worth a thousand words
Nope, it's not Disneyland!
food, glorious food
July 2020
Lunch at Lauza was a treat. A limited menu means the chef is dedicated to making something seasonal, fresh, and perfectly “accessorized” and balanced. My entrée was a frothy, room temperature zucchini soup topped with a langoustine…it worked as anticipation for my plat! Tender filets of sashimi tuna covered with a tomato/greens salsa and served over taboule paired very well with the Provence rosé in my glass. The dessert was full of flavor…three tiny creampuffs (choux) with vanilla bean crême and raspberries. I LOVE the restaurant scene here, particularly for lunch. TripAdvisor lists 1,493 restos in Bordeaux – there’s no end to choice, style, price, ambiance, and location!
June 2020
Le Regallion is the perfect place to go for a “gourmet” 3 course lunch priced at 19€ (about $22). The portions are perfect for enjoying every last small bite and the food is created rather than processed. My entrée was four spring rolls, filled delicately with foie gras and duck, and served with a soy/sesame dipping sauce. My plat was artistic with four grilled and juicy morsels of veal accompanied by grilled lettuce topped with parmesan shingles. Déssert of baked cherries and pineapple topped with vanilla chantilly cream was the finale. Combined with a nice wine list and a cozy ambiance, this restaurant deserves repeat visits! And the best part of all is it’s only a 10 minute walk from my home.
Bon appetit!the wine cellar
July 2020
The summer of rosé continues and not only am I liking them more, I find I am longing them with light lunches and afternoon conversations. My palate is a little more discerning now. I favor more expensive bottles, in lighter shades of salmon, with noses of stone fruits, little minerality, and so far, the terroir hasn’t mattered. But my main test is whether, on the very first sip, I experience joy, or a certain distaste that I get used to from the second sip on. For while I get used to the latter and end up liking the bottle, the formers are my favorites.
June 2020
Rosés are meant for lazy hot summer afternoons. I have a plethora of choice… sourced from Provence and Languedoc and Bordeaux… but I’m not a huge fan – yet! This summer, if it ever gets truly hot, I’m going to sample some recommended names and first up is Mirabeau. They have three in their lineup: Azure, Etoile, and La Folie (sparkling) and I aim to find and taste all of them. Three lazy afternoons coming up soon! Care to join me?
turning pages
July 2020
My problem with owning a Kindle is the ease of buying more and more books. Yes, they are titles I’d like to read, but without the visual stimulation of the book on a shelf, I forget I even have them in my electronic library. Reading more might be an answer but then I’d have to forego ironing my sheets :)
June 2020
George RR Martin has greatly influenced my reading habits. His character studies in the Fire and Ice series are incredible, and up until now, no other author in my present reading realm can compare. Until I recently read the first book in the First Law Trilogy written by Joe Abercrombie titled The Blade Itself. I dare you to put this book down. The character, Inquisitor Glokta, will come alive in your imagination – no movie version needed. The narrative flows even though each chapter takes you to a different part of the fantasy world. Human emotions are both overstated and understated in the dialogues and the use of italics to let us know what minds are thinking during the conversations is brilliant. I’m actually disappointed I can’t dive into book 2 – but a book club selection needs to be read by June 30. Thankfully, the Abercrombie characters are unforgettable.
Monthly Archives: May 2021
Eurovision 2021
Credit the recent corny Will Ferrell/Rachel McAdams movie for sparking my newfound interest in the singing competition. Credit historical clips of Celine Dion and ABBA performing and winning at Eurovision for my thoughts that great music can come from this … Continue reading
Sommelier, Here I Come
May Fool’s – not even close! My three day wine course saturated my brain before it even began with pre-class reading and q/a assignments. Thinking I was well-prepared, I joined five other “in the business” students and immediately realized I … Continue reading
Being a Student Again
My intense wine course begins next Monday and I’m preparing by trying to absorb the written materials in advance. Heaven knows once we’re in the midst of tasting 43 wines over three days, my brain will probably be mush. The … Continue reading
In Honor of My Family Tree Before Me on Mother’s Day
Caroline. Beulah. Barbara. Jennifer. Isabelle. Mildred. Barbara. Me. That’s a lot of strong and empowering women to learn from, admire, and respect. Happy Mother’s Day to all people everywhere who nurture life. (u) x(o)x
Bucket List Check-off
While many things can happen between now and next May, I have booked a safari trip to Africa and T will join me on this adventure – dream come true! My adrenalin already rushes when I contemplate some of the … Continue reading
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