I took the Eurostar to France, but instead of going through Paris, I was routed through Marnee la Vallee, otherwise know as the home of EuroDisney. This meant a 10 am train full of screaming children as I was having my morning coffee. Thankfully, after the transfer to the TGV, which took me the rest of the way to Libourne, I was in very quiet car. I arrived to find Lyn, our guide, waiting for me with my bike – apparently it was a 12k ride to the hotel. I, not expecting to ride, was in a black sundress and flip flops. He strapped my suitcase onto his bike, I loaded my tote onto mine, and, fortified by a beer and some saucisson sec, off we rode. Arriving in St. Emilion, my home for the next two nights, we met the rest of the group for dinner. I couldn’t resist the foie gras, which I had with a salad and some local wine. Not a bad start to the week!
Category: Food and Drink
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London, Day 3: Laziest Day Ever
Woke up at noon, puttered around the apartment, went to lunch at St. John. No marrow bones — they were saving them for the "feast" menu. "Made do" with welsh rarebit and a pig skin & pea shoot salad. Walked home, took a nap. Got a massage, lazed about, walked to dinner at Teyyabs — mixed grill (including their outrageously delicious lamb chops), chana, and fish curry. Home to sleep. I suppose I'm a little sleep deprived in my "normal" life, either that, or my brain is in full vacation mode. Today, up early and am getting ready for a travel day — Eurostar to TGV, ulitmate destination, Libourne, where I'll begin the cycling portion of the trip.
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London Day 2: A Lazy Day
Slept over 10 hours, wandered my way down to Borough Market and had lunch at Wright Brothers Oysters — 1/2 dozen raw, 3 fried, and a glass of muscadet. Had a shortbread cookie and an iced espresso for dessert. Wandered around a bit more, then met Rebecca for a drink on the roof garden at Coq d'Argent. Afterwards, dinner with Christopher and Suzanne at The Modern Pantry including a delicious duck breast dish, slightly spicy. It was tough to be so close to St. John's without going to eat there, so might have to head over for lunch today.
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London, Day 1
After sleeping pretty well on the flight over, I arrived to find a a gorgeous and sunny day (did someone swap NYC and London weather?). Just had a light picnic lunch and read in the park before getting one serious pedicure. Returned for a nap and then had dinner with Sara at the Tapa Room at the Providores, which is sort of Kiwi/global. We split a watermelon and feta salad with pumpkin seeds and pickled walnuts, a fried whole egg, garlicky snails atop of chorizo mashed potatoes, and chunks of grilled lamb with mixed greens, yogurt, and another sauce that was sort of like a heartier, more flavorful tahini on a pita. We finished off with the local cheese plate, including a very mild goat cheese which wasn't half bad when topped with the onion/cherry jam. About to drift off on the brand new aerobed, as its predecessor met an early demise before I arrived.
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Bad Blogger
I went away for the weekend and didn't even bring my camera. For shame. A recap, in no particular order — grilled pizza, four mile run, oysters at the swanky new Out, a little singing, grilling in the rain, s'mores, Pegu cocktails, hot tub, challah french toast, bacon, more bacon, more rain. Home early for some interview transcribing and packing prep, and now early to bed. Thanks so much to Caroline for bringing me along!
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Even More Thoughts
– Yes, I do most of my shopping at the farmers market, try not to eat processed food, and all that, but sometimes every once in a blue moon, a woman needs some Cheetos, especially on a crappy, rainy day like yesterday.
– What do you do when you're so environmentally conscious that you always have your own bag, which leaves you to have no suitable garbage bags for your kitchen?
– How is it easier to pack for next week's trip than for tomorrow's trip?
– I go through more gym clothes in a week than should be humanly possible — I likely own more sports bras than shoes at this point.
– A dinner composed of leftovers, a salad, a good friend, and a modestly priced bottle of wine can be just as good, if not better, then dinner out.Have a great weekend, kids, I'm off to the beach. Yes, I know the weather report.
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Gin-o-Riffic
(Because @cocktailspirit took a better picture than I did.) Many thanks to all who came out for last night's Clear Liquor Tweetup at Double Crown — a very successful follow-up to our Brown Liquor Tweetup at Char No. 4 a few weeks back. At our peak capacity, we probably had over a dozen people, many of whom hadn't met previously, and one attendee from as far as Canada. All and all, a very impressive turnout. It was a pleasure meeting/seeing all of you (let's see who I can remember): @livethelushlife, @cocktailspirit, @halw, @lincolnwrites, @girluninterrupt, @ekeynyc, @jonathanmoxey, @shotsandcuts, @MarianaCardier, @arjunbasu, @devintrix, @jeneanchapman, @pasakorn. A toast to the power of Twitter!! And Gin, of course. Thanks also to the team at Double Crown for their hospitality.
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I Love Beautiful Pork
That's the translation of Rob's t-shirt, which he wore to the Big Apple BBQ Block Party yesterday. And love beautiful pork we did indeed. I think I am still in a meat coma. Pictures are here. On Saturday night, I went to the NYC Food Film Fest where I learned, among other things, that buttermilk is the new Viagra.
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The Magic Formula
Good friends + good food = good times.
Other than that, I pretty much suck at math these days, although I was great at it in high school. Thanks to Kim & Caroline for a lovely evening at Blue Ribbon.
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Deflowered
Yes, this is a parents-safe post, I promise. I am proud to report that I am no longer ashamed. I can walk with my head held high. I am no longer a Di Fara virgin. I sampled one plain round slice, one artichoke round slice, and a square slice w/sausage and olive (thanks so much the fellow food folks we ran into for swapping and sharing), then settled in for a plain square pie. We nibbled at a few of the most amazing slices I have ever had, then returned back to Manhattan to spread the gospel at the 8th St. Winecellar and to one of my doormen (sorry, Roopa). Still some leftovers to be had, but oh man, can't wait to go again.
I'm full and this is still making me drool.Dom, putting some serious love on our square pieP.S. Dear parents, if you are still reading this, I should probably let you know that the Di Fara deflowering was not my first, um, deflowering. Sorry.