During my trip to the Basque region of Spain and France, I had to drive north to the southwest corner of France to see the tiny spa town of Eugénie-les-Bains. It is not to be missed. This town has long been celebrated for its healing spring waters and tranquil valley setting, and as we coasted …
I’d heard and read so much about Asador Etxebarri from Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations (he also said it was the best meal of his life) to Chez Pim’s journey there, it was a must on my recent eating/drinking tour of northern Spain. Like Pim, I was grateful to get to eat at various starry restaurants …
Staying in Cantabria, Spain has its benefits: it’s a 30-minute drive to the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, it has luscious green countryside dotted with caves containing early human paintings, and it’s unspoilt by foreign tourists – meaning it still has some really great, secret Cantabria restaurants. One of them is La Lonja in the fishing/port …
So here I am, having a birthday that has been hailed as the new 30. I’m single and childless and gainfully employed. So far, I’m not convinced. Luckily, I had a trip planned. Obviously, the best way to celebrate this birthday was an eating/drinking tour in Europe…specifically Rioja, Spain, Basque country and Bordeaux. France & Spain …
Birthdays are less painful when you have friends to cook for you. As I planned what I wanted to do for my birthday this year (a big one!) I remembered what one friend recently did for her wedding. To make it more affordable, and more personal, she rented a historic meeting hall for the reception …
For those of you who grew up in the south or the mid-west, or “just north of Texas,” your mom probably made 7-Layer Salad, or at least had it in her recipe repertoire. If she didn’t make it at least once, her mom probably did. This was a very popular salad that swept the American …
I love flan – or crème caramel in French. And it’s not as hard to make as you might think. Try this easy recipe to get you started. You may have to try it several times to make sure you’ve got it right… to really get the best one you will need to taste test. …
Every year in December, my girlfriends and I attend the opera for a special holiday treat. One of my favorite things about the opera is that the stories still apply to modern life. I always learn something profound from the opera that applies to me. Last year, Carmen taught me I ought to get rid …
During the two years I lived in Switzerland, I’d never heard the word “no” spoken so often and so eagerly. When crossing the street on early mornings against the walk light – and there is not a car to be seen – Swiss residents feel compelled to yell “Non! Non! Ce n’est pas possible!” At …
