Road Trip – Strasbourg, France

G and I spent Christmas in Strasbourg, France.

Many of you may already know that Strasbourg is considered the Christmas capital.

And there’s good reason for this.

You see, (spoiler alert), if Santa really did exist then Strasbourg is what he’d model his North Pole after.

The best thing about Christmas in Strasbourg is the palpable holiday spirit that envelopes the place.

And the fact that it’s in France is also a plus (A+), because that means loads of wonderful French food.

G and I stopped by this cheese stand to sample their specialty dish: tartine.

The cheese monger carefully cut a hunk of cheese, assembled the tartine on a paper plate with some bread, basil and garlic, heated it in a portable oven and …

Voila! Outdoor market food the French way.

But there is more to this city than food and its famed Christmas market. There’s the Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre-Dame, considered one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in Europe.

A section of Strasbourg known as “La Petite France” is so special it is a UNESCO world heritage site.

The European Parliament makes Strasbourg its home.

As does the European Court of Human Rights.

After so much sightseeing it was time for some French-style fortification.

A couple of drinking bowls of hot chocolate warmed us inside and out, and prepared us for the next leg of our journey.

We hope you all had a lovely holiday. We look forward to seeing you all again (here or in the U.S.) in 2013.

Arrivederci!

 

Merry Christmas to All

G and I are traveling all next week, so don’t expect any posts until we return in the new year, when I’ll have plenty of new stuff to share with you all. In the meantime, I will leave you with this assortment of holiday images I’ve collected from around town. Auguri!

And last but not least: our very own tabletop Christmas tree. Buon Natale!

My Daily Bread

As with my pasta, whenever I’m in Italy I buy my breads from a local baker.

My favorite shop – and the one I believe is the best in town – is conveniently located at the bottom of the hill.

I use the shop’s location as an excuse to walk down then up the hill. (Remember, we’re in the Alps.) And thus, I use the walk to justify the consumption of my indulgent purchases when I get home.

In addition to the usual selection, there are plenty of holiday goodies to choose from.

Recently, I purchased a fresh-baked panettone from the shop and was grateful they came in two sizes: the standard size we’re all accustomed to seeing in colorful boxes in stores this time of year, and a smaller, more manageable size for the two of us. As you might imagine, store bought panettones pale in comparison to a freshly baked one.

There’s even a nice selection of pre-made pastas. Not that I plan to stop visiting Pastissima anytime soon. But it’s nice to know I have options.

Here in Biella, many food artisans are celebrated for using traditional recipes and methods of preparation. They intentionally forgo modern methods and updated recipes to the delight of those of us who appreciate the tried and true. The result is more often than not, an unparalleled sensory delight.

Arrivederci!

 

 

for: Jef, Barb, Rena, Alona, Joel and Lynn

I’ve spent the last few days feverishly searching for a holiday appropriate image to post, but without much luck. Yet, there is a fair amount of Jewish culture to be found in Italy. There is even a restored, 17c synagogue right here in Biella. (The synagogue is housed on the top floor of a now residential building in Biella and admission is by appointment only.) But alas, I had no luck.

So, I decided to make my own holiday greeting. And in keeping with the Italian theme of this blog, I made the Star out of some whole wheat pasta. It may not be the most polished image, but I assure you the thought behind it is most heartfelt. Happy Chanukkah!

Arrivederci!