Famous for its chocolates and beers, Belgium also lays claim to Brussels sprouts and Belgian waffles: this week’s obsession… What distinguishes Belgian waffles from other waffles is its larger size, lighter batter (a result of using yeast batter instead of pancake batter), and higher grid pattern which forms deep pockets: the better to hold silky, […]
Travel
Broodje Haring in Amsterdam and Beyond
Famous in Amsterdam and throughout the Netherlands, I could think of no better place to experience my first Broodje Haring (raw herring in a roll) than in Zierikzee, a fishing village in Schouwen-Duiveland in the southwestern Netherlands. In Amsterdam you can have haring broodje from street carts where its served on a soft roll with […]
Images of Ireland
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I could think of no better tribute to the Irish than to share a few photos from our first visit to Ireland, a stunning and mystical land of unsurpassed beauty. Its ancient history, steeped in legend and myths, is apparent everywhere you go. One can find ruins of ringed forts and […]
Tet Traditions
How has a humble rice cake with three simple ingredients (rice, mung bean, and pork) come to symbolize Tet, the most celebrated of Vietnamese holidays? The gift of Banh Chung during the New Year has become the most important tradition of Vietnamese culture and was passed down from one generation to the next. Always curious […]
Cooking at L’atelier des Chefs
One of the most exciting culinary experiences during my fall fling in Paris was preparing a three-course meal in a cooking class offered through L’Atelier des Chefs. The afternoon class got off to a rough start but one of the tomes I live by is that things happen for the best, and this adventure was […]
Paris – Cupid Awakening Psyche
I am thankful for the beauty that exists in our world. For this week’s obsession, I offer you a glimpse of Italian sculptor Antonio Canova’s exquisite Cupid Awakening Psyche (1793) at the Louvre. Absolutely breathtaking- it is love carved in stone. According to myth, Cupid awakens Psyche from eternal slumber with a kiss.
Picnic in Paris
While a picnic for one may sound frightfully lonely in most cases, a picnic for one in the Garden of Les Halles in Paris while savoring a French roll and salad from famed baker Eric Kayser, can only be described as an earthly pleasure that you hope exists in heaven. When faced with the gorgeous […]
This week’s obsession….
Our second evening of eating like a local in Cannes: La Cave , a tiny, lively old-style bistro serving classic French food and wine. Amazing how in an unbelievably modest sized open kitchen and service area, 2 chefs and 3 waiters can efficiently create and serve flavorful and filling plates to a packed restaurant all […]
Scenes from Cannes
I’m having a tough time getting back into the swing of things after traveling most of October; some for pleasure but some to take care of urgent family matters of a not so pleasant nature. Here, I’ll focus on the pleasure part and share with you some scenes from our stay in Cannes on the […]
Blues & BBQ at the Hyatt
Here’s a quick quiz for you: 1. Do you like barbecue? 2.. Do you like the blues? 3. Are you looking for a fun and affordable evening of entertainment for the entire family? If you answered “Yes” to any of the above, then why not head to Huntington Beach and the gorgeous ocean-front Hyatt Regency Resort […]