I felt a longing to be around an abbey in the silence of the countryside as Thursday was All Saints Day, a holiday here in France and the next day the celebration of the dead, a difficult weekend for me, even more so since the death of my son. Families go to the cemeteries to honor their …
Ancient Abbey, Soup Festival, And Healing Vichy Waters Read More »
Truffle hunting in Champagne? I had never heard of truffles from Champagne before, except the chocolate ones made to look like Champagne corks of course. Truffles generally come from two areas in France, Provence, and the Perigord region, and I have never even thought I going truffle hunting before. While on my recent grape picking adventure …
Hunting Truffles And Other Discoveries In Champagne Read More »
The sky was a glorious cerulean blue with nary a cloud in view for the Champagne harvest as I crouched in the hot sun trying to snip off a cluster of blue grapes without cutting my fingers! I was as proud as can be of filling up my basket with those hard to get to …
I always enjoy going to Budapest, a two hour plus flight from Paris, for the foods and wines and other reasons. Last week, I wanted to go beyond to the pretty Lake Balaton area for an unusual thermal lake. Whereas my last two winter visits were so cold that the Danube had frozen into huge chunks …
I always look forward to the biggest farm show in Paris, the Salon de L’Agriculture. I know is will be crowded, and I know I will come back exhausted with some sad feelings about the animals seen and adored. It is a once a year humongous farm extravaganza and immersion into all aspects of …
The lovely village of Merano, or Meran is geographically in Italy, but is a bicultural town, with a decidedly Austrian soul and more rooted in the Austrian Sud Tyrol culture. This is not at all surprising , given that Merano was in the Austrian Hungarian Empire until it was turned over to Italy after WWI. …
The Venice Carnival and Italian thermal spas were my well planned getaway to help get through the death anniversary of my son last week. He would have loved to have been with us. Maybe Italy called me because it was the last place Andre traveled with us a few years ago. I followed my own …
Fabulous French feasting during the holidays is an almost impossible marathon for even a foodie such as me! Too much, too delicious and too rich! Christmas Eve feasts are just the beginning, with a second even more elaborate at New Years. Then comes the onslaught in January of Galettes des Rois, irresistible buttery confections …
Fabulous French Feasting From Bûche de Noël To Galettes Des Rois Read More »
My trip to Nantes was unplanned and frankly not one I would have chosen for myself. This is not a bias against Nantes, which has its merits, like an adorable chateau, but I was more interested in the Atlantic coast! Aimée, my daughter had a chance to go on a “formation” paid by her hospital, …
My Trip To Nantes And Pornichet To Changer L’Air Read More »
I had never attended the Taste of Paris before, but thanks to very kind and generous friends who insisted on treating me and my daughter Aimée to this wonderful event, I went last Sunday at the gorgeous Grand Palais. It doesn’t take much to tempt me to go to any food related event in Paris, …
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean has absolutely fabulous seafood, cannoli, theatrical food market and friendly people, including a cute basset hound! Wherever I go, the foods of the area are a large part of my enjoyment. It is just the way I am wired, and for me seeking out marvelous culinary treats is just …
January has had the most bone chilling bitter cold that I can remember since living in Paris. With a knee injury, I have not been sailing around this gorgeous city like I am use to. Having already missed an important march Saturday, I was determined to get up to Montmartre for the scallop festival and …