Barcelona (2024 Europe)

Earlier this summer, we took a 3 week trip to Europe. This was our first big trip since COVID. The trip started with a 10 day cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines, which was a re-do from our trip originally scheduled for last year. The starting point was to be Barcelona and originally we were scheduled to arrive about 1.5 days early. Having been to Barcelona before, we didn’t feel the need/rush to try to see all the big things (La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Casa Batlló) since we had seen it before. There were a few places that we missed out on previously.

Our trip didn’t start off quite as planned. I woke up the morning of our flight only to see an email from the airline (LEVEL) that our flight had been cancelled. As soon as I saw this, I contacted customer services only to be told that the next flight they could get me on was for 2 days (meaning we would arrive AFTER our cruise departed). I had even checked their web site which indicated they had a few seats available for a flight the next day but the service representative said that wasn’t available. My only recourse was to have them refund me and then scramble to find a last minute flight with any airline. Luckily Aer Lingus had a flight that same evening (also an overnight flight but with a stop in Dublin). Having never flow on Aer Lingus, I have to say that it was a comfortable flight although a pig of a trip with the overnight. We arrived late on Friday evening and took the bus to Plaça de Catalunya, which is kind of a central meeting point in Barcelona but also very close to our hotel. We checked in and passed out for 10 hours and then had about 24 hours of sightseeing before needing to board the boat.

The next morning we walked over to a popular brunch spot, Picnic, after passing the Arc de Triomf in Passeig de Lluís Companys.

With brunch complete, we walked over to the Picasso museum and checked out the art. It ended up being a lot smaller than I thought so we managed to get through it relatively quickly.

Since we were near the Ramblas and the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, we walked through the market and took in all the various goods that were sale from fresh fruit, juices to the vegetables and meat and seafood.

Tahiti (French Polynesia 2019)

***This is a very image heavy post***

(Links to the other two islands: Moorea & Bora Bora)

A few months ago my wife emailed me about a deal to French Polynesia. Admittedly I had no idea where geographically this was. I of course had heard of Tahiti and Bora Bora before. We actually had been watching a show that was based out of French Polynesia and I thought how gorgeous it was. On a whim, I though “why not?” and we booked the trip.

After doing some research, I learned this set of islands was in the south Pacific (essentially directly south of Hawaii) and only an 8 hour flight from LA (not bad!). So a few months later in the middle of May we made our way to these tiny islands by way of LAX (stopped to see some family before).

Unfortunately our trip there (and back) were both redeye flights and I’m terrible at sleeping on airplanes. We had moved seats to the bulkhead thinking we’d have more legspace but in reality I couldn’t extend my legs fully and it was uncomfortable. I ended up sleeping maybe 30-60 minutes total and arrived exhausted. We landed around 5 am when it was still dark out. Luckily going through customs was smooth and our baggage came out quickly. They did have a small band set up as you walked to customs (they were just setting up when we deplaned).

IMG_20190515_075153 — *Tahiti in the early AM*

MVIMG_20190515_080326 — *Right before customs*

Continue reading “Tahiti (French Polynesia 2019)” →

The French Laundry

For my birthday this year, I said f*ck it and decided to indulge a little.

To get a reservation, you need to be on your game. They only take online reservations nowadays and release tables for a 2 month period at a time. So, a few months ago I put on my calendar when they were opening reservations for May and June and hopped on the site when it opened. I was amazed how quickly times and days booked up…within minutes of opening. I managed to snag a Friday lunch time close to my actual birthday.

I’ve never actually dined at multi-starred Michelin fine dining restaurant before, so wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. I specifically didn’t want to read too much about other’s experiences because I didn’t want to go into the meal with bias. I read maybe 1 review but mostly for logistics about parking, etc. Prior to this, the only experience at Michelin starred restaurant was at one-starred Solbar in the Solage resort in Calistoga.

We have many numerous trips to Napa so getting there I was on autopilot and didn’t have to worry about directions and which way to go. There was the expected traffic on a Friday morning so we had planned accordingly. We arrived early to Yountville and sat on a bench in front of the French Laundry’s garden (across the street from the restaurant). It was a beautiful day though a bit warm (still I am amazed at just how much cooler it is in Napa than it is in Sac).

PANO_20180629_120141 — *The French Laundry garden*

Even though it was still a little bit before our reservation, we were anxious to get in and start the experience so we walked through the famous blue doors early.

Just inside the door was a small lobby that felt almost like a boutique hotel/B&B. We were led upstairs to our table immediately. The decor and feel of the place was much like you were eating in someone’s home.

IMG_20180629_123654 — Laundry symbols on the lamps

IMG_20180629_143013 — *Art in the restroom*

Continue reading “The French Laundry” →

Weekend trip – west Sonoma County

Two weekends ago for the Cesar Chavez holiday, we took road trip over to the coast, north of SF. We hadn’t been to the Bodega Bay before and thought it’d be fun. We found a nice quiet Air BnB that allows dogs. Since check in wasn’t until 3 pm, we woke up on Friday and did our normal thing and packed and finally left the house after lunchtime. It was a relatively short drive that took us past Napa and Sonoma and through Petaluma up into Sebastopol, a small town about 7 miles west of Santa Rosa. Our Air BnB was actually located a few more miles west of this area up in a little hill/mountain area. I really liked that there was a grove of Redwoods right outside the getaway.

After getting settled in, we took the dog with us to one of the dog-friendly beaches, Doran Beach. This was basically a small finger-like projection from the land and was the southern border of Bodega Bay. When we arrived, it was low tide in Bodega and it looked more marsh-like than an actual bay. Later on when we drove by it another day, it looked more like a bay and ocean so it was cool to see the two different levels. Along this litter sliver of land were a bunch of people camping right by the beach and water. The last time I camped was in MI where you drive up to the camp area and set up a tent. Most people on this beach area had trailers or campers but also had some tents set up. Reminded me of a different life I had.

Continue reading “Weekend trip – west Sonoma County” →

Paris Baguette and Back to bread (whole wheat sandwich bread)

A few weeks ago I ventured out to try some new things after a doctor visit. I had fasted overnight and before the appointment so I could get some blood pulled. However that left me hungry after my visit. I decided to try one of our local coffee roasters that has cold brew coffee on nitro.

First impression was that it looked like a beer. It had a nice foamy head and was nice and chilled. I must say that when taps use nitro, it certainly makes for a much smoother mouth feel of the liquid. I thoroughly enjoyed my first cold brew coffee on nitro. I got the coffee at Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters. It’s a quaint little coffee shop that is no frills.

With my coffee in hand, I headed over to the relatively new Paris Baguette. This chain recently moved up here to northern California after I guess it grew big in southern California. This bakery reminds me of a Taiwanese bakery called 85 Degrees. You walk in and grab a tray and all the bread/pastry products are out on trays or in cubbies. You pick what you want and then take your tray to the register to pay and order drinks as well. I ended up getting a buttered croissant, chocolate croissant, and a croissant with an italian sausage in the middle. They were all delicious.

———– Continue reading “Paris Baguette and Back to bread (whole wheat sandwich bread)” →

StewsCat

Running, baking, cooking, drinking

Category: StewsCatEats