thermomix-er....!

[brazen20au]

can you please remind us, where are you going and to do what? can you post us little updates of what you're doing here in this thread, and also pics if you can? are you meeting anyone off this forum??

[Thermomixer]

Start in Paris, then down to Lyon, then across to Florence and a cooking school that is being run by Nico Moretti - now the Perth ladies drool and become envious - then across to Pisa/Cinque Terre and back to Milan to come home. 

Sounds like a lot, but time will fly.

Will post pics.

[brazen20au]

ohhhh milan is my old haunt - i lived there for 8 months, LOVED it.

i shouldn't have asked 

[CarolineW]

Have a great time, Thermomixer.  Sounds fantastic. 

[Thermomixer]

Had the BIG ticket lunch at a three star Paris restauarant L'Arpege yesterday - will send pics info.

That was what I have saved for and now I can relax - made it before I die - not that I intend doing that tomorrow LOL

[Master Moderator]

Have a fantastic time..Keep us updated on the food trail :-)

MM

[Amanda]

Thermomixer, I went on a foodie tour of Florence last year with a wonderfully informative guide.
It was one of the high points of my trip.  Let me know if you need the details - it would be worth it, I promise!

[Thermomixer]

Thanks Amanda - you have aleady generously shared the information with me ; so I'll post it in public for others.

The website is called "Taste Florence" - http://www.tasteflorence.com/

The woman who does the tours is an expatriate American called Antoinette.  She is friendly, knowledgeable and informative with a background in Anthropology.  She clearly has a relationship with the businesses that she takes you to, but there is no feeling of being required to purchase something at all and the the shop owners are very friendly.  The tour is not cheap (I think that it coast about $120-$130 each), but I loved it.  It would be wiser to do the tour in your first days in Florence as you are then in a position to use the extra knowledge when choosing restaurants etc.

I have checked it out and will definitely see if we can fit it in when in Florence.
Thanks again

[Thermomixer]

LAst day in Paris - went to some markets - Rue Cler and Rue Mouffetard (?) - both great - Rue Cler is a little "trendy" and touristy.  Mouffetard is full of tourists, but loads of locals.  Fantastic food -especially in the traiteurs - ready cooked/prepared food that looks and tastes good.

Fantastic cheeses and loads of wounderful breads, cakes, pastries - you have to walk around with baguette in hand only covered by enough paper to protect your little fingies.  Otherwise you look like another bloody tourist.

Did a big drive yesterday to Mt St Michel http://www.mt-st-michel.fr/?lang=en, Bayeux Tapestries and Cathedral http://www.tapisserie-bayeux.fr/index.php?id=3&L=1 and http://www.mairie-bayeux.fr/index.php?id=232#c993, D-Day landing site near Arromanches and a few hundred kms before back to hotel to consume some spoils from the grocers including quail stuffed with foie gras and crumbed pigs' trotters (well we liked them  )

[judydawn]

Love reading about your travels Thermomixer.  I had breakfast with you this morning, catching up on all your overnight postings. I think you should be upgraded to Sir Thermomixer

[Thermomixer]

Arrived in Lyon yesterday by the TGV -fast train- better than flying in terms of leaving hotel and arriving at next hotel.  Only 2 hours for 400km - takes more time to get to the airport and catch the plane ! 

Walked around the streets of Lyon and had a drink in one of the "squares" before heading back for a meal in the hotel.  The meal was very good - we had jamon from Spain - not very French but I love it.  There was a wonderful little appetiser with a cauliflower foam on top, really good foie gras and  poached cod which just melted in the mouth.  Eggs mimosa which was presented in a little glass and was so creamy and delicious.  I am not a dessert person, but there was a pistachio creme brulee which was just divine and strawberry soup with basil chiffonade.

So, off to lunch today are a little sroll.

[brazen20au]

sounds wonderful!!!

[Thermomixer]

BIG lunch today with one of my heroes - M. Paul Bocuse.  He inspired me to cook with his Tv program on ? SBS back 20 plus years ago.

We got personalised menus and because I forgot my camera they took the attached photo - now I need to go on a diet !!

Food was superb.  Lobster and foie gras to start - amazing cheeses and huge platters of desserts to choose from to finish.  I only had a very small Iles flotant !  Probably shouldn't have had anything 

[brazen20au]

great photo!  gastronomical holiday sounds great - worry about diet when you get home LOL

[Thermomixer]

Sorry, in Italy now and have had problems connecting to internet.

At class, which is about to start with Nico Moretti - great to see that there have been some 400 posts since last I looked - but not sure when I'll get to read them !!

Ciao tutti.