Our Seaside Lunch in La Baule-Escoublac, France

Our Seaside Lunch in La Baule-Escoublac, France

Just before we arrived in Le Croisic, we decided to stop in a neighboring town to get some seaside lunch and to get our first glimpse of that beautiful ocean. 

French cuisine is by far my favorite... so eating it in a coastal french city, where you can get the freshest seafood? I'm in heaven. First thing we must eat in France? Steak tartare + muscles. 

We found a great little restaurant that was right on the beach called Les Fils a Maman La Baule. 

Dar Les Cigognes & The Sanssouci Moroccan Cooking School | Marrakech, Morocco

Dar Les Cigognes & The Sanssouci Moroccan Cooking School | Marrakech, Morocco

Whenever we visit a new country or culture, our favorite 'experience' is joining a cooking class.  We have taken a "French Market Cooking Class" in Paris, a "Cambodian Cooking Class" in Siem Reap and now... a Moroccan Cooking Class in Marrakech. 

I find the best way to get to know a new culture is through food. What people eat explains a lot about their society, landscape, environment and rituals. 

Living in the US, we have the option of almost EVERYTHING, and there are new restaurants, and interesting takes on cuisines constantly popping up.  But when we travel somewhere remote... we find that there are usually one or two specialties that the area is known for... and most likely, its exactly the same as what they were eating 1000 years ago.

And in Morocco... that is Tajine & Couscous.  

Dar Les Cigognes: Our Riad Oasis in Marrakech, Morocco

Dar Les Cigognes: Our Riad Oasis in Marrakech, Morocco

The maze like streets of Marrakech are filled to the brim with wonderful little hidden apartments called riads. A riad is a traditional Moroccan house or palace built around an interior garden or courtyard. Many of these have now been converted into boutique accommodations. The most spectacular feeling about a riad is - after spending a full day on the chaotic streets of the souks... walking into this calming hidden oasis you call home.

We decided on Dar Les Cigognes. For three reasons...

Rose Meringue Recipe

Rose Meringue Recipe

The past few Valentines Days I've tried to bake something for Andrew as a little Valentines treat. (baking is how I show my love). It was much more romantic when we didn't live together, so I could show up with a nice little surprise.  But the surprise factor doesn't really exist when he can hear the loud noise of my hand mixer whipping up a storm in the kitchen. Oh well...

This year I saw on pinterest these beautiful little meringues in the shapes of roses, so I thought i'd give it a try. The best thing is, its only 3 ingredients and they're not that bad for you. (it's really just egg whites + sugar + a lot of whipped air)

Sweet Potato Crust "Pizza" Recipe

Sweet Potato Crust "Pizza" Recipe

A few weeks ago Andrew mentioned something like "maybe we should add some different recipes into the mix?" ... at first - I was offended. "you DON't want kale salad at all meals?!" Then... I realized, maybe he's right. Challenge accepted. 

So I got researching. My coworker & fellow 'health food fanatic' shared this link with me: "Healthy recipes for the month of February". And I was in love, so many interesting different recipes to try. 

Its easy to fall into the routine of making the same easy dinners that you know you love over and over when you come home from work. So I challenged myself to try at least one new recipe each week. First, we are starting with a Sweet Potato Crust Pizza.

Weekend in Amsterdam | airbnb, bikes & the foodhallen

Weekend in Amsterdam | airbnb, bikes & the foodhallen

Taking advantage of a layover from Nuremberg to New York back in June, we took a long weekend in Amsterdam. On our first day our adventures included settling into our Airbnb apartment, attempting to ride bikes like the locals, and doing a food tasting through the Foodhallen. 

Phi Phi Island, Thailand: What to do when your 4 days in a tropical paradise turn to 4 days of torrential downpour

Phi Phi Island, Thailand: What to do when your 4 days in a tropical paradise turn to 4 days of torrential downpour

The last four days on our Thailand & Cambodian holiday was meant to be spent drinking pina coladas, swimming in the ocean, all while lathering on sunscreen to make sure we wouldn't get sun burnt. Well, the weather had different plans for us. Here is how we spent our four days on a tropical island in a consistent downpour of rain. 

Our Must Haves List: Things we import from America

Our Must Haves List: Things we import from America

Andrew and I have been living in Germany for just about two years. And within those two years we have almost mastered the grocery shopping.

Can't find the cinnamon? Look for zimt. It's April and you're craving Kale? Be patient, it'll be back in 6 months. Need Patron Tequila? Pick it up the next time you're going through the airport dutyfree shop. 

But there are just some things... that you'd rather buy from the comfort of a Target, stop & shop or Trader Joes. (or it is just 1/4 the price to buy it in the US).