On May 1, 2014 I found my myself in Fontainbleau, France enjoying a holiday called May Day. The only people who have to work on May Day are the restaurant employees so I went to this bistro down the street from Napolean’s house called L’escapade and tried some rum from Martinique.
The staff is friendly & the food is delicious. You won’t be disappointed. Go here!
Merci L’escapade.
The Brussel’s Bar located on the main street in Fontainbleau, 47 Rue Grande, is a perfect place for an afternoon snack and a beer.
The prices are seasonable, the food is good and it is the perfect way to take a moment to enjoy another day in France.
As I walked the 65 miles or so around town I could feel my energy getting lower.
I needed to eat and when in Paris you do as the Parisians do so I decided I needed wine with my lunch. The Captains Croc provided me with a delicious plate of salmon pasta in cream sauce and some wine to help keep me going. The staff was friendly, the food was great and I’d certainly go back.
If you are in the area then I recommend you walk over, just across the river from Notre Dame, and eat lunch here. You won’t be disappointed by the quality food, reasonable prices or friendly service. Merci Captains Croc.
At the web site listed below you will find the information to the first sign I saw upon exiting the Métro at Place des Fêtes . Having left Santa Monica, CA 15 hours earlier you can imagine the surprise this sign caught me by. I laughed and knew I must go check it out.
After traveling for 15 hours I was ready to drop my bags off, eat and wander around Paris. The Santa Monica pizzeria was closed so I didn’t get to eat there until the second night of my stay and found Ismail and the staff to be friendly and hospitable. I went back as much as I could while in Paris. Merci Santa Monica Grill.
check them out at-
www.lafourchette.com/restaurant/santa-monica/22029
or if in Paris – 15 Rue Henri Ribiere 75019 Paris
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was not only a patron and contributor to the arts but he also collected recipes with a friend. This collection is titled L’art de la Cuisine and was published months after his death by his friend Maurice Joyant. The book includes Lautrec sketches and interesting menu selections. (read more https://news.artnet.com/art-world/art-bites-henri-de-toulouse-lautrec-chef-cookbook-recipes-2466779) Lautrec enjoyed culture and liked to cook, drink and celebrate. He liked to dress up as a samurai or flamenco dancer at his parties and once served a Degas painting for dessert. Lautrec also was known to add goldfish to the water pitchers encouraging his guests to imbibe alcohol fueled concoctions instead of water.
More can be read about this fascinating character, his life and his circle of interesting friends at the following sites and on wikipedia.
http://www.lautrec.info/
http://www.toulouse-lautrec-foundation.org/
Back in July of 2013 I had to lay my Mr. Coffee to rest after many years of good service. I tried to embrace another brand but the brewer just could not perform to the standards that my trusted Mr. Coffee maker operated at. The biggest set back was the new machine just would not brew the water hot enough.
Anyways, after a couple months of struggling, I gave the new one away to my security guard buddy who works nights and bought another Mr. Coffee machine.
Now all good is restored in my kitchen.
Welcome back Mr. Coffee and thank you.
Whitman’s vs. Russell Stover chocolate candy taste test.
Today I had the awesome task of tasting a bunch of chocolates and then telling the world my opinion. Lets get down to business.
I had a box of Whitman’s assorted chocolates containing 7 candies, a box of Whitman’s Reserve that had 2 candies in it and a box of Russell Stover chocolates containing 4 candies.
After tasting each I came to the conclusion that I like the Russell Stover chocolates a bit more. It’s hard to say chocolate is better than chocolate but being side by side made it easier to pick a favorite. My taste buds told me that I favor the Russell Stover candies a little more than I liked the Whitman’s candy.
In 1993, the Whitman’s Chocolate brand became part of the Russell Stover’s Family. They continue the tradition of creating the Sampler boxes.
Unfortunately, neither Marsatta Chocolate or See’s candies were not sold at Rite Aid and did not participate in this survey.
AQUINAS 2011 California Cabernet Sauvignon
Named after St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), an Italian Dominican friar, priest and revolutionary scholar who used the laws of science to support his belief in the Almighty. This wine, like it’s namesake, is smart, bold, dedicated and has many quality attributes.
The Dude of Food rating:
Give this wine a try.
Going to a party and can’t decide how much to spend and not trying to buy some junk wine that was a waste of money? Nobody wants to hear the voice of ridicule as party goers make their statements regarding your choice of wine. Well there is a wine to add to the buy list that won’t get you ridiculed. It’s reasonably priced and decent tasting. The Ravenswood line of wines are alright. Try some.
