I'm just starting the process of sifting through the 500+ photos from our two weeks in Europe, but I thought I'd start with the most important thing: how to pack for a trip to Paris. If you're like me, you either can't or don't want to pay airline baggage fees, so everything needs to fit … Continue reading How to pack for Paris
Food
Stray observations: St. Louis edition
It's been almost three months since I've been back in the U.S. When we first arrived, I couldn't bear to switch my home address in Google Maps from our Paris apartment. Finally, after months of having to type it in every time I wanted directions, I ripped off the band-aid and updated it today. So … Continue reading Stray observations: St. Louis edition
France vs. America
I follow enough French accounts on social media that the targeted ads I see are often in French, even now that I'm back in the US. Normally I don't give the ads much thought, but the fine print of this one caught my eye: Pour votre santé, évitez de grignoter entre les repas. For your … Continue reading France vs. America
Where to go (and where to avoid) in Morocco
Reverse culture shock is real, guys. Colin and I have been back in the US for two weeks and in St. Louis for one, and things like SUVs and billboards and noisy restaurants and supermarkets completely overwhelm me. I mostly spend my days searching online for nearby wine and cheese markets and then crying, "Mon … Continue reading Where to go (and where to avoid) in Morocco
Begin again
We've landed! We've now been back in the US for ten days, but those ten days have been chock-full with visiting family and driving all our earthly possessions from Maine to Missouri. Most of our things have been boxed up in a storage unit for the past year, and it was overwhelming to see it—I … Continue reading Begin again
What we ate for Christmas dinner
At French class last week, Laurine asked each of us about our plans for Christmas, specifically what we’d be eating. (The French really love food.) She started with me. I told her I’d be staying in Paris and eating Christmas dinner with some French and Belgian friends. I said that we’d decided to eat all … Continue reading What we ate for Christmas dinner
American cuisine, according to the French
For the holiday season, our local department store (the Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville, or BHV) has added a few displays of international cuisine. Here's the American one: French's mustard, Hellmann's mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, Tabasco sauce, popcorn, pancakes, Star Wars potato chips, Reese's peanut butter, and Marshmallow Fluff. I'm so disgusted that I don't know … Continue reading American cuisine, according to the French
Mint condition
In this episode of Things the US Should Consider Borrowing from Europe, let's talk about: Fresh mint tea. It's everywhere in Amsterdam. I've never seen it anywhere else. It never even occurred to me to make tea with fresh herbs! But it is oh so delicious, and the rest of the world should take note. … Continue reading Mint condition
The Great Macaron Showdown, Round Three
You may remember, from about a month ago, the Great Macaron Showdown. During Round One, Colin and I bought macarons from the super-traditional Ladurée; we thought they were great. During Round Two, Colin’s brother treated us to macarons from Ladurée’s more experimental rival Pierre Hermé; they were great, too. That left things at a bit … Continue reading The Great Macaron Showdown, Round Three
The peculiarities of eating fondue in Switzerland
Earlier this month, when we took a trip to Switzerland with our friends Beth and Will, they had one special request: fondue for dinner. (Side note: Fondue is now known as a Swiss specialty, but its popularity can actually be traced to the 1970s marketing efforts of the Swiss Cheese Union, a shadowy cartel like … Continue reading The peculiarities of eating fondue in Switzerland
Practice Makes Parfait 