A few weekends ago, Ben and I drove out to Arcachon to spend the night at the Thalazur Thalassothérapie Spa and Hotel: a much-needed pause from the stress of planning a destination wedding with “Level: High” difficulty logistical organization. We spent the afternoon soaking in the massive salt-water pool, taking turns roasting and steaming in…
A few nights ago, Ben and I got together with a couple of friends to try out Mampuku, near Porte Cailhau. After what was one of my favorite Bordeaux restaurant experiences at MILES a few months ago, I was eager to try its sister restaurant, an (even) less-formal, but just as cerebral, collaboration between Japanese…
One of my fondest memories of my trip to Sweden and Denmark this past autumn was spending an afternoon with my best friend (and soon to be bridesmaid), exploring Jönköping, her new home of late. Situated in the province of Småland, on the southern shore of the great Lake Vättern, this small Swedish city is…
Ask me about my recent birthday dinner at Pierre Gagnaire’s 2-Michelin-starred restaurant La Grand Maison de Bernard Magrez and I’ll ask you how much time you’ve got. A flawless experience from start to finish, though I never expected otherwise. This Relais & Châteaux gem brings together the essences of three great men. The menu is…
Ben, my German friend and I arrived on the last day of 2018 in rainy Esslingen am Neckar, a gorgeous little German town on the banks of the Neckar River, a short drive from the city of Stuttgard. Having managed to survive the ravages of World War II, Esslingen offers a peek into German history:…
Our journey continued from Alsace, across the German border, through the Black Forest and beyond, to the city of Stuttgart. Located in a bowl-shaped valley, surrounded completely by forest and wine country, Stuttgart is the capital of the Baden-Württemberg region and the home of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. The latter becomes quite clear while driving into and…
Following an afternoon spent touring and tasting (and learning, a lot!) at Domaine Jean Baptiste Adam in Ammerschwihr and Humbrecht 1619 in Gueberschwihr, we were in need of a warm and hearty meal to heal our Riesling-stung gums. We tried a few spots in Gueberschwihr, but the town were largely deserted that evening and the menu offerings…
I don’t often review the restaurant of my travel accommodation, as it’s actually quite rare for me not to venture out for dinner, wherever I’m staying. But after a 30-minute nap that accidentally turned into a 2-hour snooze at the Hotel du Parc in Thann, nothing in the quaint Alsatian town seemed open to take…
Google “Alsatian specialties” and try not to salivate all over your keyboard. I dare you. Baeckeoffe, flammekueche, choucroute, fleischschnacka, tarte à l’oignon… These are hearty and filling dishes served in generous portions, perfect with a glass of local Riesling or Gewürztraminer on a frosty winter’s eve. It’s the kind of food you not just want, but need,…
What better possible way to spend two months off work than to reconnect with folks and hang out in places you never have the time to visit? That was the idea behind planning my trip to Copenhagen. Three friends flew in from their three adopted homes: a Hungarian from Jönköping in Sweden, an Argentine from the…
Yes, I did eat a Danish in Copenhagen. But in Denmark it’s called Kanelstang. And it’s a hell-of-a-lot better than that sad, goopy frisbee of dough you bring for your colleagues at office parties. My old friend who, after 2 years in Sweden has become quite the Scandinavian herself, “does fika” now. That means coffee or…
On our second morning in Copenhagen, we took a walk along the water to Nørrebro, which turned out to be my favorite neighborhood of the city. Full of cute cafes, artisan ateliers and cool vintage shops, this place also seems to have a vibrant night life, with many of the city’s best bars situated within its…
