What's for Dinner?

With a little time on my hands and restaurants being bloody expensive in Geneva, I have been exploring the art of cooking as of late. Until now, I have always been a very basic cook....pasta and premade sauce, grilled ham and cheese, etc. Since my newly ordered Cooking Light magazine arrived in the mail a few weeks ago, I have discovered a new hobby. Now, don't go crazy and think that I am creating masterpieces. I still have not braised anything and I certaintly have not attempted to caramlize anything. My pantry, however, is slowly starting to fill with ingredients (white wine vinegar, fresh chives, fennel seeds, etc) that would have been non-exsistent in the past. Did you know that a shallot is a small member of the onion family mild in taste and used in sauces and salads where the strong onion might overpower the dish? Cooking Light's "40 minute or less" dishes have been my best friends so far as I am not quite ready to brave Mahimahi with Pineapple Chutney. I did make one mean Dijon Croque Monsieur with Haricots Verts Salad (including a homemade vinaigrette dressing) the other day! My Roast Chicken with Balsalmic Bell Peppers and Mascarpone Masted Potatoes (pictured above) wasn't too bad either. Well, at least neither Jignesh nor I got sick from it and I managed not to set the place on fire! I am even starting to create my own gucamole recipes. Of course, this new hobby is even more interesting cosidering I am working with a kitchen the size of a broom closet and I have to find all these strange ingredients in a grocery store with labels in French. I am not sure I will ever become the next Gordon Ramsey but I at least I am filling our bellies with some homedmade, flavorful, and healthy meals. Don't worry, if you come and visit, I always keep a frozen pizza tucked away just in case...

Au Revoir.

Italy

Since we stayed in Europe this year for Christmas, we decided to put our newly purchased car to the test and take a driving trip through Italy (the picture to the left is of Vatican Square taken from the top of St. Peter's cupola). So, on Christmas day we (Schlopy included!) loaded the car and headed to Venice. Relying on a borrowed GPS (thanks Hans), we quickly found ourselves passing through France with mountains in the distance. Within an hour of leaving home, we came upon the Mont Blanc Tunnel. After paying the €35 toll and receiving a pair of work gloves (yes, we are still trying to figure out what those are for), we proceeded through the 7.25 mile long tunnel and were rewarded on the other end with some amazing views of the Italian Alps. After winding through the mountains and then the countryside we arrived at our hotel in time to enjoy a delicious Christmas dinner.

Venice- What a truly unique and magical city! Built on a series of low mud banks, Venice is a maze of small alleys and canals. The old buildings ooze with character. The only mode of transportation within the city is by vaporetto (water bus) or water taxis. Or, of course, you can also hire a gondola if your pockets are deep enough (€80 for 50 minutes). We started our Venice experience by taking the water bus down the Grand Canal for an overview of all the great sights. We disembarked at the famous Piazza San Marco where we explored the basilica and some of the luxurious shops filled with Murano glass. For the remainder of our visit, we simply got lost among the alleys and canals, ate lots of pizza and pasta, watched the boats drift by, and admired the architecture of this northern Italian city.

Sorrento/Amalfi Coast- From Venice, we headed south to the resort town of Sorrento. The drive proved to be a bit difficult as we encountered some wrong turns and quite a few crazy Italian drivers. Upon arriving in Sorrento, we quickly rewarded ourselves with some local pizza and great wine. With only two full days in this area we decided to split the time between sights and relaxation. The first day we headed to the ancient ruins of Pompeii. In AD 79 nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted burying Pompeii in 20 feet of pumice and ash, ultimately killing between 2,000 and 3,000 people. Today, Pompei is filled with artifacts and buildings virtually untouched since the day Mt. Vesuvius erupted. On our second day in Sorrento, we slept in and then braved the famous Amalfi coast drive. Jignesh was convinced that there could not be anything much better than the California’s Highway One. Well, within five minutes of driving this winding, coastal road, he admitted that the drive was best he has ever seen. The views of the sea and the small towns along way were breathtaking. We drove for a few hours and then stopped in the town of Amalfi for a classic Italian lunch and some window shopping. We ended our trip to the Amalfi coast with dinner in the beautiful town of Sorrento and a walk through the main streets that were adorned with holiday lights.

Rome- We arrived in Rome on New Year’s Eve and headed to the Coliseum for a New Year’s concert and fireworks. Well, our New Year’s was cut a bit short when the skies opened up with some of the most torrential rain that I have ever experienced. We were completely soaked all the way up to our knees and my shoes took three days to dry! Despite the rain, we had a wonderful New Year’s and arrived back at the hotel in time to celebrate with a glass of wine. We spent the first day of New Year just walking Rome as all the main sights were closed for the holiday. We walked up and down the Spanish Steps and threw coins into the Trevi Fountain. And of course, we ate some pizza! On our second day in Rome, we stood in one long line to enter Vatican City. Did you know that Vatican City is the world’s smallest state with about 500 residents. It has its own post office, banks, currency, and judicial system. There, we climbed the cupola of St. Peter’s Basilica for an amazing view of the entire city and toured the basilica itself. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to see the Sistine Chapel (I guess that is a good reason to return someday!) but did have time to enjoy an amazing dinner at a recommended restaurant! You cannot visit Rome and not see the all the ancient ruins. So, our final day in Rome was spent in Ancient Rome. Our first stop was the Coliseum where we took a guided tour and spent time taking a ton of photos. As it was the end of our trip and overloaded with on tourist attractractions, we decided to skip the Forum. Instead, we just strolled through streets and stopped in a cafe for a cappacino and dessert. Our final night in Rome was spent at wherelese…a pizzeria (ok, it was at mall that looked like it belonged in any American suburb but it was still pizza made with fresh ingrediants and cooked to perfection in a wood burning pizza oven)! Rome is such a vast city filled with endless numbers of sights and museums. It would take weeks to see it all! I guess that just means that we will have to return...

Au Revoir

Italy Pictures

Venice's Grand Canal

Italy= Pizza and Wine

Venice's Grand Canal at Night

Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the Background

Amalfi Coast

Ancient Rome

The Coliseum

We have Wheels!

In a rather sudden fashion and only days before leaving for our road trip through Italy, we decided to buy a car! Jignesh came home late one night and announced that we (with the help of his friend at work, Hans) were going to look at a few cars the next day. Before I knew it, we were putting a deposit on a small 2001 Daewoo (yes, a Daewoo...the same car company that went belly up in the US in less than 10 years!!!) and only days later, securing Swiss registration (quite a process in and of itself), insurance, and purchasing snow chains (required in most parts of the Alps in the winter). With only 2 doors, 94,000 km, and a couple minor scratches, it does not come close to competing with all the shiny Porsches and BMWs all too common in Geneva. It will, however, be more than sufficient (we hope) for the next year or two. While we still plan on using public transportation on a daily basis as parking in Geneva is difficult not to mention extremely expensive (please refer to previous blogs), the newest addition to our family will be used for future getaways (did I mention that Paris and Milan are each only about 3.5 hours away?), weekend ski trips to the mountains, and just plain exploring Switzerland. While I was (and maybe still am) unsure about the need for a car, I have to admit that it does feel liberating to have a car at my disposal when needed. We can now buy bigger household items (note to self: Google nearest location for Costco) without worrying about how to get them home and make larger grocery trips. And we can easily bring Schlopy along too (stay tuned for Schlopy’s first European road trip adventure)!

For those of you who know me well, I like to name our cars (past cars include Razzy, Sputnik, and Little Lightning). Usually, these names come to me quickly and easily. However, I am having a bit more trouble with this one and could use some assistance. Any suggestions would be welcome and seriously considered! If it helps, a picture will of course be posted soon as well. The winner will be awarded an honorable mention on the blog and will earn a free all expense paid trip to Geneva, Switzerland. *

On a different note, we are currently in Italy (putting the car to the test) for the holidays. So, stay tuned for all the details and pictures from our trip to Venice, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome...

Au Revoir

* Winner is responsible for airfare, taxes, and may be asked to buy us things while visiting. Award includes a warm bed and a map of Geneva, Switzerland.

Where is Christmas?

With only a few shopping days left, I have to admit that it does not feel like Christmas. Yes, we have some snow on the ground and downtown Geneva is sparkling in lights and other holiday decorations. However, our flat remains void of any signs of Christmas. For the first time in many years (possibly forever) I do not have a proper Christmas tree and all the other decorations remain boxed and sitting on the top shelf of our hallway closet. Because we were in the States for two weeks over Thanksgiving and we will be in Italy for Christmas and New Year's, I figured it would be silly to spend time and money on adorning our half-furnished and disorganized flat with random Chirstmas paraphanelia. Well, for someone who usually loves Christmas, this was an awful decision. I truly miss having a Christmas tree filled with all the ornaments that I have been given over the years from my great Aunt Helen. I miss my Charles Dickens' Christmas village as well as my red and green stockings. I even miss attempting to untangle all the Christmas lights and then eventually giving up and buying new ones! So, with only a few days left before Christmas, I decided to take matters in to my own hands and today I bought a small Christmas cactus. I know it is not your typical Christmas tree but at least it is loosely associated with the holidays! Even though I have no one to pawn them off on, tomorrow I might even bake some cookies! Merry Christmas!

Au Revoir!

L'Escalade

This weekend, one of Geneva’s biggest events took place. L’Escalade is the annual celebration of the defeat of the surprise attack by troops sent by the Duke of Savoy during the early mornings of December 12th, 1602. The Savoyards marched on Geneva and tried to enter the city walls by scaling tall ladders (a climb in French is an “escalade”). The night guard in Geneva rang the church bells to alert the townspeople, who joined the fight. According to Genevois legend, a local mother of 14 children who lived above the city gates, seized a large cauldron of hot soup and poured it on the attackers. This heavy soup landed on the head of a Savoyard attacker, killing him. This commotion further roused the townspeople. Only a few of the Savoyards were able to enter the city gates. The rest became confused and cold. They were all forced to retreat. During the attack, the Genevois lost 18 men during the attack while the Savoyards suffered 54 fatalities. Thirteen invaders who were taken as prisoners during the attack where hung the next day as thieves.

Modern day celebrations of the attack from 1602 take place throughout the weekend closest to December 12th. People break chocolate cauldron filled with marzipan vegetables and candies wrapped in the Geneva colors of red and gold. It is customary for the youngest and oldest person to hold hands and break the cauldron while reciting Ainsi périssent les ennemis de la République! " (Thus perish the enemies of the Republic). Other traditions include hot, spiced wine, vegetable soup, and children in Halloween- like costumes singing Escalade songs for money. There is also a massive running race the weekend before all the other Escalade celebrations. While Jignesh I were unable to participate in the road race last weekend (we were experiencing some jet lag from our trip back from the states), we did attend some of this weekend’s events. We sampled some of the yummy veggie soup and joined thousands in watching the Sunday evening parade. The parade portrayed many of the individuals from that night in 1602 including the local housewife and her 14 children, the attackers of the Savoyard, and the Genevois militia on horseback and holding tourches. All were dressed in period costumes and carried lifelike weapons from that time period. There were even characters that represented the attackers who where hung, complete with shackles and nooses around their necks! Who needs a Mickey Mouse parade when you can have fire, nooses, cannons, and 10 foot spears!

Au Revoir.

Aisle vs. Window

Until now, I have always been a window type of gal. The thought of curling up against the window for a long nap while avoiding the constant barrage of service carts and flight attendants always seems appealing. (In reality, I can never get comfortable no matter where I am seating and I can never get a wink of sleep regardless of how tired I am). Well, after this most recent flight, I am officially a changed person. Attempting to be a good international traveler, I followed all the tips by eating healthy and drinking plenty of water. I boarded my 9 hour flight with visions of curling up with my pillow and dreaming the night away. Yeah right! Just moments into the flight, the overweight, middle-aged and balding man next to me fell into one of the deepest sleeps that I have ever witnessed. I am convinced he was not a person but a bear in hibernation. He snored so loudly that he was getting stares from people more than five rows in front of us. Of course, the cup of coffee and over 60 ounces of water that I had drank leading up to the flight started to catch up with me! At first I waited it out and thought that the man blocking my way to bladder comfort would soon wake up. Well, I was wrong. He slept right through dinner and some rocky turbulence. I tried all the tricks in the world to gently wake the man up. I "accidently" hit his arm while fumbling through my backpack. I turned my overhead light on and off serveral times in a row. I loudly coughed and cleared my throat. And as I had heard on tv, I even laid down and played dead. Nothing worked. It was useless. So, I waited a bit longer convinced that Spring was around the corner and this bear would eventually emerge from his den. Who can sleep this well on an airplane? (Oh, I later found out that Jignesh was on a flight only miles in front of mine with three seats to himself enjoying a winter's rest of his own). After no sign of life from my seatmate and with my bladder about to explode, I was no longer going to play nice guy. I literally shoved and kicked him to get him to release me from my pain. Still, no luck. I thought about climbing over him or asking the flight attendant to help but decided that neither were the best ideas. So, I spent the next 7 hours watching two bad movies and one not so funny episode of Whose Line Is It Anyway trying to distract myself but actually staring at this bear for any sign of life while simultaneously crying from the immense pain. I even got so desperate that I considered using the barf bag as my personal toilet. FINALLY, with exactly 54 minutes left in the flight, my neighbor woke up when the smell of pastries filled the cabin. I politely asked him to let me out and then sprinted down the aisle to freedom. That was the longest and most satisfying pee that I ever taken! So, from now you will always find me in an aisle seat!

Au Revoir.