Dumpling Call them what you will, dumplings are delicious! According to Beijingservice.com the dumpling “dates back 500-600 years. As the Spring Festival marks the start of a new year, people choose to eat dumplings to connote their wishes for good fortune in the new year. Perfection China has been perfecting the art of dumpling making since […]
Homecoming – PECAN/PUMPKIN PIE
Homecoming Touching down in Montreal, it seemed as though we had just left. The European whirlwind was now a memory and while being thankful that we could make it happen, we were a little bummed out. Moving from country to country diving into the local culture and (of course) food was truly a wonderful experience […]
City Of Lights – PORCINI RISOTTO
Paris It was a trudge, weighted down with gear, to get to our apartment in the 11th arrondissement of Paris but it was worth it. The small dwelling on the ninth floor overlooked Paris with the Eiffel tower standing tall in the distance. Non-existent kitchen Although it was a studio with a virtually non-existent kitchen […]
No Plans In Les Vans (part 2) – CASSOULET
Thines With the heat still pushing over 30 degrees most days, we felt really lucky to be able to enjoy some great hiking and drives in beautiful sunny weather. One wonderful drive, down a very twisty, mostly one lane road, took us to the ancient and tiny (microscopic) village of Thines. The road takes you […]
No Plans In Les Vans (part 1) – PEACH PIE and CAILLETTE
Les Vans As we wound along the edge of the Ardèche valley on our way to Les Vans we were eager and nervous. 15 years ago Eager to see the town we visited 15 years ago and see whether our memories remained true. We were nervous because our temporary landlord and longtime friend is now […]
On The Road To Ardèche
South to Ardèche After our 48-hour rendez vous with J.P. and Maryse in Paris, we picked up our rental car and started heading South to Ardèche. Villedieu-les-Poêles We left ourselves a few days to make the trip and stop at some places of interest on the way. The first of which was a small town […]
Battered and Brugged – FLEMISH STEW WITH CHANTERELLES
t’Keiserhof We were thankful that our little hotel, t’Keiserhof in Brugge was only a four-minute walk from the train station. My sprained ankle was still causing me serious pain, especially walking on the uneven cobblestone streets. Nevertheless, we were eager to explore this much talked about medieval city so we threw our packs in our room […]
Belgian Bublé – GREEN CURRY MUSSELS and BELGIAN WAFFLES
Buzz of Amsterdam After the buzz of Amsterdam, we were afraid that Antwerp would be a letdown. A wrong turn made the walk from the train station, a marvellous piece of architecture, to the hotel, very long. The McDonald’s of hotels We finally arrived at yet another Ibis hotel (the McDonald’s of hotels) and settled […]