Good Taste is the Worst Vice

Next: Alinea

The creativity in the Next: Alinea menus isn't shown through food per se - the dishes and the plating are replicated precisely - but in the selection and combination of courses.  Unlike the French Laundry menu, which captured a menu from a particular date in its entirety, the Alinea menus were ... continue reading...


Delicious dining aboard Saroche

Captain Jason's partner in barging and life is Chef Dawn, whose food is the final piece in the luxurious Saroche experience.  She produces three incredible meals a day (plus delectable bites with a daily champagne aperitif) from a diminutive galley. Breakfast Every breakfast featured ... continue reading...


Champagne adventures on Saroche

One of the delights of our time on Saroche was a daily excursion, guided by our captain, Jason.  After breakfast we'd all pile into the van for a short drive through the beautiful Champagne countryside, narrated all the while by Jason.  He's an amazing storyteller with a wealth of knowledge about ... continue reading...


Saroche barge in Champagne

The word "barge" doesn't really conjure images of a modern holiday.  More likely, you're picturing a boat that may as well be traveling back (very slowly) into the nineteenth century. And yes, there are still some of those barges out there, hauling grain or other cargo - though there may also be ... continue reading...


All around Paris

I hadn't been to Paris for over a decade before our visit this summer, so really wanted to revisit some of the classics - Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower - and some places I'd never gone before, like Sainte Chapelle.  Let's explore: On our first afternoon, we walked along the Seine - a ... continue reading...


Château d’Yquem

No matter how much one loves red Bordeaux (in our case, that's a lot!), Left and Right Bank visits can blur together a bit.  So a tasting of golden, sweet Sauternes is just the thing for a change of pace. We headed for Chateau d'Yquem, the winery that's synonymous with Sauternes. The ... continue reading...


Chateau Richeux, Cancale

In the crook of France's coast where Brittany and Normandy meet, there's the town of Cancale.  And just outside, at the end of a narrow country lane, is the fairytale house called Chateau Richeux. It's a small hotel now, just over a dozen rooms, and basically a dream destination for traveling ... continue reading...


HaiSous, Chicago

Given the HaiSous backstory, I couldn't help but hope that the Dangs' new restaurant would flourish.  To make a long story short - their prior partners embezzled over a million dollars from their first restaurant then fled the country.  Talk about deserving good karma! To my delight, HaiSous ... continue reading...


Mont St Michel and Cancale, France

My first visit to Cancale and Mont St Michel was over 20 years ago with my aunt, uncle, and cousin.  I remember the surprising color of the ocean - more Caribbean turquoise than gray Atlantic - and traipsing up and down stone stairs on the Mont, and I'd wanted to return ever since. So D and I ... continue reading...