left on that final great voyage to a world that surpasses all our expectations. I ❤️ you. Cora Life like a tree That never stops dying. *Named “Famous egg salad sandwich” in English Canada

Wow, am I ever blessed to have such clever colleagues. Yesterday morning, a colleague informed me that this year, “for you, our dear founder,” we are going to treat you to an early celebration. Mother’s Day (May 10) is the restaurant industry’s biggest day, and the team will no doubt be busy ensuring that all our restaurants are humming with activity. So tomorrow, dear Mme Cora, you just need to open your door to find an amazing breakfast inside a big Cora Sun bag that you can prepare in a jiffy. Enjoy! It serves four, with enough food for six. The package will arrive tomorrow morning. Bravo, team. I ❤️you! This gargantuan-sized feast to celebrate Mother’s Day was also a way for the team to pitch me a fantastic idea they had to create a “big delicious Cora breakfast” for our customers, with eggs, bacon, ham, baked beans, creton and even some hollandaise sauce to dip the eggs in. Breakfast potatoes, some good bread for toast, juice for the kids, enough coffee to make two pots, and of course, some sweet fudge for a perfect finish. My praise for the team was as generous as the Big Take-Out Breakfast they had sent me. It’s a great idea for all the families who want to stay home during this pandemic. Who knows, the idea may even take hold and prove popular with families who simply wish to avoid weekend lineups.   It turns out this Big Take-Out Breakfast for four comes in four versions, to satisfy all tastes! Besides the traditional eggs and meat, there is also Spinach-cheddar crêpes with accompaniments, French toast with maple syrup and Pancakes with all the trimmings. You will find everything in the bag to easily put your breakfast together. You simply have to place your order and have it delivered or pick it up at the restaurant yourself. And I thought I would be getting a bouquet of flowers. I am going to religiously eat Cora for the next five mornings!! It’s perfect, really, since it’s my new COVID-19 routine: take the time to eat a good breakfast, make one (or 2 or 3) cups of coffee. Admire my attractive kitchen, toast a defrosted bagel, spread on some good homemade jam and, with sticky fingers, browse my newspaper on the iPad. I pause and savour this slower way of life before putting on my 4 km boots. Actually, it’s on my walks that I have my best “ah-ha” moments. Today’s big realization: This ship is sailing just fine without me.   Mission accomplished, Mom. Happy Mother’s Day! Cora I ❤️you, team!

It was so beautiful out! I didn’t cook today. It was simply too beautiful outside, almost like a summer’s day. Instead of my usual nature walk, I went off to wander the streets of a new residential development in my area. It was such a delight to come across other long-distance walkers, runners dressed in colourful leggings, dogs of all sizes, many pulling their owner behind them at the other end of a leash. I saw an old couple fastened to each other to make walking easier, three teens throwing the last snowballs of the year at each other. I especially loved the children walking in a single file behind their parent, the little ones wobbling along on scooters, the baby tucked in a pretty pouch slung over a father’s shoulders or another snuggled against a young mother’s chest. I thrilled at the veritable concert of birds singing loudly from a bare maple tree as if to catch my attention. Believe it or not, I applauded them. Clap! Clap! Clap! I was also perhaps unconsciously applauding the tenacious and irrepressible life in front of me, defiant gestures in the face of uncertainty. And as I wandered the streets, drawn along by the repetitive patterns of the home’s almost identical façades, I suddenly had the impression of being in an art gallery. Because everywhere, pictures of rainbows were displayed in the windows. Beautiful, brightly coloured rainbows, each one accompanied by the now famous line “It’s going to be okay” written in attractive letters. IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY… After the storm comes the sunshine. This realization fell over me like a gentle mercy. The certainty that life post-virus will bring something positive to each one of us. For those toddlers, who will take their first steps, for the teens, who will be off to university or the runners, who will likely enjoy a long and healthy life. And for me, who will learn how to keep a cool head, live better and incorporate the lessons learned from these trying times into my daily life. In my heart, I have already signed my pact with Solitude (a nod to Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, 1967) and I am happy to honour to it. I love all of life’s different sides, especially the “inexhaustible imagination” that I have still to express before I leave this world. So many words and sentences to seed between the lines so a story can spring to life. Like the roots, branches and buds who wait patiently for the ripe fruit to appear. The end of our confinement will be the perfect time to invent a better version of our lives. For me, I will continue to keep my distance… from overworking, empty chit-chat, meaningless ties and vain distractions that close us off from our own happiness.     For the few decades I have left remaining, I want to embrace life as it comes. Bending down to smell the flowers, running my hands over the rough bark of trees, writing poems to birds and crying when a cloud erases the sun.   Here’s to staying stoic and creative.   ❤️ Cora The flowers heads bent whisper to the ants.

Wanting it all, all the time. Am I the only one who misses dressing up in a chic outfit for an important occasion? The only one to think that this terrible, persistent idleness is beginning to dim the smile on their face? The only one who is afraid that their mind is becoming dull without any challenges to keep it sharp? To imagine that their vivacious spirit may be a little less spirited the longer this situation lasts? With no more duties to perform as Cora’s founder, absent from strategic meetings and deprived of the satisfaction of contributing to our post-COVID-19 future, the question “who am I?” keeps tapping me on my shoulder.    My mind even briefly protested why it should be me who is home-bound while the assassin still dances in the street.     There are lessons that we can all take from this global crisis. The first being the cruel reminder that bad things can happen unannounced at any time. A catastrophe like today’s that has turned our worlds upside-down and taken the lives of 200,000 people in a matter of months, the time it takes for the late-winter snow to disappear. Given our egocentric natures and desire to have it all, all the time, are we ready to reflect on other lessons offered by the current situation? Instead of getting down, should we instead detach ourselves from our titles and jobs to redefine who we are? Without our accomplishments and possessions, all the usual trappings we identify with, what remains of who we are?   Alone by myself here or together at your home with loved ones, let’s really give it some thought. To help keep your fingers from getting stiff, I’m sharing a recipe that is as simple as it is flavourful. This homemade tzatziki is a wonderful condiment to accompany your chicken brochettes or Saturday night lamb chops. Peel a fresh, plump cucumber and slice lengthwise in half. Using a teaspoon, gently scrape away the seeds. Thinly grate the 2 pieces of cucumber over a clean dishcloth. Roll up the cloth (the cucumber tucked inside, of course) and twist to wring out the vegetable’s water. In a medium-sized bowl, add 500 ml of sour cream and 500 ml of plain Greek yogurt. Mix together with 3-4 finely minced garlic cloves. Add the cucumber, stir and place in the fridge. For smaller households, simply cut the quantities by half (250 ml quantities, a medium-sized cucumber and less garlic).   If I have some on hand, I top up the flavour with a little finely chopped fresh dill. A batch of this delicious sauce is the perfect excuse to accompany your meal with a Greek salad. Combine a few tasty, ripe tomatoes, fresh cucumber, thinly sliced red onions, fresh bell peppers, black olives and some good feta. Toss everything with olive oil and red wine vinegar, and then garnish with parsley and a little fresh or dried oregano. "Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” – Albert Einstein. Thankful for your company throughout these trying times, ❤️ Cora

Talk about a life change. It’s 11:20 on a sunny, beautiful Monday morning and I’ve just gotten out of the bath. It’s far removed from my usual routine where I should be busy at work, either attending a marketing meeting, seeing a supplier or thinking about a pressing issue seated at my desk. Instead, here I am, with the sun high in the sky, with absolutely nothing to do but have a bath, put on my comfy sweats and sit down to type away in search of a little human connection, other than a selfie. The day started out in an unexpected way too: At dawn, I was stirring jam. That’s right, more papaya jam! Because yesterday, a generous stranger dropped off three of them on my porch. As you can already guess, the fruit’s flesh spent the night in the fridge, and by 8 a.m., it was dancing away on a hot stove. If only each one of you lived close by so I could offer you a taste!     The current upheaval has put many of us out of work. So what could be more timely than a delicious poor man’s pudding to bring a smile back to our faces. Here is my all-time favourite version, taken from the Guide de la Cuisine Traditionnelle Québécoise: In a pot, mix 2 cups of brown sugar, 2 knobs of butter, 1½ cups of tap water and a few drop of vanilla extract. Bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Transfer syrup to a large oven-proof dish. In a bowl, beat together 2 good-sized knobs of butter, a ½ cup of sugar and an egg. Add 1 cup of flour, sifted with 2 tsp. of baking powder, alternating with a ½ cup of milk. Place the dough in the syrup. Cook in the oven for about 30 minutes at 350°F. Get ready for the perfect pick-me-up to dispel low spirits! This dessert is satisfyingly rich but costs very little. In 1987, way back when we first started out, I would serve helpings of this poor man’s pudding to workers seated at the restaurant’s counter. It was so good, they all wanted to marry me! I should have accepted one of those offers. I wouldn’t be this youthful old lady today with 3 papayas on the porch. Thank you to all of you, my dear readers, for keeping me company. My ❤ to you all! Cora

I will humbly admit it: my eyes are bigger than my stomach! It’s a little weakness I’ve long been aware of. At the pizza counter, I’ll order three large all-dressed slices knowing full well that I am going to eat only half. Or a big club sandwich buried under a huge helping of the world’s best fries, a good portion of which will stay on my plate. I love ordering well-cooked meat, even if a few chops or sausages will likely go untasted. And I always order a dessert, simply so I can enjoy a spoonful. I blame my curiosity. It also has eyes bigger than my needs; I want to discover how each dish is made. And when I bite into something especially delicious, I inevitably try to reproduce the same delight at home. During these days of self-isolation, I am discovering or improving recipes in my kitchen daily. And I love it, I love the satisfaction of perfecting, in every area.   I have 4-5 pairs of round glasses I enjoy switching between, 5 yellow tops in my wardrobe cupboard because I like the colour, and so many scarves, headbands and handmade wristbands that I almost don’t have enough space to keep them. I guess I’ve always thought big; I overestimate my needs. Shopping is my favourite fun activity because again, my curiosity trumps my reasoning. Same goes for the pile-up of projects in my head. My enthusiasm means more projects than my mental highway was made for. Like a moth to a light, everything that is new to me is irresistible.    After all, isn’t life a great feast, there for our enjoyment and discovery? Have no fear, I am digging in! My appetite for living is also oversized. Life is a vast self-serve buffet of possibilities that I avail myself of like a young-at-heart old woman who is still hungry and curious. During these weeks of self-isolation, we have more time to dream with our eyes wide open, to revisit our shopping lists at life’s buffet of possibilities. Delight your loved ones with drawings of I ❤ YOU and surprise them with dishes you cook up using whatever you find in the kitchen cupboards.  I’ll help you get started, with this delicious recipe for homemade custard that a little girl who knows how to use a mixer could easily make herself. In a medium-sized bowl, add the contents of a small box of instant Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding and 2 cups of milk. Mix together until thick. In another bowl, thoroughly beat 1 cup of 35% cream. Add to the bowl of pudding and mix well. Transfer to a container, cover and set in the fridge to chill. Enjoy with your favourite dessert or on a crêpe filled with banana slices or fresh strawberries. I guarantee you that this homemade treat will light up smiles around the table. It’s amazing how easy happiness is when you put your mind (and imagination) to it. It’s true for me – illustrating my little secrets gives me so much pleasure! Sending you all my ❤, Cora

Thank goodness I watched Avatar again last evening. And yes, happily the good side won. Because after coming back from a midday walk yesterday, I felt as if Gorgons* with hair of living serpents had launched an attack on my world. Stepping into the house, I immediately sensed that these dreadful creatures had very likely taken hold of my mind, were sprawled all over the sofas, devouring my food and amusing themselves as they tried on my colourful scarves hanging in the entranceway. Yet instead of feeling fearful, a heavy depression hit me. A sharp sense of dejection, like burnt breakfast potatoes on the stove. All afternoon, I turned in circles like a lioness in a cage. Aimlessly starting then stopping things. I was uselessness. I was good for nothing and at loose ends. I dearly missed my usual activities, my colleagues, my children, their children, my wonderful great grandson, and even (I’ll confess!), a mistaken sense of self-importance that I felt prior to this pandemic.   This nasty virus will likely give most of us a solid kick to our high pedestals. Well, good! Not such a bad thing for the braggers and wasters, the self-centred and reckless of this world.   James Cameron’s cinematic tour de force moved me deeply yesterday. The tall Na’vi of the Omaticaya clan may belong to an ideal fictional world that exists only on the screen, but their basic values are ones we should all strive to live by. So I’m writing to you in a cheerful mood this morning. I’m knitting together a new me. A core of wool as strong and courageous as before, with dozens of new hands to help, to give, to care, to create connections, to cook, to draw, to write and to applaud. Thank you for being there with me. I’m doing fine now. Cora *In Greek mythology, the Gorgon sisters were terrifying monsters who lived in Tartarus.

I am often asked what my favourite breakfast is. Each time I reply without a second thought: The Spinach-cheddar crêpe It’s just as delicious as the Ham-Swiss cheese crêpe, the Banana-chocolate or any other one on the menu. Yet, Spinach-cheddar is still my number one, because of what it means for me.   Let me explain. One day, way back in 1987 when we were first starting out, my son interrupted me as I was chopping up fresh spinach and adding it to some crêpe batter.  – “No, mom, you can’t do that.” – “And why can’t I? I am going to make a big spinach crêpe and grate some good cheddar on top. It’s going to be delicious.” – “No, mom, people don’t eat spinach for breakfast. It’ll be impossible to sell.” – “Let’s see what happens,” I answered, as I continued mixing the spinach into the crêpe batter. I spread it onto the hot griddle and let it cook, flipping after a few minutes. Next, I grated a generous helping of aged cheddar on top, folded it and let it cook a little longer to allow the ingredients to happily mingle together. To serve this delicious flavour match-up, I chose my most attractive plate from my hodgepodge of dishes.     That “impossible” crêpe is still today the most popular savoury crêpe in Canada.  And that’s exactly why it is my favourite – because each time someone mentions it, I remember that when you apply a little creativity, nothing is impossible. So… For all of you who got busy and made crêpes after my last message, go for it. Be bold and adventurous! Add to your batter some small granola chunks, finely chopped kale, chia seeds, ground pistachios, toasted coconut, crispy bacon bits or any other ingredient that inspires you. You might just become like me: a home apprentice who comes up with an unforgettable crêpe. Be sure to name it, and if you have time, take a picture of it. Of course, choosing a good cheese (preferably local) is key. Where I live, we like OKA, Le Pionnier and Le Mamirolle. Psst... send me a photo of your delicious flavour match-up if you like. These days, I have all the time in the world! Cora