C'est la belle vie!

Paris with Kids – Part II

2011-12-11T09:22:00.001-08:00

In Part I, I wrote about the many joys of being in Paris with children. While the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum were obvious highlights, the quiet strolls through the parks, sipping hot chocolate, and just relaxing in general weren’t bad either.

The thrill of Friday night was the Christmas Market along the Champs-Élysées. This is a spectacular market that forms every year and a stroll along the stalls is somehow both exciting and relaxing at the same time. This was followed by a couple spins around the famous Ferris Wheel of Paris, which gave us stunning views of the lights of Paris.

On Saturday, we were off to check out a kick-ass playground and the Guignol puppet show in the Luxemburg Gardens. Sherry and I have always enjoyed watching children play here and were really looking forward to watching children we knew having a blast. After paying a nominal fee, we spend the next 90 minutes with huge smiles on our faces because the kids had even bigger smiles on theirs.

At last, the bell announcing the start of the Guignol puppet show began to ring so it was off the theater. Watching the kids watch the show, which was of course in French, convinced me of two things. Certain things are funny, like being scared by a big hairy spider in an old château, in any language and that the true universal language has got be the laughter of children.

As the day winded down, we ate lunch in a Brasserie, shopped in the Latin Quarter, made the requisite stop at Shakespeare and Company, visited Notre Dame, and made a side trip to get the best ice cream in the world. The day ended with a 2-hour dinner complete with view of the Eiffel Tower followed by watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle from the Trocadero, which is our favorite vantage point and where the whole adventure started.

The last part is traditional for Sherry and I and it’s how we end every trip to Paris. What made this trip truly special was enjoying one of favorite places in the world with some of our favorite people in the world.

As for the kids, they never ceased to amaze us. Their energy, wide-eyed bewilderment, and their laughter added a whole new dimension to this trip. But mostly, they simply got it! They understood what hanging out in Paris was all about and that was truly special for us.

À bientôt

Paris with Kids – Part 1

2011-12-01T07:21:00.001-08:00

During our most recent trip to Paris, Sherry and I got to see the city from a whole new perspective. We got the opportunity to explore the City of Lights with kids since our very good friends were joining us for a few days. So, the stars of today’s post are Abby, who is 10, and 5-year old Graeme.

Let me just say right off that the kids were awesome!!! They rode the Metro and buses. They played in the parks. The toured the Louvre Museum. They sat through 2-hour dinners. But mostly, they did what kids do best, which is live life on a whole different level and that made this trip very special for Sherry and I.

One of the first things we did was go to the Trocadero, which has the best views of the Eiffel Tower in the entire city. After a few photos and lots of excited comments, we went down the the base. As the adults were looking up and discussing the what it would be like to live in the area, the kids were trying to catch drops of water (condensation from fog) that were falling from the second level. Leave it to kids to turn a 122-year old, 990 foot iron tower into a game.

Next up was Notre Dame, where there many more awestruck looks and comments. On the way, we discovered the best way to get around with kids was by going through the parks. This allowed the big kids (us adults) to stroll and chat while the real kids ran around, chased each other, and acted like, well, kids.

The next day, the family went to the Louvre Museum and we got to hear all about it at dinner. Abby and Graeme were simply amazed. You could tell they were truly soaking in that they were in Paris, in the Louvre and seeing such beautiful pieces of art. They had also purchased pencils and sketch pads to start creating their own works of art. At dinner, Abby asked why the Mona Lisa is the most popular painting in the world. I just love that inquisitive side of kids.

The trip also included shopping at the Christmas markets, playing in Luxembourg Gardens, catching the Guignol puppet show, and going back to the Eiffel Tower at night, but I’ll save the rest of the tale for my next post.

À bientôt

Back in Paris

2011-11-25T23:28:00.001-08:00

Sherry and I have spend the last week back in Paris. This is the 5th trip where we’ve rented an apartment in the same general area and to be honest, it’s start to feel like coming home.

Our Paris vacations are actually very hard to explain to most people. They always want to know what we do while we’re here. They ask if we went so such and such museum and we say no! Then they’ll ask if we went to see certain monuments and we once again say no. So, what do we do in Paris?

The answer to that is as simple as it is complicated. The short answer is that we simply hang out in Paris. The longer, and more reflective response, is we try and capture some of the essence of living day to day in the City of Lights.

That means we shop for food and other essentials. We cook. We explore parts of the city without tourist sites to see what’s there. We run errands that take us to new parts of the city. We visit our favorite bistros and cafés while also finding new haunts. We sip wine and café crèmes while watching a city in constant motion. And, when we come in November, we do the majority of our holiday gift shopping.

Without a plan, we also loose track of time. There are many days we have to calculate what day of the week it is. We loose track because when we’re here, it doesn’t really matter. There are also many discussions at breakfast that start with the question: “Well, what are we going to do today?”

As much as we love Paris, we decided to take a break after this trip. There are other parts of France yet to be explored. There’s also Italy, Spain, Greece and other countries we would like to see. However, we will be back as this city captures our hearts and souls like no other.

À bientôt

A Perfect Day in France

2011-11-15T01:16:00.001-08:00

I feel I should start by admitting that’s been a while since I posted to either of my blogs. Let’s just say that life and starting a cycling team have taken up quite a bit of my time. However, Sherry and I are back in France and I can’t think of a better time get going again.

Sherry and I left for France on 11/11/11 for a week in Provence followed by a week in Paris. Overall, the trip was pretty routine. An 11-hour flight to Paris followed by a 3-hour TGV ride to Avignon. We like to spend the night in Avignon so we can be a little fresher on our drive into the Luberon, in this case to the village of Ménerbes.

On Sunday morning we awoke ready to start our day. This was probably helped along by a lovely evening in Avignon with lots of great food and wine for dinner. We took a taxi back to the TGV station to pick up the rental car and a few quick minutes later I was re-acquainting myself with the art of French driving.

The plan was to go straight to the Sunday market at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. This is by far our favorite Provençal market as it meanders through the town and along the Sorgue river. The day was made even nicer with stunningly beautiful weather and the fact that we were shopping like locals. After many hours of buying local vegetables, cheeses, ham, olives, gifts for friends and drinking the occasional coffee, it was time for our next destination.

The guy at the rental car agency suggested we go see Fountaine-de-Vaucluse. This is where the Sorgue River literally comes out of a cave at the base of a cliff. We visited there in 2007 but due to the recent heavy rains it was supposed to be spectacular. However, when we arrived it seemed that every French person in the region had the same idea so we decided to go back another day.

As we left the village, we saw a sign for Gordes. This may be our favorite village in Provence so we headed that way for lunch. We tempered our excitement by saying if it was also crazy full of people then we would save it for another day as well.

Fortunately, we found a place to park with no problems and the village was pretty empty. After a short stroll, we had a lovely lunch at the restaurant that is featured in the movie A Good Year. After a bit more relaxing and photo-snapping it was time to head to Ménerbes and check-in to the house were we would spend the next 6 nights.

So, there you have it. Our first full day in France and we’ve already been to our favorite market and village under the bluest skies we’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

À bientôt

Celebrating 25 Years

2011-09-01T06:40:00.001-07:00

Two days ago, Sherry and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. It has been an amazing adventure filled with love and laughter and a genuine feeling that we would rather spend time with each other then anyone else. That was true on our wedding day and it remains true today.

So, you might think I would write about the secrets to a long marriage or how lucky I am to be married to such a remarkable woman. I could recount hundreds of stories about our lives together. But, I’m not. Instead, I’m going to write about our dinner that night because I think it says a lot about why we are so happy together.

We chose the Glen Ellen Inn for dinner. It had been a while since we were there however, we always seem to pick them for romantic occasions so they seemed like the perfect choice. We were wrong.

Upon arrival, the special romantic table we were promised was nowhere to be found. Although we brought wine for dinner I wanted to start with glasses of champagne but a quick look at the wine list changed my mind. Meanwhile, Sherry was looking at the menu with a funny look on her face and when I looked I immediately knew why. It was mostly sandwiches and salads.

Being happily married for 25-years has us on the same page on most issues and on that night we both knew this is not what we wanted. So, I stepped outside, made a few calls, and came back to let her know we were on our way to Estate.

Our experience at Estate was everything we were looking for on this special night. The food and service were outstanding. Plus, when they discovered it was our 25th anniversary, they created a special dessert, which they offered as their treat. It was one of the best anniversary meals we’ve experienced (which deserves it’s own blog).

So there you have it! It was a shaky start but a glorious finish and that perhaps bests describes our marriage. I think all marriages start of a little shaky as you learn to live and love as a couple. But for us, this period passed very quickly and it’s been smooth sailing ever since as we work our way to our own glorious finish many years from now.

Au revoir!

Sunflowers

2011-07-29T07:00:00.001-07:00

I was at a work event on Tuesday that was part of the Farmer’s Market. As I was leaving, I noticed a booth selling sunflowers so I bought a bunch for Sherry. Needless to say, there were big kisses, and big husband points, when I got home.

Actually, maybe I do need to say. You see, Sherry loves sunflowers! She always tries to have at least one vase filled with them in the house at all times. One of her favorite moments in every Tour de France is when the peloton is cycling through the sunflowers fields of Provence. A few years ago we were lucky enough to be in Provence at end of the season and she got to stroll around among them with a big smile.

What is it about sunflowers that make people smile? Is it because they look like they’re smiling at you? Or is it the beautiful hues of yellow and gold? Maybe they remind us of sunshine and that’s what makes us smile. Of course, they have the word sun in their name and I am sure that also helps.

I think it’s the name. It just sounds happy. However, that may only be true in English. While you would think the French name would be la fleur du soleil it’s actually tournesol, which isn’t as nice in my book. The same is true in Spanish where the name is girasol and not la flor del sol.

In the end, I guess the “why” they make us smile doesn't really matter and we should just accept the fact as one of life’s little pleasures.

Au revoir!

Two weeks of positive vibes

2011-07-26T07:47:00.001-07:00

In the back of my mind, I knew it had been a while since I updated this blog. Don’t get me wrong, there are have been many, many things that were blog-worthy, I just haven’t had the time to write about them. Then I noticed that “a while” turned into two months so it’s time to get caught up.

The most significant event in the past few weeks was returning for my second year at WCMS (you can read about my first year and the program here). I met my classmates last year and we formed instant friendships. While we developed our professional skills, we were also building bonds that, for many of us, will last a lifetime.

Since last year we have all stayed in touch by telephone, email, texts and Facebook, but for two weeks in July we get to hang out face-to-face. You know what means, right? Lots of laughs, late nights, story telling, reminiscing, and just the “occasional” drink to keep things going. All of this is set against the backdrop of college life complete with living in dorms, eating cafeteria food, and studying for exams.

Second to only Sherry (my lovely wife), these people are collectively one of the most positive influences in my life today. They will never truly know how much they mean to me and how they’ve helped me during those tough times we all experience. When I’m feeling a little down, I only need to reminisce about our times together and I immediately have a smile on my face.

I can only hope that everyone gets to experience something so positive at some point in their lives.

Au revoir!

A Shopping Cart of Memories

2011-05-16T05:58:00.001-07:00

Last week I saw this shopping cart on my street as I finished my run. Out of nowhere, I had a flashback to my childhood that dates back nearly 40 years.

I was with my grandparents, who had a huge impact on my life, as we returned from a weekend fishing trip. As we entered a town on the way home, we saw 2 young boys, about my age of 12 or so, pushing a shopping cart down the street towards us. Well, one was pushing it and the other was riding in it. Anyway, my grandparents started commenting on how nice these boys were for returning the cart and how that kind of courtesy was rapidly disappearing in the younger generation. No sooner had they finished this conversation, we passed the market the cart was from. You guessed it! The boys were stealing, not returning the shopping cart. For some reason this "tickled" (my grandmother's favorite term) the hell out of us and we laughed about it for next hour.

Now, I see shopping carts all the time so it amazes me that seeing this particular cart this morning brought back a memory from 40 years ago with such clarity. I can also tell you that it put a huge smile on my face and I spent the remainder of the run remembering other good times spent with my grandparents. I also felt like I was more ready to face the day, come what may.

The moral? For me, it was a good reminder that reflecting on the good and positive things from your past can help you overcome moments of negativity in the present.

Au revoir!

Impromptu Adventures in Wine Country

2011-05-09T07:33:00.001-07:00

A few months ago, a good friend moved into a studio apartment in the Dry Creek Valley just outside of Healdsburg. The views were supposed to be spectacular since the apartment was above the office of Pasterick Winery and we were looking for an excuse to go check it out.

Last weekend, a group decided to have dinner at Catelli’s in Geyserville to celebrate Julie’s birthday. This gave everyone the perfect opportunity to meet at Julie’s for pre-dinner drinks and check out her new place.

The views did not disappoint. This view is from her landing. She also has a few of the hillside vineyards and the wine cave (an actual cave) where Pasterick Winery hold their tastings. It is a stunning piece of property that is as tranquil as it is beautiful.

It also happened to be Passport Weekend so the owners, Diane and Gerry Pasterick, were hosting a tasting in the cave. As we were hanging out on the landing sipping champagne and enjoying the views, Diane shouted up a big happy birthday to Julie. She then invited us to see the cave and tasting room.

We strolled over to the cave as Diane told us about the history of the property and creating the cave itself. Once inside, she began to describe their wine making process. They exclusively grow and bottle Syrah in the Rhone tradition of big taste and smooth finish. As I listened, I began to realize this was turning into a tour, which was fine by me since I really like Syrah.

After Gerry joined us we eventually found our way into the tasting room. Here, we were treated to tastes of their 2006 Syrah along with a brand new wine, the 2010 Rose (made from Syrah). These wines were exquisite and I will definitely be buying some in the future.

During the tasting, Diane and Gerry began to tell the story of how they met. It was part romantic, part humorous, and thoroughly fascinating. We had just reached the point when Diane had accepted Gerry’s marriage proposal when we realized we were late for dinner.

We casually left the cave while calling Catelli’s so they knew we were on the way. Of course, all of us wanted to hear the rest of the story so we decided we would arrange a tasting very soon where we get to sample more vintages of their great Syrah and hear how the story unfolds. Since Diane and Gerry are together and have created such fantastic winery, I think we already know how the story ends.

Au revoir!

How to Turn 50

2011-04-28T07:03:00.001-07:00

Last Friday, I turned 50. Now, for a lot of people that’s a bit of a scary prospect but not so much for me. Why not? You see I don’t think I look 50 and I definitely don’t feel it. In my mind, I’m still this youngish dude in my early 40’s. Anyway, that’s how old I feel so I’m sticking with it.

Still, turning 50 is a considered a milestone so I took the day off to play. The next question was what should I do? As usual, I got up early, made a cappuccino and starting goofing off on the computer. As dawn broke it was decision time. Should I ride? Should I go for a run? I know, I’ll get another cup of coffee and think about it some more. An hour and a half later, I was still sitting in my chair and drinking coffee when it hit me. I always ride or run on my days off, so doing neither would be the real birthday treat.

After deciding what not to do, Sherry (who also had the day off) and I went down to The Flying Goat, our favorite indie coffee house. There, we sipped our cappuccinos, ate pastries and simply enjoyed the morning and each other’s company. After a little stroll through Old Railroad Square it was time to head to my birthday lunch.

Sherry made reservations at Auberge du Soleil. After being seated on the terrace, we started with glasses of Champagne, which were followed by very delicious salads, soups, lobster risotto and pork dishes. Of course, all of this needed to be paired with wine so we selected a German Riesling that was extraordinary. All of this was thoroughly enjoyed while checking out the stunning views of the Napa Valley.

After our late lunch we drove to the historic town of Sonoma for another relaxing stroll. From there, it was on to dinner with friends where we once again dined on great food and wine. The dinner was also accompanied by lots and lots of laughter as well as the occasional old man joke.

The next day I chose to sleep in, which is very unusual for me. When I finally got up, I managed to kick out a 7.5 mile run (my longest in a very long time) in Annadel State Park.

The time spent with Sherry, lunches in Napa, dinner with friends, and long runs or rides all work harmoniously to ensure I continue to feel young. And with all that working in my favor, I would can’t wait to see what the next 50 years brings my way.

Au revoir!

A curb-side lunch

2011-01-18T06:49:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, was our national holiday to celebrate and remember the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It also happened to be Munch Monday!

Munch Monday is a new concept in lunching for downtown Santa Rosa. On a trial basis, the city is closing off 17 parking spaces in a large parking lot downtown and allowing lunch trucks to roll up and feed the masses. Currently, there are six different lunch trucks offering everything from Chicago style hot dogs to crab sandwiches to dim sum with lots of choices in between.

I learned about Munch Monday, as did a lot of other friends in my cycling world, from our friend Sarah who posted a link about it on FB. So, after a short, and social cycling adventure (a rare treat for me on a Monday), six of us headed to a downtown parking lot, across from the post office, for lunch.

When I arrived I was surprised to see well over 100 people milling about and ordering food from the different lunch trucks. As I surveyed my choices, I finally decided on a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and french fries. It was really the fries that got my attention because they looked great (and they were).

After we got our food, we all walked over to one of the curbs to sit, eat, and chat. This quickly turned into one of the best lunches I’ve had with friends in a long time. There was something about the setting, eating on a curb and laughing with friends, that was special. This was definitely one of those instances where the total experience was greater then the sum of its parts. After about an hour of good food and great conversation, we all recycled our containers and headed home.

As of right now, this is still a trial and Munch Monday will only continue through the end of February. But if yesterday was any indication, it is going to be successful so who knows how long the city will let it run. I can tell you that I am already looking forward to my next curb-side lunch and chat.

Au revoir!

The Dinner

2011-01-12T06:55:00.001-08:00

Each year, just after the holidays, Sherry and I host a dinner. We look forward to this night all year. It’s a quaint affair with no more then 8 guests. However, the good food, vintage wines, and great friends always makes for a magical night and this year was no exception.

Let’s start with the menu. Here are the food and wine pairings chosen for last Saturday’s dinner. In case you were wondering, it was as good as it sounds.

Hors-d'oeuvres - Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs NV Grand Cru Champagne (from the Rare Wine Company)
Roasted pears with blue cheese salad - 2008 Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris (from Alsace)
Cassoulet a la Bistro 29 - 2005 Chateau Les Hauts d'Aglan Cahors & 2005 Clos la Coutale Cahors
Assortment of Artisan cheeses - 2005 Chateau Plaisance Bordeaux
Pear and Stilton Tart - 2007 Chateau de Myrat Sauternes

The night lived up to its promise. We ate. We drank. And, we laughed, told stories, and then laughed some more. It was a perfect evening of food, wine and friends.

This year, Sherry and I had some help with the cooking. Traditionally, I make my version of cassoulet for this dinner but since we are all traveling together to France later this year, I wanted something more authentic. So, it was Bistro 29 to the rescue. The chef there makes an awesome cassoulet so that’s what we served this year.

Another partner for the evening was Traverso’s. After finalizing the menu I knew I needed the perfect white wine to pair with the salad. So, up the hill to talk to Michael and he suggested the Pinot Gris from Alsace. I will be going back up the hill to buy more. It was a delightfully refreshing wine that I can see myself sipping in the back yard later this summer. Traverso’s is also where I discovered the Clos la Coutale Cahors many years ago.

There you have it! Another successful dinner with a little help from others. Normally, I would already be looking forward to next year’s dinner but right now we have to finish planning for our trip to France.

Au revoir!

Milestones

2011-01-04T06:40:00.001-08:00

As you go through life, you will definitely pass a few milestones along the way. Some of them are quite significant such as turning 21, getting married, or having your first child. Others are more ceremonial like turning 30 or 40 where we tend to make a bigger deal out of these then we should. This year, I will have one of each.

Let’s start with the more ceremonial milestone. In April, I will turn 50. For me, that’s really hard to believe because on the inside I don’t think I ever left my 30’s. But time marches on and birthdays pass whether you want them to or not. Since I still feel young at heart and mind, turning 50 doesn’t really concern me and I am looking forward to all of the celebration that comes with it.

The second 2011 milestone is much more significant. In August, Sherry and I will reach our 25th wedding anniversary. That means we have been married to each for half of our lives since she just turned 50 as well. We are very proud of this achievement particularly given the today’s current divorce rates.

However, it’s not the number that’s significant. It’s the fact that after 25 years we still prefer each other’s company to anyone else. Sure, I love my bike rides with friends but given the option of a long ride with friends or a long leisurely lunch with Sherry, she wins every time.

The secret is not just love. Lot of couples love each other. No, I think it’s the pleasure we get for being together and the fact that as we’ve grown as individuals, we’ve also grown as a couple. We are not the same 25 year olds who got married but the people we are today are even closer in many ways.

So there you have it. There’s a lot of great things to celebrate in 2011. You can bet there will be a big party in August at our house. I hope each you have your own celebrations to look forward to as well.

Au revoir!

Taking a break

2010-12-10T06:20:00.001-08:00

As the craziness of the holiday season kicks into full gear, I have decided to take a short break from writing. However, I fully intend to return next month with fresh new stories of the little things that make life great.

Happy holidays and I’ll see you next year.

Au revoir!

Where’s the Damn “M” Key

2010-11-23T06:01:00.001-08:00

Sherry and I just returned from a wonderful Paris vacation. While we were there I intended to write at least three or so posts for this blog. What happened? Well, while the apartment we rented did have a laptop, the laptop had a French keyboard. It is just different enough to drive you a bit insane. Take a look for yourself!

Here were some of the harder things for me to overcome. The commonly used M, A, and W keys are in different places. You have to hold the shift key for periods and numbers (yes, numbers). And finally, you have this third option, as highlighted in the photo, of the Alt Gr key. This is used for any key with three options. For example, to type the @ symbol you needed to press Alt Gr – 0.

While I did manage to write one post while I was in Paris, it was very challenging since I do type by touch. So, I am just typing away and then I realize what I am typing looks like gobbely-gook (that’s a technical writing term). Here is an example of a sentence I eventually got correct and how it was typed originally.

Correct version: “So, most of us Americans should be able to make our way through a French menu without too much difficulty.”

Original version: “So, ;ost of us Q;ericqns should be qble to ;qke our zqy through q French ;enu zithout too ;uch difficulty.”

Finally, I gave up and limited my typing to emails and Facebook posts. However, I did some old fashion writing by hand as I sat in cafes sipping coffee or wine so look for these stories, in no particular order, in the very near future.

Shopping for Dinner
Le petite Chaperon Rouge
Riding the 69 Bus
Lunch at Le Voltaire
The Monet Exhibit at the Grand Palais

There may be a few more as well but that should get me started.

Until then . . .

Au revoir!

No English Menus for Us

2010-11-15T11:36:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing Sherry and I both dislike when we are in France, it's when a restaurant automatically gives us menus in English. This mostly occurs in Paris. We come to France to enjoy the people, sights and sounds of another country. If we wanted to read menus in English, we would have stayed in the States. Frequently, when this occurs we will send the menus back and ask for French ones.

Here's the deal. Many of the words we use in cooking and eating come from French terms. So, most of us Americans should be able to make our way through a French menu without too much difficulty. Sure, there will be things you don't recognize but what the hell, you're in France so try new things. Plus, the simple act of taking a French menu will open doors that you did not know existed.

Last night we ate at Chez Fernand. We have been there before and were smart enough to make reservations when we happened to walk by the day before. On arrival, we were seated at a very nice table and asked "English menus?" My response? "Non, non! Les menus en Francais; s'il vous plait." His response? "Excellent!" And then, he offered us 2 glasses of champagne.

The next day, we happened upon the bistro, Le Grand Colbert, during our stroll through Paris. As it was just past noon, and we planned on eating there any way, we stopped in for lunch. Once again the English menu option was offered and refused. This brought a sly look of respect and acceptance from our host.

Now, I'm not saying that choosing a French menu will get you treated like a true Parisien. (BTW - I've seen the way some Parisiens are treated and this is not a bad thing!) However, it will go a long way in showing and gaining respect. And, in the end, you will have even more wonderful memories and isn't that what vacations are all about?

Au revoir!

Off to France

2010-11-10T07:44:00.001-08:00

Sherry and I are off on yet another adventure to the City of Lights. That’s right! For the next 11 days, we are going to drink wine, sip café crèmes, sketch, write, relax, and do all the other things people do while in Paris. The plan? To relax and go where ever our mood, and the Metro, takes us.

This will be our 6th or 7th trip to Paris so we have done all of the touristy things. Now, we just enjoy trying to live in the city for a few days as if we lived there permanently. The only way to accomplish this is by staying in an apartment versus a hotel We found this beautiful place in the 6th arrondissement, which is where we prefer to “live” while we are there.

Apartment living is the way to go in Paris. We are using Paris Vacation Apartments on this trip and so far they have been delightful to work with. There’s just something about going shopping to cook in your flat versus eating out every night.

Although we don’t have any real plans, there is one thing we would love to see while we are there. Snow! We have been to Paris in winter before but we have never seen it snow there. So far, the forecasts is working in our favor.

Keep checking back over the next few days as we continue to post stories about our wonderful adventures in the City of Lights.

Au revoir!

Cool dinner on a hot night

2010-09-29T07:17:00.001-07:00

After a very cool summer, fall officially arrived last Wednesday riding on a heat wave. Our high temperatures have been over 90 degrees each day of fall with the last two days reaching 104. And while many of us are enjoying this last hoorah of warmth before the rains come, it also has us looking for alternatives to dinner that do not require cooking.

The first solution for Sherry and I on Monday was dinner from Riviera Ristorante. This is one of our favorite places to eat and we dine there frequently. However, since it is less then 1/2 a mile from our house, we also pick up food to go on a regular basis. So, with Monday’s temperature over 100 it was 2 plates of pasta and a Caesar salad to the rescue.

As Tuesday was forecast to be even warmer, we once again decided against cooking. This time we went in a totally different direction. I noticed that we had beautiful Tuscan melon in the fridge and we built our non-cooked meal around it.

After stopping at Traverso’s on the way home, we built a simple and refreshing dinner. Here’s what was on the platter.

Prosciutto di Parma and Gentile Salame from Italy
Brie cheese from France
Shaved parmesan cheese with age balsamic vinegar from Italy
Mancheco cheese and Marcona almonds from Spain
Tuscan melon and grapes from California
Fresh baguette from Village Bakery in Santa Rosa

Originally, I was going to pour a nice Sauvignon Blanc. However, Traverso’s has one of the best Italian wine selections in Sonoma County so Michael Traverso helped me pick out a very unique white wine that was the perfect pairing. It might be loosely described as an Italian Riesling from the Dolomite Mountains just south of Austria.

In the end, Sherry and I turned a very warm evening into a nice romantic dinner which we enjoyed al fresco under the stars and candlelight. And, with last night’s wonderful meal still fresh in my mind, I hope it’s hot again today.

Au revoir!

The lazy Sunday

2010-09-19T11:46:00.001-07:00

Is there anything better then a lazy Sunday? You know, the kind of morning when you wake up at your leisure and then sit around the house drinking coffee, reading the paper, and basically just doing nothing. The addition of a little early season rain to the mix just makes it all the better.

Normally, I spend Sunday mornings cycling. This means up early and back home after 2 –3 hours of riding with friends. It’s a great way to spend a Sunday but it’s not what most people would consider relaxing. However, the weather forecast for this Sunday called for our first rain of Fall and that provided the perfect opportunity for a more relaxed Sunday routine.

After sleeping in for a change, it was time to get our easy morning started. Since we have a very nice espresso machine, a couple of breve cappuccinos ere in order. I also popped down to local bakery and picked up a chocolate croissant and apricot-pecan scone. All of this was casually eaten with the cappuccino as we watched the rain continued to fall.

After breakfast, we headed out to the living room for a strenuous morning of reading the paper and playing around on Facebook. Based on the number of comments posted by my cycling friends, I think many of us had the same idea. Why ride in the rain when you can relax at home?

As we continued to relax it was time for a little more coffee. This time we put the french press into service. We are big fans for french press coffee and make it most mornings. However, it does seem to taste much better when you are relaxing on a Sunday morning versus slamming it down as you are getting ready for work on a Monday.

That’s how the rest of the morning went. Sherry and I just hanging around the house in full relaxation mode. It was perfect! Now, it’s time to be a little more adventurous so we are heading back to the TV room to watch football. But first, I think I’ll pour another cup of coffee.

Au revoir!

One sign of a long marriage

2010-09-14T06:28:00.001-07:00

There are many, many signs of a long marriage. One sign that gets a lot of attention is the old favorite of finishing each other’s sentences. Of course, this is pretty basic stuff and can happen relatively quickly in a relationship. No, for a really long marriage you need to step it up like Sherry and I did this weekend.

Sunday night Sherry and I were watching the movie Amélie. In one scene, Amélie goes to the St. Martin Canal to skip stones. As she is skipping stones, Sherry reminds of the time we ate lunch at a bistro on the canal where she got stuck in the bathroom because the door wouldn’t unlock. I smiled and listened as a good husband should until she finished her story. Then I reminded her that was me and not her locked in bathroom. So we laughed about it and continued watching the movie.

The very next night we get an invite to the neighbors for a light dinner with good wine. As we are all sitting around chatting Bob mentions he has to go in for jury duty. Now, we all start telling our jury duty stories. My first story was about a criminal trial where a guy robbed a pizzeria and was caught on the way out by police going in for lunch. I went on about how I really wanted to be on the jury of such an open-and-shut case. Meanwhile, Sherry is smiling away because that was her trial and not mine. Are you kidding me?

As you can see, in our 24 years of marriage we have gone way beyond finishing each other’s sentences. We are now completely interchangeable characters in the stories of our life. I’m sure as we continue to grow older together this will be a new trend. But you know, I’m okay with that. As long as most stories are about us having fun as a couple, then who cares who played each part.

Au revoir!

Relaxing, Sierra Mountain style

2010-09-02T06:51:00.001-07:00

Sherry and I really do enjoy heading into the Sierra Mountains. There is just something about them that makes us appreciate life. It doesn’t matter if it’s a romantic get-away for two or trip with friends, we always return from the mountains relaxed and ready to face whatever challenges come our way.

Last weekend we were lucky enough to spend some time with friends at a cabin near Pinecrest Lake. This is a small resort area on Highway 108 about 30 miles west of Sonora in the Stanislaus National Forest. It is a trip that a group of us try to make every year and it never ceases to be a good time. The main objective of these trips is quite simple – to relax and spend time with friends.

That doesn’t mean we aren’t active. I always take this opportunity to do some serious riding in the mountains. However, this year was a little different and while I still took the road bike, Sherry’s bike and the kayaks stayed home.

Our daily pattern is fairly routine. We awake around the same time and have a little coffee and breakfast. Then I hit the road for a 3-4 hour ride while the ladies tend to go shopping in the quaint mountain towns in the surrounding area. Then it’s a relaxing lunch to prepare us for the rest of the day.

After lunch, we all sit on the deck, or as was the case last Saturday, around the fire inside (it was very cold this trip). We pass the time reading, chatting, collectively trying to finish the NY Time crossword puzzle, and occasionally napping.

After that exhausting ordeal we always make sure to break out beer, wine, or cocktails at 5:00 pm on the dot. There’s more chatting and laughing as we prepare, and then enjoy, dinner. After dinner is always dedicated to game night with more wine and laughter. Finally, we all drift off to our rooms to sleep off the “stress” of the day and get ready to repeat the whole process the next day.

Let’s see. Relaxing, drinking, laughing, and hanging out with friends all day. Now that is a daily routine we could get used to.

Au revoir!

Fleur de Lys

2010-08-23T07:06:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Sherry and I, along with good friends Bob and Karin, ate dinner at Fleur de Lys to celebrate Sherry’s birthday. I can say right now, and without hesitation, it was one our best dining experiences ever. I can only hope this little write-up does it justice.

Since we were staying at the Hotel Diva, our evening started with champagne in the room followed by a short 4-block walk to dinner. Along with traversing a small hill, we also had to take turns carrying the basket of four wines that were specifically selected for the evening’s celebration. After checking in with the hostess, we were immediately greeted by Marcus, the sommelier and dining room manager, who took our wines and began the show.

We quietly watched as he inspected each bottle and set it on the bar. The four wines we choose for the evening were a 2000 Chablis from one of the finest producers in France, along with two 1998 St. Emilion Bordeaux, a Clos la Madeleine and a Château Moulin St. George. The latter wine is a second label from the infamous Château Ausone. Our final selection was a 1983 Château d’Yquem Sauternes. The importance of this collection will be obvious very soon.

After we were seated, Marcus came to our table and said something none of us will soon forget and the one thing that made this dinner an over-the-top experience. He said, “I will be happy to bring you menus, however you have brought some extraordinary wines so if you like I can ask the chef to prepare a meal around your wines.” That’s right!!! They were going to design our dinner around our wines! My initial reaction was to yell “Hell yes!!!” but then I remembered where I was and simply said, “That would be lovely. Thank you.”

Now it was time to put the plan into action. We were first served an excellent amuse bouche followed by hor d’ourves. These were paired brilliantly with the Chablis. Then new glasses arrived and Bob and I looked at each and said, “Sauternes?” Since our next course would be foie gras, the Chablis was placed back on ice and the Sauternes was served.

The foie gras course also started a new trend with the meal. From this point until dessert, Sherry and Karin were always served something different then Bob and I. Yet, it paired perfectly with the wines in every case. So, we enjoyed the foie gras and sipped Sauternes.

The next course was seafood. You know what happened, right? The Sauternes was now placed back on ice the Chablis was brought back out and served with soft shell crab for the gentlemen and a lobster tail in cream and citrus sauce for the ladies. Next up was our meat dish where Bob and I enjoyed a venison “stew” with Sherry and Karin enjoying lamb prepared two different ways. Of course, with that course the Bordeaux (we only opened and decanted the Clos la Madeleine) made its way to the table.

I should point out that as the cheese course arrived we were over two hours into the meal. Our cheese plate consisted of five different cheeses with each selected to pair with either the Bordeaux or the Sauterne. Sherry and I love the classic cheese plate after a meal and this selection was exquisite.

Finally, with the Bordeaux and Chablis completely gone, we moved onwards to dessert. Each of us had a plate placed in front of us with a selection of five different desserts. To really put things into perspective, none of us had the same item. Do the math! That’s 20 different morsels of dessert sitting on four plates to be shared an consumed as we also finish the Sauterne.

At the end of the evening, there was one last dessert brought for us to share with a candle and Happy Birthday Sherry written on the plate in chocolate.

There you have it. Just writing about this dinner brought a smile to my face. I cannot think of a more impressive feast to celebrate such an important birthday. And since I turn 50 next year, I think you know where we will be celebrating.

Au revoir!

A birthday celebration

2010-08-16T06:58:00.001-07:00

Saturday was Sherry’s birthday. And, not just any birthday. On Saturday, she reached the beautiful age of 50. As you can imagine, I wanted to take the opportunity to do something special. The plan? An evening in San Francisco with our good friends, and neighbors, Bob and Karin.

The planned called for driving down to The City (this is how you refer to San Francisco if you live in Northern California), with lunch on the way in either Tiburon or Sausalito. We would then check into our hotel near Union Square, perhaps do a little shopping, and end the night with dinner at Fleur de Lys.

Saturday finally arrived and we were off. The fog had burned away and it was a beautiful Northern California day. We stopped at Guaymas, in Tiburon, and enjoyed an excellent lunch on the deck overlooking SF Bay and The City. It was then across the Golden Gate Bridge and onwards to Union Square.

A little web surfing found the Hotel Diva, just 2 blocks off Union Square, and I could not think of a more aptly named place to spend the evening. After checking into the Hotel Diva, the girls went shopping while Bob and I went in search of a wine bar. By 7:00, we were changed into our dinner clothes and enjoying a lovely bottle of 1988 Veuve Clicquot champagne that Bob brought along for this special occasion. Next up, dinner!

For dinner we selected the infamous Fleur de Lys since Sherry and I have always wanted to dine there. We arrived at Fleur de Lys at 8:00 and left around 11:30. I will leave the story of what happened in between for another day but it was magical. The ambience, the food, the wine, and the company combined to create an evening we will not soon forget.

We all choose to sleep in on Sunday morning before heading out to brunch at the Grande Cafe. After another excellent meal, it was finally time to collect the car and head for home.

There you have it. A fabulous celebration for a fabulous woman. Look for a few more stories about this truly awesome adventure.

Until then . . .

Au revoir!

Road tripping with the boys

2010-03-09T06:01:00.001-08:00

Except for business, I rarely travel (let alone vacation) without Sherry. The reason is simple. We love spending time together. But every now and then, it’s time to head out with the boys on a good old-fashioned road trip. These road trips are always centered around cycling but there is always a little more to them then that.

I just got home yesterday for such an adventure. Myself and two other good friends made our way from Sonoma County down to San Diego for 4 days of “cycling”.

Now, don’t take those quotes around the word cycling too seriously. We did ride our bikes. In fact, we rode them a lot! But this trip was about way more then just cycling. (If you want to read more about the cycling part, check out Lee’s Life Adventure, my cycling blog.)

Along with the phenomenal cycling we also drank our fair share of excellent wine and beer. We ate in national food chains, local restaurants, and in the car. We stayed in a Bed & Breakfast style hotel, your standard run-of-the-mill hotel, and an Indian casino. And we shared a ton of laughs.

When you think about it, the “real” purpose behind this trip was a chance to hang out together as friends. To spend some time with each other chatting, laughing, telling stories, poking fun at each other, and basically just being boys again. The cycling was just the catalyst that got the trip started.

As I think back about this trip, it will not be the cycling that made it successful. It was time spent laughing with good friends. That’s what I will cherish the most about this trip.

Au revoir!

The person I am today

2010-03-03T06:39:00.001-08:00

Sherry and I have had many conversations during our almost 24 years of marriage about how I became the person I am today. You see if you look at my family, I am rather different with regards to things such as interests, food, wine, where I vacation, etc. As different as I may appear, you would think the person I am today had to have its roots in my family somewhere.

Due to recent events, I have been thinking about this question a lot and I finally came upon a big part of the answer. The real genesis behind who I am today was my grandmother, Ruby.

To put it simply, my Ruby loved, and embraced, life. She loved spending time with family and friends. What she was doing was rarely as important as who she was doing it with. She was always laughing about something and seemed to find something good and fun in everything life threw her way. She also had an adventurous spirit and was also willing to try new things or go to new places.

I spent many hours with her as a growing, impressionable child and no matter what we were doing you could bet we were having fun in the process. Whether it was fishing, doing yard work, playing a raucous game of UNO, or just watching TV, fun and a love for life where always near.

So this is my simple thank you to my grandmother for teaching me it’s not about how much money you make or how many possessions you own, but how you live you life that makes if fun.

Au revoir!

A great reason to eat out

2010-02-27T07:12:00.001-08:00

It is Sonoma County Restaurant Week here in Wine Country. And while it doesn’t take much of an excuse for Sherry and I to head out to one of our favorite eateries, this seemed like the perfect reason to eat out multiple times this week. So that’s exactly what we did.

Sonoma County Restaurant Week is a new, and very cool, concept that was extremely well organized and promoted. We’ve known about it for weeks. So what is it exactly. I think I’ll let the organizers tell you in their own words.

“The first-ever Sonoma County Restaurant Week will be a seven day celebration of our county's farm fresh food and premier wine! Enjoy three-course dinner menus at $19, $29, or $39, depending on the restaurant. Don't miss out on Sonoma County's most delicious week of the year!”

Wow! Three-course dinners at some of our favorite restaurants at those prices. I’m surprised we didn’t try eating out all seven nights. However, after reviewing the list, our work schedules, and our finances, we settle on two restaurants. Since we had already eaten at many of the choices available, we picked two places that we really like but don’t get to very often – Mosaic Restaurant & Wine Lounge and Bistro des Copains.

We started with Mosaic in Forestville on Wednesday night. We were joined by our good friends Pat and Julie. Actually, all four of us had eaten there together once before. Pat and Julie arrived first and already had the wine poured when we arrived. I sure could get used to that. After some quick conversation, it was time to start eating (of course, we never really quit talking and laughing).

I won’t go over the entire menu, which you can see by clicking on the restaurant week logo, so I’ll jump forward to the main course. The girls had the coffee encrusted filet mignon (Mosaic’s fabulous signature dish) while Pat and I tried the Dungeness crab risotto. They were awesome and my dish was by far one of the best risotto’s I have ever eaten.

Friday night was a more romantic affair with just Sherry and I. This time it was off to Bistro des Copains in Occidental. This is a classic french-style bistro. Sherry started with a salad while I tried the butternut soup with sage. Then it was onto the classic steak frites for Sherry and Sole Grenobloise for me. Then to finish the whole thing off, we both had apple tart tartins for dessert. Just like before, the food was outstanding.

I hope they consider doing Sonoma County Restaurant Week again next year. It was a great way to get people out. It was also the perfect reason for Sherry and I to eat wonderful food, drink wine, hang with friends, and share a little time with each other. And in the end, isn’t that what life’s all about?

Au revoir!

Hangin’ with the nephews

2010-02-19T07:25:00.001-08:00

Last Saturday, Sherry and I got the chance to spend some time with two of our nephews, Jordan and Jared. They are 15 and 13 respectively and they are great kids. They are polite, well-behaved, and courteous. But above all, they are still kids.

The day itself was nothing spectacular. We took them, and their cousin Kyle, to see Avatar (in 3D of course). Jordan and Jared had already seen it but it was the first time for Sherry, Kyle and I. Afterwards, we strolled through downtown Santa Rosa and ate dinner at La Bufa, which is a local Mexican restaurant.

What made the day special was not the activities but simply hanging out with the boys. It was more then just time with family, which is very important. It was just Fun, with a capital F, and we had a great time talking about sports, school, girls, or whatever.

I know there are folks out there who start to feel old when around kids. For me, it is the exact opposite. Kids make me feel young. I love their perspective on life. It’s funny to hear about the pressing issues they face or the things that are most important to them.

If you are feeling overwhelmed from work, or simply life, go hang out with some teenagers for a while. I can almost guarantee it will change your perspective.

Au revoir!

The Valentine’s Day Lunch

2010-02-14T18:56:00.001-08:00

Sherry and I love long lunches on Sundays. I mean 2-hours and one bottle of wine long. And if that Sunday lunch is also on Valentine’s Day, well that makes it all the better.

Selecting a fine restaurant in Wine Country is definitely not a problem however this year we decided to go to The City (that’s our reference to San Francisco). There are a few French restaurants in The City that we have not tried yet. So on to the Internet and guess what we discover? The French don’t cook lunch on weekends in The City. What’s up with that?

Next stop, Napa Valley. We quickly settled on Bistro Don Giovanni. After all, if you can’t try something new then stick with the best. This is one of our favorites. We settled on 2:00 reservations and were good to go.

After relaxing in the morning, exchanging cards, and eating french toast, we headed to lunch. When we arrived we discovered the weather was nice enough to dine outside but unfortunately there were no tables. So we settled for a lovely table in the corner with two windows and it was delightful.

The food was scrumptious. We started with Fritto Misto, which is the best we have ever eaten. Sherry then had the risotto with seared scallops and I had classic veal parmesan. Add to that great wine and fabulous desserts and you have the perfect lunch. A mere 2 hours later we were driving back through the vineyards of Wine Country, which are in full bloom with mustard.

It was another great Valentine’s Day. Sherry and I hope that all of you did something special with the one you love.

Au revoir!

Chateaubriand for 2

2010-02-12T07:20:00.001-08:00

Don’t you just love impromptu dinners? You know, those nights that start with a feeling of not wanting to cook and end with a fantastic meal at a local restaurant. Well, on Wednesday, Sherry and I had one of those nights.

I was still at work when I got “the call”. This is the call where Sherry is still at work and will miss her normal Jazzercise class. So I decide to skip my workout as well and dinner out is on.

The next question is – where? Sherry decides she is in a French mood. After a quick phone call to La Gare, we are all set with 7:15 reservations. After a quick trip to our cellar to pick up a bottle of 2001 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Bordeaux we are off.

La Gare is a Santa Rosa icon and has been serving fabulous french meals for over 30 years. It is one of our favorites although surprisingly we don’t go there that often. As I look at the menu I decide on beef although I want one of everything. Sherry also decides to have beef and the dinner takes a marvelous turn.

For the first time, we ordered the Chateaubriand for two. This is basically 20 ounces of some of the finest tasting beef you have ever eaten. It comes on a wooden platter where it is displayed, and then carved, a table (french for at the table). It was absolutely delicious and quickly ranked as one of our more memorable meals at La Gare.

Since we ordered the Chateaubriand for two, it only seemed right to order the cherries jubilee for two as our dessert. These were also flambéed at the table where our waiter put on quite a show. With the food and wine gone, it was time to head home to enjoy the rest of our evening and dream about the next time I receive “the call”.

Au revoir!

Time to refresh

2010-02-08T06:54:00.001-08:00

I have a confession to make. So does Sherry. I am not updating this blog nearly as much as I would like. Neither is Sherry. I took the last couple of weeks off to try and determine why. Fortunately, I have the answer and it’s related to my cycling blog.

My cycling blog is based on a fairly rigid format. It is almost always between 650 –750 words in length. I try to frequently add an element of humor. And above all, it has to be more than a simplistic diary of my rides. When I started C’est la belle vie, I was following the same model and it’s not working.

So it’s time for a change. The new description says it all. Instead of long stories about adventure, this will be a blog about the day-to-day things that make our life wonderful. Don’t get me wrong. There will still be the occasional longer story but mostly, these posts will be short and sweet so you can read them quickly and continue on with your own wonderful life.

We hope you enjoy changes and thanks for joining us on the journey.

Au revoir!

Walking on sunshine

2010-01-13T07:03:00.001-08:00

As you might imagine from the name of this blog, I am pretty happy and content with my life. It’s not about money. Sherry and I are by no means wealthy in terms of dollars. No, it’s mostly about celebrating what you have and those spontaneous moments that bring you joy. This doesn’t have to be a complicated exercise. In fact, the simpler the better in most cases. Allow me to explain.

Yesterday afternoon at work I remembered we were out of coffee. Now being a true coffee snob (this topic may be a post very soon) my coffee only comes from one place – Flying Goat. If you’ve read my cycling blog, you know how much I like this place. However, they close at 6:00 pm and that’s when I get off. So, since it’s pretty close to work, I decide to pop over to The Goat.

I have a few things I am trying to wrap up, so I keep working until the moment feels right. A couple of finished projects later, I look at the calendar to make sure there are no meetings and I am off. As I start the 15-minute round trip, I am not thrilled with the song on the radio so I switch stations and that’s when it happened. The new station was just starting the song Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves.

For reasons I can’t fully explain, this song just makes me smile. It makes me happy to be alive. Before I reach the first red light I am bouncing along in the car. And this is not the first time. This song lifts my spirits to a higher place every time I hear it. I guess it’s just my feel good song or maybe it’s the song’s lyrics, which are all about feeling good about life.

I do remember one time in particular this song pulled me out of a funk. I used to travel in my previous job, a lot. One time I was delivering a training session in Washington, DC that ended on a Friday and I had to be in Baltimore on Monday to start a new session. Since I live in California, flying home for 36 hours didn’t make sense so I spent the weekend on the East Coast.

I actually spent the time hiking in Shenandoah National Park. It was beautiful and I was enjoying the great outdoors but I was also missing Sherry and feeling that certain loneliness that any business traveler can describe. By Sunday afternoon I was in a pretty sad state. As I was driving out of the Appalachian Mountains to Baltimore, Walking on Sunshine came on the radio. By the time the song was over I was back to my old self and feeling great.

If you don’t know the song, it was released in 1985. This was just before I met Sherry. It was also a favorite song of my Coast Guard roommate and we would rock out to it on our drives from California to his home in Oregon where I was always welcomed if I did not go home to Florida over the major holidays. It was also a favorite at parties. I imagine it still is a party favorite to this day.

In hindsight, maybe it is easier to explain the impact of this song then I thought. It brings back great memories with good friends. It reminds of how much I miss Sherry when I’m gone and how much I enjoy spending time with her when we’re together.

So, is there a message to all of this. I think so. I was having a pretty good work day yesterday and this song still made me stop and appreciate what I have. It also put a big smile on my face. I think everyone needs something like this. I truly believe that it is necessary to grateful every day for the things you have and to not dwell on the things you don’t.

Now, why don’t you take a minute and go listen to your favorite song. I’m smiling already.

Au revoir!

The holiday dinner

2010-01-04T07:37:00.001-08:00

Every year, Sherry and I host a dinner party during the holidays. It started 5 years ago when we invited two couples over for a semi-formal dinner in December. Since then, it has continued to grow and now there are four couples who join us for a festive night that is all about food, wine and friendship.

The dinner, which was move to January two years ago to avoid the December madness, has become an event. While the dress code is very informal, the meal is planned out to the smallest of details. It is typically four or five courses, each paired with a special wine. We usually spend months planning the menu and selecting the wines. There is always a cheese course, which receives the same careful attention as the wine selection.

Sometimes there is a theme and this year it was pears, which were featured in the appetizer, salad, cheese course and dessert. They were originally in the main course as well but we changed our mind at the last minute and went with cassoulet. This proved to be the right call. Serving cassoulet, or any single dish, provides tremendous flexibility. Instead of the meal being ready a specific time, it is quietly simmering on the stove and is ready when you are.

On Saturday morning, Sherry and are up early starting the prep work. Another trick for this type of dinner is selecting dishes that can be prepped or even completed in advance so you can spend more time with your guests. We spent the entire day preparing the meals setting the table, and getting the house ready.

I also spent the day offering teasers of the night to come via today’s modern technology. Every couple of hours I would text a new photo, like this one of the wine selection, to the group.

As our guest arrived, they were treated to a sample of pear brandy. Although it wasn’t the favorite drink of the evening it was a fun way to get things started. As for the rest of the evening, here is the menu along with each wine served.

St Andre cheese with gingered pears – 1986 Renaudin L’espiegle Brut Rosé Champagne
Endive, pear & Roquefort salad – 2008 Domaine Auchére Sancerre
Cassoulet – 2001 Arrowood Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Cheese Board – 2001-2002 Chateau Voiture Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Pear & gorgonzola tart – 1994 Vintage Foncesca Port

In a night filled with great food and wine, there were two moments that stood out. During the salad course we offered a wine comparison. Since we matched the salad with a Sancerre, a sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley, we also opened a 2007 St. Clement Napa Valley sauvignon blanc for comparison. The Sancerre won hands down for being more balanced. In looking more closely the Sancerre’s alcohol was 12.5% while the Napa Valley wine was 14.1%, which explains the smoothness of the French wine.

The second major food highlight was the cheese board. We kept this out of site so we could make a big deal of the presentation. We also debuted our new cheese curler, which was a huge hit. Here’s a list of what was included on the cheese board.

Petit Basque
Brillat Savarin
Swiss gruyere
Tomino cheese in olive oil
Humbolt Fog
Date cake
Fig cake
Almonds roasted in smoked salt and Herbs de Provence
Sliced pears

When all was said and done, it was the perfect evening of food, wine, and friends. We did not rush the meal but instead let each course unfold at a leisurely pace. After the appetizers, we sat down to dinner around 7:30 and dessert was served at 11:15. In between each course there was plenty of laughter and conversation (and wine) to fill the time.

Since there is a fair amount of wine consumed, in this case 10 bottles for 9 people, everyone spent the night. The next morning we serve plain and chocolate croissants, fresh fruit, OJ and coffee. We popped one final bottle of California Sparkling wine and a few brave souls drank mimosas. Almost immediately, we began to tell and re-tell stories from the night before.

This is one of my favorite events each year. Between the food, wine, and great friends it is a truly special evening. With that said, the dinner for January 2011 is already being planned.

Au revoir!

Our quiet little Christmas

2009-12-26T19:12:00.001-08:00

Since Sherry and I don’t have any children, Christmas is typically a quiet and peaceful day for us. Don’t get me wrong. We still have are share of holiday stress and chaos but usually not on the day itself. This year was no exception.

Our festivities usually start on Christmas Eve with a family dinner hosted by Sherry’s mother. This year it was a little more special because Sherry’s brother and his family have moved back to Santa Rosa from Phoenix. That means the entire clan of siblings, aunts, uncles, niece and nephews were all there. After great food, a little fun and games, gift opening and dessert we finally called it a night.

Christmas morning is a time for us to sleep in and just be a little lazy. At around 9:30 we headed up to Centro Espresso, probably our favorite coffee shop, to meet friends. Centro definitely got the word out they were open from 9 – 12 because the place was happening. We hung out for just about an hour chatting, laughing and really just enjoying the beautiful day .

Once we got back home it was time for our real breakfast. If you have read my blogs in the past you know that Sherry makes awesome french toast. This might lead you to safely assumed that’s what was on the menu for Christmas Day. However, she has now perfected Belgian waffles as well. What a dilemma! In the end, the french toast won out this time. Now, sometimes we go all out on the Christmas morning breakfast but this year it was simply french toast with a little fresh coffee. Sometimes keeping it simple really is the best way to go.

Just after noon I decided to go out for a ride on the bike. Really, the weather was just too gorgeous to pass up. Plus, there was a threat of rain for Saturday and Sunday so you got to take advantage of these opportunities when you can. If you want to know how the ride went head over to my other blog, Lee’s Life Adventure, for a full report.

Our tradition for Christmas dinner is to go all out and try new recipes. In many cases these meals take hours to make. This year it wasn’t too bad in terms of time. Our menu consisted of pork tenderloin roasted with pears, gratin dauphinois, endive salad, and warm bread. It was all very good. The only question was what wine should we serve.

I consulted Bob who is my neighbor, good friend, and wine aficionado. After some research, we decided that either a fruitier style Pinot Noir or a German Riesling would work best. Since Sherry and I do not know Rieslings very well we decided to use this as a chance to broaden our horizons. Ultimately, we settled on a German 2007 Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spatlese. It was very good and paired with the pork quite nicely.

This afternoon, Bob and his wife Karin, came over for a little holiday cheer. The plan? Well, we drank a little champagne, ate a little cheese, and then perhaps open numerous bottles of wine to experiment a little more with which wine would have been best with the pork. I actually made a second roasted pork tenderloin just for today’s pairing test.

After Bob and Karin arrived, we started with a taste of the bubbly. Our choice? A non-vintage Champagne Lallier Grande Reserve Grand Cru. It was excellent! Then we did our pork-wine taste test. We opened two German Rieslings and a California Pinot Noir. Everyone agreed the Rieslings were the better choice.

So that was our quiet little Christmas holiday. We spent time with family, drank coffee with friends, ate a romantic dinner together, and enjoyed a wine and food pairing afternoon with more friends. What more could you ask for from a Wine Country Christmas.

Au revoir!

The long weekend

2009-12-08T07:25:00.001-08:00

It was another great weekend for Sherry and I. It actually started Thursday night with dinner at one of our favorite places, Riviera Ristorante. Giampaolo and crew were up to their usual high standards and he was even able to sit and chat with us for a bit. I choose the pasta special of the evening while Sherry had the carbonara. We left the wine selection up to Giampaolo and settle in for a lovely dinner.

Friday started in an unusual way for me. I had taken Friday off to participate in a ride that afternoon so I slept in and didn’t get up until almost 7:00 (I usually get up at 5:00). There is something so civilized about waking up gently to the sound of birds singing and not being jarred awake by some obnoxious alarm.

After a little early morning relaxing, we ate breakfast at Viola Pastry Boutique & Café followed by a few errands. The rest of the day was uneventful in a relaxing way. I did my ride while Sherry decorated our tree and home for the holidays. For dinner, it was pizza and stand-up comedy specials on TV.

Saturday was a beautiful, but chilly, day in the Sonoma Wine Country. After another ride with friends, Sherry and I joined our neighbors, Bob and Karin, to go see the play Hello Dolly. Surprisingly, none of us have seen either the play or the movie and I didn’t even know the storyline. The play was performed at the Roustabout Theater, which is a local theater group that supports the developing talent of kids 11-20. The show was excellent and there was a consensus among us that these kids are already very talented.

After the play, it was off to another favorite of ours, Kenwood Restaurant. As soon as we were seated Bob brought out a 1964 Barolo to be opened and decanted. When our server started to open the bottle she asked, “What year is this?” Bob simply replied, “It’s older then you!” So with our magnificent Barolo, we ate our way through a collection of tomato soup, foie gras, crab cakes, cassolet, beef, frites and chocolate truffles. It was a fantastic evening of good food, great wine and even better company.

Sunday started with homemade waffles. About a year ago we purchased the Waring Pro® Belgian Waffle Maker and it is fantastic. If you are a fan of homemade waffles this is your machine. It is very easy to use and clean. It is also nearly foolproof in producing great waffles. For a real treat, host a Sunday brunch, ideally outside, and make waffles “a table”.

Since Sunday’s weather was not that conducive to riding we did a little holiday shopping. We also stopped by Luther Burbank Home and Gardens to enjoy the festive decorations and period dress of the late 1800’s. This is one of those things you say you are going to do but never get around to. I have lived in Santa Rosa for over 20 years, Sherry was born here, and it was the first time we visited this historical site.

As the cold, wet weather settled in so did we. We watched football and relaxed. In the afternoon, we drank eggnog and brandy just to be sure we stayed warm. As I was heating the eggnog on the stove, you cannot use a microwave for this, it reminded me of making pudding. Of course that made me want pudding. Butterscotch pudding to be exact.

So I decide to make butterscotch pudding from scratch. After a few recipe searches on the internet I decide to use the recipe of David Lebovitz, who is currently a pastry chef in Paris. After collecting all the ingredients, I start cooking and quickly discovered that pudding is one of those recipes that when you read it you think, “Oh, that’s not so hard.” But the timing is fairly tricky. In the end, it tasted fine but was a little lumpy. Still, it was a great way to spend 40 minutes in the kitchen on a chilly, rainy Sunday afternoon.

Next weekend it looks like it will be raining so who knows what culinary adventures are in store.

Until then . . .

Au revoir!

My cassoulet

2009-11-27T22:11:00.001-08:00

Appropriately, I discovered cassoulet, a classic French dish, while in France. My first taste was at a Paris bistro. Over the years I have tried many cassoulets, both in France and in the United States. We have also made cassoulet at home on numerous occasions. In my last blog, Relaxing on a Sunday, I mentioned making it for dinner and received numerous requests for the recipe. So you now me, instead of just posting the recipe, here is the story of my cassoulet.

Cassoulet has a very long history as rich as the flavors of the food itself. A Google search on “cassoulet history” yielded over 50,000 hits. These opening sentences, from a Time Magazine article, might help you understand how big the myth of cassoulet really is.

“No French dish is as steeped in history, myth and religion as cassoulet. Natives of southwestern France's Languedoc region link their very cultural identity to the archetypical peasant dish, a rich, earthy casserole of beans, meat and herbs. Cassoulet is said to date back to the 14th century siege of Castelnaudary during the Hundred Years' War, when citizens created a communal dish so hearty their revivified soldiers sent the invaders packing.”

Where can you find the true story of cassoulet? How about the Académie Universelle du Cassoulet? Yes, the French have an Academy dedicated to preserving cassoulet and all of its traditions. Check out the link to their web site if you want to read more on the legendary dish.

Unfortunately, the majority of cassoulets I have eaten in the US have not been up to par. They were good, just not authentic. The most authentic by far was at Bistro Jeanty in the Napa Valley. Fortunately for my taste buds, but unfortunately for my wallet, Bistro Jeanty is only about a 45-minute drive from home.

That brings me to making cassoulet at home. The recipe from the Académie Universelle du Cassoulet takes 2 days to make. Julia Child’s famous recipe fills 5 pages of her book. These are great when you want the real thing and have that kind of time. But really, whose got that kind of time these days?

Enter Jacques Pépin and his 30-Minute Cassoulet. Although not traditional, it is very good. Once again, I am taking the easy way out by not reprinting the recipe and letting you follow the link instead. Plus, there's a video to help you along. Even the most elementary cooks among us can make this recipe taste awesome.

Now it is time to introduce my variation of Jacques Pépin’s recipe. When I first made his cassoulet, Sherry and I both felt that the combination of bratwurst and Italian sausage was just a little too “sausagy” for our taste. We are also wimps when it comes to heat, so we found the hot Italian sausage a little overpowering. So, it’s time to get creative in the spirit of the original dish from 1355 (if you believe the legend).

In thinking of ways to improve the dish to match our personal taste, I remembered back to that first cassoulet I ate in Paris, which consisted of ham, sausage, and duck confit. In fact, this is the most common combination I have seen in restaurants. So, here are my substitutions that reflect our taste .

Replace the hot Italian sausage with mild Italian sausage.
Replace the bratwurst with a rotisserie chicken.
Replace the ham shoulder with high quality ham steaks, such as Niman Ranch brand.

When it comes to serving, you really can’t eat cassoulet without wine. But which wine? Well, cassoulet was born in the Languedoc region of France so it would be a safe assumption that any wine for there would pair nicely. One such wine is Cahors, which is very good. You could also pair cassoulet with almost any wine from Bordeaux or a California Bordeaux-style blend. If these wines are difficult to find in your area then any good California cabernet sauvignon or merlot will be fine.

Finally, I believe that cassoulet is best served with friends. There is just something about a traditional peasant dish that invites everyone to relax and savor the moment. And really, does it get any better then a classic dish, a good bottle of wine and great friends? Well, maybe 2 bottles of wine and some dessert.

So that’s my version of cassoulet with a little history lesson thrown in for good measure. If you try my recipe, let me know how it turned out. Or better yet, if you live in the area let me know and I will be happy to try it in person. Either way, I hope you enjoy it.

Au revoir!

Relaxing on a Sunday

2009-11-25T07:03:00.001-08:00

On most Sunday mornings I can be found cycling with my friends. However, last Sunday, I awoke to the gentle sound of rain falling on the roof. After some quick texting, it was decided we would leave at 10 a.m. instead our usual 8:00 since all of the weather sites said it would be clear by then.

As I settled in and began to enjoy my more relaxing start to a Sunday morning, the rain continued. At around 9:15 it was very clear that the rain wasn’t going to clear by 10. So after another round of texts I announce that I am taking the day off from the bike since it is the off-season after all. Let the real relaxing begin!

What should I do first? The answer came to me immediately and I asked Sherry if she would make french toast for breakfast. I don’t know what she does different but she makes the best french toast. When she gives out her recipe people just look at her like – “Hmmm. That’s what I do. Why is yours better?” I think it’s much like following a recipe from TV. You used the same ingredients, in the same order, but yours just wasn’t as good.

I think one big secret to Sherry’s french toast is the bread we use. We typically use a French county bread or local sourdough. We usually buy it from a bakery and slice it just a bit thicker then the plastic-wrapped beadlike stuff you buy at grocery stores.

After breakfast, and a little Sunday paper reading, we decided to take a drive out to Arrowood Winery. We belong to their First in Line wine club and it was time to pick up our October release, which consisted of a 2004 Syrah and a 2006 Malbec. While there are few vineyards that grow Malbec, Arrowood is one of the few Sonoma County wineries the bottles it as a varietal.

Wine in hand we start heading for home when we realize it’s time for lunch. So, after a quick stop at the Kenwood Market for that night’s dinner, we ate lunch at Doce Lunas. Sherry has eaten there once before but it was my first trip. The whole menu looks simply fantastic. Ultimately, Sherry decided on the marinated chicken sandwich while I order the special Chicken Dijonaise. The food was excellent. To round out the meal we each order a glass of sauvignon blanc from Mendocino County.

While we were eating lunch the sun finally arrived. When we got back home, I decide to become industrious. Which means, instead of plopping down in my chair and watching football I went out to pick persimmons. One of the most beautiful features of our house when we bought it 9 years ago was the large persimmon tree in the front yard. It is big, beautiful, and bountiful. Each year I pick well over 1,000 pieces of fruit that is shared with friends and neighbors.

After a couple hours of picking persimmons, and just a little football, it was time to make dinner. Sunday’s night menu focused around cassoulet, which a classic French dish. However, we will not be making the version that can take days to cook. We will be making the Thirty Minute Cassoulet from Jacques Pépin Fast Food My Way cookbook. If you’re a foodie without a lot of time to spend in the kitchen, I highly recommend this book.

To top off a perfect day, we drank a 2000 Chateau La Serre from the St. Emilion (pictured at the top) region in Bordeaux with the cassoulet. It was a perfect match of one of our favorite dishes with one of our favorite wines.

There you have it. A great day for going with the flow just to see where you end up.

Au revoir

How it all began

2009-10-27T07:16:00.001-07:00

It was about 16 years ago that Sherry called me to say that I had received a very interesting voicemail. You see, as a trainer, I spoke at numerous conferences. It seems this person attended one of my sessions and was inviting me to speak at their upcoming conference. The location? Heidelberg, Germany!

You can imagine our excitement. This would be our first trip to Europe. To be brutally honest, Sherry and I both grew in households full of love but short on cash and neither of us ever expected to get to Europe. I called back the next morning, and after confirming my travel expenses would be paid, I accepted the offer. Now there was some planning to do.

Here’s were we got a little lucky. We only had about 3 weeks to plan the trip and get passports. Fortunately, we were able to drive to a regional office in San Francisco and get our passports within a week. That just left the planning. As luck would have it, a woman I worked with had a friend who was travel agent who specialized in shopping trips to Germany. She was so helpful in creating our itinerary and booked us into some really cool places to stay.

The next thing you know we are in a plane on our way to Frankfurt. As excited as we were, we were also a little anxious. It was our first trip out of the country and we didn’t speak the language or know how to get around. Still, we had youthful enthusiasm and a German rail pass so what more could we need.

After landing in Frankfurt, we figure out the train to Heidelberg fairly easily. Our love affair with Europe began on that train. As we rolled along the scenery was stunning complete with century old castles perched on hills along the way. When we arrived in Heidelberg we were nearly breathless. It was so beautiful and stunning. After waving off a Ford taxi for a Mercedes (that was a no brainer) we headed to the hotel. After we unpacked and settled in it was right back into town.

As we strolled the streets we really couldn’t believe where we were. I mean, we were in Germany! We stopped for coffee in the town square which is bordered by the University on one side and the Cathedral on the other. As we sipped our coffee it somehow felt like we belonged there. We couldn’t believe how spellbound we were. We also couldn’t believe that we were going in and out of shop buildings that are over 500 years old.

The next day I gave my presentation, which went very well. With the work part of the trip over, we now set out to explore Germany and eastern France. This was going to be a whirlwind tour of 10 cities in 8 days.

We started in Strasbourg, France where the whole scenario of Heidelberg repeated itself. There were long walks exploring the beauty of the city. The climb to the top of the Cathedral tower. Coffees in the village square. And lots of great food and wine.

Next we discovered just how easy it was to get around in Europe. We were taking a day trip from Strasbourg to Basel, Switzerland. The train map showed routes on both the French and German side of the border. However, since we had a German rail pass, we could not use it to train on the French side. So we simply bought tickets to create a roundtrip. In the process, we discovered the village of Colmar, France. Of course it was beautiful but it was early on Sunday morning and a bit closed up. We vowed to return one day and this was when we knew that many more European trips were in our future. (We did manage to make it back to Colmar in 2000.)

The trip continued in much the same fashion. We spent every waking hour exploring as much as we could with frequent breaks for coffee, wine or beer along the way. We met interesting people like the man at the Colmar train station who asked if we spoke French, which we did not. Then he asked if spoke German and that was a definite no. Finally, we settled on Spanish, which Sherry speaks. So here we are at a train station in France, waiting for a train to Switzerland and talking in a mixture of Spanish and English. It was just too cool!

When it was all said and done we also visited Freiburg, Konstantz, Stuttgart, Wurzburg (where we spent the night in a castle), and Rothenburg in Germany. Rothenburg is walled city that is so beautiful the American general in charge of US forces in WWII ordered that the city not be bombed.

We will never forget that trip. It was our first and it was unexpected. Still, it sparked a desire that continues to burn to this day. So, to all you out there who prefer fun-in-the-sun vacations with rum drinks served in coconuts, enjoy! We’ll simply settle in with a glass of wine in the heart of some small European village and drink in the old world charm.

Au revoir!

The quest for bouillabaisse

2009-10-14T07:17:00.001-07:00

Like many of the stories from our recent vacation in France, this is about finishing unfinished business. In 2007, we made a trip to the village of Cassis one of our focal points for primarily 2 reasons. We wanted to eat bouillabaisse next to the Mediterranean Sea. At the time, the quest seemed simple enough.

We were staying in the village of Saint-Remy-de-Provence, which is about 2 hours away. So on a very blustery morning we headed out. The first stop was the city of Marseille. After drinking cafe crèmes, eating croissants, exploring the port, and seeing signs for bouillabaisse everywhere, we got in line for tickets to take the ferry to Chateau d’If. Unfortunately, the winds were so strong the ferry wasn’t running. No worries. We shake off the minor disappointment and head to Cassis.

The beauty of Cassis is hard to describe. We were quite simply in awe of this port city nestled between coastal hills and the sea. We took a walking tour of the city and as we walked along, we saw signs for bouillabaisse at every restaurant. We could hardly wait but it was only noon-ish and a little early for lunch. We tried to take a boat tour of the calanques, little bays surrounded by cliffs, but once again the wind stop us. Is this disappointment number 2?

We opted to head for the beach and dip our toes into the sea and enjoy the beauty of it all. Finally, around 1:30, we headed back to the row of restaurants to decide what lucky establishment was going to fulfill our bouillabaisse quest. We selected one and sat down only to be informed by our waiter they were out. What!!! No biggie. We simply got up and went next door. They were out as well. At our 4th or 5th restaurant the waiter explained that everyone only makes a certain amount and when it’s gone, it’s gone, typically by 1:00. We settle on a fisherman stew, shrimp scampi, and a bottle of Cassis white wine, which were all excellent. With our day done, and our quest unfulfilled, we headed back home vowing not to make the same mistake again.

Now it’s 2009 and we are starting over. No Marseille this time. Instead it is straight to Cassis. We are staying in a house in Lourmarin that is only 45 minutes away. We arrive early and find the municipal parking but not a parking space. This is not a concern because one of the things I think I have mastered is the art of French parking.

First stop, the calanque tours which are running smoothly this day. We select a tour that carries us to 3 calanques and allows us to enjoy the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea from a new perspective. As the tour finished, we walked off the boat and straight to the restaurant we ate at in 2007. Did they have bouillabaisse today? The answer was a resounding yes although at 11:00 it was definitely to early for lunch.

We explored the town a little more, stop for coffee and enjoyed the beach before heading back to the restaurant. It was now just before noon but we were not taking any chances. We got the best seat and ordered our bouillabaisse and Cassis white wine. (BTW – there may not be a more perfect food-wine pairing then this.)

As we were enjoying our first sips of wine, the waiter informed us the bouillabaisse would not be ready for another 30-minutes and did we want to wait. Little did he know we had been waiting for 2 and a half years. So we sat back, relaxed, sipped wine and simply enjoyed being on vacation in France. The only concern was that we would finish our Cassis wine before the bouillabaisse arrived. The solution? We ordered a bottle of Cassis rosé to drink and saved the white for later.

When the bouillabaisse did arrive it was everything we hoped it would be. By this time we had high expectations but were not disappointed. The delicious fish, the delicate wine, and the scenic views made this a shared experience we will never forget.

With our quest fulfilled, we drove back home. This time our discussions were not about the disappointments of the last trip but about how lucky we were to get the opportunity to try again.

Au revoir!

It’s not France without wine

2009-10-08T07:30:00.001-07:00

Sherry and I enjoy wine. We even have a small cellar at home and are fortunate to live in Sonoma County, the very heart of California’s more traditional wine country. Our cellar has a good representation of both Sonoma and Napa wineries, which we love to share with friends.

Being true Francophiles, we also drink French wines. These have been mostly from Bordeaux, perhaps France’s most celebrated wine region. However recently, we are starting to explore some of the lesser known wines and our vacation was the perfect opportunity to continue our research.

So we thought we would take you on a little Tour de France based on some of the wines we enjoyed while we were there. How about we start in Provence?

Rosé wines are very popular in Provence. They are also very good. Almost all wine regions in Provence produce rosé wines so there is a wide range of options. We prefer the lighter, fruitier versions that go great with an afternoon of reading and relaxing.

Gigondas is a full body red wine from the Southern Rhone region on the border of Provence. We visited the village of Gigondas were we purchased an excellent 2003 Domaine du Pradas, which we drank with dinner one evening. We are actually big fans of the grenache grape so this wine really appeals to us.

Cotes du Ventoux is in Provence in the area surrounding Mont Ventoux. It is a very fruity red wine. To be honest, it is not my favorite but I always drink a bottle in honor of Mont Ventoux which I have cycled up twice.

Cassis is a beautiful white wine from Southern Provence where the land meets the Mediterranean Sea. We drank both a white and rosé while having lunch in the village of Cassis. The rosé, a 2008 Domaine du Paternel Rosé de Cassis, was especially good.

Chinon is a lighter red wine from the Loire Valley. We drank a couple of bottles while in Paris. One was particularly good and I must have enjoyed it too much since I forgot to write down where it was from. C’est la vie!

All of these wines are readily available in the US. They are also relatively inexpensive. You can find excellent bottles of Gigondas and Chinon for less then $20.

Of course, while in Paris we drank a fair amount of Bordeaux. Our favorite appellation is Saint-Émilion. Then there were the numerous bottles of house wine that were excellent even if we did not know where they originated.

We jokingly started our vacation with the mantra – A bottle a day. In the end, it wasn’t as much a mantra as a goal. A goal that we were happy to accomplish.

Au revoir!

Highlights from France

2009-10-01T06:29:00.000-07:00

Well our personal whirlwind 16-day Tour De France has reached its end. Well, it really wasn't a tour of all of France, just Provence and Paris. Sherry and I love France and try to get there on a regular basis. However, due to work and other boring issues it has been two and half years since our last trip.

On Thursday, September 10th, we are up and ready for the fun to begin. So with the excitement of children we get the trip started. We then realized there was nothing to get excited about just yet. You see, we were flying to Paris and then taking the train to Avignon. Plus we live north of San Francisco. What does all of this mean. It means our lovely French get-away started with a car trip to the airporter bus, a 1.5-hour bus ride, 2 hours of hanging out at the airport, a 12 hour flight, a 3 hour train ride, and finally a 15-minute cab ride to the hotel in Avignon.

Now that we are in France what's the plan. We are spending the night in Avignon as a transition to Provence where we rented a house for a week in the village of Lourmarin. After Provence, it's back on the train to Paris where we rented an apartment in the 6th Arrondisement. Since this was quite a trip, we will simply provide a few highlights from starting with Avignon.

Avignon at one point in history was a palace for the Pope and much of its history and attractions center on the palace. Since we only spent the one night, and have been to Avignon before, we focused on relaxing, finding a great place for dinner, and adjusting to the time change. The plan was to turn in early but we discovered there was light and slide show shown on the palace walls that only happens once a year so of course we had to see that.

The next day we picked up the rental car and headed for Lourmarin. On the way we pick up a rental bike as well. This is our first visit to this Provencal village and it was gorgeous. We spent the next week exploring town markets, cycling Mont Ventoux, and consuming some of the best food and wine you can imagine. There will be future stories that focus on our adventures such as the market at Isle-sur-le-Sorgue, lunch at Le Bistro du Paradou and the life in Lourmarin.

After a lovely week in Provence we are off to Paris. We have been there numerous times before but it never ceases to amaze us. Quite simply, we love Paris. We have never expereinced any of the stories of rude French and this trip was no different. So for the next 7 days we spent our time relaxing, sight-seeing, eating, drinking, shopping and enjoying all that Paris has to offer. Sadly, the last day arrived so we followed our tradition. The last night of every trip we go to the Trocadero and savor the view of the Eiffel Tower. It is then down to a cafe, with an Eiffel Tower view, for a final glass of champagne.

So there you have it. Just a quick little tease of the stories and adventures to come about this fantastic trip.

Until then . . .

Au revoir!

Off to France

2009-09-10T06:41:00.000-07:00

Sherry and I are off to France today and we cannot think of a better time to launch our latest blog. We are so excited about taking the opportunity to share our adventures in travel, food, wine and life with anyone who may find it enjoyable.

Sherry and I have been to France many times before. We simply love it! We both think we must have been French in a previous life. We particularly love Paris. I know, I know. Everyone has heard the stories of how badly Parisians treat Americans. Quite frankly, we have never experienced or even seen it.

So what's the plan? We fly to Paris today but don't arrive until tomorrow. Then we take the high-speed train, the TGV, to Avignon where we will spend Friday night. On Saturday, we pick the car, and my rental bike, and head to the heart of Provence. After a glorious week of eating, drinking, cycling, shopping, and relaxing, it's off to Paris for a week.

So stay tuned. And if you promise to read this blog from time to time, we promise to raise a glass of wine in your honor while overlooking the vineyards of Provence.

Until then . . .

Au revoir

The First Post

2009-09-07T17:25:00.000-07:00

Coming Soon!!!

Adventures in life as experienced through food, wine, travel and friends!