As our impending move to Bordeaux began to finally sink in, and I started counting our remaining days in blue-skyed Barcelona, my mind began to race, composing interminable lists of favorite things. Favorite last things. One last 3-wine nightcap on Plaza del Sol with the girls. One last wild night out with them, one last late-night falafel bowl, one last…
Destination barbecue in New York? Yep. Meat worth a windy ferry ride from Manhattan? (Or a slightly confusing Uber ride from Williamsburg?) Yes. A meal at Hometown Barbecue in Red Hook, Brooklyn is the definition of a destination dining experience: It takes a while to get there. It’s in a place that you probably would…
I haven’t had good Chinese food since moving from the U.S. Perhaps it does exist in Barcelona and I’m just not looking in the right places, but the delivery menu of restaurants like Jardin de Chen (“Pollo Hong Kong,” “Ensalada China,” “Ternera con Tomate”) scare me off. They all seem to offer only butchered versions of American-Chinese classics (already…
Denim, Converse, Boozy Brunch and BBQ are some of many American inventions that have become popular in France as of late. Hipster eats are widely available, everything from artisanal bagel sandwiches and bacon maple donuts to fish tacos and elaborate vegetable juices served in mason jars. And food trucks. They started popping up in Paris around 5…
If you ever find yourself in Brussels on a cool, rainy day, seeking a cozy spot in which to curl up with your laptop or catch up with a friend over cafe au laits and cake, look no further than APDM (Au Pays Des Merveilles) in the hip, intercultural Saint-Gilles neighborhood. Passing before the spacious…
In the town of Arcachon, on the southwestern coast of France, the air smells of the ocean. Victorian Arcachonnaise villas face the water, and the seafront promenade is bustling with the bourgeoisie of nearby Bordeaux, many of whom still remember when the place was undeveloped, rough land, lined with pine trees and oak. On the western side of…
Brussels… mussels, waffles, beer, chocolate and fries. On our weekend trip there my friend and I indulged in some of these things. We wolfed down a waffle with melted Speculoos near the Grand Place and visited the Cantillon Brewery, over a century old, for a taste of authentic Lambic. We also passed by tons of…
On our way to explore the western bank of the Garonne River, we came across the Porte Cailhau, a shockingly beautiful 15th century gate studded with conical towers and ornate sculptures that rival the Disney Castle in its fairytale qualities. On one side you will find the exquisite waterfront and the Pont de Pierre bridge, gracefully lit…
We rolled up to the hilltop town of Montepulciano on a Sunday afternoon, just before sunset, and climbed to the main entrance where folks were already standing in line. It was the day of the annual Bravio delle Botti, a race in which pairs of 2 runners representing the eight districts of the town compete in…
I will never forget driving through the hilly roads of Tuscany and staring out the passenger side window of our little black Fiat 500 at the beautiful sepia-tinted landscape around us. Neat vineyard rows, the occasional bundle of graceful Cypress trees, a charming stone house atop a hill here or there. We’d park the car…
That Best Bite 