Good Taste is the Worst Vice

Autumn apples

In a world where you can eat strawberries to celebrate the New Year, it's easy to lose track of the seasons when it comes to fruit.  But even though I never made it to the farmers' market this summer, I did get to enjoy one fruit at the peak of its season: apples. There's a little apple ... continue reading...


Seafood extravaganza in Lyon, France

Yes, Lyon is land-locked (except for its two rivers), but while we were there we had a seafood dinner that almost rivaled our bouillabaisse experience in Marseille. We went to Chez Moss, a restaurant specializing in fish and fruits de mer, shellfish.  Since there were four of us, we decided to ... continue reading...


Arles, France

Arles is probably most associated with two things: Vincent Van Gogh and its Roman amphitheater.  Our visit included both! We drove down to Arles on Saturday morning, and my aunt and uncle dropped D and me off at one end of the enormous market that's set up across much of the city center.  It was ... continue reading...


Le Bouchon Lustre, Lyon France

I could barely keep my eyes open when we sat down for our first dinner in France.  But somehow, by the end of the meal, I felt re-invigorated. After a 14-hour journey from Chicago to Lyon (via London and Frankfurt), I was exhausted by the time we made it to the hotel around 3pm.  But of course, ... continue reading...


Lunch in Ménerbes, France

For anyone who's ever read Peter Mayle's Provence books, Ménerbes is the quintessential Provençal town.  It's just one of many in the Luberon, along with Bonnieux and Gordes and Roussillon, but it holds a special place in the hearts of Mayle-inspired armchair travelers. I count myself among them, ... continue reading...


Maison Pic, Valence France

Our visit to Maison Pic was an enveloping embrace that began the instant we stepped from the sidewalk into the lobby, and continued until the next morning, when we were tucked back into our car along with care packages for the road. There are many three Michelin star restaurant/hotel ... continue reading...


Bouillabaisse at Restaurant Chez Michel, Marseille

We came to Marseille on a mission for bouillabaisse. It's the famous dish that Marseille, the Mediterranean port city, is known for - made with the freshest fish pulled straight from the sea. To work up an appetite, we walked down from the train station to the Vieux Port (the old port, now ... continue reading...


Chicken cacciatore

It's been a very busy week for me, and at this point, home cooked food is really just a dream. What am I dreaming of?  My mother's chicken cacciatore - warm and comforting, with big chunks of chicken breast and lots of sliced mushrooms cooked together in a tomato sauce flavored with white wine ... continue reading...


Bernachon chocolate, Lyon France

I don't know what I'd do in a world without chocolate - for one thing, I wouldn't have my favorite breakfast food anymore. So in Lyon, I convinced everyone to walk across town to Bernachon one morning. It turned out to be a much longer walk than I expected, but well worth the visit. David ... continue reading...