So wrong. So So wrong.

I can't stomach much before coffee and sadly, I saw this photo on Gizmodo before I could down my first gulp. I hate when that happens. Coffee helps my world stay round. But I digress...see...the coffee thing....
Obviously, eating out is one of my favorite hobbies. I say obvious because if you have been reading my blog for any lenght of time you know how obsessed I am with good food and bad lighting in restaurants (we need to petition for candlelight). Also, at closer look, you may have noticed my pants button bursting at the seams...but that's another story. This broad abroad really loves the good food in Belgium, where even the smallest of snack shops and brasseries can provide an enjoyable home cooked meal. Friteries with sauce andalouse....LOVE. We often frequent a middle eastern place (can't even tell you the name) on place Jourdan on Sundays. Mamma Roma's also on Place Jourdan is a great place for for pizza on the fly, still homemade, quick and cheap. And you can even get a slice of Americana at Le Balmoral, also called 'The Milkbar', on place Brugmann, complete with hooker-pink diner seating and old chevys on the walls. Grease is the word! One thing is certain, food need not be expensive to be good in Europe. But I can bet this can be said of most countries in the world, non? America? Canada? Mexico? Seriously, it's not that hard with a little effort to eat well and inexpensively. So I BEG YOU TO TELL ME.....why...why why why did someone need to invent the canned hamburger??? For what purpose? Camping trips? Bomb shelters? Zone dieting?


The good news about this photo, I may never eat again and thus will be able to fit in my bikini by summer (as if own a bikini). I am ruined on hamburgers for a while. I can only imagine the assembly line that stuffed this chemically injected 'burger' into a can then sealed it shut with some preservative seasoning. I DOUBT it came out of the can looking like that either...sesame seeds in tact. Big fluffy bun. Lettuce crisp. Snort. Why not just sell hot dogs in a jar as a side with some powdered catsup? Would you like some canned fries with that? I love that it's a pop top can. I have images of those snakes that fly out of cans in some zany magic show, only the snakes have now been replaced by ...foam hamburgers. POP! Doh, you got me!

Please, for me, for humanity, go out and get some real food tonight at one of Brussels' 1000+ super restos. I don't even care if it comes in a chinese takeout box, or maybe get a delicious samosa wrapped in paper from the place in Etterbeek whose name I also don't know. Just please, please, please , whatever you do, stay away from the can opener before meal time.

A Broad Goes Swiss Miss (part 3)

As you well know, St. Moritz has the reputation of being very luxe. Very high end. Very chi chi. Well, it definitely lives up to its reputation. Champagne flows like snow melt here and there is no shortage of ways to spend your Swiss Francs. We strolled around the village today (needed a break from yesterday's marathon ski day) and we window shopped at all the chic boutiques. Prada, Versace, Dolce & Gabana along with countless diamond and watch stores, Hermes and the likes all line the streets. Rumor mill is that Uma Therman will be in town today. There is something for everyone in St Moritz. Off to get some champagne...Cheers.

Champagne Climate

St. Moritz boasts a 'champagne climate'. I have yet to determine if it is because of its impeccably sublime weather (322 sunny days per year) or because more champagne is consumed here than any place I have ever seen. Either way...my kind of place. You can see from the photos that Chloe looks a little nervous, like a lamb to slaughter, on her first morning of skiing. John was more worried because she was in a car full of Italian boys and knows those Italian boys. John and I hit the slopes on day one and were stunned at the beauty. By the first 300 meters I was sweating in my jacket built to withstand a blizzard and minus 45 degree temps. I clearly had over dressed and left my 'light' ski jacket at home. Who knew in FEBRUARY you'd get spring skiing. Seriously, it is about 35 degrees (F) and sunny. At lunch, see photos, this place was pouring champagne non-stop. See rack of empty bottles. Again, my kind of place. We skied into our 'parking' spot and sat down on the terrace where sunbathers basked the afternoon away. If I didn't have to ski down to our hotel, I would have stayed here all day. The kids are amazing. They are fearless and tear down the slopes. I am tentative, even on some of the harder beginner runs and only had one spread eagle moment. No yard sale yet. Chloe loved her first day it turns out. Me, I am intoxicated by the stunning scenery and maybe a little bit of champagne. Cheers for now. xoxo

A Broad Goes Swiss Miss

So, we arrived in St. Moritz today and as usual, Switzerland does not disappoint. St.Moritz of course has the reputation of being the chi chi ski place on the planet, and with boutiques like Chanel, Versace, Gucci, Pucci among others lining the street, I can see why. However, there is a remarkably relaxed feel about the place (with lots of ass kissing) which means...our kinda place!! While there are loads of women wearing fur, there are plenty of us in jeans and good ol' fashioned ski jackets and mustard stains on our gap down vests. Tres chic, non? Today in St. Moritz, a one of a kind event called "White Terf" took place. Because I am an obsessed researcher, I planned in advance and got tickets for us. For you city folk, "White Terf" is horse racing on the frozen lake and snow. Incredible to watch and they do it up right here in the alps. Live music, champagne flowing and bmws and rolls royces to sit in and admire. I sat in a mini cooper and now I really want one. Luckily for John, it won't fit in the carry on. It's definitely lifestyles of the rich and famous (or infamous) around here. We're neither but lifestyles of the comfortable and unknown doesn't have the same cache. Still, families abound and we are looking forward to hitting the slopes (probably literally for me). Tons of kids chloe's age and mostly English and Italian speakers. More gorgeous photos to come. Stay tuned for Chloe on skis part I.... Bisous from 6000 feet above sea level.

Le Chandeleur

In Belgium and France, the second day of February is a religious day and celebrated like a Candlemas. It is called Le Chandeleur and is also day for predicting the future, similar to Groundhog Day in the United States, but without the furry rodent. Since it is France, is not a underground critter that foresees your fortune - it's a crêpe!

You gotta love France. Always thinking with their stomachs.

In the Christian religion, Candlemas celebrates the day when baby Jesus was taken to the Temple forty days after his birth. He was brought before Simeon who declared Him "the Light of the World." The celebration of La Chandeleur originates from the Middle Ages when candles, especially those blessed in the church, were thought to chase evil demons away.

Where the crepe came from? Who knows. In the Perigord (Dordogne) the tradition is to also give a crepe to the chickens in hopes that they bring eggs all year long. I asked a local farmer (logical in my opinion) why crepes? why chickens (and not the livestock)? And what if you don't have chickens? I received the typical French response: "There are a lot of 'whys' that can not be answered".

Snort.

He later gave up that a neighbor will suffice if you don't have chickens. A supply of eggs can't be guaranteed, unless your neighbor is Foghorn Leghorn.

So, for you lovers of French custom (and for those who don’t’ but are curious anyway), you can start the tradition at home. Ingredients required: Candles, matches, coin, crepe mix, pan and spatula for flipping, and a positive attitude.

Chase your evil spirits away (or any republicans) by lighting candles all over the house. Make the crepe batter. Gather your family around the stove and drop the batter into the hot pan. You hold a euro (quarter, penny, gold piece from your treasure chest) in your left hand (in your right if you are left handed) and with your right hand (or left) you flip the crepe. If it lands properly, a year of prosperity is yours.

My crepe landed on the floor. Lord only knows what that means for my upcoming year. (I am turning 40 after all).

Here's to your successful flip...(and landing), and to a prosperous year ahead.

(no groundhogs or republicans were injured or burned during this celebration).