New Home, New Look, New Name!

Seems like we are having a bit of an identity crisis here. I'm changing everything about the blog. The name. The site. The look. But rest assured, I will still be bringing you the best foods from all over and the coolest places to see and stay.

Join me from now on at 

Go Eat Repeat 

Refreshing! Ice Tropez

Think back to a time long ago when you would fill up your shopping cart with the electric colors of Bartles & Jaymes. Or maybe you preferred to unwind with the flavors of Seagram's Escapes. Or maybe your 14 year-old self and your best friend took whatever brand of wine cooler was available at your parent's friends 4th of July party, stuffed them down your pants and in your hoodies and absconded off into the woods. (Can't remember where I heard that one from...)

Wine coolers. The stuff of 80's and 90's legends. Never did I think I would find them in France. 

At the supermarket, I have been seeing this stuff called "Ice Tropez." Obviously a play off of the city St. Tropez and the fact that you should drink this concoction icy cold, today I decided to give it a try. Was it wine? Was it a cocktail? I had not the slightest clue, so I figured there was no better time to find than now. My little can set me back 2.50 euro, and once I got home I threw it in the freezer so it would be chilly in time for lunch. 

I crack it open and take the first sip. Why, hello! Ice Tropez is nothing more than a simple throwback to those days of minimally alcoholic, Cyndi Lauper-in-a-bottle wine cooler days. Bubbly, mildly alcoholic at 6.5%, and I am in love! The drink has a nice peach flavor that is not artificial-tasting or too strong and tastes like a sweeter, fruitier rosé. One could call it alcoholic soda and not be wrong. 

Bubbly, colorful and a guilty pleasure, just like wine coolers!
Source: www.liketotally80s.com

As the name implies, a couple of cans of Ice Tropez would probably be best enjoyed under the sun in some posh resort town on the French Riviera. If you aren't at the beach, they are like a little vacation in a can. Even if that vacation has you sporting acid washed jeans and crimped hair. 

(Just to let everyone know, no products were given to me, I bought it in the store. So, the opinions are honest, even if I am admitting I like sweet, pink, fruity bubbly drinks. And Cyndi Lauper. Judge me if you will.)

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Calling All Foodies!!!!

Hey everyone!!!
I am going to Singapore in November, so I have been researching like crazy to find the best places to eat and the coolest things to do. However, I want YOUR help!!! Do you have any tips as to where to go, what to eat and what to see? I know that Singapore is one of the most food-obsessed cities in the world, so help out a fellow foodie! It would be absolutely amazing if I can have some ideas from y'all!

Alison

Obsessed!

Meet my new obsession!

I've heard of drinking chicory and I have seen it a lot in French supermarkets. But, I had this impression in my mind that it was an acquired taste (a.k.a. kind of disgusting). So, alas, it was passed by and coffee and tea was drunk instead.

A few days ago, I decided to live a little. And by live a little, I mean buy a jar of instant chicory powder. Since it was only 2 euro, I figured it was worth a try.

Nectar of the gods. 

Oh, was it worth it. Acquired taste? What acquired taste?! After dissolving a tablespoon in a cup of boiling water, I knew I was in love. This magical liquid tastes a bit like coffee, but with strong caramel overtones. Yes, caramel.

Comes to find out, chicory drink actually has a host of positive health benefits too. There is no caffeine, so it is a great choice for those wishing to drink less coffee. It contains a host of antioxidants and other good stuff like probiotics and inulin. Get this-since it increases the production of bile, it might even help with the metabolism of fats!!!

If you happen to see chicory, pick it up and let me know what you think!

80 Bites Recipes: Pasta Alla Norma

Pasta alla Norma is a pasta dish I first had in the Sicilian city of Catania. I remember the meal exactly: the table started off with marinated shrimp and salmon, then we had pasta alla Norma, and for our secondi, we had horse. (Horse meat is quite popular in Sicily, so yeah, I tried it.) The restaurant had a fantastic house wine to accompany our meal and left us a whole wedge of ricotta salata so we could cover our pasta in a pristine white cloud of deliciousness.

Can't I go back?
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Pasta alla Norma

1 1/2 cups of dry pasta (You can use any shape, but in my opinion, shorter shapes like farfalle, fusilli, and penne work the best.)
1 can died tomatoes
1 large eggplant
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4-1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cloves of garlic
salt to taste
5 tablespoons sea salt
copious amounts of ricotta salata cheese (This is some-what a speciality cheese, but it can be found in many supermarkets. It is a heavily salted ricotta that has had excess water drained so it is compact and grate-able.)
basil

Start by cutting the eggplant up into small chunks, slightly larger than (gambling) dice. Put in a bowl and cover with salt for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, pat the eggplant cubes dry with a paper towel.

In a large pan, heat 1/4 of a cup of vegetable oil. Once hot, throw in the eggplant. Since eggplant absorb so much oil, you may need to add in more vegetable oil. Cook for around 15 minutes or until eggplant is nice and browned. Transfer cooked eggplant to a baking dish or plate covered with a paper towel to absorb the extra oil.

In a large pot, bring the water for the pasta to a boil. When the water starts to boil, add in sea salt. Add in your pasta. Don't forget to set a timer for how long the pasta is supposed to cook!

At the same time as your pasta is cooking, you can quickly prepare the tomato sauce. Smash the two cloves of garlic with something heavy. Throw those into a saucepan with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Let that heat up and once the garlic turns golden, remove it from the oil. Empty the can of died tomatoes into the saucepan with oil and let that simmer for about 7 minutes. Add in the eggplant. Taste for salt, but remember that the ricotta salata, is, as the name implies, salty.

Now, grab any heat resistant container and ladle in about one cup of the boiling, salted water that the pasta is cooking in. Then strain the pasta once it has cooked for ONE MINUTE LESS than the cooking time stated on the box. (i.e. If the box says 10 minutes, let it cook for 9.) Then, put the pasta back in the large pot and combine with the sauce. Quickly put the pot back on the burner and cook for another minute while stirring all the time. (If you notice the pasta is absorbing lots of sauce and sticking to the bottom of the pot, you can now add small amounts of the cooking water I told you to put aside.)

Serve the pasta into dishes and grate, baby, grate that ricotta salata over the top. Top with basil and enjoy this typical Sicilian pasta.

This recipe should amply serve two. I paired this with a 2013 Anthilia from the Sicilian winemaker Donnafugata to keep with the Sicilian theme! Please, please try this recipe because it is so delicious and pretty easy, and if you do, let me know how you like it!

Now this is coffee!

Have a look at my favorite coffee when I visit the city of Ventimiglia, right across the border from France. It's called an americano, which is more or less normal American coffee. They serve an expresso with hot water and hot milk in separate little pots so you can customize your cuppa. In my opinion, it is way more flavorful and rich than traditional filter coffee and definitely better than americanos from chains like Starbucks, et. al. (Not to mention the fact that I absolutely adore the stylish black cups they serve it in.) Try one and let me know!

Sunny Monaco

Just wanted to share this picture with you all of the lovely Monte Carlo!

Da Michele in Naples, Italy

Eating pizza in Naples, Italy, is a given. This is where pizza was invented and this is where pizza has been perfected. There are countless pizzerias in the city; there is literally one on almost every street corner. However, there is one that stands apart. Da Michele.

Yours truly awaiting the first bite of Da Michele perfection.

Since 1870, this pizzeria has stood in the middle of the busy city of Naples and is considered THE essential pizzeria. There are no reservations, rather you are given a number and then you wait. And wait. I've waited much longer than an hour so many times just to eat their amazing pizza. Once inside, you haven't escaped the chaos of Napoli. Tourists try to navigate the packed restaurant with cameras in hand. The waiters never stop moving, since the demand for pizza never stops. Pizzaioli are constantly making and baking. What do you expect, this is Naples!

Oh, one small detail I may have forgotten. They only make two different kinds of pizza. The first pizza is the margherita, the classic cheese pizza. Take it to the next level and ask for it with "doppio formaggio," or double cheese. The second choice is the marinara, which has red sauce, oregano, and garlic. Both are the best I've ever eaten. Served hot out of the wood-burning oven, this pizza is unlike any other. The crust is chewy with an incredible flavor and there is the perfect ratio of sauce to dough to cheese. And it's cheap! The huge pizzas cost less than 5 euro each, and I guarantee you will be satisfied after one.

Yes, I have been known to eat two pizzas in one sitting. Fatty.

Of course, I have a few different pizzerias that I love in Naples, each for their own reasons. But Da Michele is different. Da Michele is Da Michele. It's an institution, a classic, and in my opinion serves the best pizza in the world. Go and try it and let me know what you think!

80 Bites Recipes: Gazpacho

The days in Barcelona were so hot. So hot that I spent almost everyday at La Barceloneta, or maybe treating myself with a day trip to Sitges. I probably would have never left if I had had the choice.

Barcelona is such an alluring, colorful and vibrant city that it's hard to forget a moment. Back in 2005, on one of those scorchers, I snuck into a cheap bar on a side street off of Las Ramblas. It was cool and dark, maybe with one or two old fellows bellied up to the bar. There, I saw a sign. Gazpacho.

In my broken high school Spanish, I ordered a tall, cold one. The chunky soup was served to me in an icy beer mug. I took my first sip and...well, it was darn good. That gazpacho will forever be in my memories as a quintessential summer food.

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Here's my recipe for a super quick gazpacho for when you dont want to use the oven, fire up the grill or generally turn your kitchen into a sauna. Bonus: dinner will be on the table in less than 10 minutes.

This is a super basic, super easy recipe. You can adjust the ingredients to what you prefer, like no onion, adding in a head of garlic, or putting in more cucumber or red peppers. If you want to make it fancy, you can throw the veggies in the juicer for a thin soup and then add in tiny chopped pieces of the vegetables for texture and presentation. Use it as a jumping off point if you've never made it before, then let your imagination go wild using other fruits and vegetables.

Gazpacho

4 medium sized tomatoes
1/2 long cucumber
1 red pepper
slice of red onion
tiny piece of day old French bread (optional)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon white vinegar
salt to taste

Start by washing the tomatoes, cucumber and red pepper. Discard the stem and seeds out of the red pepper, cut the tomatoes into halves and peel the cucumber. Then, simply throw all of the veggies, the bread, olive oil, vinegar and salt into the blender and give it a whirl. This should take no more than a minute and a half, depending on your blender.

That's it. Serve in bowls or frosty mugs and enjoy! This recipe probably serves about 2, but portion sizes aren't my strong point.

Leave a comment if you try this and let us know how it was! Or, do you have any other amazing combos for gazpacho? Can't wait to hear from you!

My Top 5 Tips for Cheap Travel!

Here are just a few ideas on how to save money while traveling. You can save money where it’s possible so that you can splurge on what you really love.

1. Don’t Over-Think Things!

I know it seems counter-intuitive, but do not distress over reserving and finalizing your trip. Sometimes it might work in your favor, but other times excessive pre-planning can actually go against your best interests!

Don't loose your cool planning your trip!

Take my latest trip as a perfect example:

We start to plan about 5 or 6 months away from our departure date. Preferring to leave from Naples, Italy, we check flights going to Jakarta, Indonesia. The prices are a bit high, about 680 Euro if I remember correctly. So we decide to look for flights leaving from Rome. They cost more than one hundred euro less (!!!), including our round-trip train and bus tickets to get to FCO. We went ahead and reserved. About a month and a half after reserving, I go to check and see how much the flights went up. Silly me. As I’m sure you can imagine, the prices did not go up. The flight from Naples to Jakarta went down about one hundred euro! Not much to do but sit back and berate yourself for planning ahead.

As for hotels, the prices normally don’t go up unless you are walking in or calling in a reservation the day of. When I worked in a hotel, that’s basically how it goes. On my last trip to Thailand and Cambodia, we reserved all of our hotels either a day or two in advance and got great prices for where we stayed.

2. Eat Local!

One of the best ways to watch your wallet (and your waistline) while travelling is to eat where the locals do. By now, I would desperately hope that you all know to bypass the main-square tourist traps. Find the local market, a small mom-and-pop hole in the wall, or a travelling food cart. Even if you have to point and gesticulate to get your lunch, I can bet you it will be amazing.

A Nice feast for cheap! 

Here in Nice, I could go to the Hard Rock Café and pay 18 Euro for a hamburger. Sure, it would be fine, but wouldn’t you rather try the local specialties? If I went to one of the local places, I could literally get a plate of socca, a huge tuna pan bagnat, deep-friend spicy cod fritters, a piece of pissaladiere, and delicious fried zucchini flowers for the same price. Don’t even get me started as to what 18 euro could get you in Cambodia or Peru!

3. Don’t Be Afraid of Cheap Hotels!

When I travel, I am not in the luxury price range. I am not in the mid-range either. I stay at the so-called “budget” hotels. Yeah, that means the cheapies.

Some people might go on vacation just to hang out in their swanky hotel, but I wake up, shower, and hit the road.  It is merely a place to sleep for me, and I don’t want to pay a lot. (I don’t want to get bedbugs either, so I do use discretion when reserving!)

Some of the best cheap hotels I’ve stayed at were in Thailand. On Ko Chang island, we were able to hang out every night on the front porch of our 20 euro a night bungalow. Add in a large bottle of ice-cold Singha and yup, that’s basically my idea of perfection. In Bangkok, we stayed at a hostel in a private room that would rival certain 4-star hotels in any European capital. The location was top, the staff was absolutely amazing and breakfast was even included!

Just because hotels are cheap doesn’t mean your vacation has to be. Use that extra money to see more of the city you’re in, use it to buy a special gift to take home, or save it and use it for your next trip.

4. Get Used to Public Transportation.

Sure, getting used to using public transportation in a foreign language is a bit intimidating, but man, can it save you some serious cash. Most of the larger cities around the world have pretty great ways to get around without using taxis. (As a side note, be sure to actually have a ticket and validate it because playing the stupid tourist does not always work.)

Where ya headin'?

Take for example, the south of France. We once took a taxi from Monaco to the airport in Nice. The taxi ride was literally less than 20 minutes and we shelled out 80 euro for the honor. Be assured, I was ready to rip that Mercedes logo right off the front of that jerk’s taxi and use it for a gansta-esque necklace. I didn’t, but I did realize how important it was to AVOID TAXIS at all costs.

In other places, like Bangkok, there is so much traffic at times that mass transport is really the best option. I just know you love being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic with that meter ticking away. Right? Oh, no? Me either!

5. Watch your Money!

Make sure that you are careful about your money when you are travelling. I normally have a bit of the local currency before I go (thanks Mom!), just to get me started. We always use AAA, and their rates seem to be pretty fair. I think it’s nice to be able to jump right into the action, instead of farting around at the ATM or worse, the currency exchange desks.

Once my initial stash runs out, I hit the ATM. Depending on how long I will be in a country, I try to take out as much money as the ATM lets me.  I will state it clearly for you: I just plain hate foreign transaction fees.

Most of the times, people are honest when giving you change but that’s not always the case. Count it. At the super-mega tourist attractions in Luxor, Egypt, young touts would kindly change a 10 euro bill for 2 euro coins. Kidding. They would slip in one or two local coins that look strikingly similar to Euro cent., but are worth next to nothing.

There you have it, my top 5 list of ways to stretch your dollar (or pound, baht, etc) on vacation!  I hope that these will come in handy when you are thinking about your next trip!

Alison

Japanese Green Tea Ceremony in Nice

I'll admit, this is cheating a bit. I've never been to Japan, but the other day I went to a matcha tea ceremony.

The Musee des Arts Asiatiques here in Nice, France offers this mini ceremony three Sundays a month to give visitors a bit of an initiation to the tea ceremony. Of course, it is not the same thing as it would be in Japan, but this short demonstration left me wanting more.

Our guide, let's caller her the Tea Master, explained first and foremost that a traditional matcha green tea ceremony in Japan would last up to four hours. (The museum's lasts about 30 to 40.) She had attended one of the traditional schools in her homeland to become a veritable expert in preparing and serving green tea. During her short introduction to green tea, she explained that during a tea ceremony, different teas are served. Normally, the first would be a super-premium quality matcha made into a thick drink. After, lower qualities of the delicious green powder are used to make more watery drinks. Basically, during the ceremony, the Tea Master does not stop preparing tea until the clients tell him or her to stop.

At this point, I'd say everyone in the world knows that green tea has incredible benefits for your health. What I found most interesting were the relaxing aspects of the ceremony. Every movement was slow and precise, from her slowly turning the tea bowls to give to the clients to her pouring the water and whisking the tea.

Of course, no demonstration about matcha would be complete without a taste test. First, our host served us a tiny biscuit made predominately of sugar. It wasn't super, but just a sweet something to make the coming tea taste a bit sweeter, since no sugar is added to traditionally made green tea. Next, the star, matcha. Our lovely Tea Master brought us small bowls filled with a minimal amount of frothy green tea. (Think the same quantity as a watery expresso.) The tea was bitter, and had a very earthy, herbal taste. It was definitely something I enjoy drinking for the health benefits, but the taste just doesn't bowl me over.

I would love to know if anyone out there has a real Japanese Matcha tea ceremony experience! If you are interested in seeing one in Nice, France, it is ten euro and more info can be found here! And of course, you can always buy matcha both to drink and to make lots of yummy snacks and ice creams!

Le Banthai in Nice, France

You know those restaurants that you always pass by but never go in? They attract you, but maybe you are just passing by or not hungry. Or perhaps you say, next time, and next time spans out over the course of a few months.

That's what happened to me with the restaurant Le Banthai in Nice, France. Every time I go to the old city, I pass by and am intrigued. The place is almost always packed to the gills and the menu is super short. (I normally find this a plus-I prefer five perfect dishes over twenty not-so perfect ones.) They have some of my favorite Thai dishes, like Som Tam and Laab, but I never had the opportunity to stop in until a week ago.

I went in a bit late, around 2 or 2:30 in the afternoon, so the small restaurant was almost empty. I chose to have a nice, light summer lunch with the Som Tam green papaya salad and sticky rice. The open kitchen is manned by a lovely Thai lady whose dishes literally transport you to Bangkok. Expecting a decent version of the salad, I was pleasantly surprised when my dish came and it tasted just like the ones I had in Thailand.

Service was super quick, though mind you I was not in there during the lunch or dinner-time rush, so things might be different at other times of the day. The salad and rice was definitely enough to satisfy my appetite. The prices are the same for every dish on the menu (about 12 euro), so green papaya salad is the same price as meat or fish dishes. If you compare the prices to Thailand, obviously it seems expensive. But as far as Nice goes, prices are fair and the restaurant is a really welcome change from the ubiquitous pizza and pasta restaurants in the Vieux Nice.

Go early, late or make a reservation if you want the most authentic Thai food in Nice. I can't wait to go back and eat my way through the rest of the menu!

Dining with Friends...

Thailand is world-renounded for it's street food. In fact, I'd probably go so far as to say that it is almost the number one reason why people go and visit. (That would be after some of the most amazing scenery and buildings in the world.) While in Thailand, I really took it upon myself to eat like the locals. For the first two weeks, we didn't  even step inside of a sit-down restaurant. That meant that we were eating on the fly, on the street.

Street food in Thailand is an institution that unites everyone from the richest mogul to the poorest worker to the sunburnt tourist and everyone else in-between. And there's a good reason why it does. Hawkers generally specialize in just one dish, and you can be assured that ONE dish is done to absolute, complete perfection. Think about it, if your entire livelihood is based off of just one thing, you better make sure it is damn good. And it is. Street food in Thailand has earned it's stellar reputation.

The classic Pad Thai,  the unbeatably simple but delicious Khao Man Gai (chicken and rice) and thousands of other Thai dishes are cooked and served street-side, so there is basically something for everyone's tastes. Walk down any street in Bangkok and you will instantly be surrounded by a flurry of sights and smells sure to make your stomach growl. Whole grilled fish, fried rice, green papaya salad, the list just does not stop!

So, imagine eating on the street. Hygiene regulations are non-existent. Food is prepared fresh as Bangkok's many scooters whizz by. Dishes are washed in huge basins right on the sidewalk. Does it mean the food is bad? No. If you didn't eat street food in Thailand solely because of hygienic reasons, yeah, I'd call you crazy. You'd be missing out on some of the best food anywhere in the world. And maybe sometimes, just sometimes, you get the company of unexpected friends while dining.

Let's play spot the rat!

Let's FLY!

Hey everyone!

I've created this blog to take you on a trip around the world! I want to share with you the tastes and sights of my fabulous trips.

From roadside food carts in Thailand to seaside dining on the Italian Riviera, you'll get a taste of everything I do. I've got no boundaries when it comes to food, so everything and anything will be tried!

Come with me on this amazing way to see the world!

Alison