January 6, 2012 San Francisco

Review: Tyler Florence’s Wayfare Tavern

The day after Christmas when one would think to ease off the excessive eating and start making resolutions for a healthier diet in the new year, I went with my family to try out Tyler Florence’s SF restaurant, Wayfare Tavern in the Financial District.

The last time I checked out one of his eateries, it was last summer at Rotisserie & Wine.  Since then he has added on Hawk’s Tavern in Mill Valley, bringing the grand total to 4.  I’ll aim for 3 out of 4 by the end of this year and still no diet resolution in place.

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August 1, 2011 Napa

Summer at Bouchon Bakery, Napa

Beautiful sunny day in late July, perfect for a foodie trip to Napa and as per tradition, the first stop was Bouchon Bakery.  I made my way over to the 10-person deep line and inhaled the aroma of fresh bread coming from the window.  It was worth the wait.

Inside the bustling shop

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September 29, 2010 Paris

Dining in Paris…Gossip Girl Style

Update: In the Season 8 season premiere, Blair’s “Paris” is really Oheka Castle in Long Island, NY.

In last season’s finale of Gossip Girl we found out Blair & Serena would take on Paris for the summer.  Already incredibly stylish in Manhattan, imagine them with their Chanel and Louis strolling along the Champs Élysées or sipping tea at a cafe.  If I had my Paris vacation two weeks earlier, I would have been there during filming (darn!).  Nevertheless, the city was every bit as wonderful as shown in the show.  There is something about the city, a certain aura where the people and everything are just so much more glamorous.  With tonight’s season premiere, I relived belle Paris in the eyes of Blair & Serena.  Where did they wine and dine?  Here’s a recap.

Blair “sampling sugary snacks like a modern Marie Antoinette.”

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September 21, 2010 Paris

Indulging in Macarons: Part 2, Inside Gerard Mulot’s Kitchen

Indulging in Macarons: Part 1

I was floating on a sugar cloud as I continued to taste as many macarons as I possibly could.  But I have to say the ultimate macaron experience and highlight of my time in Paris was a visit inside the kitchen of chocolatier and patissier, Gerard Mulot.  I thought this behind-the-scenes opportunity would be hard to come by considering I’m not in the pastry business or a journalist, but through a fantastic company called Meeting the French, you can interact with the locals via cooking classes, dinners and in my case, tours to observe the everyday work of a business.  For someone visiting on a budget, the tours cost 7 to 12 euros.  A real bargain for an exclusive peek into life in Paris.

I saw it all… from creating delicate macaron shells…

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