Bad Bloggers Lament

So as it turns out, we're not very good at blogging. Good bloggers don't go radio silent for five months. In our defense, its been one hell of a five months, full of globe-trotting, new jobs, and (another) transcontinental move. But in the interest of a new year and new goals, we're going to start anew. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. 

While reflecting on 2013, my first reaction is whoa. It was by far one of the most intense, challenging, wonderful years of our lives. Knowing that these work-abroad opportunities only come around every so often, we did everything we could to make the most of the experience. By traveling smart / budgeting, we were able to enjoy more than our fair share of beautiful culinary adventures. Chocolate, gaufres (waffles), and frites in Brussels, Limoncello on the Amalfi Coast, bread, cheese, and wine in Paris, vegetarian tapas in Barcelona, olives and rosé in Provence, pizza and prosecco in Venice, Irish whiskey in Dublin... we really are some of the luckiest foodies in the world.

Here are a few snapshots of some of my favorite foodie memories of 2013. Here's hoping 2014 is even more delicious!

Happy table in St. Remy 

Picnic in Provence

Chevre in the south of France 

Gelato in Venice 

Parisian Picnic

La Boqueria, Barcelona

Magic at Teresa Charles, Barcelona

Queen of Tarts, Dublin

A nice cold beer at Spillanes, Fahamore, Ireland

"I love you like a fat kid love cake." -50 Cent

We don't have an oven in our little Brussels bungalow. It was almost a deal-breaker for me; I'd done plenty of teeny tiny kitchens in my day, but teeny tiny kitchen with no oven?! I carefully weighed my favorite baked goods against 15 foot ceilings and a balcony; in the end, the ceilings and balcony won, so I told myself that a toaster oven wouldn't be that bad (though it would take up most of the counter space) and prepared to sign the lease.

I took a walk around my neighborhood to get a feel for the place and realized that baked goods would be no issue. On every corner there was a chocolatier, on every street a bakery. Godiva, Pierre Marcolini, Cote D'or, Neuhaus, and Leonidas, all a stone's throw away. Visions of toaster ovens were overcome by visions of macaroons, chocolate eclairs, and pralines. It was on this walk that I discovered Wittamer's, the patisserie of the royal family, and home to some of the most beautiful desserts I have ever seen. Indeed, their marketing line is "come taste the chocolate of kings." When Matt finally arrived in Brussels, Wittamer's Cafe was one of our first stops, and it was then that we had the most amazing/ terrible idea ever: we would taste all of Wittamer's delights and determine which one was the best. 

Since then, we've made it a tradition to pick up one or two desserts on the weekend. Here are a couple of our first attempts: 

 

"Coup de Foudre"

Layman's description: Coffee biscuit, creme, caramel mousse

Letter grade: B+

Very good, especially with the salted caramel touch, but needed some texture contrast (i.e. mushy)

"Mont Blanc"

Layman's description: chestnut cream and meringue

Letter grade: B+ 

Good, but an utterly strange dessert.