Stowe Flakes

Last weekend Le Mari and I went to Stowe, Vt. It was his Christmas gift. He loves to ski and I know he rarely has the opportunity to do it on real snow so I booked us a trip. I, on the other hand, have not skied since I was about twelve, when I realized that my chances of skiing on something other than ice and not freezing my back end off regularly was slim to none. I gave it up. This was a truly selfless gift, except for the fact that Vermont was on my list of places to see in the North East.

I proceeded to get sick the Thursday before and was coughing the entire time. Poor Le Mari, I barely complained but he knew I was in pain. I stayed in the lodge by the fire, reading a book while he skied. This was the original plan all along but I must say I was a bit envious. The mountain was beautiful and there were more slopes than you could possibly imagine.

The village of Stowe was quaint and lovely. Tiny shops and restaurants, letting off warm glows from windows, dotted the streets. The river, almost frozen over, made it even more of a wonderland.

Each restaurant we went to was excellent, including the one in our hotel, Mr. Pickwick's. It was true English cuisine. I had escargot in puff pastry with a rich, chocolaty brown sauce and beef wellington. There is nothing like forcing your husband to eat something and and then preceding to inform him that it was fattened goose liver (fois gras). YUM! Well, I enjoyed it anyway! He had quail, which was tasty as well. They have over a hundred foreign beers on tap which made for an interesting evening as well!

One day, when it was bitter cold, too cold for skiing, so we drove 45 minutes to Burlington, a small city perfectly clean with everything you could ever want. There were a few colleges there and lots of places to eat and shop. There were a few blocks closed off to cars, with only shopping and restaurants, which I loved. I noticed people wearing their ski pants in places other than the slopes, making me realize that their winters were so cold that this has actually become the fashion up here!

All in all, with coughing and later, sneezing, and a six hour car ride, it was worth every minute. I would love to go in the summer and see it then, it is a beautiful state.

Bring in the Clowns

My birthday present from my husband was tickets to the Big Apple Circus and I have to admit, I was a bit leery about the whole idea. This time, I was surprised.

We were the only ones there without a small child as we entered the festively decorated tent just behind Lincoln Center. It was a one-ring circus, which I actually preferred to the three ring confusion that was the circus I remember as a child. I almost felt guilty that we were only three rows from the front when there were children five or six rows behind us, but really, all the seats were good considering the size of the big top. I should have known that anything in New York, even the Big Apple Circus, would have a hint of sophistication. Give or take an annoying clown, the show was quite fun and parts even beautiful.

Le Mari had never been to the circus and he immediately fell in love. I have never seen him so enthusiastic and he literally couldn't stop talking about the acrobats, contortionists, and well trained poodles the entire 40 block walk Uptown. His reaction to something I had the priviledge to enjoy a number of times as a child was worth the expesive tickets, popcorn and snowcones (yes we got a snowcone!) alone.

I had to post more than one picture because so many came out well. Above and below, you will see the hoola hoop girl and the contortionists. They were my favorite.

Yes, Virginia, there are good restaurants Upstate!

We may not always have authentic Japanese here in America and our wasabi may really be made from horseraddish, but it has become a staple in my life. Since I have moved out of the City there seem to be a shortage of good restaurants. Something as simple as Chinese is nonexistent. Most places we have been to, we have thought to be sub par. We are still searching. Last night, though, we stumbled upon a new Japanese restaurant that Le Mari's chiropractor suggested. The one we had previously been going to had been closed for renovations for a month and we had been going to a decent alternative, but not wonderful.

It was like any other Japanese restaurant in decor, bamboo mats on the wall with images of geisha and Japanese landscapes. A green wall sized waterfall was really the only set it apart, other than the food.

It took me years to get Le Mari to eat sushi and now he can't get enough. We have a habit of getting an appetizer or salad, usually edemame or maybe spring rolls. I always get green tea. We share five rolls almost always the same: spicy tuna, salmon avocado, eel cucumber, shrimp tempura and California if it's real crab. It is the perfect amount for us. My favorite is spicy tuna and it has become my way of judging quality. The intermediate place we were going to put too many scallions in their spicy tuna, the first place was pretty good, but not the best I've had. This restaurant, however, challenges even some sushi I was getting in the City. All of the rolls were fresh, just enough rice, lots of fish and excellent service. I am so glad to find a place that is up to my standards, which are pretty high.

Lily Manor

I went for a short visit to see my wedding coordinator in Pennsylvania last weekend. This statement is odd only for the fact that Le Mari and I were married in August.

I met so many interesting and talented people through the process of planning the wedding that it was hard to let go of them. Olga, the brains behind the operation at Lily Manor (the venue where we had the wedding), was my greatest find. Not only did she and I become friends, she and my parents became close as well.

My mom and I decided to stop by to show her the wedding album. Olga's husband, daughter and father-in-law were there, helping to paint the upstairs, making us the perfect interruption to a hard day's work. There are so many things I love about coming here. It is an old mansion out in the middle of farm country and the atmosphere is completely relaxing yet sophisticated. When we are together, conversation flows like the endless wine that always magically appears in our glasses. It amazes me that no matter how short notice our visits are, she always has an apéritif on hand. This time it we had endless white wine, slices of feta, bread, olives and oil for dipping. I could eat like this every day of my life! It is so simple, but the quality of everything is at the piedmont of perfection and each bite transports me back to Greece. Three hours and four glasses of wine later, I was feeling pretty good. It was just one more event to make my weekend at home wonderful as usual.

Francais Blog Stalker

I'm sure you are wondering why my blog is inundated with French links, language widgets and food posts when I am, in fact, 100% American (well, actually, I am about a quarter French, a quarter English, a quarter German and a quarter halfbreed) and living in New York. I know what you're thinking and I am NOT a French blog stalker. There is just something about France and that way of life that intrigues me. Brave Americans that are currently living in France write most of the blogs I have listed. They are learning the language, dealing with the people, being away from their families, and learning how to function in a foreign country. I really respect that and am even a bit envious. It must be such an adventure to pick up and go, to start a new life in such a foreign and exotic country. I am counting the days until I can go back to Europe and experience it all over again, which will hopefully be this summer. I am trying to learn the language before we go on our trip so I can at least make an attempt to communicate. I may not be living in France, but I am a French girl at heart.

Country Roads

I am going to visit my parents this weekend in Pennsylvania. They still live in the area I grew up in (if not the same house)- a small Central PA town with beautiful mountains, lush foliage (in the summer, of course), and rolling farmland as far as the eye can see.

When I go home, it is like I never left. I am pampered by my mother who makes all of my favorite meals, does my laundry and takes me shopping. She is my confidant and closest companion. My dad and I veg out in front of the TV, making snide remarks about whatever political opinion, celebrity screw up or current event may be en vogue that weekend. He also loves to talk about my career. We discuss that often. In PA, I don't have to do anything I don't want! It is like a weekend retreat for the over-worked and over-stressed.

If you have never been to this seemingly boring state, it is well worth the trip. We are not only Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Central PA has such beautiful landscapes, it will take your breath away. It can only be described as "God's Country", as Le Mari so aptly put it.