Hump Day: Italian Aperitivo

During our road trip through Italy, I became pretty obsessed with the Italian tradition of the Aperitivo Hour(s).  Usually between about 5-7pm, many bars and cafés will offer a variety of free finger foods with your pre-dinner drink.  We had a great time munching on the little bruschettas, mozzerella, marinated artichokes, and crudités.  While I bounced back and forth night after night between Prosecco and...

Hump Day: Vin Chaud

About two months ago I started getting really annoyed that there was no apple cider here.  Not hot, not cold, not anything.  I whined about it a lot (just ask Michael).  I finally bit the bullet and just made my own hot apple cider on the stove whenever the craving hit, and I managed to get through the fall without too many tears. And now it's December and Vin Chaud entered my life, and I could give a flying...

Hump Day: Stockholm’s Absolut Ice Bar

So, I have a confession to make.  We did something really touristy during our trip to Stockholm. We went to the Absolut Vodka Ice Bar... ...and we had a great time. Really!  Laugh all you want, but it was a fun way to end a full day of walking around and sightseeing.  Yes, it is super cheesy, but it's a pretty unique experience and there is booze involved, people.  How can you have a bad...

Hump Day: Port Wine in Porto

I think that, by now, you all know how much I love wine.  Living in California and France has given me the opportunity to learn about wine and the wine-making process in real life experiences, which is best way possible.  So when Stéphanie and I took our Girl's Trip to Porto, Portugal, I was really excited to expand my knowledge to a new type of wine about which I knew very little:  Port Wine.  There's a whole...

Hump Day & Copenhagen Part II: Carlsberg Brewery Tour

One of the main things The Hub and I have been saying when asked about our trip to Copenhagen is, "Well, we drank a lot of beer."  In terms of drinking, we've always loved beer, but it's really taken a backseat to wine here in France (and my waistline thanks me), but in Copenhagen, it's all about the beer. Which obviously led us to the Carlsberg Brewery.  I mean, How could we go to Copenhagen and...

Hump Day: Vermont Wine

After a wet but lovely day in Burlington during the ECLT, Tessa and I were ready for a glass, er, bottle of wine at The Farmhouse.  We chatted up the bartender and he recommended a local choice, a 2010 Marquette wine from Vermont's own Shelburne Vineyard.  You all know what a wine snob I am, so I was a little hesitant.  But our bartender friend really sold it on me.  Besides, when in Rome... Ya'll, this...

Hump Day: Our New “Special Occasion” Wine

We're getting ready to celebrate lots of special occasions next week as we embark on the East Coast Love Tour.  Tomorrow morning we're heading back to the U.S. to attend not one, but two weddings on the east coast!  We're so excited to spend another week with our dearest friends that will involve sun (hopefully), kickball, beach time, and of course, LOVE. Speaking of special occasions, we've got a new wine for...

Hump Day: Aperitif

Have dinner at any restaurant in France and the first thing they will ask you is, "Désirez-vous un apéritif?"  An aperitif is a refreshing pre-dinner drink that is meant to stimulate the appetite. Usually The Hub and I go straight for the wine, but lately we've been imbibing in a more traditional pre-dinner drink:  the Kir Royale.  We drank a lot of these while we were in Paris with my parents.   I'd...

Hump Day: Getting Out Of Our Comfort Zone

My goodness, apologies for being so quiet over here on the blog.  It's been a whirlwind of packing, traveling, unpacking, and cleaning over here during the last two weeks.  After spending the week in Cannes, I left The Hub behind and jetted off to Paris to spend the weekend with my friends Abby, Stéphanie, and Jimmy.  We had a marvelous time and I am so excited to tell you about a particular meal that we ate at...

Hump Day: Cool As A Cucumber Summer Cocktail

Here's a short story about the South of France: They don't sell club soda in grocery stores. The End. Seriously.  It's nowhere.  I came up with this Cool Summer Cocktail made with cucumber, basil and mint after being inspired by this recipe from Bon Appétit, but for the life of me couldn't find seltzer or club soda.  I ended up just using sparkling water, and it was NOT the same. We decided that...