Love Thursday : I *Heart* Quebec
Yep it is true, Canada I did love you.
I kept my eyes peeled throughout out trip to Quebec City and Montreal for signs of Love.
Well, hearts they were a plenty.
Here are two just for you.
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Old Quebec City : An Introduction
This year is the 400th anniversary of Quebec.
Old Quebec is a fortified city that is separated into the upper and lower towns. The upper town is surrounded by walls or ramparts. You can only enter through gates. There are a total of four.
This is the main gate of Saint-Louis.
How 'bout a close up?
Very French non? Love those green copper turrets!
Here you can see the very romantic horse and buggy, called a caleche, that takes tourists and lovers through the cobbled streets of Old Quebec. The city is fairly quiet and you can hear the clip-clop of the horse echo throught the streets. The city is also very clean- you can see a mini street sweeper picking up leaves and debris under the arch in the right of the photo.
One of the charming homes on a side street. I loved the black accents, wrought iron, grey stone and red geramiums. This one screams Paris to me.
A tiny side street.
A square with a church.
And this gorgeous rooftop, that of the Chateau Frontenac, a very exclusive and expensive Inn, can be seen from every spot in the city. It can be used as a beautiful compass to locate your whereabouts in the small city. In fact, it becomes fun to spot different angles and small slices of the copper roof through the trees and buildings in both the upper and lower towns.
And here is a shot of the boardwalk, which hugs the St. Lawrence river. It was totally rebuilt for the 400 year celebration. This is taken from the upper town, looking down at the lower town.
And how do you get from the upper to the lower town you ask?
Well, by taking the Funiculaire, of course!!
***
So, what do you think so far about Old Quebec City? Does it look French? Remind you of Paris?
Stay tuned. Much more to come in the next few days!
Travel Tip Tuesday: Money Matters
Now, more than ever, money matters.
In this economy, every little penny makes a difference.
Here are 10 Money Tips, many of which I just followed myself for my recent trip. How to save it, how to make the most of it, how to secure it and how to protect it.
1. Always contact the banks who hold your ATM cards and credit cards to inform them you will be traveling out of the country.
2. Why not call your credit card companies to ask them to lower your interest rate or see if they have any current promotions that will save you money if you use your card on vacation? I tried it and got a promotional rate of 3% on any purchases for the next six months!
3. Travelers checks are a thing of the past. Don't waste your time.
4. Never change foreign currency at a bank or a change bureau. The exchange rate is much higher and the added fees are a rip off.
5. Check xe.com before you leave. This way you'll know the approximate exchange rate and can have some idea of what to plan for.
6. Call your credit card companies to get informed on their Foreign Transaction Fees and exchange rates. Try to use the card with the best rate for most of your transactions. Fees can vary widely.
7. Sign up at a local credit union for an ATM and credit card. They offer the best rates- hands down. If you use a participating ATM location to withdraw cash- you will not be charged a fee for using the machine. They will convert to the current exchange rate and only tack on a 1% Foreign Transaction Fee.
8. Do not withdraw large amounts of cash and walk around with your life savings to last the whole trip. Instead, withdraw the cash you'll need for a day or two, and return every few days to withdraw more. This way, if your cash is stolen- you still have some money in the bank in an emergency.
9. I recommend waiting until you get to your airport to withdraw some cash with your ATM card to use in your foreign destination. But if you are just not that adventurous, you can visit a major bank branch in the US and change out a small amount of foreign currency, but just enough to get you a train ticket or taxi fare, as you'll pay a bit more at the bank. Whatever you do, don't exchange money at the airport. Again, the fees will get you!
10. Make copies of all of your credit cards, front and back. Either keep them in a secure location or back home with a loved one. This way if your card is lost or stolen, you will have access to the important phone and card numbers to report your card(s) stolen.
***
What are your favorite money tips for travel? Tips on how to grow it on trees are always welcomed!
Soup Recipe Testing
We are back from our trip to Montréal and Québec City.
We had a fabulous time and only one International incident (read minor injury) as Chris likes to refer to it. Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing photos, stories, recommendations and my thoughts on Canada and its Frenchiness Factor.
As with taking a vacation, I return to piles of work, clogged email, and lots of catching up to do with my favorite blogs and very little time.
One of the things on my long to do list is recipe testing.
You may remember the La Cucina Italiana soup recipe contest. Well, I am now taste testing not one, but two new soups.
I am sworn to secrecy and I believe the winner will be announced at the end of the month.
Until then, I will share the two recipes I am busy testing and eating now.
Yeah, its a tough job, but someones gotta do it!!
Roasted Beets & Pumpkin Soup
Hands-on time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes (add 30-90 minutes to roast the beets which
can be roasted 1-2 days before)
Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp unsalted butter
3 leeks, white parts only, cleaned, halved lengthwise and sliced across
20oz/600g roasted beets (see below for roasting instructions)
1” fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 cup cooked pumpkin or squash puree
8 cups chicken or vegetable broth (you might want more if you like a
thinner soup)
2 sprigs fresh thyme
Salt & pepper to taste
Juice of 1 lemon
Directions:
To roast beets: preheat oven to 400°F/200°C
1. Scrub beets and toss with a little olive oil, salt & pepper
2. Roast until soft (depending on the size of the beets, anywhere from
30-90 minutes)
3. Once beets are cooked, allow them to cool enough to handle and peel
Soup:
1. In a Dutch oven over medium-low heat, melt the butter in olive oil
and then add the leeks, sauté until they are soft and translucent.
Don’t let them burn.
2. Once the leeks are soft, add the beets, pumpkin & thyme and
sauté for another 3-4 minutes. Add the broth and lemon juice and heat
through.
3. Puree the beets in the broth and return to stove. Simmer until ready
to serve.
Creamed Zuppa Di Fagioli with Herbed Olive Oil Drizzle
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon each chopped fresh marjoram, parsley and cilantro
1 1/2 cups dry cannelloni beans (soak overnight)
4 oz. salt-cured pancetta, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 Tbsp minced garlic
2 whole garlic clove, cut in half (and set aside)
4 cups homemade chicken stock
2 cups water
5 fresh sage leaves, chopped
2 Tb fresh parsley, chopped
8 ripe plum tomatoes, chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper
6 slices of coarse peasant bread, cut in 3/4-inch slices
For garnish: Freshly shaved parmesan cheese and prepared infused olive
oil drizzle
1. Soak beans in water overnight in a large bowl; water should be
at least 3 inches above beans. Drain in the morning.
2. Place ¾ cup oil in a crock pot with herbs and heat on high heat
1 to ½ hours while the soup is cooking. (This can be done on the stove
top, too, very low, but, it’s easy to over heat the oil, so the crock
pot is safer). When infused, Strain oil of herbs. Store infused oil
in a jar. (Oil can be stored in refrigerator 2 weeks).
3. Heat a bit of regular olive oil in a large stock pot and sauté
pancetta and celery on medium heat, about 5 minutes until softened.
Add chopped garlic, cooking a couple more minutes until softened.
4. Add beans, chicken stock, water, sage, parsley and tomatoes.
Bring pot to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until beans are
tender, about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours.
5. In batches, put soup in a blender and blend until smooth.
Return blended soup to the pot and gently heat throughout. Season with
salt and pepper to taste.
6. Toast peasant bread rubbed with halved garlic cloves under a
broiler until golden. Place toasts in the bottom of 6 serving bowls;
brush toasts with a thin layer of scented oil.
7. Ladle the soup over the bread. Shave a generous portion of
fresh parmesan cheese on each bowl and drizzle with a swirl of infused
oil, about 1 TBSP per bowl.
Serve with traditional Italian bread, green salad and your favorite
wine pairing.
Cooking time: 30 minutes (add 30-90 minutes to roast the beets which
can be roasted 1-2 days before)
Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp unsalted butter
3 leeks, white parts only, cleaned, halved lengthwise and sliced across
20oz/600g roasted beets (see below for roasting instructions)
1” fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 cup cooked pumpkin or squash puree
8 cups chicken or vegetable broth (you might want more if you like a
thinner soup)
2 sprigs fresh thyme
Salt & pepper to taste
Juice of 1 lemon
Directions:
To roast beets: preheat oven to 400°F/200°C
1. Scrub beets and toss with a little olive oil, salt & pepper
2. Roast until soft (depending on the size of the beets, anywhere from
30-90 minutes)
3. Once beets are cooked, allow them to cool enough to handle and peel
Soup:
1. In a Dutch oven over medium-low heat, melt the butter in olive oil
and then add the leeks, sauté until they are soft and translucent.
Don’t let them burn.
2. Once the leeks are soft, add the beets, pumpkin & thyme and
sauté for another 3-4 minutes. Add the broth and lemon juice and heat
through.
3. Puree the beets in the broth and return to stove. Simmer until ready
to serve.
——————–
Creamed Zuppa Di Fagioli with Herbed Olive Oil Drizzle
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon each chopped fresh marjoram, parsley and cilantro
1 1/2 cups dry cannelloni beans (soak overnight)
4 oz. salt-cured pancetta, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 Tbsp minced garlic
2 whole garlic clove, cut in half (and set aside)
4 cups homemade chicken stock
2 cups water
5 fresh sage leaves, chopped
2 Tb fresh parsley, chopped
8 ripe plum tomatoes, chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper
6 slices of coarse peasant bread, cut in 3/4-inch slices
For garnish: Freshly shaved parmesan cheese and prepared infused olive
oil drizzle
1. Soak beans in water overnight in a large bowl; water should be
at least 3 inches above beans. Drain in the morning.
2. Place ¾ cup oil in a crock pot with herbs and heat on high heat
1 to ½ hours while the soup is cooking. (This can be done on the stove
top, too, very low, but, it’s easy to over heat the oil, so the crock
pot is safer). When infused, Strain oil of herbs. Store infused oil
in a jar. (Oil can be stored in refrigerator 2 weeks).
3. Heat a bit of regular olive oil in a large stock pot and sauté
pancetta and celery on medium heat, about 5 minutes until softened.
Add chopped garlic, cooking a couple more minutes until softened.
4. Add beans, chicken stock, water, sage, parsley and tomatoes.
Bring pot to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until beans are
tender, about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours.
5. In batches, put soup in a blender and blend until smooth.
Return blended soup to the pot and gently heat throughout. Season with
salt and pepper to taste.
6. Toast peasant bread rubbed with halved garlic cloves under a
broiler until golden. Place toasts in the bottom of 6 serving bowls;
brush toasts with a thin layer of scented oil.
7. Ladle the soup over the bread. Shave a generous portion of
fresh parmesan cheese on each bowl and drizzle with a swirl of infused
oil, about 1 TBSP per bowl.
Serve with traditional Italian bread, green salad and your favorite
wine pairing.
***
I hope you will tune in, as I will announce who La Cucina chooses as the winner. Until then, I would love to hear your thoughts on these recipes.
On My Favorite French Memoirs
I love to read. I especially enjoy other people’s travel experiences and accounts of their lives in my beloved France and Italy.
Today, I have decided to share some of my favorite memoirs that any francophile will love.
I should preface the list by saying that Peter Mayle was the original Provence memoir author and it goes without saying that his series is the best of the best about Provence. If you haven’t read any or all of his books, than they should top your list!
1. A true story of an English girl who sets up a life in Paris and ends up starting a blog of the same name, Petite Anglaise is a recent favorite. Catherine Sanderson has a way of making the City of Light come alive in her writing. She reveals all of herself in this honest look into cultural differences, her life, her relationships, her blog, and her daughter, adorably referred to as Tadpole in the book, and of the city that she loves so much.
2. Cookbook author and cooking school teacher, Susan Hermann Loomis writes candidly about her love of France in On Rue Tatin. The book covers many years of her life from attending Culinary School in Paris, working and living with a family in Normandy, meeting her husband in the States, and finally settling with family in her beloved quaint village of Louviers, where she restored a dilapidated convent into her dream home. Her words mingle with some of her classic French recipes from the Normandy region, which makes it even more delicious.
3. A stunning book series, of Carol Drinkwater’s delicious and inspiring life in the South of France, includes The Olive Harvest, The Olive Farm and The Olive Season. Movie actress by trade, famous for her role in the BBC’s All Creatures Great and Small, she moves with her then French boyfriend, Michel, to their newly acquired property in the hills above the French Riviera. Together they restore an abandoned villa and its property, make friends with the locals, experience the woes of French home ownership, nurture their olive vineyard and entertain countless friends and family. It reads like a French-country dream come true.
4. Australian native meets the love of her life and moves to France. Almost French is fun read about an outsider’s struggles to fit in, in France. Stories about trying to get work as a journalist (her trade) in France, struggling with the language barrier, attempting to understand and fit in with her boyfriend’s life and friends, making her own friends, and making sense of the cultural differences while living in both the country and right in Paris, are told with wit and humor.
5. Georgeann Brennan, cookbook author who also runs a seasonal cooking school in California, writes about her experience of moving with her husband from California to Provence in the 1970s. A Pig in Provence focuses on food and food adventures in the South of France. Among the highlights are deciding to buy, raise and milk goats, attempting many times to make goat’s cheese and the joy of finally getting it right, selling said goat’s cheese at the local markets and cafes and joining the neighbors for a centuries old ritual of killing, gutting and preparing a pig. Many of her delicious recipes are woven throughout the pages.
I need a few more to add to my list. What are your favorite French Memoirs and why?
Love Thursday : Sweets for the Sweet
My friend Corey has had a tough year. She lives in the South of France, but she spent the better part of 4 months sitting by her ailing fathers bedside in her hometown of California, before he passed away.
She has a heart of gold, an angel in disguise.
Long before she left for California, Corey had some French chocolates that she promised to send. But under the circumstances, of course I understood why they had not arrived. I had completely forgotten about them and never expected to receive them.
Well, apparently, when she returned to France in September, she remembered.
A little goodie-bag from France complete with a handwritten note arrived in a bag with delicious French chocolates, complete with little french notes within each golden wrapper.
Part of Corey's note said "Sweets for the sweet".
Oh, I just love receiving nice gifts like that from a friend, but the fact that they are French chocolates from a French friend in France, makes it even sweeter!
French Scrambled Eggs
The French don't usually have scrambled eggs for breakfast, they are definitely an American dish.
But in our house, we like to take the most American dishes and add French or Italian ingredients, to give it that special European flair.
So, Chris whipped this up on a whim last weekend for breakfast for the two of us.
The combination of the ingredients gives it a French flare. The goat cheese makes the eggs extra- creamy.
French Scrambled Eggs
3 organic eggs, scrambled
1 half shallot, finely chopped
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1/2 inch slice of fresh goat cheese log
good olive oil
salt and pepper
***
Drizzle about 2 tbsp of olive oil in a non-stick pan. Heat on low-heat. Add shallot and saute until transparent. Add eggs, turn heat up to medium. Sprinkle on thyme. Keep eggs moving in the pan with a wooden spatula until curds form. Remove from heat, crumble goat cheese over eggs. Mix in until melted and combined. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with some toasted banquette slices and French Pressed coffee.
Bon Appetit!
Travel Tip Tuesday : Green Transportation in Paris
By now, most of you have heard of Vélib, the awesome biking program in the city of Paris, that allows locals and tourists alike, the opportunity to rent bikes to get around Paris.
It has been a beautiful thing. Cheap. Easy. Green. Dare I say genius.
Watch this video on Vélib's first anniversary.
Well, that was big news when it launched in July 2007, a little over a year ago, and the program is still growing strong.
But now it is old news.
The new news is that now Paris will offer the same great program, but with cars!
Voiturelib, free car in French, is the new program that will offer residents and tourists the opportunity to use one of 2,000 small blue cars scattered around the city. Like Vélib, you can pick up at one station, use it for a small fee, and drop off at another station. The best part- you won't have to book in advance. And yet another bonus- the cars are electric!
So, if you are ready to take your life into your hands, through caution to the wind, and drive with the French in Paris, you'll soon be able to do it. Cheap. Easy. Green.
This proves once again that the French are quiet clever and inventive!
Why can't Americans think of things like this or at least be open to adopting similar ideas for the betterment of our country and the environment?
So, what do you think of the program? Would you rent a bike or a car in Paris?
***
Don't forget to head on over to see what Cherrye's Travel Tips are today!
Chris Botti : October 18, 2008
My main squeeze surprised me with tickets to see Chris Botti for my birthday back in August. The concert was this past Saturday night at the historic Bardavon theater, a hop, skip and a jump from our house. It was one of the most special concerts I have been witness to.
This is not just a guy standing on stage playing a trumpet in that bap-bap-badada, bap-bap-badada, bap-bap-badada, bapaaaada- reveille style.
No, this is some soft, sensual and romantic trumpet playing.
Normally, I wouldn't be attracted to him. I am not the blonde-haired, blue-eyed type. I prefer dark-haired, dark-eyed, olive skin-toned men. But there is just something so sexy about him. It's not the eyes, the hair, the smile. It is his music and the way he plays it that makes him so attractive to me.
Botti is a native of Oregon who was born in Portland, raised in
Corvallis, and spent two years of his childhood growing up in Italy.
His earliest musical influence was his mother, a classically trained
pianist and part-time piano teacher. He began playing trumpet at age 9
and, after hearing a recording of Miles Davis playing "My Funny
Valentine," realized the instrument was his key to "doing something
meaningful with my life."
Chris Botti surely has a gift. I consider myself so very lucky to have been witness to this gift. I encourage you to see him in concert, if you can be so lucky. And if you can't see him live, you can buy his music on CD, his latest of which is appropriately titled, Italia.
Here is what Sting has to say about Chris:
"What is unique about him is that he has jazz chops and he comes from the world of jazz," Sting has said of Chris Botti.
"He also has a very refined pop sensibility. He looks great and he presents himself well. He works hard, and you know, you
see a star a mile off. So he was in my band for four years. He took the light. I'm very happy when people in my band take
the spotlight and say, "Let me run with this ball," because I'll just stand back and I'll look good."
Have you heard Chris Botti's music? Do you have his CDs? Would you see him live if you had the chance?
***
As you know, I have hit the road en route Montréal and Québec City, Canada. Actually, by the time you read this, I will already be enjoying time in Vieux Québec. If all goes as planned, posts will be timed in my absence and you'll never know I wasn't slaving over my blog- other than not responding to your comments. But, I look forward to catching up when I return and sharing my photos and travel stories.
Brunello di Montalcino
It has been awhile since I have done any wine recommendations. Guess I've been sticking to some of my old favorites, of late.
But our friends invited us for a special treat of the libation kind. A Brunello di Montalcino.
Brunello is made of 100% Sangiovese grape, which is one of my Italian favorites. These wines are aged in oak for at least 3 years or more, making them more expensive than their Chianti counterparts.
Brunellos are a bit more deep in color and richer in texture and flavor than Chianti as well.
Fattoria dei Barbi, is the producer of the wine. They are located in Montalcino, which is near and Siena.
Italian Wine Merchants, has this to say about them:
"The Colombini family has owned property
in Brunello di Montalcino since 1352, and they established
Fattoria dei Barbi there in 1790. Today, Barbi's 100 hectares
of vineyards produce over 700,000 bottles of wine annually!
The vineyards are composed of galestro with components of
lime and argillous soil, and they enjoy ideal southeast
exposure. At the bottom of the hill, below the estate's
vineyards, sits the Taverna dei Barbi, a restaurant that
places the winery in a very select group of producers offering
the opportunity to dine on the premises. At the head of
the Barbi estate today is the legendary Donna Francesca
Colombini-Cinelli, although she is now partially retired
and has entrusted the responsibility of the estate to her
son Stefano. This new generation is careful to maintain
family traditions while also incorporating numerous modern
changes. Offering wines ranging from the respected Brunello
Riserva 'Vigna del Fiore' to the Brusco dei Barbi, this
producer is sure to enjoy a long, successful future."
in Brunello di Montalcino since 1352, and they established
Fattoria dei Barbi there in 1790. Today, Barbi's 100 hectares
of vineyards produce over 700,000 bottles of wine annually!
The vineyards are composed of galestro with components of
lime and argillous soil, and they enjoy ideal southeast
exposure. At the bottom of the hill, below the estate's
vineyards, sits the Taverna dei Barbi, a restaurant that
places the winery in a very select group of producers offering
the opportunity to dine on the premises. At the head of
the Barbi estate today is the legendary Donna Francesca
Colombini-Cinelli, although she is now partially retired
and has entrusted the responsibility of the estate to her
son Stefano. This new generation is careful to maintain
family traditions while also incorporating numerous modern
changes. Offering wines ranging from the respected Brunello
Riserva 'Vigna del Fiore' to the Brusco dei Barbi, this
producer is sure to enjoy a long, successful future."
I am not going to spoil this one by giving away all of its details. Instead, I highly recommend you give it a try for yourself. And let me know what you think.
