by NormaK There is nothing like Burgundy in the fall. Our guide met us in the lobby of our hotel for a full day of cycling. I wasn’t sure if I could take a full day but I certainly was going to give it a go – drank my protein shake and put on the …
by BobP If you like chocolate, then this is the show for you! It can be a bit whacky – a few years ago, they had a fashion show with models dressed in chocolate bars, many of which fell off as they sashayed along the runway. Meet cocoa growers, chocolatiers and bakers. There are baking …
by BobP The first traces of bread flour carbon-date back to the Upper Paleolithic period in Europe – about 30,000 BC. Evidence of yeast usage to make bread rise dates back to ancient Egypt (10,000 BC). Gauls and Iberians used hops from beer to make bread rise in Southern Europe well before Jesus rose …
By BobP In the back-country, not too far from Nice, you’ll find many mountain villages that are treasures. One of my favourites is Peillon. Wind your way up the road to a church with a courtyard, geographic table (which Dario is studying intently) and an old school. It is lovely! Don’t bother eating at the …
by BobP One wonderful thing about living in the Riviera is that we are a mere 20 minutes from the Italian border. Ventimiglia, the border town, is positively icky. But drive about 30-40 minutes farther, up into the mountains, and you’ll discover another world. Dolceaqua (freshwater) is a lovely medieval town from the 12th century. …
By BobP The Philippe Starck-designed spa is over the top. Huge chandeliers, marble galore, leather sofas in the wading pools, a private cinema… Add to that a 2-acre pool deck with a 300 foot rectangular pool for laps and 2 square pools for wading and lounging and you have about the biggest in-city swimming area …
by BobP We had a fun outing to Pescadero – about an hour South of San Francisco on Route 1. Pescadero has a lovely beach and fun antique and country general stores. The bread baked locally stuffed with artichoke hearts, herbs and garlic cloves is to die for. While there, we happened on a …
By BobP We braved the snow and headed to a cooking class in Paris just a few days after Christmas. The menu was very rich winter fare – perhaps not what we should have eaten after gorging ourselves earlier in the week. MenuCrème de potiron, foie gras poêlé, châtaignes et pain d’épice (Pumpkin cream, …
by BobP I unexpectedly had to run up to Strasbourg at the last minute the day after Christmas. I hadn’t been to Alsace at Christmas time since the early 90s – it certainly is worth it! The city was resplendent under the snow. I ventured out incognito in the evening to several of the Christmas …
by BobP We set off from Biarritz, our base, to visit St Jean de Luz and the French side of the Basque Country. St Jean de Luz is a sleepy coastal town in a protected harbor. It does not have the waves of Biarritz, but enjoys lovely views and a fabulous hotel – the 100 …