It’s Summer: Get Outside and Party!
Hanging out on my deck with my friend Alison.
Can you believe July is already underway? Why does my favorite time of the year seem to go by so quickly? I don’t have the answers, but here is what I do to savor every moment:
First, I get outside as much as I can. If you [...]
A Brief Guide to the Best in Paris Sweets
Although my bags have been unpacked for about a month now, I’ve still got Paris on my mind. Since my last blog, I’ve had people ask me for recommendations on patisseries and chocolate shops. After looking through my notes, photos and maps, it’s really hard to narrow it down to one or two shops, so [...]
Falling in love with Paris (again)
A sixth-floor view of Haussmann’s Paris.
For eight days, I had the pleasure of breathing in all Paris has to offer. What a treat to enjoy a city so full of life. How do you begin to describe it? History, art, architecture, fashion, food, chocolate, joie de vivre … j’aime Paris!
I rented a sixth floor [...]
Bonjour, Paris!
The Medici Fountain in the Jardin du Luxembourg.
Throughout the spring, the thought of returning to Paris has motivated and excited me. It’s a city that holds special meaning for me. It was there, as a teenager, that my lifelong passion for chocolate truly began. Now, after weeks of reading various guidebooks and daydreaming, it’s time [...]
At Sea
Aboard the Regent Seven Seas.
What in the world am I doing at sea? Good question. It started in December, on the day of our first big snowstorm. You know the day–the University closed, we got 18 or more inches of snow. I walked into work and thought, “Great, I can have a catch-up day in [...]
It’s Spring! Try a Chocolate Adventure
When I visit the Upala Organic Cacao Growers Cooperative in Costa Rica, chocolate tasting and lots of discussion are usually on the itinerary.
After the rush of the winter holidays, it’s fun to be able to focus once again on our monthly chocolate tastings.
You’ve probably heard of wine tastings, but chocolate? Well, first off, it’s [...]
And Furthermore: Great Fun and Great Food at the Isthmus Beer & Cheese Fest
I recently had the pleasure to present at the first Isthmus Beer & Cheese Fest. What a fantastic way to spend a cold Saturday! There was a great crowd that mingled happily among an even mix of cheese and beer producers. There were about 20 booths with a cheese maker and a brewer standing side-by-side. [...]
Pairings from Fromagination
Here are the beer/chocolate pairings from the Fromagination event:
Come to Costa Rica, Tony
I invite Tony Bourdain of the Travel Channel’s “No Reservations” to come to Costa Rica with her and meet the cacao farmers.
Fresh perspective for a fresh decade
Another new decade ahead of us. A few days ago, I was talking with a friend and we remembered how monumental 1970 seemed to us then, our first cognizance of a new decade. We wondered at the year 2000; we’d be old if we were even alive! Here it is – 10 years after [...]
