Up In Time to Read the Tribune in Dijon
The other morning I awoke with a shock. I had made the classic gaffe–forgot to ask for a wake-up call, thinking hey, I get up at 7 every morning. But in those high thread count sheets, with the light blocked, and a late night watching French TV, I was jolted […]
Meeting Perrier’s Pigs in Bazoches
I’ve settled into the Sofitel in Dijon, and after another classy meal, and all the email read, it’s time once again to share some slices of La France. I haven’t been in France since 1989, and it’s still got that same je ne sais quois–is it the narrow streets? The […]
Four Kinds of Potatoes Grace Marc’s Menu Tonight
Chef Marc Meneau in Burgundy France, a Michelin-star chef who served us a quartet of exotic potatoes, all cooked in different ways.
My Pedaling is Punctuated by the Sound of Birds
After breakfast at Marc Meneau, I borrowed a bike to go out and see the countryside. I pedaled around a bend and into the small village of St. Pere, where trucks carefully navigated the narrow streets and forced pedestrians up onto the sidewalk. I rode over a bridge and out […]
The Straight Roads of Burgundy
France to me has always been symbolized by that classic Life magazine photo of the kid looking back from the bike holding the giant baguette. He is bicyling on a road like this, straight, and bordered by rows of trees. Here we head toward our next stop in Burgundy. Today […]
Jarry Truffles: The Town’s Signature Treat
I asked my guide if there was a signature food that symbolized the town of Auxerre. She didn’t hesitate, and brought me inside a yellow awning, into a chocolate shop by the name of Jarry, on the main square. Madame Jarry gave us her famous ‘Bourguignottes’ rum and raisin flavored […]
Sipping The Real Chablis on a Boat in Auxerre
I arrived at Montbard and met my driver–he knew the train schedule so I wasn’t stranded–and we began our trip to Auxerre. This town of about 45,000 is rich with architectural history; there are three hills and two famous cathedrals here. We toured the cool dark world of the crypts […]
Dans le Gare De Lyon, Attendez pour le TGV a Montbard
I’m sitting in the Gare de Lyon in Paris, waiting for an 11:45 am TGV train. I arrived after a pleasant flight, watching a silly movie about a plague in Paris that was spread by fleas shaken off of dead rats by a misunderstood lad who watched his father plunge […]
Turning Soldier’s Trash into BioFuel
I’m in the terminal at Logan with way, way too much time on my hands. I thought I should get here early, but this is ridiculous! So I’ve finished the NY Times, and there are many stories that are worth sharing. First was a piece by Matthew Wald about a […]
Burgundy and Alsace Await–But First, the Anxiety
I am a nervous nellie when it comes to the day of departure. I’m sure my fellow GoNOMAD Travelers can relate to the intensity of travel fear—forgetting something, hitting traffic en route to the airport, not having the right papers etc, all usually unfounded but nonetheless unsettling. I got to […]
Pepin’s 40 Years of Menus are In The Books
I’ve always loved Jacques Pepin, the easygoing and talented French chef. He was quoted in today’s Boston Herald, disputing a recently published book that said his pal Julia Child was a homophobe. He also talked about cooking. “It is so much more satisfying cooking for friends and family who are […]
What a Party We Had!
I got up earlier than I wanted to; there was work to do at the cafe. Last night’s party was a smashing success! A huge turnout, a full cafe, customers, friends, and strangers who read about the New Zealand show and wanted to see the photos. It was a memorable […]
Awake at Three-three-three, Sweating the Details
Last night I tossed and turned, couldn’t sleep, I remember glancing at the clock and seeing all threes. I was awake worrying about the GoNOMAD Cafe’s party tonight. Who will show up? Will it be too crowded? Worst of all, will I go out and stock up a bar and […]
Simon is the Viceroy, Sanjaya is Gandhi
On the Today Show this morning, there was a funny segment with two television writers, one from TV Guide, who were opining about last night’s vote on American Idol. We joined the voters and said goodbye to the tearful Gina Glockson, who we grew to admire since she quit last […]
The NY Post Drops its Price To a Slim Nickel
Today’s Village Voice has a funny column by Keach Hagey about the NY Post, where Rupert has decided to drop the cost of the daily paper to chump change. “After a long day of shopping at Gimbels, nothing beats an icy highball at McHales, then heading home on the Ninth […]
A Former Terrorists Cites the Trouble with Islam
Tawfik Hamid was once a member of Jemaah Islamiya, the Islamist terrorist group. Now he’s a doctor who is trying to convince the world that radical Islam is wrong. Very wrong. He wrote a piece in yesterday’s WSJ called The Trouble With Islam. “Indeed there is much that is clearly […]