Modified from the “Jennifer Aniston” salad, this has to be one of those meals I could eat nearly every single day. While it doesn’t need anything additional, it also works well with a protein hat. The protein hat, shredded rotochick, and pistachios for a nice crunch. Mediterranean Pistachio Crunch Salad For the dressing: For the…
Ina’s Blue Cheese & Walnut Crackers
Take Ina’s advice and create this log of cheesy goodness, slice and keep them in the freezer unbaked for an easy apero snack. I did the opposite, and cooked the entire thing for two people. Ended up freezing most of them…how they fare baked and thawed is a story to tell another day (to be…
(Almost) Ina’s Roasted Eggplant Dip
When there is a craving for roasted eggplant in the house, you must turn to the queen herself. However, Ina and about every other recipe on the internet also turns to bell peppers. To fix that, let’s use Ina as our guide, but keep things even simpler. While she ain’t pretty, she is tasty. The…
Au Petit Comptoir- Reims
The last night in Reims brought us to Au Petit Comptoir which was very busy for Saturday evening. While we should have ordered from the menu, we tucked into a “surprise menu.” Lucky for us, we were a course ahead of the table next to us, or it wouldn’t have been a surprise afterall. The…
Copain Comme Cochon- Reims
Copain Comme Cochon is amusingly situated next door to Le Clos (and the market!) which is a fun ambiance for playful apertifs. Old ski lifts make for an excellent location for a glass of champagne. The restaurant itself is small and luckily saved us a table on a busy market saturday. I opted for the…
La Chevre et Menthe- Reims
After touring the cathedral and ahead of our cellar visit at Veuve Cliquot, I found myself starving! We lucked into a non-touristic spot charmingly named La Chevre et Menthe. With a two plate daily special at just 20 EUR, what’s not to love? I started with a ham and cheese pie that could have been…
Hotel de la Paix- Reims
The champagne tour continues to the much larger city of Reims with a few nights at the Hotel de la Paix. The hotel was spacious and rather busy, complete without parking available. The room, however, felt new and clean even if the color choices were weird ones. There was plenty of space to kick back…
Rotisserie Henry IV- Ay-Champagne
Highly recommended by the good people of both Le Bistrot and Billecart-Salmon was Rotisserie Henry IV in the center of Ay-Champagne. While we arrived for a late dinner, the courtyard was still lovely and you could imagine how perfect it would be on a sunny day. We started with the baked St. Marcelin with a…
Le Bistrot- Ay-Champagne
If you’re staying at Le Clos Corbier, there is really only one restaurant in easy walking distance, that is Le Bistrot. Luckily, it is absolutely delicious and seems to be a nice mix of tourists, but mostly it’s workers from the neighboring champagne houses. The manager and his wife are both abundantly friendly and the…
Le Clos Corbier- Ay-Champagne
While Reims and Epernay are lovely towns in the Champagne region, Ay is the real gem. A sleepy village with just a few restaurants is home to some really well-known brands including Bollinger and Billecart-Salmon, both of which we were lucky enough to visit. Recommended by Billecart was Le Clos Corbier, a small family-run hotel…
Les Trois Provinces- Le Montsaugeonnais
On a road trip to Champagne, we were seeking a halfway stop for the night with the only requirement being that the hotel was clean and the food was tasty. Luckily we found Le Vauxois, a simple hotel, but with a phenomenal restaurant, Les Trois Provinces. An extremely rainy evening had us turning up in…
Caruso Place- Naples
Looking for a sensibly priced crash pad the night before a flight, we did some neighborhood recon and decided on the Caruso Place. Located in the shopping area between many shops and restaurants, it couldn’t have felt safer in a rough and tumble city. However…. the hotel comes with a price and that is that…
Pizzeria Al Cucciolo- Naples
When in Rome…err…Naples… Neapolitan pizza it must be! After a harrowing journey through the back alleys of Naples, the only choice was to visit a (recommended) pizzeria a stone’s throw from the hotel. Lucky for us, that turned out to be Pizzeria Al Cucciolo. Our group went for the classic margherita as well as several…
Zi’ntonio- Sorrento
The group agreed, hands down, that Zi’ntonio was the highlight of Sorrento restaurants experienced over the weekend. A last minute addition to the schedule, recommended by the hotel, the large restaurant had a number of attentive servers and sommeliers. Their humor brought a fun vibe to the white-tablecloth establishment. The “pizza bread” they start you…
Hortus Garden Bar- Pompei
Not expecting much for the neighborhood adjacent to Pompei, we were pleased to find Hortus Garden Bar, a lovely respite from the heat and more expected nearby snack bars. The setting was idyllic, flowers and fruit artfully posed for ultimate adorableness (or IG). In addition to counter gelato and table service for food and drinks,…
Casa Tua- Sorrento
Casa Tua is a boho-chic establishment and probably one of the tastiest restaurants you could be lucky enough to try in Sorrento. With vibes that feel more Cali or Bali, this small restaurant is tucked away at the end of a busy shopping street. The tables are small and the vibe is decidedly locale. The…
Bienvenuti in Casa- Sorrento
A small neighborhood restaurant with great reviews showcases the front of house run by the husband and kitchen run by the wife of a charming local couple. Enjoying watching the children of said couple play and dine on burgers alongside doting parents definitely made the place feel familial and a special find. A glass of…
Checco er Carrettiere
On one of the main streets of Rome’s popular Travestere neighborhood is the venerable Checco er Carrettiere. A relic of days gone by and with a dining room at one time full of the rich and famous, the place was covered in signed black and white headshoots crammed between more black and whites of what…
Two Ingredient Lemon Sorbet
So the photo depicts a mash-up of what’s been in the fridge and is now deemed “parfait ready.” There was a lemon olive oil cake that fell in the middle, some gorgeous berries, a bit of squirty cream…and the new STAR of the show, two ingredient lemon sorbet. Don’t forget to save your lemon vessels;…
Ina’s Ham & Leek Empanadas
Following the advice of Store Bought is Fine, I had to try Ina’s Ham and Leek Empanadas as a weekend alternative to her always delicious Savory Brekky Pastries. Un-Ina related, but he also suggested a ‘aji Amarillo’ sauce, that I adapted a bit because Switzerland and Latin ingredients don’t seem to mix. The results of…
Hotel Lunetta- Rome
Looking for a boutique hotel in Rome landed us recently at Hotel Lunetta, not too far from any of the sights, particularly close to the Piazza Navona and Campo Fiore. The lobby was luxe and staff helpful from the beginning, offering cappuccinos on arrival despite our rooms not yet being ready and free sessions at…
Emma- Rome
The ristorante and pizzeria, Emma, was just around the corner from our hotel in Rome. With accolades from the NY Times among others, as one of the best restaurants for pizza in the city, we had to give it a try after a long morning of Vatican touring. Everyone at the table opted for pizza…
Hostaria Costanza- Rome
Moving our travels down to Rome, we found ourselves at the resto easily next door to our hotel on the first night, the subterranean-like, Hostaria Costanza. Again, one of the first tables seated, but the restaurant filled up very quickly, seemingly with well-heeled locales. The people-watching was thus, fantastic! After seeing these fried “Jewish” (as…
Ristorante Hosteria Il Desco- Florence
Our last night in Florence found us by happy accident at the Ristorante Hosteria Il Desco. Mum and I stumbled across it one afternoon while wandering some of the quieter back streets of Florence. While we were booked at the always delicious Parione, it was lovely to try something new. We had an early-ish seating…
Hotel Parco dei Principe- Sorrento
Imagine a mix of the best vintage Miami Beach Hotels or maybe Palm Springs vibes are more apt, but cross that with the Amalfi coast and you’ll find yourself at the Hotel Parco dei Principe in Sorrento. The hotel’s design aesthetic was next level and rightfully so, as the first design hotel of famous architect,…
Four Seasons Florence Take 2
Once realizing I’d be leading a small tour to Florence over a weekend, I knew we had to return to the Four Seasons for their fabulous brunch. It was mum’s birthday and we managed to score the very last table during a busy, rainy afternoon. This time we were seated in the dining room where…
La Forneria, Florence
Our first meal in Florence took a decidedly Neapolitan turn with the trial of the new pizzeria, La Forneria. Hotel Continentale recommended this gem, just a side step off the path of the major tourist attractions. A quick lunch it was with the flash fired pizzas. My choice of the Vesuvius resulted in a bubbly,…
Signorvino- Florence
Just a block off of the main drag of the Ponte Vecchio lies wine shop and cafe, Signorvino. While it took four employees to decide if we might have a table in a fairly empty restaurant, we were finally seated on the terrace overlooking the Arno and bridge’s beautifully ancient backside. The cute signature graphics…
Decimo at The Standard London
Reading about Decimo and it’s delicious Mexican delights of course had us booking in for brunch on our quick weekend jaunt to The Standard. The atmosphere truly has you transported to Tulum and the large spacious area seems to host lots of fun events like monthly salsa dancing. Open fire was everywhere from the dining…
The Standard- London
A quick 24 hours in London necessitated a fun hotel near St. Pancras, which was the perfect excuse to finally try The Standard. Out of character for the surrounding traditional British housing, the hotel has an otherworldly feel with its external elevator and mid century modern windows and furnishings. We opted for a cut above…
Blue Cheese Dressing
Take your leftover valentine’s day dinner parts, chuck them in a bowl, and drizzle liberally with this blue cheese dressing for a next day treat. Blue Cheese Dressing
Smashing Ina’s Baked Potatoes
It’s that time of year in Switzerland where you’re either not working because you’re skiing or not working because you’re laid up with a broken leg. Either way, all recipes seem to involve an endless rotation of potatoes and cheese. For Valentine’s Day this year I wanted to see what Ina had to say about…
No Knead Honey Oat Bread
I’m hitting the pandemic trends so late that I guess they are essentially new ones. No sourdough starters here, just an easy, breezy boule that keeps well for four to five days after you’ve enjoyed Honey, oaty, crunchy, chewy goodness. That’s my drag name. No Knead Honey Oat Bread
Updates on the City of Love and Light
We’re talking Paris of course! The Macarons and Mayhem guide has been updated with more great finds, just in time for Valentine’s Day. xoxo Macarons and Mayhem Paris Guide
Savory Dutch Brunch Baby
While the title of this recipe sounds highly cannibalistic, I assure you that it nothing but savory brunch goodness. I’ve seen these massive pancake recipes over the years, but haven’t managed to try my hand at one until now. Huge mistake. Should have whisked this up years ago! It satisfies a slightly carby, indulgent craving…
Orange Ricotta Cookies
In an effort not to waste a container of ricotta that was nearly out of date, I whipped up a batch of Cooking Classy’s Orange Ricotta Cookies. Game changer! The gentleman has been inhaling them as their chocolate and bright combo is sure to make any dreary winter day better. Find my slight modifications below…
Swiss Bad Day Pasta
2024 has been off to a strange start to say the least. Here to make that better is the Swiss-est bad day pasta. This recipe easily has ingredients that can be stocked in the fridge so you can pull them out for the cheesiest, coziest, most comforting bad day meal this side of Switzerland. Swiss Bad…
Quick Breakfast Quesadillas
One sunday morning reading about cooking quickly stirred my stomach and had me in the kitchen trying the latest Pinterest inspired breakfast quesadilla. It was fun to watch it all come together and was massively delicious to boot. We could have shared one as it was so loaded with toppings! (Naturally, I made two). Dump…
Caveau de Nyon
The coziest evenings in Switzerland demand the coziest of cheese caves, which is precisely how Saturday night date night turned into a subterranean wine and fondue fiesta. The cave is located charmingly in the basement of the castle with a menu that specializes in local cheese is various forms of “hot” and local white varietals…
Olive Oil Lemon Cake
Recently I made the simplest, most glorious cake from The View from Great Island. First time on that site and it definitely will have me back for more. This cake is unbelievably lemony and moist. It’s lasted well for four days and tastes as good as the day of the bake. Sure to be in…
Winter Burrata Salad
Everyone knows the best summer lunch is a gorgeous caprese salad topped with a ball of burrata. But, what to do when it’s not prime tomato season? The brightest winter answer is orange and fennel- so delicious, simple, and a surprise flavor profile for your guests. The inspiration of this salad hails from the gorgeous…
Hot Fudge for Non Chocoholics
Not much for a big dollop of hot fudge? Me either. This one though. Woah. Make it in advance and allow it to set in the fridge for a creamy, dreamy, chocolate dose you didn’t even know that you needed. The consistency here is unparalleled to other recipes I’ve tried for the chocoholic in my…
Macarons and Mayhem Guide: Edinburgh
MAYHEM Hoot the Redeemer: Perennial favorite for it’s basement bar imaginative vibes and mixology cocktails (and ice cream machine!) Panda and Sons: One of the literal best bars in the world hidden in a panda themed barbershop. It will make sense once you go. The Virgin Hotel Bar: Excellent interior design, but without the service to match….
Ina’s Wedding Soup
After explaining to my British counterpart what wedding soup was, of course I had to make it. While I had my grandmother’s recipe, the laborious mini meatballs were instead subbed for Ina’s big guns. So here we are. Rather than top with extra parmesan, I elected to make a garlic bread for dunking in the…
Macarons and Mayhem Guide: Paris
MACARONS La Grand Epicerie: Extensive upscale food hall and grocery with a truly impressive pastry case. Popelini: Choux pastry delights filled in a wonderful array of sweetness. MAYHEM Hotel de Crillon: My go-to bar when dressed for an occasion. Classically modern music and cocktails with excellent people-watching. Little Red Door: Consistently one of the best…
Macarons and Mayhem 