Winter and ice cream certainly aren’t synonymous, but this ice cream, inspired by a house-made ice cream at one of Brussels’ trendiest restaurants, is perfect for a cozy winter dinner party or indulgent treat. When I created this recipe, I was surprised at how well the flavors and textures melded together; I would count this…
Month: February 2015
Profile: Bordeaux’s Glouton, Le Bistrot
If I were to conceive the quintessential French bistro, it would look very much like Bistrot Glouton in Bordeaux, France. On a recent trip to Bordeaux, I had the pleasure of a lovely Saturday lunch there. A small, simple, and modern interior houses small wooden tables that place one in close proximity to fellow patrons,…
Two days in Bordeaux
If you have been looking to plan – or just dreamed about – a trip that includes hops around Europe or France, make sure to add Bordeaux to your bucket list. Wine is only a starting point. Whether or not you are an oenophile (wine lover), Bordeaux has a lot to offer visitors. A cosmopolitan…
A tour of Belgium’s chocolatiers
Does Belgian chocolate live up to its hype? My answer: Absolument or absoluut (“Absolutely” in French and Dutch)! I’ve had the privilege of scouring Brussels and Bruges (Brugge) for chocolate. I’ve tried hot chocolate (see my post about my search for the best), chocolate glace (ice cream), truffles, bar chocolate, ubiquitious chocolatiers that cater to…
Healthy Diplomat: Chocolate superfood cookies – paleo, vegan, and packed with chocolate
Clearly, I wouldn’t have started a food blog if I did not enjoy food. I love to experience good food. As you have seen from my posts thus far, and in particular, during Chocolate Month, I enjoy chocolate, and I don’t shy far away from good, rich, indulgent chocolate recipes. But that’s not how and…
The CD’s oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies with vodka-spiked mandarins
I got my start in adapting recipes and baking at the age of eight, when I realized I loved cookie dough, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the alternating result of either spongy, cake-like biscuits or flat and crispy baked cookies my mother turned out. So I took it upon myself to read, learn,…
Extreme chocolates in the Baltic States
Didn’t the Baltic series end a few weeks ago? you may be wondering if you saw the title. If you haven’t checked out my series on the cuisine of the Baltic States, please do so. Tabling a discussion on Baltic chocolates felt appropriate to include in Chocolate Month. The Baltic States certainly are not world-renowned…
You, too, can make French macarons – trois façons
In honor of Chocolate Month and Valentine’s Day, I’m sharing a recipe for an exotic flavor trio of the romantic French macaron – a rich, sensual chocolate with rum ganache filling; a tropical basil-lime; and a buttery dulce de leche peanut. All three variations – the trois façons – are certain to impress. I have…
“Old-Fashioned” Truffle Brownies with whiskey cherries
Who can resist this dark, rich brownie with a hint of a classic cocktail: The Old Fashioned. Really? Just in time for Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite chocolate recipes to share with your Valentine; they will appreciate the homemade decadence much more than a box of chocolate covered cherries, believe me! Whiskey-accented cherry…
Healthy Diplomat: Vegan, no sugar added hot cocoa that actually tastes good!
If you were either intrigued or not scared off by the title of this post, thank you for taking a peek! In my last post, I offered a simple recipe for indulgent spiked hot chocolate. While one could easily make it vegan by substituting a non-dairy milk – such as almond, soy, or coconut –…