Good Taste is the Worst Vice

Next: French Classique

This latest Next iteration gives the original, Paris 1906, a run for its money as D's favorite.  French cuisine at its most elegant, luxe, refined... that's cuisine classique. Sitting down, the first thing we see is a pair of ice sculptures and a cantaloupe sporting a cork.  Curious!  Inside ... continue reading...


French hot chocolate

The hot chocolate I had in Buenos Aires reminded me how much I love what seems like, essentially, just molten dark chocolate.  It's best known as being French (le vrai chocolat chaud), but of course you can find it at chocolate shops around the world - including Rapa Nui. And it's so easy to make ... continue reading...


Exploring Buenos Aires

We made the most of our short time in Buenos Aires, exploring a few of the sights and spending some time just walking around to get the feel of the city. Floralis Generica I looked forward to visiting this sculpture, aka "the big metal flower", to try out my new wide angle lens!  And yes, it's ... continue reading...


Recoleta and Rapa Nui, Buenos Aires

I wouldn't have guessed that my favorite place to explore in Buenos Aires would be a cemetery; they've never really interested me in the past.  But thanks to our wonderful guide, Marcelo, the Recoleta Cemetery proved to be a perfect introduction to Buenos Aires. It's fascinating to explore - like ... continue reading...


Quick turkey chili

Here's a new take on my standard chili recipe, the way I've been making it lately - with a few changes to my mom's original but still perfect for a chilly night. It yields a bit less, so you don't need to open as many cans and there aren't as many leftovers to worry about (but of course you could ... continue reading...


Wineries around Mendoza, Argentina

Figuring out which wineries to visit in Mendoza can be a challenge: there are literally hundreds of wineries, and very few are well-known (as in Napa or Bordeaux).  So I relied on the Cavas team's list of options as a starting point for my research.  Here's a sampling of where we went: Our ... continue reading...


Lunch at Ruca Malen, Mendoza

Wine tasting lunches are a clever idea, aren't they?   Wines are paired with different courses, so you experience them with food and aren't drinking on an empty stomach.  Win win! Lunch at Ruca Malen is in a beautiful bright dining room; each place is set with six glasses, whetting our ... continue reading...


Adventures at Cavas, Mendoza

There's so much to do in Mendoza!  Of course, there's my favorite vacation pastime: relaxing.  Oh, and my second favorite: wine tasting. For the more adventurous, you can go whitewater rafting or trekking in the Andes.  We chose a few activities closer to home: * Horseback riding We met ... continue reading...


Cavas Wine Lodge, Mendoza

Cavas Wine Lodge is the perfect place to get away from it all - as long as "all" doesn't include a gorgeous setting, excellent food, and absolutely charming people! We had a wonderful stay at Cavas, in Mendoza, to celebrate D's birthday, and I'm already dreaming of our return. As soon as ... continue reading...